Whole-genome sequencing breaks the cost barrier.

The ever-decreasing cost of sequencing is ushering in a new era in genomic medicine. Laura Bonetta reports on new studies that provide a glimpse of the opportunities ahead.

Should you be tweeting?

Twitter needs no introduction. This "microblogging" service has gained tremendous popularity in the 2 years since its launch. Yet, most scientists are steering clear of it.

New citizens for the life sciences.

For years, the general public have been helping scientists to track weather, count birds, and observe the universe. Now such citizen scientists are starting to tackle research projects in the life sciences. Laura Bonetta reports.

RNA-based therapeutics: ready for delivery?

Delivery of RNA-based therapeutics to specific tissues for treating a variety of diseases faces many hurdles. But with several clinical trials and a slew of studies in animal models underway, the future of RNA-based therapeutics seems bright.

Tough challenges for the next NIH director.

The new US President will be selecting the next director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at a time when the agency faces many challenges. Priorities for the new director include boosting the NIH coffers in troubled economic times, balancing funding for basic and translational research, and helping young scientists.

Enhancing NIH grant peer review: a broader perspective.

Over the next couple of years, NIH will be revising its process of reviewing grant applications. The planned changes will make the NIH system more similar in some ways to those of European funding agencies, while retaining many unique features.

Getting up close and personal with your genome.

A new type of company is offering to scan a person's genome and reveal the information it holds for as little as $1000. Are these services fun novelty items or do they provide valuable information that will help people take better care of their health?

European stem cell patents: taking the moral high road?

A European law that prevents the patenting of discoveries that contravene morality is causing confusion when it comes to human embryonic stem cells. The ensuing debate is markedly different from the one in the United States, where the scope of stem cell patents and their licensing are under challenge.

Scientists enter the blogosphere.

Blogs are one of the latest tools that scientists use to communicate their ideas to other scientists or to the general public. But who are the science bloggers and why do they blog?

Growing pains for NIH grant review.

The grant review system at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the main mechanism by which NIH identifies research worthy of support, has been through a major overhaul. Scientists who spearheaded the change say it is time to assess how the new system is working.

The aftermath of scientific fraud.

Scientists who have come face to face with scientific misconduct consider its consequences years later.