The Scientist Magazine® - Authors

Frog-Killing Fungus Thrives

Published: August 15, 2012

Global trade in live bullfrogs and a more volatile, changing climate worsen a deadly amphibian fungus.

Sons of Next Gen

Published: June 1, 2012

New innovations could bring tailored, fast, and cheap sequencing to the masses.

Give Me a Hug

Published: February 1, 2012

Editor's choice in cell biology

Rommie Amaro: Protein Explorer

Published: February 1, 2012

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California, San Diego. Age: 34

Early Signs of Alzheimers

Published: January 13, 2012

Proteins that appear before patients show symptoms of the disease could offer clues to the disease process.

The Risks of Dangerous Research

Published: January 13, 2012

Should research that makes pathogens more deadly or infectious—or other dangerous research—be conducted in the first place?

More Retractions, Not Dishonesty

Published: January 12, 2012

The surge in retractions may be the result of better detection tools and more vigilant journal editors, not an increase in ethical problems.

Drug Approvals Up for 2011

Published: January 9, 2012

The FDA approved 30 drugs last year, the highest number in the last 7 years.

FDA Curbs Livestock Antibiotics

Published: January 6, 2012

The agency has limited the use of antibiotics in farm animals.

Secrets of Breast Cancer Resistance

Published: January 4, 2012

A new study shows that breast cancers that become resistant to hormone therapy have different patterns of estrogen receptor binding.

FDA Drafts Pharma Social Media Advice

Published: January 3, 2012

The agency releases draft guidelines on unsolicited questions about off-label use, but leaves many questions about social media marketing unanswered.

Magnetic Swimmers Cultured

Published: December 22, 2011

For the first time, researchers culture a bacteria that uses a magnetic sulfide compound to navigate.

PETA Buys Chimp Lab Stock

Published: December 22, 2011

The animal rights organization purchases shares of a research facility in a bid to end chimpanzee testing at the facility.

Unsilencing a Gene

Published: December 21, 2011

Scientists have found a way to reactivate a gene in mice that is silenced in a neurodevelopmental disorder called Angelman syndrome.

Egyptian Research Institute in Flames

Published: December 20, 2011

A Napoleonic-era research institute in Cairo caught fire, risking hordes of irreplaceable manuscripts.

Top Science Scandals of 2011

Published: December 19, 2011

A list of this year's most high-profile retractions and controversies in science

Genome Digest

Published: December 19, 2011

Meet the species whose DNA has recently been sequenced.

US Suspends New Chimp Research

Published: December 15, 2011

The decision comes after a committee found that the vast majority of research can be done without using chimpanzees.

A Graduate Student Union?

Published: December 14, 2011

Michigan’s employment commission is exploring whether graduate students at state schools have the right to unionize.

Neuroscience Not Ready for the Courtroom

Published: December 14, 2011

Certain neuroscience techniques are not robust enough to be used as evidence in a trial, a new report says.

Behavior Brief

Published: December 12, 2011

A roundup of recent discoveries in behavior research

HHS Overrules FDA on Plan B

Published: December 10, 2011

Despite scientific evidence that Plan B emergency contraception is safe for women of all ages, the department of Health and Human Services declined to approve it for over-the-counter use.

For honeybees, there’s no place like home. And every year, they must find a new one. Now, a study publishing today (December 8) in Science suggests that the honeybee swarms use inhibitory signals when house-hunting, paralleling the human brain’s deci

Non-coding RNAs Halt Cell Death

Published: December 7, 2011

Long, non-coding regions of RNA can prevent red blood cells from committing suicide during the final stage of differentiation.

Modern Day Mammoth?

Published: December 6, 2011

Researchers at Japanese and Russian institutions believe cloning a woolly mammoth is within reach.

A Possible Ebola Vaccine?

Published: December 5, 2011

A new Ebola vaccine candidate protects mice against death and can be produced quickly in response to a bioterrorism threat.

Stem Cells Traced To Heart

Published: December 1, 2011

New research suggests that a controversial class of stem cells originates in the heart and retains some ability to repair damaged tissue.

EU Seeks $100 Billion for Research

Published: December 1, 2011

In the midst of the continent’s economic troubles, the European Commission is pushing for a big rise in science funding.

Cancer’s Escape Routes

Published: November 30, 2011

Scientists are beginning to discover myriad strategies tumors use to avoid attacks by anti-cancer drugs.

Shortness Gene Identified

Published: November 29, 2011

Deleted gene regions may cause some people to be of extremely short stature.

Sweet Potato Gets Funding

Published: November 23, 2011

Two research centers have announced funding for scientists to study the Thanksgiving staple

Mikovits Extradition Delayed

Published: November 23, 2011

The controversial chronic fatigue researcher will not be extradited to face felony charges for at least a month.

Top 7 in Genomics & Genetics

Published: November 22, 2011

A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in genomics, genetics and related areas, from Faculty of 1000

Genentech Plans New Avastin Trial

Published: November 21, 2011

After the FDA revoked its approval of Avastin for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, the drug maker says it will initiate new trials.

Deafness Gene Heightens Touch

Published: November 20, 2011

People with a defect in an ion channel that causes deafness are more sensitive to certain types of touch.

FDA May Fast-track Needed Drugs

Published: November 18, 2011

New congressional proposals would allow drug makers to bypass traditional clinical trial requirements for drugs that address rare diseases.

Snake Toxin Reveals Pain Clues

Published: November 16, 2011

The venom from the Texas coral snake causes intense pain by targeting acid-sensing ion channels, providing researchers with potential new targets for pain therapies.

Texas Censors Environmental Report

Published: November 15, 2011

A Texas environmental commission removed mentions of sea level rise and human impacts on climate change in an upcoming environmental report on Galveston Bay.

How Blood Cells Thwart Malaria

Published: November 10, 2011

The sickle cell anemia mutation may protect against malaria by preventing the parasite from sending dangerous proteins to the red blood cell surface.

Mite Found on Ancient Spider

Published: November 9, 2011

Using CT scanning, scientists were able to visualize a tiny mite hitching a ride on a 50-million-year old spider.

Prenatal Stress Ages Offspring

Published: November 9, 2011

High stress during fetal development could cause premature aging, according to a study in chickens, which published today (November 9) in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Chickens exposed to high levels of stress hormones in the egg have over

Fighting Cancer with Light

Published: November 7, 2011

Researchers have developed a way to activate cancer fighting drugs by pulsing them with light, which could make such therapies safer.

Shielding Cancer Cells from Damage

Published: November 4, 2011

An alternative form of an enzyme involved in the glucose metabolism pathway protects cancer cells from oxidative stress.

Old Cells Advance Aging

Published: November 2, 2011

By selectively killing senescent cells, researchers can slow the decline of health in aging mice.

Universities Spawn More Startups

Published: November 2, 2011

Despite the down economy, universities are ramping up their efforts to commercialize their research.

Top 7 in Molecular Biology

Published: November 1, 2011

A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in molecular biology and related areas, from Faculty of 1000

World Population Hits 7 Billion

Published: October 31, 2011

Sometime today, Earth’s 7 billionth person was born.

Platelets Flag Bacteria in Mice

Published: October 31, 2011

Platelets play a role in capturing bacteria and initiating an immune response against them.

Snake Heart Balloons After Meal

Published: October 28, 2011

The Burmese python’s heart triples in size after a nice big meal, thanks in part to a special blend of fatty acids.

Researchers Question Malaria Vax

Published: October 27, 2011

Scientists are questioning the results of a malaria vaccine trial that were released last week.

Placebos Use Pot Receptor

Published: October 5, 2011

Some pain-relief placebos work in part by activating a cannabinoid receptor, stimulating the same pathway as marijuana.

Ig Nobels Honor Unusual Research

Published: October 3, 2011

This year’s Ig Nobel awards recognize research on how a full bladder hinders sound thinking, beetles that mate with beer bottles, and a wasabi fire-alarm.

Top 7 in Cancer Biology

Published: October 3, 2011

A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in cancer biology and related areas, from Faculty of 1000

A Mouse Model of Autism?

Published: October 3, 2011

Deletions or duplications of a certain genomic region implicated in autism can induce autism-like brain and behavior changes in mice.

New Tech Boosts Science

Published: October 1, 2011

From iPhone apps to cloud computing, everyday digital technologies are helping advance drug discovery, conduct clinical trials, and improve medical care.

Killing Pests by Disrupting Hibernation

Published: September 30, 2011

New synthetic hormones can indirectly kill the corn earworm by disrupting its winter sleep habits.

Paper Tests Get Cheap

Published: September 28, 2011

Diagnostic test strips that cost just pennies can test for liver damage, mold, and milk spoilage in the developing world.

European and South African Scientists Share Resources

Published: September 23, 2011

A cooperative agreement allows South African scientists to participate in European Molecular Biology programs.

Again: No XMRV-Chronic Fatigue Link

Published: September 22, 2011

Researchers publish yet another study against the link between a murine leukemia virus and chronic fatigue syndrome, and partially retract the original results.

Anti-aging Pathway Questioned

Published: September 21, 2011

A new study raises further doubts about the ability of proteins called sirtuins to slow aging, but the controversy remains unsettled.

Austrian Doctor Reinstated

Published: September 21, 2011

A doctor who falsified legal documents and failed to get approval for a clinical trial has been reinstated by an Austrian commission.

1918 Flu Spread Before Peak

Published: September 19, 2011

The 1918 influenza was circulating silently before it began killing millions of people in just a year and a half.

Contagion: Science Fact?

Published: September 16, 2011

Soderbergh’s new pandemic thriller gets a lot of the science right, but does contain a few unlikely details.

NSF Faces Budget Cuts

Published: September 16, 2011

A Senate panel has reduced the National Science Foundation’s budget by $162 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

Blocking Flu Death

Published: September 15, 2011

Researchers have identified the cellular regulators of cytokine storms in influenza, which cause serious illness and death.

Are All Stem Cells The Same?

Published: September 14, 2011

Proteins in induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cells are 99 percent similar.

The Toll of 9/11

Published: September 11, 2011

People exposed to the dust cloud from the World Trade Center collapse still suffer from health problems.

Dutch Scientist Fired for Faking Data

Published: September 8, 2011

A psychologist whose splashy findings on human nature routinely made the news has been dismissed for falsifying data.

Haploid Stem Cells

Published: September 7, 2011

Mouse embryonic stem cells that contain half the usual number of chromosomes could be used to untangle gene pathways.

Digit Ratio and Sex Hormones

Published: September 6, 2011

Men and women may have different finger-length ratios as a result of different sex hormone exposure during early embryonic development

9/11 Firemen More Prone to Cancer

Published: September 2, 2011

Firefighters who worked at the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the event’s aftermath have higher rates of cancer.

Blood Simple

Published: September 1, 2011

A veterinary vaccine spawned products that could clean the HIV virus from blood supplies.

Deep Tissue Treatment

Published: September 1, 2011

A new, genetically encoded tag for electron microscopy may revolutionize studies of specific proteins in cells and tissues.

The Risk of Aging Fathers

Published: August 30, 2011

Older male mice sired offspring that had more copy number mutations, including several linked to autism and schizophrenia

Role of Nurture in Spatial Abilities

Published: August 29, 2011

In matriarchal societies where women receive equal education, there is no difference in spatial abilities between men and women.

Black Death Pathogen Extinct?

Published: August 29, 2011

The Yersinia pestis strain extracted from the bones of Black Death victims may no longer exist.

Vaccines are Safe

Published: August 26, 2011

The Institute of Medicine has released a report saying that vaccines are safe and not linked to autism.

Dengue-Resistant Mosquitoes

Published: August 24, 2011

Mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria, which fail to transmit the dengue virus, spread through the population when released in the wild.

Top 7 in Neuroscience

Published: August 23, 2011

A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in neuroscience, from Faculty of 1000

Chronic Fatigue Scientists Get Death Threats

Published: August 23, 2011

Researchers who suggest psychological contributors to chronic fatigue syndrome receive death threats from activists.

Parasite Spurs Rat Sexual Frenzy

Published: August 19, 2011

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii furthers its transmission by making rats go wild for the scent of cat urine.

Genome Digest

Published: August 18, 2011

Meet the species whose DNA has recently been sequenced.

Q&A: The Impact of Retractions

Published: August 11, 2011

Is the pressure of the publish-or-perish mentality driving more researchers to commit misconduct?

Turning T-cells into Cancer Killers

Published: August 10, 2011

Repurposing patient’s own T-cells to recognize antigens on cancer cells caused dramatic improvement in three patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Heritability of Intelligence

Published: August 9, 2011

A new study of thousands of people in Europe quantifies the genetic underpinnings of intelligence, finding that some 50 percent of smarts stems from genes.

Republicans To Cut Stem Cell Funding?

Published: August 9, 2011

Most of the GOP presidential candidates would limit federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research.

When Zinc Fingers Miss the Mark

Published: August 7, 2011

Two new techniques identify how often zinc fingers nucleases cleave off-target sites.

European Drug Agency Faces Scrutiny

Published: August 4, 2011

Europe’s anti-fraud office has launched an investigation into potential conflicts of interest at the EU’s drug approval agency.

Debt Ceiling Bill May Hurt Science

Published: August 2, 2011

The bill to raise the debt ceiling and reduce the deficit would slash billions of dollars for basic scientific and medical research.

George W. Bush’s Science Advisor Dies

Published: August 2, 2011

John Marburger became a lightning rod for criticism that the Bush administration had politicized climate change science and human embryonic stem cell research.

Stem Cells Hit Reverse

Published: July 31, 2011

A transcription factor can make adult stem cells behave like fetal stem cells.

Peer Review Needs a Makeover

Published: July 29, 2011

A UK parliamentary panel says peer review is still valuable, but should be supplemented by open review processes, preprint servers, and online repositories.

An Overhaul for Human Research?

Published: July 26, 2011

Proposed rules would streamline human research and strengthen protections for study subjects, according to the US government.

Chimp Brains Don’t Shrink with Age

Published: July 25, 2011

Unlike human brains, chimpanzee brains don’t get smaller as they age, suggesting that pronounced neurological decline is a uniquely human byproduct of our oversized brains and extreme longevity.