Introducing the winners of our second annual "Labbies" awards

Graphic: Cathleen Heard It's what the government doesn't know about food that can kill you, says a federal science-policy analyst. "We do rely on Centers for Disease Control [and Prevention (CDC)] data, and the new numbers on foodborne illness are certainly something we didn't want to see," the analyst says. She is referring to a disturbing CDC report issued in September1 that ups the ante for foodborne diseases to an estimated 76 million incidents per year--twice the number reported in a widely

Researchers are using souped-up mass spectrometry to localize proteins within brain cells.

By Judy Lieberman Master of the Cell RNA interference, with its powerful promise of therapy for many diseases, may also act as a master regulator of most—if not all—cellular processes. RNA silencing. Computer artwork showing a length of RNA (yellow with red rings) bound to an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). © Medi-Mation Ltd / Photo Researchers, Inc. ne of the biggest surprises in biology in the past d

This year’s list of winners celebrates both large leaps and small (but important) steps in life science technology.

Glial cells were once considered neurons’ supporting actors, but new methods and model organisms are revealing their true importance in brain function.

Optical techniques for monitoring action potentials

The Scientist’s annual competition uncovered a bonanza of interesting technologies that made their way onto the market and into labs this year.

The War on Animal Research What it's like to be hounded by activists who will stop at nothing to stop your research. By P. Michael Conn Photographs by Bill Cramer Related Articles 1,2 I believe in the value of animal research in basic science. I have spoken and written about the importance of humane animal research and how it benefits both humans and animals.Because of my position at the OHSU primate center, an animal rights activist had urged subscribers

WHAT FOLLOWS TAMOXIFEN? Warnings accompanied recent announcements from the University of Pittsburgh-based National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project and the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., that tamoxifen achieved a 45 percent reduction in the incidence of breast cancer compared to women who took a placebo in the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial. The 25-year-old drug still carries the risk of serious side effects for women over 50, officials said. But the overall results were