Science general

Expert says UK's miscalculations of project costs could lead to millions in fines. Zoe Corbyn reports

Fiona Reid dissects an analysis that aims to move patent policy beyond faith and towards evidence

Fellowships tempt rising research stars from abroad to UK to strike up long-term relations, writes Zoe Corbyn

Product focus stifles knowledge transmission to commercial world, says CIHE. Hannah Fearn writes

Disseminating research via the web is appealing, but it lacks journals' peer-review quality filter, says Philip Altbach

BBSRC money fosters multidisciplinary teams to build UK strength in synthetic biology, writes Chloe Stothart

With the REF research assessment has come of age but much still needs to be done, says David Eastwood

But Hefce refuses to define extra data that will be used to judge research quality. Zoe Corbyn reports

Study tallies 'hidden subsidy' of global scholarly communications system. Zoe Corbyn reports

Douglas Millard on the clocks, maps, gears and valves that sparked academics' love of science

Chris McManus on our spitting image

Many researchers believe a 'gut instinct' can be as powerful a tool as logic and academics should acknowledge its role in their work. Matthew Reisz reports

Computers and lasers are compelling proof that researchers' flights of fancy can pay off, but policymakers prefer to fund work with obvious economic merits. Matthew Reisz asks whether the sky should be the limit

Funding could fall behind inflation and discourage high-flyers, official says. Chloe Stothart reports

Hefce restates its case for blue-skies cash in a bid to circumvent potential cuts, reports Zoe Corbyn

The Earth is suffering from CO2 overload. Anthony Giddens asks how we can limit climate change

New protocols require grant-seekers to show that they will apply 3Rs rigorously, Zoe Corbyn writes

Cambridge leads the field in producing Nobel science laureates, but many of the UK's best scientists have left to pursue work in the US. Matthew Reisz finds out from past winners what tempted them to go and why many feel the tide is turning in the UK's favour

The ban on performance-boosting substances in sport is a self-satisfied nonsense, argues historian Geoffrey Alderman in a fortnightly series allowing academics to step outside their area of expertise

Consultation to increase mobility highlights desire for common treatment, reports Chloe Stothart

Indian Prime Minister wants a return to traditional strengths of higher education. John Gill reports

Universities warned that anti-research campaigners could attack from within. Chloe Stothart reports

Jules Pretty weighs up the arguments for GMO solutions to Africa's continuing agricultural crisis

End 'disastrous' funding system thwarting science's progress, UCL academic urges. Zoe Corbyn reports

Majority of academics fear funding pressures and targets will harm scholarly work. John Gill reports

Funding changes rescheduled to give more time to pilot new metrics-based system, writes Zoe Corbyn

European states are to offer funding to research finalists, but not the UK. Zoe Corbyn reports

A £1.1bn fund to develop low-carbon technology wants to make an impact. Zoe Corbyn reports