Science

New generation of scientists powering country’s development, says head of science funding agency

Funding rises for fundamental science with be welcomed even if they fall short of some scholars’ expectations, says Creso Sá

Government initiative funds five collaborations involving 60 academic institutions and more than 450 businesses

More liberal environments may encourage women to follow their interests, psychologists suggest

The former Soviet state’s National Academy of Sciences is too focused on its own survival to improve its research performance, says Ararat Osipian

Asian universities in particular are embracing a technological future, but they should bear in mind the words of two wise Americans, says Alice Gast

Marcus Chown is won over by a graphic novel that allows readers to eavesdrop as experts discuss the big questions in science with laypeople

John Gilbey on a welcome guide to the thorny legal and ethical issues of a new technological era 

Canadian scientists’ impressive campaign for increased basic science funding risks splintering as victory looms, says Jim Woodgett

Collaboration within the Gulf region was rare but now the few oases in the desert risk running dry, says Hilal Lashuel 

Working with pen and paper and cut off from the outside world, Ali Kaya wrote three papers, re-deriving physical formulas from scratch

Bias in assessing submissions is inevitable and damaging. Anonymisation is the least bad solution, says Graham Farrell

Book of the week: Correct use and interpretation of big data can lead to the creation of new theories, finds Farida Vis

Biggest titles’ opening of sister periodicals is taking submissions away from specialist titles, researchers warn

The data underlying Altmetric’s top 100 articles of last year suggest that health research shared on Twitter has most impact

Certain disciplines and institutions likely to suffer from pegging of teaching funding

The pace of scientific activity does not need reducing; it is already too slow, says Jennifer Schnellmann

The mantra that research is loss-making is a convenient fiction used to draw more money to the centres of universities, say Peter Coveney and Christopher Greenwell    

Editing an academic journal is a vital and rewarding task, but also time-consuming and often frustrating. Current and former editors advise would-be gatekeepers on why you'll need the skills of a ringmaster – and more

Alternative metrics find that research on dieting, PhD mental health and female doctors attracted the most online attention this year

Male academics two and a half times more likely to speak up, as women cite lack of confidence and ‘intimidating’ speakers

Decline of corporate discovery programmes could narrow scope of innovation, scholars warn

Not far from the birthplace of preventative medicine, research institutes in the French capital are working together to launch a new era of technology transfer

Donation from estate of inventor Ray Dolby will be used to redevelop the university’s physics department 

Sink into a beguiling and lively study of a potent symbol of psychoanalysis, says Steven Groarke

Do you recognise seven stereotypes in literature and film? Richard Joyner appraises a study ranging from Sherlock to Frankenstein

Academics and professional staff reveal the things that prey on their minds at 2am

Report from Elsevier suggests more collaboration with poorer nations is needed

Largest amount of cash handed out by research councils overall since 2014-15 brings an end to negative trend

Getting innovations to market can be a conundrum, but help and support is available for those limbering up for the knowledge exchange framework, says Siraj Ahmed Shaikh 

Ahead of his Vincent Briscoe Lecture, Bill Durodié calls on researchers to engage with issues of great social and technological ambition

Six out of 10 among 278 anonymous respondents admit to at least one incident of misconduct

New programme hopes to take Israel-US 'academic friendship to the next level’

Advancing capabilities of stem cells could mean researchers run into legal difficulties once more, European academies warn

Researchers blame ‘old boy’ networks and evolutionary history for male tendency to stick together

Manolis Mavrikis enjoys a reasoned appeal to universities to meet the teaching challenges posed by AI

University of Maryland student claims top prize for explaining thesis on parasites affecting bee decline

The inventor with a penchant for clocks talks KitKat wrappers and kettles

Go with Alice and Bob to visit mysterious objects that also come in white, says Cait MacPhee

Marcus Chown praises a study full of humour and enthusiasm that journeys to the far frontier of the known

Accreditation of research methods should be a mandatory requirement for publication in journals, says Peter Thompson

Book of the week: No longer young, not yet old, the middle-aged academic sees the world askew, says Joe Moran

On International Stammering Awareness Day, two academics who stammer explain why higher education must do more to support those with this ‘invisible disability’

Data suggest that more universities – and subject areas – will need to succeed on the world stage to sustain the country’s rise 

Former chief of staff at White House Office of Science and Technology Policy says academics must put aside fears of ‘partisanship’

Squeamishness about advocacy is out of date. Evidence and freedom of enquiry must be defended, says Aymen Idris

After this year’s laureates were announced, 50 winners share the secrets of their success

Petition with 80,000 signatures was set to be presented as part of mass protest outside country’s National Congress

Is there anything new in technological advantage adding to sporting prowess, asks Lincoln Allison

Looking outward may give us a better understanding of the progression of life and the inevitability of natural selection, says Tiffany Taylor

Book of the week: Richard Joyner on how insomnia damages our well-being – and how to get a good night’s rest

Researchers Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Kip Thorne recognised for their work on the international Ligo project 

What brings joy? This week, as part of our week of articles on #HEhappiness, academics from five disciplines address this most difficult of questions

Breaking free from Madrid may reduce bureaucracy for universities, but could endanger funding

How one Nobel winner instilled belief in Erika Mancini

Ministers are foolish to abandon the conclusions of the 1971 review that has informed UK research policy for 45 years, say Donald Braben and John Dainton 

Are humans just a ‘pack of neurons’? Steven Rose is frustrated by a poorly argued challenge to the materialist consensus in neuroscience

John Gilbey praises an entertaining text that draws on popular culture to explain the essentials of computer science to the general reader

Inaugural UK-US science deal will include investment in two major projects Stateside