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A decade ago, the tequila industry was pummelled by plant diseases. Rex Dalton meets the scientists working to keep the blue agave diverse enough to survive.
Winemakers in the United States are increasingly calling on the services of geologists to help refine their products. Alexandra Witze meets the scientists who are treading a path to the past.
Replanting coastal forests destroyed by last December's tsunami sounds like a good idea — especially if they protect against future storms. But such plans need nurturing if they are to succeed, Erika Check discovers.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, coastal experts are trying to gauge the destruction to Louisiana's marshes. Emma Marris travels to the coast to learn what might be saved — and what might not.
Natural disasters have wreaked havoc on the planet in the past twelve months, and some say that things will only get worse. Quirin Schiermeier assesses the world's growing vulnerability to catastrophe.
Next June, a $1.4-billion neutron-scattering facility will come online in the United States. Karen Fox finds out whether this machine really can breathe fresh life into the ageing Tennessee lab that is its home.
A new technique could allow doctors to spot hundreds of potential genetic problems in unborn babies. But is it too soon to put it to use? Erika Check finds out.
A trial drug encourages cells to ignore the signs that stop them making faulty proteins. Sound dangerous? Claire Ainsworth discovers that it could be a cure for genetic disease.
Google has launched another challenge to commercial search services — this time aimed at scientists. But is the new engine running as smoothly as its fans hope? Jim Giles investigates.
Despite clashes with publishers over copyright, Google's plan to make millions of books available online is turning the tide for efforts to digitize the world's literature. Andreas von Bubnoff tracks the demise of the printed page.
At its best, academia is a marketplace of ideas. But many scientists are reluctant to embrace the latest web tools that would allow them to communicate their ideas in new ways, says Declan Butler.
When darkness falls for Antarctica's long winter months, the sky becomes a spectacular canopy of stars. At one brand new base, astronomers are braving the extreme cold to build telescopes that they hope will rival space observatories. Gabrielle Walker investigates.
Earlier this month, students from around the world locked horns in competition. Their challenge was to build functioning devices out of biological parts. Erika Check finds out how they got on.
For decades, California has bucked the US trend of gobbling ever more electricity. But can the state pull off an even more ambitious goal and slash its greenhouse-gas emissions? Charles Petit finds out.
The US government has adopted a tough approach to battling harmful exotic plants: specialist strike teams. But can they prevail? Emma Marris finds out it's not all black and white.
The Himalayas, roof of the world, are springing a leak. As the climate warms up, melting glaciers are threatening the livelihoods of millions. David Cyranoski reports.
