cellsciences .. experiment, discover, understand Antimicrobial Peptides ‘Artimicrobsal peptides are important members of the hast defense system. They have a broad abilly to kill microbes. ‘Antimicrobial peptides and proteins form an imocriant means of host defense in eukaryotes. Large antimicrobial proteins (+100 aa), are often Iyie, nutrien-tinding proteins or speciteally target microbial macromolecules. Small antimicrobial peptides act by cisrupting the structure or function of microkial cell membranes. A mutitude of antimicro Dat peprides have been found nthe epimatal layers, phagooyies and body fluids of mulicelular animals including man, Beside thor ole as endogenous antibiotics, antimercbial popidos have functions in infarnmation, woud repair and reguiaton of the adaptive immune sysiem. Cel Sciences offers the folowing assodated produc. Description Applications Description plications ‘Aphe-Detonsin 1-3, human, ELISA uw LBP recombinant aman |Alpha-Detensin 1-9, human, mAbD21"....-- FFGIAP W. Piasmma wit fw LP feel, harman Alpna-Detenain 1.3, mAD021, Botrylated -—- FFCIAPW 1.8 mous, ELISA “ ‘Alphe-Detensin 1-3 not soon FS LBP, U8, MAB M9018 cnn enennee BIAW 'P, human, EUSA... ® Be, mouse, mab Ma92:2 AW BP, numa, mab “ LBP moves, mab RAKE Baw BP, human, mAb ES. aFcin LBP, recortinant mouse ‘Puma, mab 445. a LUST PUM ELSA oc sesnnnnsennenes YA {BP uma, pd ae LLS71CAP 18, human, mab 11CH2 w Caproectin human, ELISA, nn th LLSTICAPY0, human, MADSOT oooennnnrn P CCabptectn, human, mab 27610, FFCUIPPW —LLSTpoptée.numan (CHIPS (C-terminus) mab JCC BFFCIAPW ——Lyscayme,human, pb wipw (CHIPS (Nermious), WA INCE oocnssnane BFFCIAPW Mannose Receptor, Auman, MAB 152 ones PFOFSIAIPW (GHPS, outta Mannose Recepto, moUse, MAD MEDS... FC IP W (CRISPS, man, PAD. one nennnnen AP Manroos Recopto human, mAb 15.2, Biota. FFCIAW ElatVSKALP Nua ELISA noone WA MPO, human, ELISA... cies ElatVSKALP human, mAb TRAB2F pW MPO, human, mab 266.547 FAW Elatr/SKALP, huran, mhb TRAB2O IAP W MPO, human, mAb 266.6Kt, Bitinyted... FIAW ElaiSKALP han, DAD on wen MPO, human, MAD 266.441, FTC vce none FAW Elar/SKALP(S7aa) recombinant, human MPO, mouse, EUSA ° “ eo MPO, mous, MAD EFA nnsensencnns FROUA ww co ecw a FRC Galocte'3, human, mab 62610 cn FECESIAPW MPO, ‘01, mAD204 osonemen FRIAIF alec, wosse, mab 82010. COUR FGESAPW —— MPO.tal,mAD204,bitrylalod..— FEC IAIE HNP 13, human, ELISA ow MPO, rat, mAb 204, FITC FFCIIF HNP 19, human, mAb D2* ms FECIAP W MAP-OMAP-1, human, ELISA oon nnn UA HNP 13. ruman, mao D2", Bion FFCIAPW MAP-sMMAP-14, human, map 2710 FRCUIPPW HNP 1-3; puri, natural, Numan. FS Noutoph Defensa €,rabbe, mAb RS. FFCIAPW Lacteenicin bovine, mA SF12.1.2 nn IAW Nowtoph Lipocan, human, MAB E97 nnn UATE U.Clobe, towne, mab abCH00e lave GAL, Lipecatn,muman, mab 697 we Lotconn bavi, BAD enone ipw Palymjin BAB 45 nnsnnnnnesennenes AW Lacteforin,hanan, ELSA mek Protonase (PAS), hunan, mAb PRSG2 ..... FFCIAW. Geter, aman, mab 265-181 Faw Protanase (PRS). hur, mABWGM2. BCA PW Latent, aman AD ee snnnsennenane AIP ‘S100A8/0, human, mAb 27E10 coon FECIAIPPW LBP, mutsp2cies, ELISA a nneonnnean IA SS1O0A8'S100A8,Furmar, ELISA oon A {LaP, mutspacis, mab 86S. rar LPL, aman, ELSA, “ {LBP human, ELISA senseeeeccemnereseezene IA LPI Ruma, ADF nennmnnnneennn FURR WE UBF, human, mab 167 Fs SPI man, maD31, Bote Fapy LBP, naman, mab 65 SAR SLI, human, pAb pw {LBP human, Ab nnnnnesonenn ‘ale TRS, CD71, human, mAb 9B8 289 anon FCIAIPW (LBP papice aa. 86-99), uan TIR1,CO71. naman, mab #64610. FecIP -Applicatione Key 1: nhton of bilogca! actly F: Frozen Stone IPsirmmunoprecpreton Fo: Row evometiy FS: Functional Stes 1: Immunoassey 480 Neponset Street, Buidng 124, Canton, MA 02021 + TEL (781) 626-0610 + EMAIL info@celsciences.com CALL TOLL FREE (888) 769-1246 + FAX (781) 828-0542 + VISIT www.cellsciences.comYes, it can happen to you: It you're a young scientist making inroads in neurobiology research, the next Eppendari and Science Prize for Nouro! jlogy could Thie annual research prize recogni inneurobiology research based on methods of molecular ‘and cell biclogy. The winner and finalists are selected by ‘a.committes of independent scientists, chaired by the Editorin ie of Scie post-doctoral scholars and assistant professors, Past winners include To be eligible, you must be 35 years of a cr younger: If you'te selected as this year's winner, you will receive '$25,000, have your work published in the prestigious joumal ‘Science and be invited to vist Eopendort in Hamburg, Germany. Get recognized! wwweppendorf.com/prize wwv.eppendorfscienceprize.org & Science PRIZE FOR NEUROBIOLOGYyou've got better things to do... better consistency better purification better resultsIntroducing Personal Automation™GE Healthcare OAKTA, 100,000 scientists working with proteins believe in AKTA, UNICORN and wizards. 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Discover the legendary purification power of UNICORN and AKTA, visit wawageheotth recom/ckta imagination at work Ge nacser ice A 3 ct erga goon 30 iets Son (207 Gee ere Cabary AS ereVolume 316, Issue 5824 COVER DEPARTMENTS Iicrscopic morn plats Chetceos, 507 Siem Onine ate forse daar) ae corsned by Sit He West inStence olarktn annals Weorfoboquadine, Sie Eaten crsee 3 rams, ower instal 520 ConuctSoeree Neocals copepos, vette S23 Rando samples Horne parton ood wes sos Nealon climate by regulating the removal 559 AAAS Hews Notes ait oct sate nara S17 Wen reciae Tense Gis Gon te doep ss 618 Since Carers a parties Seepage 367 EDITORIAL Poesy sver 515 TheBioelsConunctum Dynal terme NEWS OF THE WEEK LETTERS Stem el President Quits Alter Arnon 526 Healt Ces tom Pla Resins C Erenetal. 540 ‘Humongous Eruptions Linked to Dramatic 527 ‘Science, Religion, and Climate Change Environmental Changes S.A. Kolmes and R. A. Butkus ‘ Clarifying a Quote on Wornen in Science A il Notes on Modeling Light Water Reactors G. Johnsen The Evolution of Eukaryotes Matin et Response 6 Kurla J. Collins, O. Perry Congiess Restores Funds for NASA Robotic Landers xoplanets: Hableable, ut Not Much te Home Proposed Biosecurity Rview Plan Endorses ‘CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS 543 Sel Regulation SCIENCESCOPE 529 BOOKS €7 AL. Erasing MicroRNAS Reveals Their Powerful Punch 530 ‘American Perceptions of immigrant and 544 rR 04 and 60 Invasive Species Strangers on the Lad PA Coote, reviewed by ). Gurevitch ‘do Leopol's Odyssey 545 NEWS FOCUS 1.L Newton reviewed by €R. Davis Killing Whales for Science? POLICY FORUM evapo as Academic te Buiding “Gren Raliay in China sae C Penge Resear in Understanding 534 Improved Moniterng of Pinlrests Helos Piece Haze 536 of Detorstation EDUCATION FORUM 544 ‘American Physical Society Meeting 538 Benefits of Undergraduate Research Experiences 548 avy Foe Reece Repent ‘lige of SH. Rosell MB Hancock, J Cuoogh Teng: rede tom PERSPECTIVES Nena Stay Fd Spits Hom be Meeting Getting Closer tothe Whole U. Sau re 550 ‘M. Heinemann, N. Zan How to Filla Synapse 551 BI Robinson >> ReseachAricleg 37 |APromising Mimic of Hydrogenase Activity 583 B. Rauch 7 Factoring Numbers with Waves 55 MS Zibaivy The End of an Entanglement 585 TH. Eberly and Yu >> Rept Oxygen and Evolution 55 R.A. Beno, |. M. VandenBrooks, . Word SCIENCE VOL316 27 APRIL 2097 503QlAcube — pure efficiency reddot design award winner 2007 © Eliminate monual processing steps ® Continue to use trusted QIAGEN spin-column kits & Free up your time with affordable, automated sample preparation all © Purify DNA, RNA, or proteins from up to 12 samples per run Standardize your results and increase your productivity Contact GIAGEN todey or visi! www giogen com/MyQIAcubeScience SCIENCE EXPRESS ceLL BIOLOGY SCF Controls the Oscillation ofthe Circadian Clack by Directing the Dagradation of Cryptachreme Proteins 1. Busino etal. 10.1126 scence 1141194 The Afte-Hours Mutant Mouse Reveals a Role for Fbxl3 in Determining Mammalian Circadian Period 5.1. Godinko eta IO.U12blcence. 1141138 Genetic and biochemical screens ident the sme protein, wich dternines peice length of tecircacian cacy deprzcatin of akrown campanent. CELL BIOLOGY Revisiting the Role ofthe Mother Centrole in Centricle Biogenesis A Rothigues-artins tl. ‘Neo centrots can form inthe absence ofan exiting certs, shoing that ‘he process occurs by verplace-reselhassembly. IO.LI2sicience.1142950 CONTENTS L MEDICINE ‘ET Amplification Leads to Gefitinib Resistanc by Activating ERBES Signaling JA Engelman etal Human lung ances cn become reian toa kiase inhibitor by proucng rutile copies ofa gene inthe same ptinay, bypassing the invited ep. TOL26science 1141478 Lung Cancer GENETICS | Genome-Wite Association Study of Type 2 Diabetes in Finns Detects Multiple Susceptibility Variants ckecmtet BOA126leenee.1142382 Genome-Wide Association Analysis Kentifies Loc far Type 2 Diabetes and Triglyceride Levels Diabetes Genetics faiauve TOALz6cence. 1142358 Replication of Genome Wide Association Signals in U.K. Samples Revels Risk Loci for Ipe 2 Diabetes E.Zeagini eal. “ee YO.112bicience 1142364 The beredarycongonentat ype 2 dees eles he coabsionof at east 20 geretcvarians, ech wth 2 neces elect on ie REVIEW MATERIALS SCIENCE The Problem with Determining Atomic Structure S61 at the Nanoscale S.J. Billinge and, Levin BREVIA. MATHEMATICS Fast Routing in Road Networks with Transit Nodes S66 1H. Bast S. Funke, P Sanders, B. Schultes Careful consideration of eay aces rate to faraway desinaton permits muh ster algoritns fo checsng te opteral rout. RESEARCH ARTICLES OCEAN SCIENCE Revisiting Carbon Flux Through the Ocean's 567 Twaiight Zone 1.0. Buesseler etal Les al snking partes nthe "wight" ene the aceon (250 to $00 ees by remineraization or destruction vais great ‘complain estinates carbon sequstaton www.scioncemag.org SCIENCE VOL316 27 APRIL 2007 NEUROSCIENCE A Selective Actvity-Dependent Requirement for ‘Dynamin 1 in Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis, SM Ferguson et al ‘emallregulatoryortenisequited for cylin of synaptic ‘esis ring lg-frequency neuronal activi, bt a independent mechan mint axa recying >> Popes 5 570 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Control of Stess Dependent Cardiac Gronth and Gene Expression by 3 MicroRNA von Rooi etal ‘A mcro8NA coded itn a ition 2 myosin gene increas the pathological exresson of enbyonic myosin ater sts. 575 REPORTS puysics Environmert-Induced Sudden Death of Entanglement 579 M-P.Aleida eal. Ertanglamene between two qubts, which sully decays esymototialls, con be suddenly st when there isa portal lois of enerencein one ol them ‘cHeMisTRY Enantioselective Orqanocatalyss Using SOMO 582 Activation TD. Beeson etal. Achial trogen containing catalyst used th aoneection ‘idan lon highly selective carbon-carbon bond formation through a generally appecatie activation rut, CONTENTS continued >> 505Synergy. Strength. Leadership. Cambrex Bioproducts is Now Part of Lonza585 REPORTS CONTINUED. cHEMsTAY Dinuclear Widi-H)Ru Complex Derived from H, Someta Acompound containing nickel ard mtherium mimics the atest ol Yonik hydrogenase and eth enyn, fable to cleave M, ‘nate, > Pespectiep. 559 GEOCHEMISTRY Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and the 587 Opening of the Northeast atlantic Storey, R.A Duncan, C.C.Srsher uxsive eruption of basal asacaed withthe opening othe ether lane Ocean ae sults ith and may have heed trigger te Paleocene: Eocene thermal maxim. News son’p 527 DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY NOV (CCN3) Functions as aRegulator of Human 590. Hematopoietic Stem or Progenitor Celis 2. Gupta, D. Hong, F ibora, §. Saino, I Enver Human blood pcgenitor cel, wich mest sucessfully engralt Intone marrow transplan, requ kncwn anserption factor forthe early development Genencs Multiple High-Throughput Analyses Monitor the S93 Response of colito Perturbations N.Ishii eal. Inmantining metaolk horeostss, bacteria respon to genetic isuption wit luge changes in metaboites bt te enternertal urbane wt changes in enzyme eves. >> Pespectvep. $50 Genencs Asyrthetic Maternal-ffet Selfish Genetic Element S97 Drives Fopulation Replacement in Drosophila CoH Chen et a genetic element hat sts RMA’ acainst mtenal RNAS and rexcue y gate tranegenes for rec san can rapidly ped heater ‘hroughout pest populations 58s MA\AAAS meoreine Modeling the ntaton and Progression of 600 Human Acute Leena in ie F. Borbe IA Kenneds KI. Hoe}. Dick Aoww ype atmoste model ante ie Werty the human cat ‘ypes ta atelevenia anda sucyhan hese els eae ss theses parses imwuNoLosy Regulation of the Germinal Center Resporse 04 by NMicoRWA155 TH. Meietal Requirement of biemicreRMA-185 for Normal 608 trwmure Function ARodigiee & Ddetono aiken ance imps trim, Causing tno mane espones and eine prodctn, 35 wel 3 tating ilaraton > Ne ory p30 Recah Arle 575 IMMUNOLOGY Distinct Pathways of Antigen Uptale and 612 Intracellular Routing in CD4 and CDB T Cel Activation 5. Buigderf A Kautz V BGhnert, P.A Kroll, C. Kurts When ime cls recess reign atgen vate exdosors, effector Teo are stmuate whereas ation process by Iyosomes activates heoes Tells CONTENTS i Aouneme semnies seevine tocieTy Matus Cractaaeyit fon wed sa neste rntapes econ wwww.scioncemag.org, SCIENCE VOL316 27 APRIL 2007 507Real Time Performance. Real World Price. The Real Deal. A powerful too! for determining bomole {idtinteracons te Rechert ual Channa race Pasnon Resonance (SP ns trent roves festame nmatiareous mon- Easytoruse date acquisition software Fenris ciecace Geomeeee” maxes itsimpe fo setup insert act sane Operating parameters monitor and or slow. An optional autosampler provides capability fr full automated analysis The sa70000Craforabieandfiexite Pda opeientinvedine, Talk to Reichert ae | ‘modular design oferscutstanding value °° *clontly Save and analyze data for research and quality contro. Configure Create a partnership in precision, the instrument system to doyour work. Reichert will prove your samples before Temperatures ae programmable micio or installing any insttuments and wll work rmacio flow cells are avallaole for diferent’ vith you to ensure your instruments surface werk and flow rates can be tun fast perform to or exceed your expectations Call:716-686-4500 Retchert Toll Free: 888-849-8955, Mesciences@rechertcom Innovative precision instruments for over a century wonweichertaicom eae nace) The commercial job market is being redefined by a major shift in how companies approach their research. What does this mean for your career? Find some of the answers on page 619 of this week's issue. May 11—Focus on Diversity june 8— Regional Focus: NC/Research Triangle Also avaiable ontre at un.sclncecarers.og/busSCIENCENOW Ancient Rainforest Rises Again £300-miben-year-old jungle found in Minos coal rine may give dues to major eainctin, Hopes Dim for Perfect Lens Fars to develop necessary “handed materi fr vile ght ‘un aout of easly, No Fountain of Youth for Fibrotic Cells ‘cing ung tissue may explain some cases of mysterious tung seas. ob Resolving inflammation. SCIENCE'S STKE tv sthe,of9 SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION KNOWLEDGE ENVIRONMENT EDITORIAL GUIDE: Focus Isue—Keeping the Immune Responsein Check 1:4 Foley, M8 Ader, NR. Geogh Shaichng le rane espns simp as swing ion PERSPECTIVE: Professional and Part-time Chemokine Decoysin the Resolution of hilammation Chest ond R Nios ‘henokre cesta meat th cela infra thtcasses, inlamation en change bas and Nel bong abou sot, PERSPECTIVE: Skog Back tthe Atvtor—How ix Kinase Terminates nigen Receptor Responses Mc Hinzond Scheider The scold ied in staing NE pyle termining he immune reper PERSPECTIVE: Regulation of teferon Production by RIG and LGP2— Ateson i Sell Contr 4 2.Viour and EF Mes § tnexaconsn ee andre contol th stv of ARD dain pts aed | inves immune reperses. 4 PERSPECTIVE: CARD-EcLO.MltSignalocomes Missing Unto NF-x& E,. Wegener and D. Krappmonn Sensing cole ug diet CAO als, eas B10 and Nt, j Seeeehiaertins Research exchanges ith india, SCIENCE CAREERS osciencecarersorg CAREER RESOURCES FOR SCENTISTS GLOBAL: Special Feature—Research Opportunities fn India—An Upward Trajectory A Kock ‘Science Careers resews the cert and ute sate of scien ic exchanges with india, IMISCINET: Educated Woman, Postdoc Edition MP DeWhyse ‘Mico hast madeany concrete decison, but sho has taken baby steps tomate ile more tolerable {SI Indla—A New Knowledge Hot Spot P Beala India is fastbecoming 2 place where pople rm aound the world goto do scientific esearch, EUROPE: U.K A.Sworep Research opportunities in nda ae limite for WK. ctizens, but ne nites are making up fst tie, US: American Tales in India A. Feakas ‘American researchers who have led and woke in Indi ay that thebeneis eutwoigh Be many challenges ‘GRANTSNET: Guide to Financing Research Exchanges With ingia A. fotck ‘Scents seeking tnd fr research in ina can ook to intsnationl and bltea sources Baby Steps Initiative ims to Renen Old Tes i Septet orlstnsbos these peat ma brea fe et ace wuwscioncemag.org SCIENCE VOL315 27 APRIL 2007 509[EXTREME PRECISION WITH UNPARALLELED SPEED AND ROBUSTNESS \With Phusion HighFdity DNA Polymorase, thera sro need to compromi our PCA performance, A superior choice fo clorrg ths reconbirant polymer ner than Fag DNA Poymerce, st aceuratethermostabio NA Poijnatase is Supima vacinty offre, or with a spactot has an rrr rato 50-fld raking & them or nceased soci, évaiages: vue idly Ngwestof ary Paani Fey DNA Pohmease EB FSS thermostable polymerase ih Speed ~ Eero rset eave edad obusoesa— Reduce rection faves rant wth meal opumzati sms gh Yl reeaco rod ile ae sath mnimal ore arounts Speciiy— Hot stat medicaton cuca son spect spiicato Fa nan lortonsinevee WMWuNeDCOM aks tn. -SODNESLABS TL 9) STC Fe 97097-1940 edo Gammon To (245527 edt com hina Te ICIS betngBre chino Ne ta (Canad et 0) 28-085 deans con Ta C1605 te e from New England Biolabs "eit Fite, xpress new Phin Highs) OWA Paynes tb gnet ton trar bra eng at ae terry msgs caneedstosisnn ry ern ees Reh [WA Parse vas abe any he ara anes rg 2 fussy eon | sae Ad. asige i PRs Peers Dohee We ys an 25a Sua Pras ess OMAP Phat aatnenc ayes etc y Dnt SFINNZYMES GG NEW ENouaND > in iets cme hay<< Micromanaging the Immune System Micro-RNA (aniRNAS) are abundant small RNA species that have emerged as key regulators in many biological processes. Rodriguez et el. (p. 608; ee the nens story by Couzin) observed that mice deficient in miRNA-155 develop spontaneous inflammation of the lungs and have accompany’ ing defects in antigen presentation, a well as T cel and B cal function, Exploring the same miRNA, Tha etal. (. 604; see the news story by Couzin) observed a similar T and 8 cell deticency that resulted in a suboptimal response ofthe germinal center, which ‘is needed for T cell-mediated antibody production. Although both studies provide some evidence for how this miRNA mediates its effects, the nent important step wil be to identify the precise mecha nism and critical target genes involved EDITED BY STELLA HURTLEY AND PHIL SZUROMN Solving Nanoscale Structure Fox many materials, if you can gro sulicenty large, high-quality crys, there are many teols for determining the cystal structure, and in some Cases the process canbe uly automated Honever, for materia that have stuctural fea ‘ures that ae inherently nanoscale Guch as ees in zeolites or that may not be uly crytaline, the Solution ofthe phase problem fs more éaurtin. Billinge and Levin (p. 551 review recent ross inthis area and note the benefits of eater ntegaticn of data though complex mod fling from a wie of rngeof circ and indirect, methods that probe beth bulk and local deta, Disappearing in the Twilight Zone Mest of the orgaiccarben produced inthe sult upper layer ofthe ocean recycled Gerinera ized as dead cxganiss sink to greater depths bout there considerable uncertainty about how efficent ths remireraation proces iin the ‘xean’s“wilght zone” (depths between the bot tom ef the euphotic zme anc about 1000 mete) Buesseler etal (p. 567, see the coverDhave used neutrally buoyant secimert aps that cansample Datiles ore faith than raps moored in xed spots that are subject o strong cross-flow nom acean cueats.Thetiansfe efficient of sinking part culate organic matter cifered by morethana factor of 2 benween the mo stes examine this iference is poorly represented in present biogeochemical models Life Without Dynamin Dynamin 1's neuron specific guanosine triphosphatase involved inthe endoctic recycling of synaptic vesicle membranes. Feiguson etal (9.510; spective by Robinson) crated genetically eng neered mice lacking ynamin 1 and found, surprisingly, tha they com tained functional synapses and had limited postnatal viel, However, the synapses of theve dmamin 1 knockouts con tained branched, tubular plasma membrane ivaginations capped by cari late is then converted —via subsequent teactior inthe peroxisome and mito hondsion—into olycerate, but in oina 50 one-quarter ofthe already fxed carbon atoms are lost a5 C0, with the concom tant debiting of already fixed nitrogen atoms inthe {erm of ammonia, increas ‘ng the local concentration of CO, relative to, isan evolutionary achievement found in C, plants (such 3s corn), and effort to introduce a CO,-concentratin ‘macule int C plants (uch a rice) have been pursued Kebeish el. describe means of reduc ‘ng the material cost of carbon-atom recovery from glyoxylate. They have engineered theta geting of three bacterial enzymes othe chiro: ples in Arabidopsis. the result is that when two 516 1.Am, Chem ec, 129, 102021F320706347 (2007. molecules of elyorlate are converted into one of glycerate, the CO, that is berated isnot lost but i recaptured by rubisc: the consequences ae a decrease in photorespiration, an increase in photosynthesis, and more biomass (leaves and roots) produced, — IC Proc Natl Acad. Si USA 103, 7286 2008), ‘et. Botecna. 25, 10.1038/001299 (2007). Generics Are We Close Yet? Large-scale genome-based surveys that lok for ‘correlations of phenotype with genatype typ ‘ally examine large numbers of individuals the results often depend on assumptions, which may not always withsland close scrutiny, about the undery ing structure of the populations frorn which these individuals ate drawn. Building on analy Sib of variance ess that asess \abether the observed variation Genetic relations across 51 populations between populations is signif cantand an duster analytic methods, Nievergeltet a. ntroduce the general: aed analysis of molecular variance (GAMOVA). Ths approach extends a previous tednnigue krown a the analysis of molecular variance by creating a genetic background dis tance matric and applying it toa multivariate regression analysis to test hypotheses about pop ulation structure, Several large human data sets (Cente tude éu Poiymorphisme-Human Genome Diversity Project; Hone’ raniometic characters; and Haplap) were reanalyzed with GAMOVAin order to demonstrate its potential for detecting population-level structure even _among inciiduals in egions of ton population differentiation. — UNZ PLoS Genet 3, 651 (2000) Heptacoordinate Mercury Although difraction techniques have afercd etailed pictures of atomic arrangements in solids, determining the cortesponding structures in solution, where most reactions occu, ihn: dered by rap iluctuations inthe coordination ‘environment. The solvation shell structure of aqueous mercuric ions is of interest on account ofthe metals toxicity, but has proven tobe an ‘especially elusive target because of the absence ‘of strong characters features inthe visible aborption spectrun. inferences from the solid state have favored a distorted octahedral, oF hexaccordinate, arrangement of water molecules around the central H(t ion. Chile etal. present experimental and theoret: ical evidence implicating the presence of an ‘otra water molecule in the shel, gving rise to an unusual seven-coosdinate artangement.F mary support fortis claim emerges from xray 27 APRIL 2007 VOL316 SCIENCE ynwrscioncomag.orgabsorption near-edge spectra, which ae not con sistent with an octahedral shell. Quantum chemi Cal caleulatons and accompanying molecla dynamics simulations paint a pitue of a flexible seven membered sell that persists far sv nanoseconds, while occasionally acceptin ral water to create much shorter-lved sic expel and eight coordinate environments. — |S 1A Cher. So. ¥29,10:1021/90559837 2007) ARibbon-Cutting Ceremony The Golgi comples isa collection of stacked and Jmerconnedted membranes found in a junta rvclear position in most nucleated animal cells During cltevision, tie Golgi complen fragment, presumably to allow for the part tioning of Golgi mer branes toboth daug’ ter cells, anda protein relered ts BARS (bretelcin AAD? ribo sylated substrate also nou a6 CBPL-S) is important in this proces. The BARS po Golgi stacks from one another, a this is sional step has been shoan tobe required for succesful miosis, Hoa then can some cells ivde without BARS? Cola et a aderessed this issue by examining Golgi cheracterisics ina variety of cell ypes. They found tat fibroblasts trom mice genetically ceficent in BARS de not possess an ected Golgi ridbon, and that BARS acti reguited for the completion of mits, Intact (bottom) and severed (top) Golgi ribbons. fs ty was. (On the other hand, in normal fibroblasts, where Gelgi stacks were robustly linked, BARS mediated scission was essential, — SNH £480). 26, 10.1038, 7601686 (2007. 3 Alleviating Allergies B tre oberon activation of Thaler D4 bm 4 phocytes can result in damaging aleak E responses. nd hence a geal deal ofertas 2 been drectec toward understanding the mecha 8 nisms that normally equate these cel § Grohmann ct show that a soluble form of 8 ucoconicalé inducible umor necoss factor EDITORS'CHOICE receptor (GIR) cross-regulates allergic responses in mice by signaling through its omn ligand. This causes plasmacytoid dendritic cells (p05) to procuce indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (100), which mediates strong immunomadula 1ry effects though the catabolism of ypto phan. Administration of the synthetic glucocort (cid dexamethasone reduced symptoms of aller sic responses in mice, including aimay inflam mation, an¢ this effect dependeé on GITR incuced IDO, suggesting that this pathway may prerate some actions of corticsterids. in another study, Kanthou et al. observed thatthe regulatory cytokine osteopontn is expressed in ‘an diectly fect allegic airway inflamenation in mice, again via the activities of pO. tn this 5 however, allergic resporses were promoted by osteopontin during the primary phase of ant gen challenge, whereas it exerted an anti ieflammatory influence during secondary tallence. The two mediators identified in these studies —GITR induced 100 and aste0pon. tin—may offer targets for the treatment of, asthma. SIS ‘at ed 13, 10.1038/9563; 10 1038/1560 eo) the lugs of asthma patients a Arpuieo pnysics An Electrical Spin on Magnetism Magnetic ferroelectrics (miiferois) are mate rials that can respond to electric and magnetic fields It's commen in devices suchas hard drives to take advantage ofthe large response (to.an applied magaeticfetd) of the electronic h glan magnetoresstance, In contrast, the inverse eect, contol ofthe state ofa material wt magnetic structure by an applied electric el is comparatively rare. Because ofthe prespact of faster switching times in smaller memory devices, there is much interest in developing such eletrcaly controled magnetic materials Recent theoretical work suggested that a key property to ook for in such a material is spin tality It as proposed that materials in which the magnetic moments ofthe individual atoms fom asplral structure should also exhibit an electrical response. Yamasaki et al. go some way toward putting that theory inc practice by showing thatthe spin helicity in single cys talline ThAnO, can be electrically snitched from rotating clockwise to counterclacknise by appl Cation of an electric poling fel asthe material & cooled through the helcak spin ansition temperature. Probing by neutron scattering revealed thatthe handedness ofthe chiral spin structure is controlled bythe polarity ofthe poling field. — 180 Phys. ev. et. 98, 147204 (2007 SCIENCE PERU & the Incas July 29-August 8, 2007 Youare invited tajoin Dr. Douglas Sharon, an expert on Peru, om this 11-day expedition 10 explore the cultural heritage and scenic wonders of this.Andean nation Highlights of the wip include Cuzeoand Machu Picchu heart of the Inca Empire and tone of the archaeological won- ders of the world. You will also go flighiseeing above the 2000. Wear-old figures of butterflies hummingbirds, and a condor at the Nazea Lines: see the step pyramids of Pach: ahd the fascinating museums of Lima. Peru has been inhabited by people forat least 12,000 years us rich cultural heritage from Chanin to Moche, from Nazca olnea, is revealed in their jewelry, pottery, weavings, architecture, and agricultural developments. The coastal lowlands have seen numerous uftures flourish, fade, and beassimilated in the next nave of man’s quest. $3.09 uwin share ate Tora delailed brochure, please call (800) 252-4910 AAAS Travels 17050 Montebello Rou Cupertino, California 95014 mail AUASInoshetchatexpedtions co VOL316 27 APRIL2007 517SPOTLIGHT: SINGAPORE Dr. Edison Liu is Pushing Science to the Highest Level at Singapore’s Cancer Syndicate and Genome Institute With breast cancer as your special area of interest, what is your research focusing on right now? We are focusing on the systems biology of cancer. Transcription factors such as the estrogen receptor and p§3 are central to the development of breast cancer. With genomic tecrnologies, we can map the exact control mechanisms of these factors and potentially direct precise changes using special drugs. We are hoping to make targeted therapeutics a reality. What drew you to relocate after so many years in the U.S. and your success at the National Cancer Institute (USA)? | was intrigued by the otfer to create & research institute tat integrates ‘genomics with computational sciences, biology and medicine. | knevr this required not ony excellent funding, but also administrative freedom and the ability to craft a new research culture. Allof this was buit into Singapore's scientific environment. Then there He Singaoore's vision of making science and technology a real cornerstone of its nomly, and research a part ofits social culture, The opportunity to do ‘good for a society through one's daily work was too good to pass up. Do you enjoy everyday life in Singapore? Yes, very much. Itis a lvely, changing environment that is truly multicultural The efficiency and rationality of the government is legendary, but the real joy has been in participating in the buzz of change. Singapore Is a very cosmopolitan metropolis, an example of what we will all need to become. As natural resources become depleted in cry pcs this world and there are no more habitable territories to colonize, we ‘must all emulate Singaporeans in hi ve marage Our precious natural and human resources. This requires thoughtful leadership and for all of us to be intelligent stewards of our environment Tell us about the Singapore Cancer Syndicate. The cancer syndicate is funding agency that arose from my conversations th Sydney Brenner (Chairman ofthe Biomedical Research Council, A" STAR, Singapore) and Prilio Yeo (former Chairman of A'STAR, now Senior Adviser on Science and Technology to the Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore). They asked my opinion of what Singapore needed to solidify its bbeachead in cancer research. | told them that the greatest challenge was to enhance translational research capabilities and to encourage ‘organized cooperation among Singaporeanresearchers. Knovring precisely vhat the challanges are for translational research from my experience at the National Cancer Institute (USA), proposed 2 funding agency that supports physical and talent infrastructure, uses just-in-time” funding to encourage progressive results and continuous {quality improvement, and demands the ‘building of research consortia, This was a significant break from the standard funding mechanisms, but it worked. This syndicate template is being used in ther fields now, ster cell biology and bio-imaging, And how about your work as director of the Genome Institute of Singapore? It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my lite. We started ‘om seratch with only three members snd now have over 260 full-time stat Following examples in Singaporean history, we were able to create something good out of nothing. My time is devoted to recruiting ‘mentoring scientists, to helping my colleagues here push their science to the highest level, to maintaining a culture of excellence, cooperation and collegiality, and to enhancing the reach of research and science into the fabric of a society. Tell us about some of the exciting work at the Genome Institute. Are there recent breakthroughs? Over the past few years, our Genome Biology and Technology group, headed by Yijun Ruan and Chialin Wel, has developed several novel cloning technologies that allow for remarkable speed and precision in identifying all the transcripts in a cell system and all the binding sites of any transcription factor. This breakthrough technology has enabled us to explore fundamental control mechanisms, especially in cancer (p53, myo, and estrogen receptor) and stem cells (Oct4, Sox2, Sal4, Nanog). How does the Genome Institute fit into Biopolis, Singapore's biomedical hub? Biopolis is a 210,000 sq} biomedical research complex comprised of rine buildings. it houses six research institutes and more than 2,000 sceentists, Built at a total cost of more than S$500 million (approx. USS328 milion}, Blopoli the-art facilities for biomedical research ‘The Genome Institute of Singapore is ‘one of the research institutes, and itis housed in its ovrn building meter What makes Biopolis a unique home base for research? ‘The concept is that Biopolis is a place where scientists can work, lve and play. With its superb scientific facilities, plu Testaurant, cafes and bistros, shops, ‘gyms and access to pubii transportation, Biopolis provides a ‘complete environment in which research can be conducted with minimal external stress. The co-location Of private sector R&D labs also allows for close interaction and colaboration and synergizes well with the publi research institutes. Who are some of the other scientists working in Singapore that you particularly admire? There are too many to count, However, special mention should be given to the remarkable scientists working in the Genome Institute of Singapore. Yijun Ruan and Chialin Wei, who head cur Genome Technologies aroup ha developed very novel ways to clone ar sequi to ache to 300-fold efficiency trom standa approaches. Huck Hui Ng from our Stem Cell and Developmental Biology foup has done a superb job of rapping the precise control nodes of the master switches of embryonic stem cell differentiation. Qiang Yu, who came wrth me from the National Cancer Institute (USA), has identified a novel compound that disrupts an epigenetic, pathway to kil cancer cells. What does Singapore's ability to attract high-profile scientists from around the globe mean for your work? I means we have more friends to play i and that the impact of our work Ibe even greater. It also means that Singapore wil achieve international US a8 a locus for scientific research much faster than one can imagine NUN Tucan e oe area Pare REMC) Pe ee on cr) z Te emt eu Ley Oe eee es nomics & Family Medicine ‘American Assoslation of Cancer Research (AACA) Conference on Translational Cancer Medicine r Pee eee eo) nec ORe RA sane520 Science 1200 ow vor ven, ‘washegton, 070005 a 585 RC TAZ Now BLANEY Cambridge, UK Bz 110 seu as susan fd 9 0225 26591, Seemed nd ot gctns Bue OH HG BET Soma et AU ELIS tg sea 1, exer, nao Oc 2mm 8 ws ember Sees {BeShow rt coe A Rogan, TONE vm teres ECT, SESSRECRY acs Pk nine Fr CBee (0a te ctr pons 0 260 HG Le rr Seaiayd senso nS: OherBeis S enberS eteotiTe waauesbaa. ‘ome ongne599 doegewnteens aes scmeneesgainog Grae atostiees ‘Sect remwoaog Gran mane) ‘owes te hrwrcan Aézeaten tthe Ader ol Scenes Ind te meseaton dra cada paket view ‘ahr psy rota in oh one hc ‘ioe cy anh cy felntaaivn ete nanan oca yore wa Fjucnito te asset be neous {Shem ccne sd moitontreegha ‘nage ple dering oh SowtSina on elo esa ae Sc nes 120 ard 21a te aur 2007 hea 20 meuicocenapoghnoetidanerestin ‘cn. onal Nannety totam Bebra Jam, conor ‘mvt tees ‘pun sero soot il, 00 mot eno eowomesn ommend Pre ‘ian Neea toa ier enna by ket Cogan Rado ast Yea Dr ‘seme eas, as amo sr ‘chasm oma tah smcemoesnsesa [Serious on nap eran ‘a mono eoventeey ECen Cpt, sh Seba omy rr ame oom ath nc her ree omens Cee, ely ‘Slignacenacammnar Forbes Oar Pain os a ci mot an ate payne Bene or tntaech renew Egon cagir mh ea ott ewer ct HM, {Stal ws Snpe rm ome 1G Cane ca Dae Fen bone ‘rin al eat mr Sr os ‘or es nds 8 Fen al ‘Corn, Sa Ban ‘Stesnune son Stetane han, ae Gar, mae Seicey ce slots oe Messe ese ae wtp SESH Say cA 7 1028) ETE STH ace rum aunus aca not saosin Wy or ‘iro ama rcp ems GrahopiarjeseaNewted mowwme tole Band repent mm ene ‘ype nmentvons Cae hon Goce 1) 22 5 sis Se ‘tr: maa me nee Br oon ae Scena Co 15013019) ty comer ene code ‘Pan Non én eae ed Pa, te Sean ‘as go cha Capron ie hela, Fos anv, 3 ‘Titinsrdn Cues datas aa St Ineo 28 lolswoeere rset (0 sete er manta er ormshved Sve e142 S08 aveeganse ‘Sisscrcmmnrvets Genie ora api: oa 8) RSormc ro s93095)1 mominegnom ete 3 1030 4s a D0 efoto 8 OE sce rR Alan ener Siamlaame ecto ‘Scum tet urbe ony nen a Suerte ae ie nt ‘Semon hitmen om mar irae ie Ye wc me Satie Sad naaoor tant wee ja tit ow reese stgsangsrinn nooner he nt cone ca Gere Be AOE SIRI Si come is Senn atin ieee pmnoy eh 8 SRE Seat G8 aitaream oe ‘oom rtngerecane seme Fernando 2 34-5149 web Pty 20239857. oleneear rams Seuieeeeetoe Eaeceeerrmnoes iacrorecined Seoretamer ooetaee peg ns Sarat sharon screen tee es Eiiacceeee AVAAAS ferent ne Eres pated TE ae 1 ie ete oom cape ene Pee et ate eR ene ee Ee crnmacoar STE aa Eee a ie aes an Hae Birt ar a Pie eed copennew Se Racer viomay Raat m7 BigAee Beis een BEE a am Sateen soiree Sates So Site BEART csr 27 APRIL 2007 VOL 316 SCIENCE wwwnsciencemag.org,mirVana’ microRNA Isolation Pe mE a —. recovered the Mose mikny, - qe two OThey kirs A Comyrere ey feet Olen Microeyi4 ae noe hip Le Ming ehicidaath epresst, TaqMan’ Assay Quantitation. All in Real Time a aoa ore CC TLL cd on at wwrw.ambion.com/ABsynergy/miRNA Ambion’ formance. Proven Together.Galapagos Islands & ECUADOR Expedition July 21-30, 2007 lersiand ution, the ‘and speciation, The sheer amount of wild Walk amo. sivim with sea You will pr-.o-be-forgotien nest vessels in the os fleet! From $4,150 Fora detailed brochure, AAAS Travels 50 Montebello Road Cupertino, California 95014 inal: AAASInvebeteartepeliionscom = Science LG = TR eR ae Ree oe ue anon ecg PoC eee ed eC an cur mee Te) Pen er cea Ces COMPREHENSIVE # CLEAR # ACCESSIBLE Te RRAlgorithmically Yours Like other controversial proposals, a plan for orotecting polar beats threatened by recedin ice touched off a torrent of mail—more than va a ition corn he U.S. Fish an hs time, to head off logistical nightmare, social scientists and bythe Nt archers funde I Sciene J taoithes toot fre ees, orp them 5 pennant Thte he Bh § Administration’ .. but they are forthe fist Ee ean E mental te “no ec ar economics, THShys ni ona § Modern Life Bad = for Boys? B Ast month reported a slight but stea 2 nthe rato of boys to gs bor hema, 105 os oe bom fr eey © 100 girs. Epidemiologist Deva Lee Davis an NSTANCE HOLDEN Astro Tool Kit 1 up charge-coupled device images of galaxies, rvatoty (NVO)" air heir share of drudgery. The Hational Vitual Ob States, the fan international network of astronomy Run by scientists from around the Unite ‘sources I includes a master list of cosmic catalogs, image archives, end other information caches, If yo f the night shy, anather feature wi telescope distortion and eady nabbed an exposur ‘unwarp” it to remov cour the image fo estial objects, For more timesavers, such as a module for analyzing and comparing spectra, check the related VO Web Services site ttawa, Canad, reported in 2005 that in the Aamjiwnaang First Nation community in mall, but the changes between 1970 a Sarnia, Ontario, the sex ratio had declines to 2002 ate equivalent toa shit from male to bout 103 since the early 1950s—belleved female of 125,000 babies i the U. 10 be related tothe tribe's proximity te 135,000 n Japan petrochemical plat Many industrial chemicals have estrogenic he decline in mae births coincides fects that can sabotage male gestation, the th “other signs that male reproductive Perspectives. But incteasing obesity, late ag counts, Davis warns, Harvard epidemiolog Iitabearing, ac of reproductive tech opt says the stody adds to nologies could also have a hand, Nailin that “there are secular changes causes will equire more detailed studies, th ex ato occuring,” but the causes a say. For example researchersat the University | stil not cea ‘Aird in hang led to a rabbit in the bush recently fora Wildlife Conservation Soca (WCS) team working in Sumatra, Indcnesia, In Janay, local rapoer presen with a lve Suraran found cuckoo, a species once thought eatin (belo). Seeking more dat, the tea traps in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. instead of abi up camera gt shots of the equaly rare end endangered Sumaten striped rbbit lst potted by camera tap 7 years aco. “You don ‘expect to see rabbit ina tropical ainforst,” much less ped ces, says Nick Brice, hea Indonesia Program. twas bal od tobe the only Stiped rabbit in existence until researches discovered ‘ne in 1999 in Laotian mountains. Nearnhile,the team reco ne call ofthe captured cud. nt back into the for ©, playad the tape, and utp ‘couple of wil ones,” the fr as Bridle. The aroup tues ofboth spec says Brice by scentst plans furthe Fethaps more important they have gained tno: SCIENCE 1 PRIL 2007 523Non-murine extracellular matrix for tumor xenografts . Semi-synthetic 10% off on orders before June 1 (use coupon code GS0310) * Biocompatible * High efficiency 9 lycosan Also optimal for Primary biosystems Hepatocyte and 3-D Cell Culture, Hydrogels for in vivo and in vitro Applications Stem Cell Cultivation wwweglycosan.com nitive res c A gies ular regulation Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment offersI NEWSMAKERS EDITED BY YUDHIJIT BHATTACHARIEE An Unspeakable Campus Tragedy BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA—Two days aflera student une people and himself’ here at Virginia olyiechnie Institute and State University, the Drllfield the heart of eampas was eerily quiet. Instead of hun dreds of students hustling to elas or tossing Frisbee few dozen people stood solemnly around makeshift jed in the massacre were a al, Among those ki nei iar professor students in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). The and Mechinies (ESN) lost to esteemed focully members and their Norris Hall, where most ofthe victims lied, will be closed inderinitey week, the faculty of wo enginecting departments held emergency meetings, ying to come to grips with the tragedy Accandletig Science mourns the lives lest on 16 April and offers aac ences to the survivors. Staff writer Greg Miller rua provides these remembrances of some of the Victims. LIVIU LIBRESCU forevaluating move- | accolades, he won one of three university ARomanian-born aerespace engines ment disorders, wide Wine Axards for Excellence in Teaching ibrescu, 76, survive the Holocaust a a chile says Mark Abel, an last year Loganathan seemed to inspire and emigrat clin the 19705, He joined orthopedic surgeon at Uunderoraductes with his enthusiasm and, say his colleagues, knew how to push his grad students hard ithout being unking, aganathan teaching his Advances N- Hydrology course i the ESM department at Virginia Tech in 1985. the University of Vig Librescu studied how the inherent lexbility i in Charlottesville who structures such a airplane wings and helicopter had a callaboration ctor blades affects their aerodynamic prooe with Granata aimed a is, says Walter Sika, an aerespace enginee designing better braces at NASA's Langley Research Center in Norfolk, | foreildren with cerebral paly. Virginia, "He's very well-knoan internationally, Granata and he had some reason to be arrogant, but he taught me h was actually very humble,” Silva says says Sara Win, a mechanical engineer atthe Norris Hall when the gun Students recall Librescu as father figure. | University of Kansasin Lawrence, who trained | man burst in, king him ane rine students Afoumer student and | with Granata asa pesto. “He was passionate longtime collaborate about his research and worked really hard, but | THE STUDENTS Ohsep Song of Chungnam | he also reserved time for his family It was clear from the beginning tha National University in Granata’soffce a5 on the third floor 0 jeremy Herbstritt was enthusiastic about Daejeon, South Korea, | Norris Hall, one floor above where the shoot | science, says CEE professor Panayiotis Diplas, says tha Librescu always | ings tok place, Hearing the noise beow, who was his advise. tending an oper Fetuined irom far-off Granata went to see whether he could help house for prospective graduate students conferences with presents | but only after ushering 20 students from a last yar, Herostrit stretched his scheduled : thecldren of his | neaiby classroom int the safety of his office, | 15-minute visit with Diplas into a 40-minute raduate students, treat- | according toa repert inthe Washington Past. | discussion of potential research projects. ing themas if they were his own grandchiléren, | “Kevin was a tough guy,” says Abel. "He'snot | "He wasa person with tremendous energy, ‘Accarding to many reports, Librescu threw | the kindof quy ta heara bunch of commation | Diplas says. his body against the door of his classroom, | and craw under 2 des Herbstritt was one of seven CEE graduat giving his students time to flee as the qunman students from Loganathan’s cass who died, ried to force his way in. One note eft at the | G. V. LOGANATHAN along with Brian Bluhm, Daniel O'Neil, Juan Drilfield memorial read: "ibrescu, My hero, | Colleagues unitormly desrive Loganathen, Ortiz, Waleed Shaalan, Matthen Gnaliney, & Goody, Professor 51, as one of the nicest people they'd ever met. | and Partahi Lumbantoruan. The other 2 Born in India, Loganathan came to the United | ‘two victims in lass were Julia Pryde KEVIN GRANATA States for graduate school and joined the a oraduate student in biological systems Granata, 46, an ESN faculty member, was ars- | CEE department at Viginia Tech in 1982. He | engineering, and Jarrett Lane, a civil ing star in biomechanics whose research was an expert in water-resources management. | engineeting major bridged the gap betveen engineering and Unassuming and ccllegial, Loganathan Six other undergraduates majering in wecical sciences. “Kevin had avery keen mind | hada gift for aching. Among many other | ence or engineering were killed inthe rampags ncoma: SCIENCE VOL 31 1. 2007 525526 STEM CELLS Stem Cell President Quits After Acrimonious Meeting Zach Hall was so rattled by arecent me at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) ll institute set up by statewide referendum in 2004—that he decided to quit as president earlier than he had planned, Hall eited the intent over likely d ‘disbursing money for construction of new the $3 billion ster as well as his disapp. research facilities that scientists say are crucially needed. CIRM, of its board fo 0 April departure and the conflict over how to 8222 mil Both issues arose from a 13 April mect ing of CIRM $ facilities work: respond! 1o Hall oceed with a g group. at which patient advocates balked at the ie of having o Request for Applications (RFA) ready by June for the so-c la bers of the group wanted more time to ¢ facilities grant program. The mem consult experts on technical issues and sound out the publie on what and where Facilities are needed. Neviroscientist Hall, CIRM's founding president, had earlier intended despite y in May to stay the 5 June meeting of the Indopen: dent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (ICOC). But, he wrote the board, “the ex asionally itis im both my best interest and that of the Institute for me to sep down at this time” The state's universities see construction of new research facilities sn essential part of the grand plan for CIRM. Ata 10 April ICOC me esearch institutions expressed the need 16 eedily. COC Chair Robert Klein and at observed thi 10% inflation cost $60 million. The panel decided in a straw vote not to ose more time by conduct ate, a I-year delay would ing a “survey of institutional plans” to gain the RFA. 27 APRIL 2007 Hall confidently predicted that the RFA covering $150 million for a handfal of big construction grants and $72 million for 5 million w S10 milion granis—would be ready by July at the latest, Hall wos taken aback by the very different reception he got at the facilities soup meet te. That group is made up of disease advocates who are alo members of ICOC. as well as California rea estate specialists: for contlictor researchers or university official M that they were ill members of the working group lobbied for more time for assessment. “If we don't we"re going to be ina situation where we're backing the Brinks truck up to 8 couple of Burned out. ach Hal, facing surgery. i leaving CARN this month, VOL 316 SCIENCE x institutions that have warned AIDS Diabetes Feit said the public ally wel access to a ton of wealth, patient advocate Jeff Sheeh} patient advocate Marc has to be consulted: “I don teare if we have ‘0 meet with a hundred people or 2 million people, ... That's our responsibility” Judging by the meeting transcript, the ot abit tense. Tall se aime med per nlexed. saying that he faced a “dilemma pecause “there isa real split bewveen what his ... working group is saying, and what wwas Said at the [COC meeting by’... those ‘epresenting the scientific community.” The facilities group ended up voting unani mously for public hearings, There isa “cul ural difference” between the dise 1 advo cates and scientists “who understand the Such a differ ments by Joan Samuelson, who represents he Parkinson's Action Network. “I've been hearing fram lots of people [who say} Don’t throw a lot of money at facilities said Samuelson, She added that is private ‘companies, not universities, that comme up swith cures. Sheehy later told Seéence, “Km feet betrayed” by Hall's attempx to dismiss the arguments ofthe dis At this point, he says, the group has “po evidence basis from stunned cease advocates working err k's meeting: whether to go ahead CIRM. Als facilities committe needed is a new head for th whose chair, Califor nia developer Albert “Rusty” Doms, signed abruptly without explanation afler the 13 April mee But there's light atthe end of the tunnel The presidential search is m ing ahead apace. The search committer will be inter a half-de May, with final candidates to be considered atthe June ICOC meeting, CIRM also fi its Final hurdle in the lawsuits chat have Ji The Cal: fornia Supren ied shortly Cout is expec turn down a final appeal from groups to get CIRM declared in which case money start rolling in as early CONSTANCE HOLDEN 3 i g 5GEOCHEMISTRY Ce ee te emer ee Perr aan) Humongous Eruptions Linked to Dramatic Environmental Changes Reve tropic cha hers looking for the cause of big. cat on planet Earth have fin 1d anew one: so-called flood basalt erup- tions, o large igncous provinces (LIPs) erup tions. These are no Mount St. Helenss even Krakataus, which cooled the planet a ul painted pretty sunsets for a couple af years, No, as spew 100 times the magi of anythi in historical times. Th thatean follow the fr ale LIP eruptionean 1000 such eruptions could build ahaa pile millions of cubic kilometers, Sush ma volcanic aetivity set 110 have dramatically altered the atmosphere and oceans for hun ‘goad again 56 million yearsago, according The newly strengthened link between geologic record containing two signatures that ofa LIP eruption and another ofa geolog ically abrupt environmental change. On page 387 ologist Michael Storey of Roskilde University in Denmark and co: Feagues use precise rock dating to tie the out Pourings ofa LIP-—sehose remains now span the North Adantic from Greenland to Grea Britain—to the sudden 5°C warming 56 mil: E lionyearsago known ashe Paleocene-Locene thermal maximum, or PETM (Seiewce 19 November 1999, p. 1465) ‘Scientists have long thought thatthe gign- von burst of jcenheuse gas—carbon dioxide ormethane-that marked the beginning ofthe PETM must be linked to the 5 million 10 10 million cubic kilometers of erupted North Alantie m: ma, if only because pened at about the same time. But having to ens in different records using ule th So Storey and his lifterent techniques e case les than esded mone rocks from the LIP using theargoreargon, technigue based on the radioactive decay of pokassium-d0. Combined wit previously pu lished data, the dating places one ofthe largest ana of the past quarter-illion The team a Smillion yenrsago lied angon-argon dat ing to voleanie ash buried in marine sedi- 1 Britain that also contain a record of the PETM. That ash Tayer had i ments southwest of Gi sv linked to @ LIP ash deposit in East Greenland with a similar age, but ihe researchers beat down the uncertainty by making a total of 30 age measurements on the two ashes, Using additional pub lished dating ofthe sediment between the ash layer andthe start of the PET, Storey and his colleagues put the beginning of the SCIENCE PETM at $5.6 million ye The new dating thus places the mos. de matie warring oftskindjust within the my of the ‘ofoagor the hagest vole think thatthe dati cx" says Pal Renne ofthe Berkeley Geochtonology Center in California, It “cer cainly provides strong linkage between the PETM ane she (LIP Another study has strengthened the link: ‘sani ourpourings ever age between massive volcanism ia the Caribbean and an abrupt transformation million years ago, known as ‘oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE2). OAES were a half-dozen episodes in the warm mid. Cretaceous period |20 million 19 80 million with so muck sediments accumulated nic matter that the sedi nents turned black, Something shite ocean ‘conditions to produce these “black shale’ sediments, perhaps fiom the deep sca. The eading candidate Fora rigger is large Voleanic eruptions, ‘OAE2 the archetypal OAE event, had been linked to the massive Canbbean LIP throug dating, bt sechemist Junichiro Kroda of the Instirue for Research on Earth Evolution in Yokoska, Japan and colle ceat approach, They harked back to thesearch in the 1980s for markers ofa lr es ok a differ lite snuffed out 65 million years ago, Instead of inby an inpictin asteroid, they looked at sedimentary lead, a ooxential marker of ed nponition across the onset of tan cuterop in Kaly vek's source, They ta OAL Inafew cemimetersof sediment leading up tothe start of OAE2 and beyond the relative proportion of leade20S dropped preci hey fan. “The way it moves is difficult to explain without volcano” contributing inctive mix of lea isotopes. says gene Catherine Chauvel ofthe University of Grenoble France, Inaddition, the new leaisotope ccm: position bears a particular resemblance to that of the Caribbean LIP, So. rare and extraordinary volcanic erup- al changes, stongly linking erup- ive eause to enviconmental effect. However thatlink isr’tyetekwifying justhow LIPsvwreak their avo mings on more of the cascading effess of humongouserupcions. RICHARD A. KERR or that researchers willl more APRIL 2007 5277 NEWS OF THE WEEK 528 LUNAR SCIENCE Congress Restores Funds for NASA Robotic Landers Angry U.S. lawmakers have he reseue of NASA's Fobotie lunar lander prog NASA chief Michael Griffin had pledged to shut down the pro. ree ram to save money, but after strong pressure from both House members, the space ranted ita reprieve by lunar researchers, puts more pressure on Griffin to pare other missions or win additional Fund- ing from Congress Ina 10 April letter, the chairs of NASA wo spending panels, Senaior Barbara Mikulski(D-MD) and Representative Alan Mollohan (DWV), ordered Griffin to restore $20 million to operate the lunar roboties office based at Marshall Space Flight Cen= ter in Huntsville, Alabama, The letter is 2 response 1o the agency's 2007 operating plan detailing how it intends to spend its $6.2 billion budget. apeoved in February the As lates 12 April, Griffin was lan must pass muster with Congress, hat there is no need far robots beyond the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter planned for launch next year. But on 19 April, a NASA spokesperson said that “right now there are EXOPLANETS rr no plans 0 close” the hinar robotics office The about than lunar dara, Faced with 2 $700 million shortfall in NASA'S exploration pro iffin decid this winter that the landers has more to do with jobs the deiails of which have not yet been ned —were a Iusury he could aot afford (Seience, 16 March, p, 1482), The upset Alubamaa Republican Senator Richard Shelby, who speutheaded the effor: to keep pen the Marshall office, ees. In an 18 April speech, aceordin The Hunisvile Tomes. the sensor noted with is 32 employ 1 year and eight Habitable, But Not Much Like Home For the first time, astronomers have found an Earth-like planet that could be habitable, Likean oasis in space, the rocky world, pos sibly covered with oceans, orbits.a puny red dlvarf star just over 20 light-ye the constellation Libra “On the treasure ‘map of the universe, one would be templed to mark this planet with an X." says team, member Xavier Delfosse of Grenoble University in Frans, Most of 200-plusexoplanets found v0 date are massive bulls of gas similar to upiter. Only two have been fou lesstham eight times the mess of Earth, One of these is too cold, the other too hot for lig tid water exis on its surface. But the new planet, found by Stéphane Udry of Geneva in Switzerland and his col leagues, orbits Observato ight in the habitable zone of its mother star, Gliese S81, where tempers turesare berween 0” and 4¢ 27 APRIL 2007 yo red dwar, Gliese 581 Shab. able zone is close-in: The planet is a met 10.7 million kilometers from the star one fourteenth the distance of Earth from the ‘and completes an orbit every 13 days. Tivo years ago, the team found a more ras sive planet in aneven closer orbit around the same star. And in the now data, taken by the European Southern Observatory's 3.G-meter telescope at La Silla ia Chile 84-day orbit, The results have been submit ted to Astronomy && Astrophysics Tiny periodic wobbles of the sir indicate that the mass ofthe new planet could be stra as five times that of Earth, strongly su bull of rock. not s. Udry concedes dependingon ‘heanglcbetween the orbit andour line of sg But he says, the mass cannot be rach k the planetary system would be unstable vou 36 anda-half months—funtil] we have a new NASA] administrator” Two day’ earlier, Griffin had reminded an Alabama delegation Visiting Washington about Marshall’ cental role in the human exploration effort, wich um to return astronauts wo the moon by 2020, NASA‘ operating plan forthe fiscal year hat ends on 30 September also reflects the rising costs of several science missions. NASA will spend $63 million mote in 2007 han it initially planned to heep the launch Laboratory from r Hdd S17 milo co cnsure a November launch of the Gama Ray Observatory and $37 million above what it had anticipated so that the ‘mission to find extrasolar planets can take off by the end of 2008, Those increased costs, combined with date for its Mars Sei ‘completing the space station and building are forcing NASA to find ney. Although the proposed climination of the lunar robotics program didn’t fly with key legislators, NASA's larger bualget problems aren't g Last woek, several Democratic lawmakers J the White House to meet with con. teressional leaders to fink! a way out of the ‘morass, B summit has elicited no response ANDREW LAWLER new Ta ‘The new discovery is “wonderful news, says Geoffrey Marcy of the University of California, Berkeley. whose team has found ‘more than half ofall exeplanets so fa. But planet hunter William Cochran of the Uni versity of Texas, Austin, says, “It remains to be seen how habitable this planet sewally is." Cochran points out that the planet may always keep one face tonal its mother sia Moreover, some theorists think that because of the way they form, planets close to red dvarfs may accumulate litte water Although it could in principle harbor liquid water hiscesmic oasis would find it very different from Earth, Says Udy ‘The Holy Grail would of course be a planet with the mass of the Ean, exbiting a star lke the sun, ina 365-day orbit, Bur we have Wg step by sep: ~GOVERT SCHILLING Gaver seilieg san astoromy writer in Aeron, he Weert. SCIENCE wwwrsciencemag.orgBIODEFENSE Proposed Biosecurity Review Plan Endorses Self-Regulation A federal advisory grouphas come up witha long awaited blueprint for how the US. gos cermment should cversee biological research Known as “dual use,” oF experiments that could potentially be used by bieterrorisis to cause harm, The voluntary plan would let scientists themselves decide whether theit project raises concerns, which would then ger a higher-level review a process some critics think is woetilly inadeques Many microbiologists like the idea of self-regulation. But even supporters are frustrated by the lack of details provided by the 25-member National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) 2 years of work. Meanwhile, few universi- ties have begun reviewing all genetic engi- neering experiments for dual use. approach that some say is inevitable The report follows the explosion of Federal biodefense research in response 10 the 2001 anthrax attacks. A 2004 National Research Council (NRC) report warned nt regulations could impede legitimate research and called fora self governing system of oversight, That panel described seven types of “experiments of concern” that would automatically bbe reviewed, sueh as enhancing the viru- lence of a pathogen, but lef it to a new Federal advisory committee NSABB 10 develop guidance NSABB. chaired by microbiologist y 4 screen et Proposed uieinesnold have f imei dede near the muh cad Dieiiotosmens wunuscioncomsg.o1g Dennis Kasper of Harvaad Medical School im Boston, has now dane that. Ina drafireport tists should report annually whether theit research is potentially “dual use of con- cern." perhaps starting with a check box on their grant proposal. A committe, perhaps an expanded version of the institutional biosafety commitees (IBC) tht now ove ineering experiments, would then rove te fed peer Although the microbiology community iy generally pleased with the plan, it is not entirely clear how it might work. Ronald Atlas ofthe University of Louisville in Ke tucky says it is “somewhat schizophrenic” that the report calls for 2 voluntary system jess that funding agencies make Nor ‘Sompliance a condition of fundin, does the report ta directly, he says, Ieaving it unck fan experiment 5 years poliovirus from scratch would even be cov- ered, Also left undecided is whether the rules should cover fields outside: the life sei- ‘ences, such as chemical engineering Richard Ebright of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, is much harsher He lambastes the committee's recommen- dacion that even ifn experiment fis into ‘one of the NRC report's seven categories, an or could deci thatthe work iso of concer.” These sub- ‘le syathetic bi 1." Ebright says, Ebrigh such as Alan Pearson of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Washing ton, D.C also say the guidelines should be The repott will now go toan interagency committee, which will seek public com- ment and likely ask NSABB to hone the guidelines. But some universities are going ahead on their own, At Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and two other schools participating in a regional bi dofense center, IBCs are already sereening all genetic engineering projects for biose- ccurty risks, on the grounds that scientists don't have the expertise or objectivity te decide. says Megan Davidson of Duke ~JOCELYN KAISER SCIENCE VOL316 27 APRIL 2007 Think Tiny, Kremlin Says Wah 51 bilion in nen announced goverment financing at ipesa one of Rusia’ ead ing crter of scenic sen the Kxchatov Insite, ll manage Russian nates teserh and developmen. The $1.1 Bion taretech nda announced laste. san enarmous sur for cence in Rus, whee the average eset slated wea only £1000 er manthby 2010. Theft 3 yeas of investment, aned tout a dozen ors0 research centen with eboratr ecm willbe fled bya second stage trun through 2005 “Ths wil help Russia emerge onthe intr atonal stage nanotechnology, he tad been inastate of decay” sys Mail cool the US. Matonal cence Founcaten, BRYON MACHANS AND on Simson Think Big, Report Suggests Te US. govenmest neds od a beter of puting int strates corte lars forme rutlar weapons, sy panel conned bythe American Aecaion for he Averceent of Science, nih publishes Science. Themain pein fnew report the pane mere ci dlozedin February cence, 9 Mach p. 1340, bat the ial veronica ne erphaion the “international implications” of the nascent felble Replace Waead RW fot tomate bonbs tat doit eed tobe ested Brace Tarte, nel cha adore cer cfLamenc vemore Nationa Laboratory ay. that the White House must explain “what are racer weapons for. an han may do ne ret The char ofthe Hosespering panel that contol nuclear neapons, Petr Voy (O-IN, isan RW skeptic andes called or suchbigsidureanowes.~£ULRINTSCH Indian Rockets Prove Lucrative [NEW DELHI—india entered the fiercely com petitive commercial space market with a bang ‘on 23 Apri with the launch ofan italian asttonomy satelite, The inclan Space Research Organisation SRO) is muscing in ‘ona multbillon-dolla business that has been the exclusive domain of racket effets in Europe, China, Russa, and the Urited Stats RO is trumpeting its cos advantage: t aged lay about $11 millon, a compet tive price given the launch location close to the equator. aly’ AGILE rat wil study, among other things, gamma ray bursts and ‘ark matter. (S20 chairG. Madhavan Nair called AGIL's launch a “historic moment.” “PALLAVA BAGLA 5297 NEWS OF THE WEEK 530 GENETICS Erasing MicroRNAs Reveals Their Powerful Punch For more than 2 decaes, biol minated the roles of genesby delet mice and sudying these “knocko which lack the proteins encoded by the tar= geted penes, Nov, scientists sy they re begin- ning to uncover an entirely new layer of gene regulation by using the same strategy o erase portions of genes that make snippets of RNA, Justas knockouts of traitonal proxin-coding wenes yielded a treasure trove of knowledge govern health and ‘on of knockouts About how this next g pps that remiin Ina flurry of papers, four independent _groups have forthe firs time deleted mouse genes for microRNAs, RNA molecules that time. the ed. with disease 1s were profoundly a nals dropping dead of rouble and others suffering mmune defects Since their discove than a decade ago, microRNAs have clectrified biologists Geneticists estimate that the human body employs at least 500 during development and adult life, But it wasn't clear especially in mammals, how important individual microRNAs vwere, because some evidence sug- gested that these gene-regulators had backups. In worms, for a particular eleting the rel ‘occasionally effect but more ofien didn’t appear to do much, “Lthink there was a fear that nothing could be found” by dele ing microRNA genes in mammals Medicine in Houston, Texas. As it ‘urns out, the opposite is true “There's a lot more that the microRNAs are doing that we didn't appreciate until now.” says Frank Shick, a developmental biologist at Yale University who studies microRNAs in worms Two othe groups that prodaced the meen- malian microRNA knockouts deleted the same sequence, foF miR-15S, and deseribe the flees on themeseimmune system on pages. ‘604 and 608. One team was led by Alkan Brafley de WelleomeTrustSangerinstinre 27 APRIL 2007 VOL316 SCIENCE and Martin Tarner ofthe Babraham Institute both in Cambridge, U.K.. and the other by Khus Rajewsky of Harvard Medical School in Boston. The other teams, one whose results \werepubkished online by Science on 22March (wwosciencemay.orgegi/conten/ abstract 1130089) and one whose work appeats in the 20 April issue of Cel! eliminated dif ferent microRNAs and documented defects inmouse hearts. The two groups that deleted miR+1 Found that the rodents’ T eells,B cells, and endeitic cells not function properly le ing the animals immunodeficient. The muta vion also cutdown the numberof cells inthe gut, where the cells help fight infection, triggered structural changes inthe ai the lungs. akin vo what happens inasthma, ‘Missing molecules. Compared to 3 normal meuse heart (op, ef, one fem 3 ‘mouse witha deleted microRNA (op, ght overexpresies sheet muscle gene {in re), among othe defects. rasing 2 etferemt miccRWA increased collagen ‘epost (green) in mouse lungs (above, right) compare te 9 nowt organ (bore te Sill, eft alone in a mice laeking miR-I atively sterile survived easily. But rst a strain of sal nclla, the animals failed to develop pret tion against the bacterium as quickly became apparent when most who were ‘exposed to it died within a month, “The ani mals were no longer able to generate im 1,.an immunologist, iologists typically see a specifi defect when they knock out aprotein-codi but eliminating a microRNA may pack a bigger a punch, because many are thouglit to contro) multiple miR-1S5, “you get much broader brush stokes... [and] very diverse immunologi- cal perturbations” says Corry. tospeculae limit damage caused by deleting individual microRNA. In the Cel! study in which ‘miR-1-2 was deleted the microRNA actually thas an identical win thats encoded bya gene ‘on anather chromosome. “We tho ‘wel have to delete both of them to abnormality in the animal; says Deepak Srivastayaof the Un versity of Ca an Fran. his group's mice died young of holes inthe heart. Others later died suddenly. prompting Srivastava and his colleagues to look for, and Find heart rhythm disturbances The heart problems discovered by Erie Olson ofthe University of ‘Texas Southwestern Medical Cer terin Dallas and his colleagues, which are also deseribed on page 575, were moresubile. They erased the microRNA miR-208 and at first thought the mice were normal ‘Only when they subjected the ani- mals to cardiac stress, by mimick= ing atherosclerosis and blocking thyroid signaling, di they observe that the animals” hearts reacted inappropriately tosuch sain ‘The faur teams that knocked out the various microRNAs sill don't know all the gene targets of each, molecule. The findings says Turner, really doleave opensalormorequus- tiersthan perhaps thereareanswer ‘One is whether these and other ‘microRNAs help explain inherited defexes in diseases for which genes have been elusive, Ailments from cancer to Alzheimer’ disease, says Catlo Croge of Obio State University in Columbus, who is studying microRNAs in wy “havea microRNA come ponent," Ir'sone that scientistsare beginning to Func fr in earnest, “JENNIFER COUZIN nw sciencomag.crg cisco, who kelthe work. ButhalfofBIG FACILITIES. Researchers Get in Synch Down Under MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—When his protein crystals melted en route to Japan last June, Jose Virghese bemoaned the loss of “morshs of work” Varahese, a protein erystallagrapher ‘who directs the structural biology program at CSIRO, sen. had planned to use Japan's Photon Factory to suuly he structure of human B amyloid a ‘cin implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, he no longer has to worry about project ‘orecking long-distance journeys: Staring this summer, he will be able to cary out the same ‘tues without leaving the continent. Last week, the sate of Vietoria urveiled the $170 million Australian Synchrotron: the nation’ first “We've always beenthe poor neighbor who can't come to the party" says Dean Morris. a physicist whos directed the machine's construction and fine-tuning. But with asynchrotron oftheirown—and the anly one on this side of the Southern Hen sphere—set to come online in July, Morris says, “Ausiralia will be a destination for researchers ffom around the world” Ausra is pinning much blossoming into a science powethouse on ‘whats essentallya gigantic doughntt-shaped microscope. By a electrons 10 nearly the speed of light andbending their path Within 2 200-meter-long magnetic racetack the synchrotron produces pencil-vilh beams ‘of photons 2 million cimes more inzense than sunlight, The Australian Syncbroxten will not be the most powerfil in the world; that ttle belongs othe SPring-8 synchrexron in Fly, Japon, But itsdesign allows forawide range of applications, ffom nanotechnology and cell biology to forensic sciences. Because ofthis versatility, the synchrotron “has attracted ort across the whole spectrum of national seience than any other projet in Aus- rain’ research history” says John Brumby. astralia’s national science its hopes for wunuscioncomsg.o1g Australias minister for innovation, Atfull capacity thesynchroiron isexpected tohostasmany as 1200 sciemistsa year, upto athird of whom will be from abroad. (Four of 1 3planned beamlines willbe valable by sum- met) The dreams, Morris ss, “isto put Ats~ tralia on the scentfiemap forbigimterational collaborations” He says that many here were ‘chagrined that Australia wasnt invited to join the ITER fusion reactor now being built in Cadarache, France, “We have the expertise to take part in these sorts of projects, bu without any world-class research facilities of our own, ‘we're not considered as being in the same sage" The new synchrotron is half of the solution, Morris say. The other half isa new esearch reactor near Sydney-—an upgrade of anokler facility —that provides neutron beans {or materials science experiments Earning respect isn't the only aim. The synchrotron should also boost homegrown produc: Casting the high beams on wool, for instance, will reveal the fine structure of fibers and enable scientist to tinker with tex tile properties. And the country’s mining establishment will benefit from a future Lamb and others hope the new machine vel help squelch one export: scientific talent, By opening major science facilities, Aus- train universities hope to entige top expstri- ate seiemtists to come back home, “These tools .., will enable Australia to compete effectively with researchers in the strongest Northern Hemisphere countries” says Robett Robinson, head of the Bragg Institute in ‘Spee. The Australian Synchrovten pats out 1 first call for project proposals next month, “JOHN BOHANNON SCIENCE VOL316 27 APRIL 2007 Things Looking Up Tokeep up with other spacefaring nations, the Unites Kingdom needs its own space agency, tie Royal Society said ths week in a submission toa government consuitation aiming to éran Lp aspace strategy forte yeas 2007-10. With government spending spread across nine Cepariments and funding agencies, Britain's space effort lacks fous, the society say, mak- ‘ng it patiularly hard forthe U.K. to speak with one voice when negutatig bilateral pro} ects apart from the multnaticnal programs of the European Space Agency. A neve national agency nould replace the British National Space Cente, which now plays ‘coordinating role but has 2staffof just 45 and 1no budget of its onn. The UK. spent just ever ‘5400 millon on space research ane missions inte 2005-06 fiscal year and provides only 7% of the budget ofthe European Space oeney; France and Germany give 25% and 20% respectively "It can be effcut at times to get agreements for intematinal missions," ays space scents Andtew Coates of Univer sity College London. A moreetective voice vould be eatemely elcome.” Butt’ not all about perception "We should be fighting for ‘more money for space Coates says. “Our arbi tins co far beyond what we can curently do.” “DANIEL CLERY Lights Out, Please Astronomers upped the ante in their efforts to fight ight pollution nth an international con- ference las woek that dew up a declaration on “Tight to observe the sls” and promoted the ‘dea of specially protected dark-sky reserves. “Theres os of protection fr diferent env ronments. Now there isa movement to lok at the right sky inthe seme nay” says Graham Bryant ofthe British Astronomical Association, ‘AUNESCO-sponsored ‘meeting, Starlight 2007 trough astonomers together with tourism, env ronment, and culture experts ‘on the Spanish stand of La Palma, whose dark night skies have been protected by lawsince 1988, “By mixing Up the various communities, everyone wins" says David Cranford, head ofthe International Dak Sky Assocation. Cipriano Marin of UNESCO sug, ‘ess that tours authorities in astronomy het spots suchas Lo Palma and Hawaii cule ‘develop trip packages that exploit each ocaleas a “clean sky destination. “DANIEL CLERY 531Killing Whales For Science? A storm is brewing over plans to expand Japan's scientific whaling program a teed Ppt tae Rare yt gee 932 WHEN LOUIS HERMAN, PROFESSOR EMERITUS ai the University of Hawaii, Manoa, sets ou os in Hawaii, the to study humpback wha goal isto see the animals 2s individuals. His cam identifies whales genetically, with small skin samples taken with a retractable «dar and physically with phowos oftheir tail flukes, Whale by whale, he and other ts stound the world are building 3 of a population reboundin, ‘verhuating of the last century. At the same from the time, however, another kind of study is planned for Antarctic humpacks: Japanese researchers plan to kill $0 annually in an effort they claim will help explain eco- system dynamics in the Southern Ocean. It would be the first time in 33 years that have been killed for sei Japan's intenti 10 expand their scien. Life whaling, which has been condemned by “Thereare going to be some fireworks pre diets Douy DeMasicr biologist, director of the Alaska Fisheries ‘enter in Seattle, Washington, and deputy eomnissioner of the US, delegation, The roster is peppered with contentious whaling.and whale isbyeatch, butno explosive as scientific wha Even before che delegates have gathered, tempers are flaring over kypan' larger catch of Antarctic minke whales (in 2008, i upped its annual take from 440 to 935) and ts plans to kill $0 humpback and $0 fin whales each year “Japan wants to resume ‘out and say that's what its doing ebiologist Nick Gales of the Australian Tasmania, who is a member of IWC Seienti fic Com Amarctic Division in Kingsto nce their biomass now equals that of the minke whales, We need to know their num: ‘shen and and whether they are outcompeting bers, what they eat, how much where other whale species: The issue highlights the sharply differ ing perspectives of wildlife conservati and resource management, Hmph. example, were nearly hunted to exti in the 20th century and now serve as the er child for my zations; most Wesiern nations consider hom, as well as the fin whales, to still be gered. But Morishita takes a different t's dangerous to make the hump annot be used.” back a special animal tha he says."What's wrong with using an abune dant species while we still protect the endangered ones? Some fe ‘many Wester scientists, willbe discussed at mittee (IWC/SC), "But to do this in the mately break the fragile convertion itself what all expect to bea fiery meeting next name of science is simply not defensible” The 73-member voluntary organization is rmionth in Anchorage, Alaska, when some Scientists atthe Government of Japan's virtually divided between pro- and ant 2OOwhile researchers gather fortheScientific Fisheries Agency, which oversees the — whaling nations and suffers from unhappy Committee meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC: it will be fol- lowedby the commission's fullcourt ect which is expected to be equally rancorous.” + 551m Annual Meaing of te Iniernatonal Whaling Commission, 4-31 Nay, Rachorage, Asa. 27 APRIL 2007 hunts, e0 indeed end that their projest ‘We are attempting to build an ecosystem model of the Antatctic’s South. em Ocean.” explain: tor for the agency's international negotia tions. “And to do that, we need to include data from the humpback and fin whales, vou 36 previous meetings marred by insults and physical attacks. IWC, many say. is sinking like a harpooned humpback (although at least six new countries will join this year, as each side cultivates new bers). Scientific whaling “has polar the [IWC'} Scientific Committ SCIENCE wwwrsciencemag.orgsays Scott Baker, a conservation geneticist at Oregon State University’s (OSU'S) Marine Mammal Institute in Newport. We're asked to review Japan’ proposals, to tueat them as science when they are not And that is objectionable, In the beginning Scientific whaling was not the original purpose behind IWC, which servesay the decision-making body for the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling CRW), Rather, itwas setup im 1948 forthe interests of commercial whaling. At the time various nations, including the U the great whale were b According to ICRW's charter. it was ore, zed “to provide for the proper conservation ‘of whale stocks and thus make possible the ‘orderly development of the whaling indus- tty" The convention also stnctioned sci tifie whaling under the four sentences of Article VIIT, which allows members to ‘catch whales for sciemiific purposes. Coun tries doing so are charged with regulating their owa hunts, with no catch limits oF ‘oversight from member nations, Article VIII was drafted by Norwegian whaling expert and first chair of IWC, Birger Bergersen, now deceased, “Its clear that in his mind he was thinking that the number of whales a country could take for science was less than 10; he didn’t imend. for hundreds to be killed for this purpose says Lars Walloe, 2 physiological biologist at the University of Oslo, Norway, who has written about Bergersen and heads the Norwegian delegation to the Scientific ‘Committee. “He had in mind, for instance, the possibility of finding a new animal and thus needing 10 take so doseribe them seientificall In 1982, with many populations plum- meting to near-extinction levels, IWC ‘enacted a moratorium on commercial whal- which took effect in 1986, and its ation. “7 probably one of the greatest conser success stories of the 20th century.” says Phitlip Clapham, a marine biologist with the Aluska Fisheries Science Cemter in Seattle, “Many species of whales that were really hammered are now making remarkable comebacks.” including some populations of humpback and fin whales. But some blue, right whale, and bowhead populations remain worrisomely low he adds. Notevery [WC nation joined the morato- rium, Member nations ean lodge formal objections to the body's decisions, which it shifted to conse ‘moratorium is g 3 3 2 y a wwynnsciencemag.org, has no authority to enforce. Norway objected and has continued commercial hunting of minke whales, which are smaller (8 mecers in length) baleen whales thought to number in the hundreds of thousands, Last year, Norway unilaterally upped its anni quota from 745 o 1082. Japan setled fon a different tack, withdrawing its format ‘objection but launching scientific whaling ‘programs in the Southern Ocean and Noh Pacific under Article VIIL. In the past 5 years, Iceland has also started both sci | whaling programs targeting minke and fin whales, although its take is only a fraction of Japan's (see table, below) Although many whale researchers decry Iecland’s decision, they are even more alarmed by the ever-increasing scale of Japan's scientific program and the fact that Japan kills whales within [W's Southern ‘Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Under the scien= tific whaling program launched in 1987 (called JARPA. for Japan's Whale Research Program under Special Permit inthe Antanc= the Japanese have killed an estimated {6500 minke whales these: that compares to about 2100 whales killed worldwide under Article VIII by all nations combined between 1952.and 1986, Recent Total Whale Catches Japan began its second scientific whaling ‘operation (JARPN) in the North Pacitic in 1994, where it targets minke, Bryde’s, sei, and sperm whales, According to Article VILL, the meat from these hunts should be ‘used, and despite low demand, it is available in Japanese markets. Some is now Sewed in kketehup at schools for lunches, and some cean be found ia restaurants and for sale online, says Naoko Funahashi, a conser\ tionist with the International Fund for Ani- mal Welfare in Tokyo, In 2005, at the $7th [WC meeting in Ulsan, South Korea, Japan stunned IWC/SC NEWSFOCUS L humpback and the Southera Ocean Sanctuary. harpooned 12 fin whales and intends to bogin killing humpbacks in 2007-08, Science under scrutiny Under the convention, the Scientific Com. tee iy equied 10 review scientific whale ing proposals, and many researchers are sharply critical of the results of JARPA 1 "The science and data are very poor” says Clapham, echoing a complaint voiced by many other TWC/SC members. “It's outrae ‘Reus to call this science: i's a complet charade,” charges Daniel Pauly, director re at the University of n Vancouver, The committee produced a consensus review of the 18-year JARPA I study last December, but the document includes few areas of agreement. On minke whale abun- dance: “The workshop has not developed any agreed estimates” On the role of whales in the marine ecosystem, ly little progress has been made: Yer the Japanese stand firmly cence behind theit whaling pros hear these exit + 206 cata cee. Morishita, “A lot of non-Japanese scientists ate alwa ‘sealling for us 1o submit our dat and we present our research results every year to the Scientific Committee and at other sciemtifie meetings. If they think our data is so useless, I don’t think they'd demand it, We would also ike wo publish our papers in more leading Western scien journals.” but Morishita perceives these bing biased agains! scientific whaling. “W are also the only scientists collecting age data fonthese pop: ciemtists determine a whales age by its waxy car plugs. which can only be studied if the whale is dead SCIENCE VOL316 27 APRIL2007 533| NEWSFOCUS 534. Morishita argues that humpback and fin whales are new compet- ing with the minke for krill and says their new program will test 5 that the Tapanese data are important ‘Some researchers “They are doing valid science.” says Norway's Walloe, pointing in particular to Japanese gen data that suggest the minke ‘whale numbers in the Southern Ocean are declining. and that minkes there are growing slimmer, losing blubber. “Whether or not itis necessary for their study to take so many hundreds of whales every year forssience, Feannot com ment.” Walloe adds that the Japanese also provide biopsy samples, which area But these data ean be gathe killing the whale, say Herm: “The Japanese want to ask which be Populations the whales belong t and whe and others, ding Gales, “These ate all que: ons which ean be answered using nonlethal wechniques incl ul= ing observation, satellite tracking. and gen \d many others are unconvinced by the idea of food competition and say that i betrays an overly simplistic Je studies.” He view of complex marine ecosystems, Researchers on all sides agree that the humpback whales” nurabers in the South- Indeed, the PY. ern Ocean a data should “make everyone Morishita Their numbers a now that their increase seems to be ake whale. We vant © see if that isthe ca Taken, Japanese ships catch spaces, under scientific programs But Clapham says not all southern humpback populations are reboundin aly of breeding poysl area of the Southera Ocean, Most are part oF to faitly large populations (totaling nearly 20,000) that travel from Antarctica to Australia’s coasts, where they mate and birth their calves, Others, however, hail from far smallet populations that breed in the waters oi Fiji, New Caledonia, and Tonga. “These stocks were devastated by illegal Soviet whaling in the late 1950s and “60s, Clapham. “They’ve never recovered and still number in the mete hundreds oF fewer. But they fed in Antarctica with the whales from Australia. I's impossible to tell them. apart; they don’t have sigas on their backs, How are the Japanes wo be sure they don’t take humpbacks from these highly populations?” Japan's program suggests to OSU's Baker that the seience is largely about man- aging whales for arvest, Whaling ably, whieh is why “can be done sustei Japan colleeis the kind of data it does” says Walloe whales are going o be hunted in che whales lke this one, as well as few other a sustainable manner, then we need this kind of information, But, if we're not going 10 kill any whales, then it could be angued we don’t need it” And the killing of whales, he notes, bi now become more of a political than a seientifie questien, Because the scientific wha progra says former US. Whali missioner Rollie Schmit and permit whaling, while prohibiting trade in whale meat. [WC h il ly controlled commercial ational meetings since 1996—but it has always failed, partly because some countries, ited Kingdom, refuse to consider remov ing the ban. Meanwhile, subsistence hunts by aboriginal peoples in the United States Russia, Greenfand, andthe Caribbean nation, of St Vincent and the Grenadines are alsoup for renewal this year. il this sets the stag fora contentious meeting when the full IWC szathers atthe end of May. ‘Asa small island nation, Japan defends its tight to marine resourees. Japanese generally perceive antiwhaling sentiment as anti Japanese. says Funahashi. Bu she holds oat hope for change. "Most Japanese don’t know that we hunt whales in Antarstica” she says “They think it’s only in Japanese waters, When they hear about this other. they don’t approve. Now more Japanese are going whale ‘watching, and this is changing people’ ati tudes" 1S harder, afterall, 0 eat an animal you know VIRGINIA MORELL CROSS-CULTURAL RESEARCH Pentagon Asks Academics for Help In Understanding Its Enemies ‘Anew program at the U. local populations behave in a war zone The Iraq War was going badly in Diyala, northern province bordering Iran, in late 2005. A rash of kidnappings and roadside explosions was thr to give insar= gents the upper hand. Looking for iasighison how to quell the violence, the U.S. Depart ment of Defense invited a handful of researchers funded by the agency to build computer models ofthe situstion combining 27 APRIL 2007 . Department of Defense would support research on how recent activity with cultural, politieal, and economic data about the region collected by DOD-furxied anthropok “The ouput fromm one model, developed by sociologist Kathleen Carley and her col- e Mellon University in ania connected a series leagues at Carneg Pittsburgh, Pennsy of seemingly disparate incidents to local mosques. Results ftom another model. built seientist Alexander Levis and his colleagues at George Mason University (GMU) in Fairtex, Virginia, offered a better strategy for controlling the insurgency: Ge ling Iraqis to take over the security of two major highways, and turing a blind eye co the smuggling of goods slong these routes, the riodel found, would be more effective than deploying adkitional woops. The mode! also suggested that a planned information cam- paign inthe provinee was unlikely to produce resis within an aeptable period of time Researchers and DOD officials say thes insigh’s, however limited, demonstrate a role forthe social and behavioral sciences in com- buat zones. And a new program called Human Social Culture Behavior Modeling will realy espand that role. John Youn c tor of Defense Research and Engi VOL316 SCIENCE wwwrscioncemag.orgarchitect ofthe program, has asked Congress for $7 million for fisesl year 2008, which begins on | October, asa down payment on a 970 million effort, Agency officials n additional $54 million in existing funds to social science modeling over the next 6 years, Under the new prorat, the expect wo direc ney will solicit proposals fror esearch community on broad topic areas announced periodically. and grants will be awarded after an open competition. Officials hope that the knowledge gained from such esearch will help US. forces fight what the Bush Administration cals @ global orana help commanders cope with ary mis of poverty, civil and ily. and public oppasition to the led occupation of Irag. “We want to avoid situations where nation states have uunsiable governments and instability withi populations, with disenfranchised groups ere ating violence on unsaspexting etizen Young. “Toward that goal, we need comp tional tools 10 understand tothe fullest ex possible the society we are dealing with, forces within th ment, the polite nd religious influences on nd how that poputation is from ad programs to the presence of US. troops” “The approach represents a broader and military objec social and cultural that population likely to react to stim tives than by using force alone, according to ‘Young. “The military is used to thinking about This is on environment bombs, aircraft, and guns,” he says. about ereati popula where people opportunity:"Suek tools would not replace the ‘var games that military commanders eur= sl that they have a voice and rently use to simulate combat between eon: Instead, the models ‘sould give military leaders knowlege about other options such as whether improving eco- omic opportunity in a disturbed region is ventional defense for more likely to restore order than imposing rrartial law and hunting down inst Once developed i ‘ware would be installed in command and aademic labs, the soft- cconitol systems, The pln has drawn mixed reactions from defense experts. “The thing they shouldn't be.” says Paul Van Riper. a retited lieutenant general who served as director of intelligence forthe US. Army i the mid-1990s, Human systems are far too ‘re smoking son ‘complex to be modeled, he says: “Only those ‘who don’t knowhow the weal world works will be suckers fortis stu Burt retired general Anthony Zinni, formes chief of US. Central Command and a vocal critic ofthe Adminisiration’s handling of the Trag War, sees value in the program, “Even if these models turn out to be basic,” he says they would atleast open up a way for come manders to think about cultural and behav: ioral factors when they make decisions—for ‘example, the fact that a population's eastion hi expect basedn the Westera brand of The new prog military has tied to ine fate cultura, beav= ioral, and economic aspects of an adversary ino its battle plans. During the Cold War. for example, US, defense and inclligence agen- cies hired dozens of anthropelo sts 10 pre- pare dossierson Soviet society. Similarefforts 2 the U.S, were made dui sar in Vietnam, NEWSFOCUS L ruleas well ascome up with other, more use ful ones, Last year, the researchers applied their tools to provide the U.S. Army with a detailed catalog of violence committed against the United States and each other by twibes in the Pakistan fahanistan re Other modeling projects are addressing more fundamental questions. With funding from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, mathematical economist Seat Pa of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and al change tunderthe competing influences of an indivi ual’ desire to at according to his ot her val his colleagues are modeling soci norms. The work could shed light on which with little success, But proponents say that wed sarchets have a much greater abile ity to gather relevant data and analyze the information using algorithms capable of devecting hidden pattems A few such projecis are already under wa, Atthe University of Maryland. College Patk, ‘computer scientist V.S, Subrahmanian and his Jes have developed software toals to tion about violent act specific inforn incidents from a plethora of nows sources They then use that information 10 tease out rules about the enemy's behavior. For exam ple, an analysis of strikes carried out by Hezbollah, the werrorist group in Lebanon, showed thatthe group was muuch more likely to carry out suicide bombings during times ‘when it was rot actively engaged in education and propsagarls, The insight could potentially help security forces predict and counter sui cde attacks, coarse finding, nov the last word by aay means.” cautions Subrahmanian, adding that a lot more data and analysis would be needed to refine that This isa ve lencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 318 APRIL environments are most supportive of terrorist cells, information that could help decide where to focus inelligence-gathering efforts hhow to bust those cells. The research ‘could also help estimate by leoking a factors such as rise in unemployment and growing accepranee of violent behavior, when & population may be plunging into chaos. That in turn could help commanders and poliey- makers decide whi snd how to intervene Accomplishing those goals is a tall order, P from US. elections" he says, “we ae till not very goodat predicting how people will vor Building comprehensive and realistic models of soe we admits. “Despite cons and tons of data exjire enommons aanouints oe says GMU's Levis, a former chi the US. Air Force. But itis doable, he says, adding that the field will benefit linking soctal science researchers and com: aly roa pier sciemis ‘ular support in the cont lit zone.” he says YUDHIJIT BHATTACHARJEE The wool here is wo win pop- 535| NEWSFOCUS 536 CARBON EMISSIONS Improved Monitoring of Rainforests Helps Pierce Haze of Deforestation Deforestation produces a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions through burning, clearing, and decay. But exactly how much? And image-analysis algorithms have elimi Tyenty-fiveyears.ago, the best way for Brazil nated the need for measurement dots. ‘They've really turned things around” says scientist David Skole of Michigan an scientists gage te rate of deforestation in the Amazon was to superimpose dots on te photos of the world I that helped them measure the size of the State University in Fast La a, INPE responsible fy ing exphin its analytical methods. The attested the government agency Generating good data on deforestation is emote deforestation meaniter= thaw an academic exercise. Th of cutting down forests and clearing the land —by bumin, agriculture or grazing, and allowing the lease regional maps ad efused to esa was the wood, churning soil for data that few experts found credible Today, Brazil's monitoring system is the biomass to decay world, INPE has its oxn remote- satellite, a joint effort with China fin 1999, tha yearly totals of deforested land that scientists data fiom NASA’. INPE also pe automated weekly clear-cutting alerts that other tropical nations would love to emulate much as25 of greenhouse sensi: ses. That makes keeping faunch allows itto publish tabs on deforestation a crucial issue for gow ‘ernment officials negotiating fiwure climate ag cluding month in Bonn, Germany, and one next year in Bali to extend the 1997 Kyoto agreement after i's 201 expiration, regard as reliable. Usi reements meeting next -yeat-old Terra sell ides Germans Peo cena oo en ee Seat in ae NATION SATELUTE SENSORS RESOLUTION FEATURES US. — Landsat Optical 30m This coing workhorse offers images every 16 days wo any nation with satelite recehng station US. Landsat? Optical 30m Some researdhershave managed to use it elfecivly despite a crippled sensox, India 15-2 Optical» 6-56m Experimental craft shows promise, although images are hard to acquire Japan LOS Radar 50m Researchers hope cloud: penetrating radar Could be key to eforestation studies. Chinas CBERS-2 Optical 20mm Experimental, Braz uses on-demand images Brasil te bolster their coverage. US. Terra Optical__--250-1000m Data easily available, almost daily France SPOT Optical. 20m Indonesia, Thailand use alongside Laesat data 7 APRIL 2007 VOL316 SCIENCE Despite solid improvements by scientists in monitoring deforestation, the w ate still substantial, The data and field measurements on the amount of deforested land isbeween $% and 0%, say researchers, p between remot Andi the error bars on estimates of the amount af CO, released by clear-cutting those tracts, they note, are 25% wo 50%, Those errors, related to gaps in fundamental understanding of forest carbon, will make i harder for developing nations to verity the extent to which they have managed to reduce deforestation and. thus, reduce thei ouputo! num, taimty undermines efforts to convince skep! ‘al lawmakers in industrialized countries that efforts o diminish deforesction should be a part of future climate-change ‘We need to g says climate negotiations veteran Annie Petsonk of Environmental Defense (ED), a New York City-based nonprofit. More precise satellite data for calculating carbo Mux could also shed light on the role of a key ‘whether global trees in the global carbon cycle ingredient in understandin Margins of error When negotiators in 2001 agreed on what the Kyoto treaty would cover, they omitted defor- estation, One reason was fear that clear cutting halted in one county trying to achieve ts Kyo! goals would move to anot Bur uncertainty about the science didn't help Athe time, INPE was not maps, and few ‘uri visual data from Landsat $ and ote oul have [negotiators] sayi ecologist Paulo Mountinho of the Amazon Institute of Environmental Research at Para State, Brazil, “There was allthis data but aot ‘enough know-how,” adds regio Asner of the Carnegie Institution of tanfon, Cali In the last 5 years. a growing cadre of Washington in researchers in rainforest nations has begun tppping satellite dea to monitor their forests; the lis includes India, Tiland, and Indone~ sia, Inaction to Brazil 's weekly alert system, experts across the Americas are makin ased use of NASA which ean scan any point on Earth medium-resokution Terea roughly each day, a a decent resolut Policymakers are taking notice ofthat increased capacity. A side presentation on that Asner offered at the ing in Montreal in smag.orgDecember 2008 drew hundreds of nezotia- tors. There, Papua New Guinea and Costa Ricaproposed including credit afte 2012. for efforts to curd deforestation, The idea has zzatered momentum, and emiconmentaists arc hoping that next month's mostng in Boon, convene by a United Nations technical body willy the groundyork to measureand credit action against deforestation by developing ceouniigs. “The science has rally drive the policy says ED Stephen Schwartzman. ‘The Bonndelegaes willeonffon: anu ‘of technical challenges. Th first is how to reduce primary erorsin detecting forest losses fiom space. Brazil's yearly survey, dubbed PRODES, is based on the situation each August, before fill cleaecuting sexson, and uses software that searches images for bare round, But Landsat passes verany one forest area only twiee ina month, and clouds ean ‘obscure areas daring one or both passes. Any szapsare filled with data fern Jul 0 Septer- ber, massaged with algorithms. “You're pro- viding thebestof your knowledge” says math- emativian Thelma Krug of INPE. which reported that 18.798 km? of Amazon forest wit 4% margin oferor, were desroye in 2005. That figure inches only clear-cutting, because the satellites" 20-10 1O-meter eso tion cannot detect ess dramatic disturbances. ‘One importan: omission is selective | sing for timber, says Asner: In 2005, steam dwermined the fraction of green rellectance ftom each Landsat piel ded by consier- able ficldwork to calibrate how aonvisual light frequencies could inform that cakula- tion. They concluded that Brasil wsomiting 4 whopping 12,000 kin? or more of so-called selectively logged favest areas per year (Science, “We need to get these Global Deforestation, 1990-2000 Se ica isa big deve of rising CO, eves dead trees—range fiom 69 billion to 120 bile estimates are equally uncertain: Brazil calculate that deforesation and loss of grassland hod emitted roughly a billion tons of CO, into the atmosphere in 2004, plus or minus 30%. Several experts told Science that the margin of error is even larget. One problem se hewrogeneity of fonests and the inability to identify dense, taller forest areas within larger regions, Historical sam pling measurements in western Brazil only include trees at least 10 em in diameter. "We need more science.” says geographer Ruth Defies ofthe University of Maryland. Col lege Park, One low-tech step, says ecologist Richard Houghton of Woods Hole Rescareh ‘Center in Massachusetts, would be repeated ‘sampling of unks and better biomass equa tionsthat encompassthe whole tre. "We don't have many studies that have looked below ground 21 October 2005, p. 480). 4 atthe rots," he says. Even Asner fearsihatanysyse @PFOr bars down.” itor T-hecure ste tem rewarding efforts to Annie Petsonk, he says, the variability halt deforestation could is maddening. Sart coast saiee J ofemited carbon if selec- # tive loggi not included. Others beli Preemie icsineore cee Sturge sehen aud hve nierken the freus salads fo logged frets Because het jose Heals toto aay bustles feces emer hectare emissions ftom selective logging are fof those from clear-cutting, Evenitscientists improve their monitoring ‘of activities on the ground, however. they have ‘only crude methods of calculating how much atbon particular area of rainforest will emit ‘once cleared. Estimates of the Amazon's total “organic stock of carbon— including living and wwynnsciencemag.org, Environmental Defense Biter eyes would also. help. Japan’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS). launched les year, uses radar to see through the canopy and spot cleared sites that Landsa’s cameras ‘wouikl miss Initial results show decent contrast ‘erween forested and nonforested reas 10 8 Sveuneier resolution, says Woods Hole’ Josef Kellndorfer. Upeoming ground studies in Brazil, Congo, and Uganda will aim 1 cali- brate ALOS Sabir o estimate biomass, aided bby merferomaty dat could ter tee heights Radar wouldalsobea boon wo cloudy coun ines such as Gabon, whose rainforests have been largely hidden from satellites until no, And ALOS's youth is also welcome. Widely lable and relied upon, Landsat 5 was bik Wh 7%-17% Delorestation ropkcaldotorestation in hot spts including raal, Madagascar, Indonesia, and West NEWSFOCUS q sy 50% Deforestation for a 3-year stint and is nearing a quarter century of labor It “could go any moment. worries DeFries. Christopher Justice ofthe University of Maryland, College Park, says that possibilty highlights the need for "bewter intemational cooperation” to make sire data from other sources is just as easy 10 share, Ground truth DeFries says that those who care about rains forests shouldn't let the quest for improved. detection stand inthe way of making good use of whatisalready clearly visible, She’ cheered bbyacampaign that has protected fens of thou sands of square kilometers of Brazilian rain- forest since 2004, A general trend of falling beet and soy prices has helped by cutting demand for ancl environmentalis's sy. So hs daily data from Terra, analyaed by INPE, that evvilian officials have use to probe roughly 100 instances of possibly illegal deforestation, says INPE’ Dalton Vakeriane, ‘The government cud step up itsenforce ys geographer Carlos de Souza de of inulependdent watchdog fmazon in Brazil, if its mapping work were mote solid Using the same data that INPE collecis, de Souza has calculated monthly totals th exceed oF fall short of the govemment’s nu ber by thousanis of square kilometers. He gers dats-sampling techniques, clouds, ordi ferent aggregating methods as possible cule pits, And he worries thatthe government is learning about some illegal clear-cutting edly, from the yeatly PRODES survey. “The ‘mostimportan thing is stopping deforestation as itis happening, notaten” says de Souza. ‘An international incentive system could strengthen Brazilian resolve, says Daniel Nepstadof Woods Hole. “If this ishappening without a caret, imagine what would happen with acarmt.*he says. “ELI KINTISCH SCIENCE VOL316 27 APRIL2007 537538 MEETINGBRIEFS>> AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY | 14-17 APRIL | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA Gravity Probe Researchers Report ‘Glimpses’ of Long-Awaited Payoff Afver nearly half'a century of plans, pro- probe, which flew in a G40-hilometer-high — cx posals, probing, and problems, NASA R effects, however, Gravity Probe B satellite has final reported ascientific finding. But ph all those dee > methods. Gravity Prob ‘ortunately, Everitt said, the orientation of easure q fshington L ri, and chair of an advises the Gravity Probe B p clear, given these eff they‘ reach the half'a mil that NASA was thinking hontle housing four precise gyro harman bai wis complicated. however, by unanticipated $760 mil: confirms general relaivity withonly moderate precision, it will SCIENCE wSnapshots From the Meeting >> Top mass, Fermilab’s Tevatron acceletator has reported ne value for the mass ofthe top quark, nature's hea iest basic particle. Combining éata from the Tevatron’s two ‘experimental collaborations gives a top quark mass of 170.9 = 1.8 giga-eleciron vols, Kevin Lannon of Ohio State University, Columbus, reported atthe meeting Precise knowiede of tine tap quath’s mass fs impor tant for determining the likely mass ofthe Higgs boson, the as-yet-undiscoveree particle that physicists believe avust exis in order fr other particles to possess mass, Combined with the latest value for the mass of another relevant paticl, the W boson, the new top mass implies that the Higgs may sil ein the range detectable by Fermilab experiments. The Higgswillbe one ofthe main quaris of the more powerful Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland, sched uled fo begin operations lter this yea. Cosmic extinction, For years, scientists heve pondered fosil evidence that mass extinctions of life on Earth occur at regular intervals, suggesting ‘ve would leave osher people w worry about Everitt and other scientists on the Gravity Probe B tearm point out has value beyond just measuring rel effects. It has produced technical advances, already used on other space missions and has provided helpful lessons For planning future precision space probes, such as the proposed LISA mission to meas tional radia- tion from space. And Will said thatthe very fact that the mission flew, and worked as well as it did after de should be con: sidered i st perfectly he said. “A few things didn't work as well And there are these strange ef nobody could have imagined bei But that’s physics” Neutrino Study Finds Four'’s a Crowd The funily of self-effacing subatomic parti cles known as neutrinos should give up hope for the existence of an eccentric cousin, new results from the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in Batavia, Minos, Physicists know of three type: of neutrino sted electron, or “fla muon, and tau far their associations with Neutrinos are notoriously difficult to detect and are other particles with those n B possess at least a small mass. as they have NEWSFOCUS L some pariocc cosmic influence. The (atest analyses find a 62-million-year cycle in biodiversity, curiously close to the 64-million year osilation ofthe solar system above and below the plane ofthe Miky Way galny. But fr ation from sources within the galactic planes to blame for biociversity swings, the periodicity should behalf as long, because Earth pesses through the galactic plane tice each trp: on the way up, and on the way back. On the other Sate zone? Galactic plane may block deel rays. had the 62-milion-year cycle makes sensei the radia attacks come from outside the galay,ané only from ‘one side, say Mikhail Medvedev and Adrian Melot ofthe University of Kansas, lawrence. “The oscillation ofthe solar system gives you the right periodicity, ‘but only ifyou have the effect on the north se,” Medvedev sai atthe ‘meeting. The feason, the Kansas scientist sy, isthat the whole galaxy {s tushing toward the Viigo Cluster, north side foremost. When the sola system is north ofthe galactic plane, calacticmag fields no longer shiele it rom radiation assaults emanating from Vigo. A paper Astrophysical Journal. shown the ability to switch identity inf a trick impossible for massless particles These identify shift tions." b ‘or “flavor oscilla ve been well-established for years. Measurements of the oscillation rate provide clues to the diffe among the three known flavors. Such experiments at New Mexico's Los Alamos National Laboratory in the 1990s implied an unusually Jorge mass difference, hinting that @ fourth neutrino flavor ought to exist, in a “sterile form that does not interact with other particles as ordinary neutrinos do Over the past decade, an imernational team of researchers using a neutrino beam ata Fermilab particle accelerator 1s sought evidence to confirm ‘or refute the Los Alamos ress It correct, the Los Alamos find: muon neuirinos in the Fermilab team should oscillae into elec= tron neutines before reaching a deiector 500 meters away. But the Fermilab experiment, known as MiniBooNE (for “Mini Booster Neutrino Experiment”), found no evidence for the brand of flavor shifting reported at Los Alamos, We do not see any evidence for muon nos oscillating into electron neutti- nos." Los Alamos physicist Heather Ray, a member of the MiniBooNE team, said at the meeting. Althougt apparently ruling cut the Los lencemag.org SCIENCE VC 316 describing the analysis has been accepted for publication Alamos evidence for a sterile neutring, the MiniBooNE experiment turned up a possi- ble new mystery: a number of low energy electron neuirinos than expected from “background!” sources. “They may be a misestimation of the background, but they may be interesting. [No trace MiniBeoNE’s sensor aray filed to confirm eartir hints noninteracting “sterile” neutrinos. University of Colorado, Bouter. Further analysis of the data and tests of ww data now being gathered will be needed to elatify the reason for the low anomalies, said Janet Conrad of Columbia University. o the MiniBooNE team, possibility that there are some bizarre There's still some effects going on” she sai. “TOM SIEGFRIED Tom Siegiiesisa write in es Angeles. Cabra 27 APRIL 2007 539LETTERS | BOOKS | POLICY FORUM | EDL LETTERS o1itod by Etts Kavanagh Health Clues from Polar Regions /OURTH INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR PY) are among the scientii INHIS EDITORIAL “CELEBRATING POLAR SCIENCE” ON THE' (10Mar, p. 1465), Alan Leshner writes thatthe pol aly riches: places on Earh, Although we certainly agree, the Special Isue on Polar Science (16 Mar. pp. 1513-1540) rises the opportuny’to mention aaother promise of eireurnpolar regions. namely, that they can provide opviansto beter understand determinantsof heath and disease in humankind Indeed one of the main health characterisics of Arctic populations, based on long-term of some 100,000 Imait (in Alaska, Canada, and Gr hen compared with popu ‘monitoring of eancer da and) appears tobe the pronounced deficit of breast ( and prestate Why two 0 lations from lower lattud ¢ keading malignancies worldwide should be com: paratively rare in the Arctic certainly ought to be investigated. I has already been speculated tharinter darknessattheextremes of lt inude may offer protection ay h fact that the development of trequet rmone-ependent cancers (3, 4). The ues" among cizcumpoka inf itantsisalso linked to the seasonal lock of light furthe offer unique opportunities to study light suggeststhat the Arctic could sl disorders and dis Empirically, the dif graphic distribution of h ential geo. Ith has pro es to disease before: Some 63 Kenn ference in liver cancer: Africans and Affican-Americans (5), Rather than bein observation wats ltr explained by the different geographic distribution of “extrinsic faxsors’ namely. hepetis B infections andi the possible effects of ight (and darkness) on diseases including cancers andl seasonal affective aflvence of aflatoxin on food prods. Ina similar vein, disorders (SAD), could be studied more rigorously in populations that experignce exposure visible electron phy, Although a considerabl entire medical journal (the Zuermadional Journal of ( icradiation that dillers ftom thatof ether populations by virtue ol genre cay being ea snypola Health) i devoned to health- noun of work in these ar ried outand an related issues in the Arctic, more ean, of couse, be done, We should not have to wait for a pos: sible Sth IPY to instig te concerted circampolsr studies of hurian health nd disease THOINAS C.ERREN,V. BENNO NEVER-ROCHOW? INICHACL ERREN* insite are Palin for Occupational ae Soda Mesiine, School of Medicine ard Dente, University of eagr, Keene Stase 62, 050937 Gologre Urdenta, Germany. “cholo Gegineeing and Scenic, JcabsUnivesty Bremer, 028759 Bremen, Gemmary hsb of Ciel Chunsty and Labortary Medien Weiphaen Mila Reterences Ctr Pita eth 3.11199. 1. tre an. J ru ed 31,275 2008 540 7 APRIL 2007 VOL316 SCIENCE CATION FORUM | PERSPECTIVES Science, Religion, and Climate Change [AMOMENT OF AGREEMENT HAS ARRIVED FOR scientiss to join forces with religious groups mi Thisis signaled for policy-makers fram the by the suman Inncegovernmental Pane! on Climate Change (IPCCYS. Fourth Report, th sass statement oa li Assessment AAAS Boal’ con (D). Lynn White Je proposed in these pages in 967 that (2) “we shall continue to have & worsening ecologic [sic] crisis until we reject the Chuistian axiom that nature has no reason, for existence save to serve man.” In their Policy Forum . 56), M.C. Nisbet and C, Mooney mention ant Te Framing science” (6 Apr the more contemporir divisive efforts of some evangelical leaders to frame “the problem ofckimate change asa matter o religious morality A documents on good science as the foundation for disewssions of elimate change. Two recent examples from the US. Catholic Bishops (USCCB: faculty members at a Catholic univer we know the strong stance of Cathol Conference of make IPCC find The IPCC Third th led to the USCCB Pres Assessment Repor Global Climate Change for Dialogue Pruderce. aad the Common Good (3), which states: “Global climate change is by its very nature part of the planetary commons. Th carth’s atmesphere encompasses all people nears, at habits, “The sciemifie Summary for Policy Makers of the Fourth Assessment Report (4) was addressed by the chairman of the USCCB. international policy committee He said in @ to congressional leaders thatthe IPCC “has outlined more cleatly and compellingly than ever before the ease for serious and turgent action to axklress the potential conse- a well as high Add have come from numer They are listening carefull he dangers andl costo inaction ral reflections on climate cha sreligioustraditons wo the science Scientists cught to be in dialogue with ther STEVEN A. KOLIES' AND RUSSELL A, BUTKUS? 29.019shen simplicity’ i Biometra Thermocycler Powered by by, * Biometras’ 15-years experience MANA aed Lorge graphical display High speed silver block Easy spreadsheet programminga LETTERS 542 “Deparment of ology, Universi of Prtand, Fete (0897203, USA. *Departnet of Thealeay, Unversity Pore Poland, O8 97203, 5A References 1 NOt Scene 3061686 2000, 2 L nse Smee 88, 203196") 4 Gleb ete henge sea or Diogu, Per, ‘dite Cone es (bed Sates ate Creve ashen Oc 200) aaa at ‘nn rsd sorbate Ny 4 Ieper atl on Cnt Coage inate Charge 2007, ren Pleas, Cron {tok Cope owth hues Bae theltegovermertl Fenton Cine Conse 007) (ontible mnie Clarifying a Quote on Women in Science THEARTICLE "U.S. AGENCIES QUIZ UNIVERSITIES ‘on the status of women in seienee” (News of the Week. 30 Mat. p. 1776) comiains a quote fiom me that was taken out of context from a lengthy conversation and that doesnot repne= sent my views-on the subject ‘While the specific issue referred to in the quote (gender bias relating to which students may use what equipment) sto my knewvledge not @ problem in our department or other physics departments, the satus of women is very important 10 us. We are commited to removing barriers 0 achievement and to inereasing the diveraty of our department. We g hard increase he representation ‘of women and underrepresented minorities id faculty andtoensure thatthereis no discrimi ‘ion nor any other barrier 10 achievement. We support the Tithe IX process as a way te help achieve these important goals: among our students, research associates, ‘AUDREW MIS Professor ane Chal, Depatmeat of Physics, Calumbia Univetsty, Mew Yo, WY 10027, USA. Emi alls ‘see ys coun Notes on Modeling Light Water Reactors AS A LONG-TIME EMPLOYEE OF THE IDAHO National Laboratory (NL), I wish to sharemy views on Some of the characterizations made in the article "Former Marine seeks a model EMPRESS* (E. Kintisch, 9 Feb., p. 294) as they relate to modeling light The assertions that “fe]sisting reactor com puter models haven't been overhauled much since the heyday of the US, ‘enterprise inthe 1970s and 19805" and that “nuclear engineers still depend on crude, 25-year-old computer programs” do not square with the facts. The RELAPS computer code, dev eloped at the INL for the US. Nuclear 27 APRIL 2007 Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy. has been under continuous im- provement and refinement since the original release in 1978, Today's version, RELAPS-3D, isthe current sate of theart in modeling swater reactors and is the most widely used code of ts kind in the world forse a of curtent generation and next generation (Generation Il) reactor designs RELAPS-3D inchulesathree-timensional ‘wwo-phase flow hydrodynamic movlel coupled toa three-dimensional nodal newton ki rma The cede has been extensively validated against experimental data as documented in hundreds of peer-reviewed technical papers. The mathematical models inthe code are based on frst principles and Hnerature-based empiri= cal corcations that were defined though ta ditional engineering practices and procedures ilare thoroughly documented (www inl gov relaps Smanals. ha), GARY JOHNSEN 1950 fire Ce, Idaho Falls, 10 83404, USA. Ema sxreelese nytt The Evolution of Eukaryotes IN THEIR REVIEW “GENONICS AND THE IRRE dcible nature of eukaryote cells" (19 May 2006.0. 1011), C. G,Kurlandet a. purport to “review recent data from proteomics and genome sequences" but delivered only bia opinions. Asser dene snome sequence ease” they cay (and eukaryotes-irst) view of early evo lution that was curtent in 1980 (2) and that ‘was shown by conventional scientific erteia te be umenable over a decade ago(2). Their Fig. 1 indicates reductive evolution of pro aryows thom an ancestally eukaryotic state that idea was called streamlining in 1980, and atsphylogenctic implications were drawn [F 2oF)]ina fashion indistinguishable from its 2006 reincarmation, “The cellar structures snd proteins that eukaryotes possess but that are lacking in prokaryotes a ly asserted to"track the trajectory of eukaryoce genomes from their origins” Uniquely derived characters Jacking homologs in other taxa neither pro vide evidence of evolutionary relationships nor of genome trajectory, nor do they diserim- e between alternative hypotheses. Were the host that acquired the mitochondrion a prokaryote, the origin of eukaryote-specifie proteins and structures would follow mito- chondrial origin (3-5): were the host eukary- ‘te J, 6).theirorigin would havebeen earlier The assertion that “most eukaryote pro teins together with most prokaryote proteins fiom a common ancestor” is unsub- stantiated. Even atthe level of protein struc ture, only 49 outof 1244 known protein folds (4%) are universal among 174 sequenced ‘genomes (7). They claim that [ferent rates ‘of evolution ... may account for the weak, shifting aifinities bevween the molecular machineries encoded by eukaryote, archaeal and bacterial they also chain ‘can falsify particular models for ‘origins after all, Hence, they abitraily pick and choose among available observations relating to sequence similanty: The patterns ‘oF sequence similarity that fit their opinions are attributed to genuine evolutionary signals the ones that councer cheir opinions are dis missed as rate fluctuation, ‘The statement that “[e}ukaryote proteins that are rooted in the bacterial or in archaeal