Logo

How to Find a Virus When You're Not Looking

Apr 25, 2007

An intriguing article in Wired traces the work of anthropologist and epidemiologist Nathan Wolfe's search for the next viral epidemic -- before it happens. His work enlists the help of Eric Delwart at UCSF, whose explorations into viral metagenomics are helping scientists sequence -- and discover -- unknown microbes in whole communities, from those of sea water to mud.

Breaking News
The Scan

Pig Organ Transplants Considered

The Wall Street Journal reports that the US Food and Drug Administration may soon allow clinical trials that involve transplanting pig organs into humans.

'Poo-Bank' Proposal

Harvard Medical School researchers suggest people should bank stool samples when they are young to transplant when they later develop age-related diseases.

Spurred to Develop Again

New Scientist reports that researchers may have uncovered why about 60 percent of in vitro fertilization embryos stop developing.

Science Papers Examine Breast Milk Cell Populations, Cerebral Cortex Cellular Diversity, Micronesia Population History

In Science this week: unique cell populations found within breast milk, 100 transcriptionally distinct cell populations uncovered in the cerebral cortex, and more.