The latest: News

Australian institutions lag behind on open access adoption

Plan forming for government to negotiate agreements directly with publishers, but with no nationwide policy, individual universities vary wildly.

Dalmeet Singh Chawla | 12 October 2021

When seeking promotion, defining success is everything

For academic researchers, ‘quality and impact’ is crucial, yet few agree on what these terms mean.

Benjamin Plackett | 5 October 2021

New York bids to level the playing field in a metropolis of inequality

Plans for a more equitable city are supported by huge regional research firepower.

Anita Makri | 28 September 2021

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Q&A

Q&A: Australia’s chief scientist proposes a centralized national plan for open access

Cathy Foley says the country is in a good position to do things differently.

Dalmeet Singh Chawla | 12 October 2021

How young researchers can create lasting industry partnerships

Don’t wait for universities to facilitate connections. Here’s how to find the right people on your own timeline.

Bec Crew | 24 July 2020

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Comment

Uneven spread of research leaves poorer cities short of solutions

A concentration of knowledge and funding advances Sustainable Development Goals, but in the global south, it’s a different story.

Xuemei Bai | 27 September 2021

To gain impact through influencing policy, you need to build trust in your research

Practical strategies for successful knowledge exchange between scientists or research institutions and decision-makers.

Christopher Cvitanovic and Rebecca Shellock | 3 August 2021

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Dataviz

Tracking 20 leading cities’ Sustainable Development Goals research

Local challenges help to explain why some goals are prioritized over others.

Catherine Cheung, Bec Crew, Tanner Maxwell, David Payne | 27 September 2021

High-performing places in the materials world

Four heavyweights and a rising star, in highlights.

Tanner Maxwell et al. | 5 July 2021

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Listings

Google Scholar reveals its most influential papers for 2021

Early clinical observations of COVID-19 and its mortality risk factors among the most cited output, while a five-year-old AI paper continues to command attention.

Bec Crew | 24 August 2021

The 5 most popular scientific papers of April 2021 in the Nature Index journals

Vaccine efficacy against new COVID-19 strains and the possibility of learning during lucid dreaming feature in these widely discussed studies.

Bec Crew | 20 July 2021

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Technology

Machines learn to unearth new materials

Materials genome initiatives sift big data.

Neil Savage | 5 July 2021

Five online tools that aim to save researchers time and trouble

From investigating a lab’s publication history to scanning manuscripts for statistical errors, these apps can help streamline some of the most time-consuming tasks.

Dalmeet Singh Chawla | 23 June 2021

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Careers

Finished your PhD? Six questions to ask yourself about what’s next

There is no single path to success, so here's a plan to help you choose.

Natalie Parletta | 13 October 2020

Scientists reveal weirdest things they’ve done in the name of science

From sending cakes into space to filling their refrigerators with cat poo, scientists detail the bizarre lengths they’ve gone to in the pursuit of research.

John Pickrell | 19 November 2019

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Nature Index 360°

Post-pandemic, fieldwork faces a remote future

COVID-19 is forcing researchers to rethink ways of amassing data.

Gemma Conroy | 25 August 2020

How hundreds of thousands of volunteers are using their skills to boost coronavirus research

Initiatives like Folding@Home and #WirVsVirus allow volunteers to pitch in, wherever they are.

Dyani Lewis | 7 April 2020

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Nature Index