Feature Article

They are tiny. So tiny that a million of them will have to throng together to look like the tip of a pen. And their potential is huge. So huge that they may lead to treatments that can cure the incurable. You were absolutely right Arthur C. Clarke. Scientific technology is indistinguishable from magic! What is it about these nanosized cells? Why is stem cell research one of the most fascinating areas of contemporary biology?

Widespread adaptation of biomass production for bioenergy may influence important biogeochemical functions in the landscape, which are mainly carried out by soil microbes. Here we explore the impact of four potential bioenergy feedstock crops (maize, switchgrass, Miscanthus X giganteus, and mixed tallgrass prairie) on nitrogen cycling microorganisms in the soil by monitoring the changes in the quantity (real-time PCR) and diversity (barcoded pyrosequencing) of key functional genes (nifH, bacterial/archaeal amoA and nosZ) and 16S rRNA genes over two years after bioenergy crop establishment.

Carbon finance offers the potential to change land management and conservation planning priorities. We develop a novel approach to planning for improved land management to conserve biodiversity while utilizing potential revenue from carbon biosequestration. We apply our approach in northern Australia's tropical savanna, a region of global significance for biodiversity and carbon storage, both of which are threatened by current fire and grazing regimes.

Odisha, is struggling to cope with floods of horrendous magnitude. This state which recorded deficient rains of 40 per cent, is now in surplus. Experts and the public attribute the current flood in Orissa entirely to the mismanagement of the Hirakud dam. This special report by Down to Earth Online, calls for adopting a new strategy based on the present rainfall pattern both upstream and downstream of this dam.

Leaked EU draft texts confirm expectations that the 27-member bloc is likely to seek to 'green' farm subsidy payments after 2013 by adding new rules on protecting the environment. Controversially, though, the drafts also reveal new plans to allow some countries to re-allocate more direct payments to the production of particular crops - reversing prior attempts to 'decouple' farm support from production and thus reduce the trade distortions that this support might cause.