links for 2011-01-28

Live imaging is the foochur.

"There are several canards about scientists, but one is more pernicious simply because so many scientists themselves repeat it: scientists are not good communicators."

“Our cognitive incapacity to perceive large-scale and long-term changes is a major obstacle to rational environmental policies,”

Finn wins prestigious award.

"Berg too says he expects more routes to be uncovered. "The diversity of life is bigger than we know now," he says. The research may also offer evolutionary insight. In analysing the enzymes that propel the methylaspartate cycle, the authors found striking similarities to enzymes identified in ancient bacteria, an indication that H. marismortui grabbed the genes needed for the cycle by lateral gene transfer."

Cool in so many ways.

"About 500,000–750,000 years before the extinction event, magma swelled up underground and hit a layer of coal."

Incisive commentary on earlier Nature article on scientists, blogs, and tweets.