Fresh Clue to Ancient Mars Water

SEVEN DAYS The news in brief

RESEARCH Higgs hunt Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland, announced on 13 December that the collider has seen signals consistent with the possible existence of the Higgs NASA/JPL-CALTECH/CORNELL/ASU boson with a mass of about 125 gigaelectronvolts. But the evidence isn’t strong enough to rule out the particle’s absence. See page 301 for more. Gene-therapy boost A gene-therapy treatment for patients with the blood-clotting disorder haemophilia B has scored Fresh clue to ancient Mars water its first unequivocal success, scientists at University NASA’s Opportunity rover has discovered discovered on Mars — meaning that the site College London reported veins of hydrothermally deposited minerals could have been more habitable than others at the American Society at the edge of Endeavour crater on Mars. The explored by the rover. Principal investigator of Hematology meeting in bright, stick-like veins (pictured), apparently Steve Squyres, of Cornell University in Ithaca, San Diego, California, on comprised of gypsum, show that hot, mineral- New York, told a meeting of the American 11 December (A. C. Nathwani rich water once pulsed through fractures in the Geophysical Union in San Francisco, et al. N. Engl. J. Med. http://doi. volcanic rock. Gypsum deposits can form in California, on 8 December that the discovery is org/g8n; 2011). Haemophilia water that is much less acidic than required by the most “bullet-proof” support yet for ancient B is caused by mutations in the water-altered sulphate minerals previously water. See go.nature.com/nmsldl for more. the gene that codes for the factor IX protein; the treatment uses viruses to deliver a healthy liver cells. In a previous trial, experimental monoclonal and would come into force version of the gene to patients’ protein production dropped antibody pertuzumab and the from 2020. The Kyoto Protocol below therapeutic levels after widely used drug trastuzumab will be extended by at least two months (C. S. Manno (Herceptin), together with 5 years. Emotions were mixed MENTOR AWARDS et al. Nature Med. 12, 342–347; chemotherapy, gained an after the deal on 11 December, The annual Nature Awards 2006). But in the latest trial, extra 6-month lull in disease which brought in previously for Mentoring in Science (go. four out of six patients were progression compared recalcitrant countries, but also nature.com/qithms), which still making the protein up to with women receiving deferred action for a decade. this year recognized mentors 18 months after one treatment, only chemotherapy and See pages 292 and 299 for more. in France, were presented and did not need injections of trastuzumab. Both antibodies on 12 December in Paris. blood-clotting factors. target the protein affected by Forest threat Two Paris-based researchers HER2 mutations. See go.nature. Brazil’s Senate has approved shared the €10,000 Targeting cancer com/hwxlbd for more. a new ‘forest code’, which (US$13,200) lifetime- Efforts to create cancer scientists fear will weaken achievement award: Moshe therapies tailored to a patient’s POLICY strict rules on tree- Yaniv, a geneticist at the genetic make-up were boosted clearing that have reduced Pasteur Institute, and Jean by promising clinical-trial Durban deal deforestation in the Amazon. Rossier, a neurobiologist results reported on 7 December After negotiations that ran All landowners there have at ESPCI ParisTech. The (J. Baselga et al. N. Engl. J. Med. into the early morning, tired had to maintain forest on 80% €10,000 mid-career http://doi.org/g8m; 2011). The politicians at the climate talks of their land, but the new bill award went to Barbara trial was conducted on women in Durban, South Africa, creates exemptions for small Demeneix, a developmental with advanced forms of breast agreed that by 2015, the world landowners and pardons those endocrinologist at the cancer that involved mutations would negotiate a new climate who deforested illegally before National Museum of Natural in the HER2 gene, which treaty, which would require 2008. This could “unleash a History in Paris. drives about 20% of breast- all nations to meet as-yet- wave of impunity”, to wipe out cancer cases. Those given the unspecified emissions targets forests and woodlands, says

Daniel Nepstad, an ecologist youngest girls of reproductive who works with the Amazon age. See go.nature.com/ Environmental Research w3343o for more. COMING UP Institute in Brasilia. President

F. ROBERTS/ALAMY F. Dilma Rouseff has pledged Fisheries push 16 DECEMBER to veto the legislation. See The United Nations has The Japanese go.nature.com/rutitm for stepped up a push to government is expected more. encourage sustainable to announce that the fisheries. Its general assembly Fukushima Daiichi Stem-cell appeal on 6 December adopted a draft nuclear plant has A lawsuit seeking to halt US resolution that urges nations reached cold shutdown federal funding for research on chemicals in groundwater to reduce or eliminate by-catch — a declaration that human embryonic stem cells can’t definitely be linked to and to increase efforts to deal the stricken reactors is not quite dead — although fracking, despite the many with the impact of climate have reached stable, low it was thrown out in July by public protests against the change on stocks. With many temperatures and the a District of Columbia judge practice (pictured). The EPA’s fish stocks being harvested at immediate crisis is over. (see Nature 476, 14–15; 2011). draft report was released on unsustainable levels — and On 7 December, the Court 8 December and has yet to be many suffering from a lack of 17 DECEMBER of Appeals for the District of peer-reviewed; the agency is data on actual catch levels — The deadline for US Columbia circuit (one level also working on a national the resolution also encouraged science agencies to below the Supreme Court) set study on fracking’s impacts, to states to “increase their send final policies on a date of 23 April 2012 to hear be released in 2012. reliance on scientific advice” to scientific integrity to the an appeal from the plaintiffs in manage fisheries. White House. the case, James Sherley, of the Pill politics Boston Biomedical Research In a surprise move, the Name and shame Institute in Massachusetts, and US Secretary of Health Funding agencies in Canada (NOAA) finally released its Theresa Deisher, who runs and Human Services, will no longer keep secret scientific integrity policy AVM Biotechnology in Seattle, Kathleen Sebelius, has the identities of researchers on 7 December. The policy, Washington. Both work on overruled the Food and they support who commit which applies to thousands of adult stem cells. Drug Administration (FDA) misconduct. The change NOAA employees conducting and denied girls under 17 — called for in a Nature research on climate, oil spills, Fracking worry access to the emergency Editorial in September marine mammals and other The US Environmental contraceptive levonorgestrel (see Nature 477, 509–510; sometimes controversial Protection Agency (EPA) has — known as the morning- 2011) — came as part of a topics, prohibits agency said that chemicals associated after pill, or Plan B — unless new policy on responsible employees from distorting with fracking, a controversial it is prescribed by a physician. conduct of research, released science and protects the rights technique that involves Drug-makers Teva had asked on 5 December. See go.nature. of NOAA scientists to speak pumping high-pressure fluids that the pill be made available com/aj2zq6 for more. openly about their work and into shale to force out natural over the counter to girls, and to report wrongdoing. See gas, probably polluted water FDA research had found it NOAA integrity go.nature.com/ihfjbv for more. supplies in central Wyoming. to be safe and effective. But It was more than 2 years Shale-gas companies have Sebelius said on 7 December in the making, but the PEOPLE maintained that complaints that she did not believe the US National Oceanic and of methane and other pill could be used safely by the Atmospheric Administration US integrity head After a 22-month search, the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office TREND WATCH MEGABASE BOOM of Research Integrity (ORI) Despite falling funds, US agencies can support more DNA named David Wright as base sequencing — thanks to next-generation technologies.

SOURCE: NHGRI The US National Human Genome its permanent director on 350 350 Research Institute (NHGRI) SOLiD comes 5 December. Wright is a announced a four-year plan on into production historian of US science and 300 300 6 December that focuses heavily 454 and technology who previously HiSeq come on the use of genome sequences 250 into production 250 served as a research-integrity Sanger-based in the clinic. The institute’s sequencing methods administrator at Michigan funding of programmes for large- 200 200 State University in East scale sequencing has actually Lansing. He has also worked shrunk in recent years (see chart), 150 150 as a consultant to the ORI. He but because the per-base cost of replaces Don Wright, who has sequencing has dropped so much, 100 100 served as acting director since the hope is that patients will the retirement of Chris Pascal 50 50

routinely undergo sequencing for (megabases) Annual production in 2009. medical purposes. See go.nature.

NHGRI sequencing budget (US$ millions) 0 0 com/jhjz2l for more details of the 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 NATURE.COM NHGRI programme. For daily news updates see: www.nature.com/news