Correspondence

A global coalition to [email protected] in money-based laboratory convincingly, even though the sustain core data *On behalf of the Global experiments (see Nature 541, flatness of their outer parts might Life Science Data Resources 294–295; 2017). The assumption convey that impression. As members of an international Working Group (see go.nature. in interpreting such results seems At that time, I and several working group to support the com/2miobmk for full list). to be that consumers aim to other astronomers used the rapidly growing core-data ‘optimize’ the products they buy. 21-centimetre radio wavelength resources in the life sciences, we But unless an optimal product of neutral hydrogen to determine aim to create a sustainable and Zealandia is not a is defined, this hypothesis is rotation curves that often went accessible data infrastructure that continent untestable because it is subjective. well beyond the optical image, will benefit scientists worldwide. Apart from perishable produce, thereby probing the dark matter Although researchers have Now recognized in international I for one do not care about regime more effectively. relied on international resources law, Zealandia — the continental optimality. I care only about Such observations from such as the Protein Data Bank shelf and margin surrounding adequacy: whether an item meets several galaxies, coupled with and Flybase for decades, the New Zealand — is vast and my needs and is available and optical surface photometry, current system is unsustainable worthy of inquiry. However, affordable. Once these criteria are permitted the calculation of local because it is largely funded by we disagree with attempts to satisfied, I need never look again. mass-to-light ratios in the outer short-term grants (P. E. Bourne recharacterize it as the ‘eighth What are the chances that a new parts of spirals (A. Bosma PhD et al. Nature 527, S16–S17; continent’ (see Nature http://doi. shampoo will be so much better thesis 1978; see http://go.nature. 2015). A global coalition of data org/b2fk; 2017). as to be worth trying, given that com/2mkodu5). This clinched resources would provide much- Zealandia has been extensively my current one is adequate? the evidence for dark matter needed governance structure, studied since 1895 (see Todd’s bear-foraging analogy and still constitutes the primary active service management and W. H. F. Smith and D. T. Sandwell for consumer choices therefore source of rotation-curve data for community-driven scientific Science 277, 1956–1962; 1997). seems misleading. Bears exploring its mysteries. development, which together are Such studies underpinned New presumably leave a berry patch Albert Bosma Marseilles currently well beyond the scope Zealand’s successful application when there is insufficient food, Astrophysics Laboratory, France. of an individual investigator’s to the United Nations to extend not because they want to find [email protected] typical research programme. the limits of the continental shelf more-optimal berries. If brands Science funders globally should and its economic exclusion zone appeared and disappeared like support these data resources (see go.nature.com/2mbwmb). berry patches, then consumers Stiff shirts a source on the basis of their value to Continents are defined by might have to adopt a foraging of inspiration the research community. The the Oxford English Dictionary strategy to sample new shampoos coalition would define indicators as continuous terrestrial as they came into season. I was greatly saddened to read to establish the core-data geographical features (“as Stephen Rader University of of the passing of Oliver Smithies resources that are eligible for distinguished from islands, islets, Northern British Columbia, (R. Kucherlapati Nature 542, international support, develop or peninsulas”). Geologists do not Prince George, Canada. 166; 2017). His scientific legacy models for free global access and define continents: instead, they [email protected] will live on as an inspiration to help to assess the fraction of total characterize the types of crust and students of all ages and levels, research funding needed. It would delineate their geological features. and their teachers (see, for also compile a set of metrics By this definition, Zealandia Vera Rubin and the example, http://smithies.lib. to estimate the impact, costs is not a continent. Indeed, it is dark matter problem unc.edu). and benefits of each resource, 94% continental margin with an In classes I have taught including the consequences of extended shelf. In my view, Neta Bahcall’s on major breakthroughs in curtailing support. Elizabeth M. Dowding, Malte obituary of Vera Rubin biomedicine, Smithies’ lectures The set of data resources C. Ebach University of New South oversimplifies the dark matter were the most popular and designated as ‘core’ for the life Wales, Sydney, Australia. problem (Nature 542, 32; 2017). inspirational (see, for example, sciences would reflect a dynamic, [email protected] Many diverse observations the video ‘Where do ideas reliable and managed portfolio have contributed to the current come from?’ at http://go.nature. that could adapt to changing picture, and the unknown nature com/2tr9e6z). scientific needs. The Global Don’t compare of dark matter shows that this is Students appreciate Smithies’ Life Sciences Data Resources shopping to foraging still far from complete. points that one learns a lot from Coalition will follow the lead of Rubin investigated rotational reading and that you need to do other international coalitions, Economists use models of human velocities in spiral galaxies using what you enjoy. And they are such as those in health and behaviour that incorporate ionized gas regions that she tickled by the story of how his physical sciences, in setting such non-human features as was able to observe at optical inspiration for the discovery of priorities and evaluating effort. complete rationality and perfect wavelengths. In the 1970s, such starch gel electrophoresis came (For details, see W. Anderson information. Psychologists regions could not be detected about — from watching his et al. Preprint at bioRxiv should not fall into a similar trap. beyond a galaxy’s optical mother starch his father’s shirts. http://doi.org/b2g4; 2017). Peter Todd’s article contrasts image. The observed rotation Eric Altschuler Temple Warwick P. Anderson* Human findings on shoppers’ preferences curves therefore did not extend University, Philadelphia, Frontier Science Program, for the products they know with far enough to demonstrate Pennsylvania, USA. Strasbourg, France. their more exploratory behaviour the presence of dark matter [email protected]