Over the past century, x-ray crystallography has transformed scientists' understanding of the structure and behavior of materials.

A technique for crystallizing fragile biomolecules without disrupting them is helping researchers probe the structures of some of the body's most important but elusive proteins: those that usher other chemicals through the cell membrane.

In science news around the world, scientists find Middle East respiratory syndrome in camels from Africa; Japan launches a test of a space debris cleanup scheme; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency halts the permit for a large copper mine near Bristol Bay, Alaska; and more.

Researchers interested in studying and preventing strokes have their eye on the capybara. The world's largest rodent shuts off a main blood supply to its brain, then manages to compensate by expanding another artery.

Theoretical physicist-turned-filmmaker Mark Levinson tells Science about directingParticle Fever, a new documentary on the discovery of the Higgs boson.

Lawsuit claims that research leader retaliated against the victim after misconduct was discovered.

Four shots a year with a long-lasting drug may prevent HIV infection in the future.

New data on mice and people suggest low-protein diets enhance health and extend life.

Laying off staff scientists, the World Wildlife Fund moves away from centralized research to rely more on outsourced expertise.

Oceanographers have released a digital atlas containing remarkably detailed maps of ocean chemistry.

Early in April, Europe will launch the first satellite in its Copernicus program: a fleet of a dozen environmental monitoring spacecraft designed to study Earth's oceans, changes in land use, and atmosphere.

The United States is winding down a $1 billion project to churn out protein structures. What will that mean for the field?

Examining the widespread resurgence of woodlands, the authors build a multifaceted view of forests as social-ecological systems.

Kieffer offers an engaging, fast-moving introduction to natural disasters caused by Earth's ongoing geological processes.

A listing of books received at Science during the week ending 28 February 2014.

Intermittently flowing streams and rivers should be recognized, afforded protection, and better managed.

In the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, epigenetic variation, like genetic change, is potentially a substrate for Darwinian evolution. [Also see Report by Cortijo et al.]

An atomic force microscope is used to measure the molecular forces between two carbon monoxide (CO) molecules. [Also see Report by Weymouth et al.]

Knowledge of the drivers behind recent record low water levels in the North American Great Lakes can help water resource management planning.

A dense cold plasma from Earth's ionosphere can counter strong solar wind. [Also see Report by Walsh et al.]

Consideration of cell type- and disease-associated environmental conditions is critical to connecting specific genetic variants to immune disorders. [Also see Research Articles by Fairfax et al. and Lee et al.]

Molecular mechanisms that generate biological diversity are rewriting ideas about how evolution proceeds, with implications for treating disease.

Analysis of the transcriptional responses during induced innate immune activity in primary human monocytes is explained. [Also see Perspective by Gregersen]

Mapping of human host-pathogen gene-by-environment interactions identifies pathogen-specific loci. [Also see Perspective by Gregersen]

A proxy for river elevation demonstrates the degree to which river networks reorganize and equilibrate.

Lateral force microscopy reveals the torsional spring constant of a carbon monoxide molecule at the end of an atomic force microscope tip. [Also see Perspective by Salmeron]

Ground-based and satellite observations show that a plume extends all the way to the magnetopause and can persist for hours. [Also see Perspective by Borovsky]

Infrared nanoimaging is used to detect a type of surface collective mode in a representative van der Waals crystal.

Deep ocean circulation was less stable during the last interglacial periods than previously supposed.

Structural and functional studies of ABC exporters provide insight into how glutathione derivatives are translocated.

Structural and functional studies of ABC exporters provide insight into how glutathione derivatives are translocated.

Crystallography and spectroscopy detail a key mechanistic step in the microbial biosynthesis of an important antibiotic class.

Genetic mapping reveals epigenetic changes associated with flowering time and root length. [Also see Perspective by Schmitz]

A methyl-branched cuticular hydrocarbon affects both desiccation resistance and mate choice in related Drosophila species.

Prolonged protection from repeated SHIV challenges is demonstrated in macaques.

Warmer years promote malaria cases at higher altitudes.

Listen to stories on 100 years of crystallography, firming up the link between climate change and malaria, and more.

A weekly roundup of information on newly offered instrumentation, apparatus, and laboratory materials of potential interest to researchers.