The fact that it is difficult to evaluate and compare the outputs of individual researchers might actually be good for science.

Almost a quarter of faculty evaluation documents from US and Canadian universities mention Journal Impact Factor and often imply that it measures research quality.

Theoretical ideas have a rich history in many areas of biology, and new theories and mathematical models have much to offer in the future.

Research in molecular ecology and evolution is increasingly utilizing the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, placing a spotlight on its natural history.

A method to assess the training of scientists, based on a set of 10 core competencies, is proposed.

Research into light-gated ion channels called channelrhodospins laid the foundations for the development of optogenetics, a technique that has gone on to revolutionize neuroscience.

Staff from the Mayo Clinic in the US and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden describe a joint transatlantic course intended to broaden the horizons of the next generation of researchers in the field of regenerative medicine.