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The prevalence puzzle: Autism counts

Shifting diagnoses and heightened awareness explain only part of the apparent rise in autism. Scientists are struggling to explain the rest.

Mississippi to vote on 'personhood'

Ballot measure would give fertilized eggs human rights.

Autism's fight for facts: A voice for science

Convinced by the evidence that vaccines do not cause autism, Alison Singer started a research foundation that pledges to put science first.

Aid organizations tap into social-science expertise

Behavioural and cultural studies seen as key to success of public-health initiatives.

Spanish institute faces cash crisis

About 100 researchers at the Prince Felipe Research Centre expect to lose their jobs.

Mental-health guide accused of overreach

Dispute grows over revisions to diagnostic handbook.

Smoking stokes cocaine cravings

Molecular mechanism found for controversial 'gateway drug' hypothesis.

Fresh dispute about MMR 'fraud'

Pathology records are at the centre of a new disagreement over disgraced medic Andrew Wakefield.

Scientists and autism: When geeks meet

Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen thinks scientists and engineers could be more likely to have a child with autism. Some researchers say the proof isn't there.

US lawsuit extends thalidomide's reach

Drug blamed for a broader range of harmful effects.

Rice seed yields blood protein

Human serum albumin from transgenic rice could ease shortages of donated blood.

Palestinian membership puts UN projects at risk

Science and culture agency loses US funding, and other bodies could follow.

Special issue on neuroscience: The autism enigma

Diagnoses and research funding are rising, but much about autism remains a puzzle. Nature seeks some truths.

Research cuts hit the DNA business

Makers of sequencing machines hope for profits in the clinic.

More clues in the genetics of schizophrenia

Chinese researchers add three chromosomal regions to a slow-growing list of genetic links.