Combining cassava species could lead to better crops
Researchers have devised a non-GM method for hybridising wild and cultivated cassava species, to create improved varieties.
Putting science
at the heart of development
News
Which stories got people talking in 2012?
Flickr/ArtbyRetta
SciDev.Net brings you the most commented on articles in 2012, including news, editorials and opinions, spanning topics as diverse as wind energy, access to weather data and communicating science.
Stories include an article about an Egyptian teenager who figured out how to turn plastic waste into biofuels, and an article about a controversial study that claimed to have found a way to increase the protein content of cassava only to be retracted due to missing data.
Which SciDev.Net articles do you find the most intriguing? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @scidevnet using #bestof2012
Open access for development: a battle not yet won
The momentum for Open Access is unstoppable. Now the global science community must manage change to ensure poorer regions are not left behind.
First GM camels to be engineered for drug production
Dubai scientists hope their first GM camel, to be conceived later this year, will eventually make drug production in the region more affordable.
Slash-and-burn 'improves tropical forest biodiversity'
Slash-and-burn agriculture is more sustainable than modern clearing methods and improves biodiversity, a study suggests.
Even 'bad science' needs putting in context
Science journalists must help to root out misleading scientific claims, but not without sensitivity to culture and the limitations of science.
Sail-inspired turbine promises cheaper wind energy
A Tunisian wind turbine that replaces blades with sails, can capture twice the wind energy of existing turbines, its creators claim.
WMO weather information system improves access to data
The World Meteorological Organization is offering improved access to data for decision-makers in developing countries.
Student finds new way of turning plastic into biofuel
An Egyptian teenager has devised a low-cost method for producing biofuel from plastics, and will receive assistance with progressing her idea.
Tackling the real crisis in science communication
The shortage of credible and diverse voices in science undermines the capacity of journalists to respond to development challenges.
GM cassava study retracted over 'missing' data
A study that claimed to boost cassava's protein content has been retracted after the research team found they could not repeat its results.
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24 May 2013