In science news around the world, Korea's premier poultry research center loses its flock to the new H5N8 avian flu strain; the World Health Organization releases draft guidelines that halve recommended sugar intake; the U.S. House of Representatives takes up a controversial bill affecting research and education programs at the National Science Foundation; and more.

As a middle school student, Suvir Mirchandani launched an ambitious project to investigate a simple cost-saving technique for the federal government: changing the font of its printed documents.

Geologist and climate scientist Maureen Raymo becomes the first woman to win the British Wollaston Medal in the 183-year history of the prize. And the U.S. Smithsonian Institution chooses David Skorton, a cardiologist and president of Cornell University, as its new secretary.

Ukraine's parliament is considering legislation that would transform the nation's science and higher education system.

Major U.S. science agencies would see essentially flat or declining spending under the 2015 budget request that President Barack Obama sent to Congress on 4 March.

HIV persists by tapping cancer genes.

A geochemical model published online this week in Science suggests that Earth's temperature controls have built-in restraints, rooted in the chemistry of rock and flowing water, that have kept the planet habitable for eons.

As the search for genes and new drugs for schizophrenia stalls, psychotherapies are getting new attention.

Surface tension is a force to be reckoned with, especially if you are small.

Bix uses the examples of Georgia Tech, CalTech, and MIT to explore how women gained entrance to the traditionally male field of engineering.

Astronomical clues provide the foundation for Olson's engaging detective work.

A listing of books received at Science during the week ending 07 March 2014.

Large errors in flu prediction were largely avoidable, which offers lessons for the use of big data.

Despite the complexity of Earth's climate system, the influence of human activities on climate can be identified and predicted.

Methylation of internal adenosine residues in messenger RNA (mRNA) modulates mRNA metabolism in both the nucleus and cytoplasm.

How much discretion should parents be granted in determining what sort of child they have?

Electrochemical measurements can distinguish between different types of energy storage materials and their underlying mechanisms.

Eliminating the master genomic template of hepatitis B virus in infected liver cells through cytokine therapy may be a route to help cure chronic infection. [Also see Research Article by Lucifora et al.]

A field study reveals an intricate tropical community of plants, herbivores, and parasitoids. [Also see Report by Condon et al.]

Binding of a guide RNA triggers structural changes in a set of DNA-cleaving enzymes.

Two different ligands can be used in succession to tune the reactivity of a palladium catalyst.

Cytokine induction renders viral DNA vulnerable and eliminates infection.

The pores in a graphene membrane stabilize the formation of two-dimensional iron sheets.

Lead and thallium salts are surprisingly selective and efficient oxidants of the constituents of natural gas.

The Gutenberg discontinuity is distinct from the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary.

Incorrect fly-host choice in parasitoid wasps creates multidimensional niches, generating high levels of hidden diversity.

The crystal structure of an interferon-induced ribonuclease shows how it selects and shreds its RNA targets.

The specificity of a histone methyltransferase for a histone variant maintains heterochromatin through cell division.

Cell state change, rather than differential proliferation, initiates limb formation during development.

The stumble gene in flies is required in neurons that sense joint angles.

Hexameric platforms of antibodies on the cell surface trigger the complement cascade.

The fast versus slow profile of motor neurons is controlled by expression of a membrane protein.

On this week's show: avoiding big-data traps and a roundup of shorts from our daily news site.

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