Researchers from 14 institutions in Canada, UK, Denmark, Sweden, and USA have just published a comprehensive look at a group of genes and found a way to predict who will benefit the most from exercise. Their latest work builds on the current belief among researchers that one of the best predictors of health and longevity is our body’s ability to take in and use oxygen during maximum exercise. The more blood our heart can pump and the more oxygen our muscles can use, the less our risk of early disease and death is. They say that’s why aerobic exercise is so important.

Applicants should send by February 19, a CV, a brief letter introducing themselves, and an article which they think would be suitable for publication in the Science and Technology section of The Economist.

A new Web-based tool at South Dakota State University (SDSU) called VitisNet can help plant breeders and researchers worldwide analyze large molecular data sets in ultimately practical ways to help the grape and wine industry. Plant scientists who work with other plants besides grapevines can also benefit from the information.

Digital technology has transformed the production and post production of all types of film - particularly feature films - as well as creating a whole new viewing experience. All these were possible thanks to software products that in essence are based on breakthroughs in a European Eureka project finished in 1998.

The month of your birth influences your chances of becoming a professional sportsperson, an Australian researcher has found. The results of the study are published in a Springer book, series “Statistics for Biology and Health”.

Within the Solar System, surfaces of the atmosphere less bodies are strongly influenced by factors often associated with the expression "space weathering" (*). Recent scientific evidence has shown that the aging process surface due to space weather has a very strong momentum (of the order of one million years) relative to the age of the solar system (about 4.5 billion years).

"Science and journalism - friend or foe?" gathered at the British Council's genuine friends of knowledge. They represent many fields including media, IT, architecture, education, psychology, theology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, linguistics and climate. The story of the event continues now with the second part, and this precedes the one dedicated to few of the email questions and aspects addressed by friends of the Science Newspaper.

The celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 involved 148 countries, a number that confirms that the IYA2009 network is the largest ever in science. Activities and events from these participating nations paint a picture of professional and amateur astronomers bringing the Universe down to Earth through countless projects, opening the eyes of the public to the wonders above.

Although we do not have instruments to measure the degree of boredom or the properties of time, one thing is for certain: the science cafe on the relationship between science and journalism lasted two hours. Two times more than the initial planned programme. The topics, the discussions between participants and video dialogues with partners from UK, Greece and Romania seem to have dilated time. In a pleasant way and for all those who were or wished to be present at this event. That's because we have received email requests from young researchers and science communicators from abroad.

University Open Days is one of the news that caught the attention of participants at the 2009 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities that took place in Brussels, Belgium, between 5-8 October. Open Days 2009's motto was "Global Challenges, European Responses" and attracted thousands of national and regional policymakers, experts and representatives from business, civil society and academia. Discussions focused around four main topics but the pride of place was the perspectives that can offer creativity and innovation. That's because the field of RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) is a matter of high priority for European regions. These were the topics that we addressed in a discussion with Luc Van den Brande, Committee of the Regions' (CoR) President.