Column in 2013

Carolyn Beans says that some of the most interesting results are negative ones — but it still hurts to be wrong.

Confronting hypothetical dilemmas can ease workplace problems, argue Caitlin Casey and Kartik Sheth.

Expediting visa approval helps countries to attract the best researchers, says Conor O'Carroll.

A love affair with research can be just as heartbreaking as romantic love, says Christopher Schmitt.

Success involves acknowledging past accomplishments as well as looking ahead to future value, says Yoshimi Rii.

Even if one PhD experience turns sour, another could offer the right opportunity, says Susie Crowe.

Understanding how visualizations can communicate research will help scientists to make the most of the technology, says Quintin Anderson.

Romantic partnerships between scientists offer plenty of benefits, argues J. T. Neal.

Stress, long hours and low morale threaten to scar the activities and careers of US life-sciences researchers, argue Warren Holleman and Ellen R. Gritz.

It is not easy to let go of a scientific identity after leaving the lab — nor is it necessary, says Chandrika Nair.

Scientists have to promote their work. But they should fight the pull to oversell it, says Monika Maleszewska.

Successful musical composition and scientific research share important traits, argues Stephane Detournay.

Sometimes the best outreach happens when lay people stumble over research unawares, says Carolyn Beans.

Thomas M. Schofield details the stages on his path to a career in research.

The battle to justify research funding is as important now as it was 30 years ago, says Denis Noble.

A lab retreat provides a chance to rethink and advance the research programme, says Eleftherios Diamandis.

The fossilization of the PhD harms students, employers and science in general, argues Peter Fiske.

Informal networks are key to idea-sharing, argue Mark Fishman, Robert Cross and Brigitta Tadmor.

Asian researchers and engineers are too rarely made US science leaders, say Lilian Gomory Wu and Wei Jing