Archives

  • Cooling our scorching cities

    A team of researchers managed to reduce the temperature of Riyadh by 4.5 °C using reflective material and irrigatable greenery

    12 March 2024; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2024.82

  • Study unveils the evolution of a deadly bird flu

    Gene exchange between the bird flu variant in Egypt gave rise to a new fatal strain that evolved in Europe and spread through wild birds across the world

    2 March 2024; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2024.71

  • Look both ways for new bio-logic

    ‘Janus’ nanoparticles with two interacting compartments offer new opportunities in biological logic for many applications, including drug delivery.

    20 April 2023; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2023.30

  • Just add water to make ammonia

    A lab-scale demonstration reveals a surprisingly simple way to make ammonia from nitrogen and water.

    12 April 2023; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2023.29

  • Hidden biases result in unequal access for authors

    Non-white researchers face underappreciated hurdles in terms of representation on journal editorial boards and getting their research disseminated in the literature.

    3 April 2023; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2023.26

  • Snakes bite the poorest regions hardest

    Snakebite mortality remains high in certain parts of the world, with lower-income countries and war-torn regions bearing the highest burden.

    27 October 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.67

  • The short but eventful life of the Higgs boson

    Measurements at the Large Hadron Collider suggest that the Higgs boson’s lifetime matches the predictions of the Standard Model.

    24 October 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.66

  • Smart membranes separate oil

    Ultra-thin membrane films can sieve molecules from crude oil with huge savings in energy requirements.

    4 October 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.62

  • Setting the ground rules for water reuse in Lebanon

    Reusing wastewater for agricultural production can relieve some of the pressure from Lebanon’s freshwater supplies if certain challenges are addressed. 

    4 October 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.63

  • Making light work of synthetic membrane pores

    Pores in a synthetic membrane are opened or closed by light, mimicking natural systems and offering applications in nanotechnology.

    19 June 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.34

  • Lifestyle influences infant microbiome development

    Children from the Hadza hunter-gatherer tribes in Tanzania have a more diverse gut microbial composition than those living in industrialized regions, highlighting the importance of expanding studies to different populations.

    16 June 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.33

  • Sustaining Jordan’s water sector

    Jordan’s water scarcity is among the most severe in the world, but it has one of the lowest water service tariffs. Iyad Dahiyat1 , a former secretary-general of the Water Authority of Jordan, suggests solutions for a more cost-effective water sector.

    14 June 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.31

  • Shape-shifting organic crystals

    Organic crystals reversibly convert heat energy into work through an exceptionally large shape-changing ability.

    1 June 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.30

  • Sowing a secure future beyond seed banks

    Gene banks play a vital role in safeguarding critical plant biodiversity, but boosting regional food security ultimately requires improving farmers’ access to seeds.

    24 May 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.28

  • Key crops missing in global gene banks

    Gene bank stores of important agricultural crops are ‘moderately comprehensive’, but some vital plants are under-represented.

    19 May 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.27

  • Catching new waves on the Sun

    A new kind of wave discovered in the Sun appears to travel much faster than theory predicts.

    30 March 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.15

  • Taking charge of splitting water

    Long-lived electric charge separation brings better performance in hydrogen-producing photocatalysts.

    16 March 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.11

  • Pollution reduction stirs dusty winds of change

    Long-range atmospheric circulation patterns explain how lockdown-related reductions in air pollution in India increased dust levels in the Middle East.

    9 March 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.10

  • The future of mRNA

    Researchers say the COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to boost a technology that may hold great promise for a new era of medicine.

    8 March 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.9

  • Studying the Middle East’s sky rivers

    Atmospheric rivers carry huge volumes of water from low to higher latitudes. The impacts of these ‘rivers in the sky’ on the coastal regions have been studied extensively, but little is known about how they affect land far from the oceans, such as in the Middle East. Amin Dezfuli, a hydrometeorologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, explains what we currently know and why it is important we learn more.

    23 February 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.8

  • Identifying cancer risk in native Qataris

    A large genomic analysis demonstrates how cancer risk varies among Qataris according to their ancestral origins.

    17 February 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.6

  • Measuring tree biodiversity

    Big data analysis suggests Earth is home to around 73,000 tree species, of which about 9,000 are yet to be discovered.

    9 February 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.5

  • Live webinar: The future of mRNA technology

    On 10 February from 16:00 to 17:30 GMT, Nature Middle East is hosting three experts from the Arab region to talk about the past, present and future of mRNA technology.

    3 February 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.4

  • How some corals take the heat

    Examining the genetics of one coral species shows how a Persian/Arabian Gulf subpopulation has rapidly evolved to thrive in warmer waters.

    17 January 2022; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2022.1

  • Testing Arab attitudes towards COVID vaccines

    Around two-thirds of survey respondents from Jordan, Syria and the Palestinian West Bank were unwilling or hesitant about COVID-19 vaccination.

    14 December 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.103

  • Atmospheric rivers dust the Alps

    Huge streams of warm, humid air have deposited Saharan dust on the European Alps and may have led to a reduction in snow cover.

    7 December 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.100

  • MENA corporate sustainability and the climate disclosure gap

    With the next two Conference of the Parties (COP) climate summits coming to Egypt and the UAE, businesses in the MENA region are under the spotlight to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Mahmoud Abouelnaga1, Solutions Fellow at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, explains that they have some catching up to do.

    2 December 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.99

  • Tracing the roots of monogenic diabetes

    A deep dive into an unusual case of severe diabetes reveals a gene involved with pancreatic development that could play a role in disease for a larger number of patients.

    25 October 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.85

  • Modern horses emerged from Western Eurasia

    An extensive genetic analysis concludes that the ancestors of modern-day domesticated horses originated in the western Russian steppes.

    21 October 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.83

  • A bizarre new Ankylosaur species from Africa

    The oldest ankylosaur fossil ever discovered, and the first from Africa, has a unique structure of armour spikes unlike that found in the rest of its family.

    5 October 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.81

  • North Africa’s wildfires are a grim warning

    This summer’s wildfires in Algeria and Tunisia are a warning of the global warming effects predicted by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report if the world doesn’t soon switch direction.

    26 August 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.75

  • Computing the human biological energy bill

    An international survey of human energy consumption reveals new insights into factors that shape metabolic activity throughout our lives.

    23 August 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.72

  • Just click for new polymers

    A versatile new type of polymer has been built using 'click chemistry'.

    17 August 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.70

  • Seeking signals seeping through pores

    Tiny inanimate objects moving in response to chemical signals bring opportunities to the oil industry, medicine and materials science.

    13 August 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.69

  • The changing phases of quantum magnets

    The realization of discontinuous phase transitions in quantum magnets could enable efficient switching for quantum information storage.

    20 April 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.39

  • A step towards oral insulin

    A new nanomaterial could lead to safe, effective oral delivery of insulin, and eventually be used as a more general drug delivery platform.

    16 April 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.37

  • Quenching Jordan’s thirsty future

    Ambitious interventions are needed to address Jordan’s water shortages, but experts are cautious about what can realistically be done.  

    12 April 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.34

  • Getting smart about cancer immunotherapy

    A smart hybrid material forms the foundation of a delivery system for personalized and targeted cancer immunotherapy.

    28 January 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.8

  • Reconstructing the end of an ecosystem

    Shifting atmospheric conditions contributed to the desertification of mangrove ecosystems along the Omani coast.

    22 January 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.6

  • Taking flight into carbon-neutral industry

    A method that converts carbon dioxide directly into liquid hydrocarbon fuel could pave the way to carbon-neutral air travel.

    13 January 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.4

  • Look both ways for better solar cells

    Solar cells can now more efficiently capture light that bounces up from the ground and hits their undersides.

    12 January 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.3

  • Keeping fisheries sustainable

    Using a variety of management measures cumulatively helps maintain fishery sustainability, but approaches must be tailored for local biological and socioeconomic contexts.

    11 January 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.1

  • A deeper look at facial perception

    Study questions the universality of existing theories of face evaluation by collecting data from multiple world regions.

    11 January 2021; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.2

  • Meteorite mineral surprise

    A mineral in a meteorite provides evidence of a parent asteroid of an unusual size and type.

    21 December 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.131

  • Safaa Kumari: Nurturing seeds of hope

    The BBC has recognized the work of a Syrian plant virologist, whose research is saving the fava bean from a deadly virus.

    3 December 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.126

  • E-skin shows promise for prosthetics

    A robust electronic skin can sense and monitor blood pressure, finger movements, and an approaching object. 

    3 December 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.127

  • COVID-19 exposes deep inequalities

    The pandemic is developing into a human rights crisis for minorities, migrant workers, refugees and internally displaced persons in the Middle East and across the globe.

    1 December 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.124

  • Tracking the triggers for an epic dust storm

    The unusual weather conditions that produced a historic Saharan dust storm may be tied in part to the impact of global warming on Arctic sea ice.

    1 December 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.125

  • Discovery, against all odds

    Nathalie Khoueiry-Zgheib from Lebanon is recognized for her research studying the links between genetics and drug reactions.

    17 November 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.121

  • Detailed bird genome resource takes flight

    A newly released dataset comprising genomes for 363 bird species will transform understanding of avian genetics and diversity.

    11 November 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.119

  • How atmospheric events break the ice

    Streams of warm air flowing from tropical storm systems directly contribute to the melting of Antarctic sea ice.

    11 November 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.120

  • Saving Syria’s seed bank

    International collaborations rescue a seed heritage from the ravages of war.

    10 November 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.118

  • Climate change affecting Arctic animal behaviour

    The first Arctic-focused collection of animal tracking studies reveals variations in wildlife migration, reproduction and daily movements.

    6 November 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.117

  • Women in STEM: Challenging the challenge narrative

    UK-based Egyptian computer science lecturer Mai Elshehaly1  considers the need for a more inclusive narrative that recognizes the diversity of women in STEM.

    24 June 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.67

  • A look at Arab regional responses to COVID-19

    The unique context of the Middle East and North Africa provides challenges and opportunities in the battle against COVID-19, explains US-based infectious disease epidemiologist, Amira Roess1 .

    19 June 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.64

  • COVID-19 Middle East Map

    Weekly updated World Health Organization figures on COVID-19 cases and deaths within the Arab region.

    18 June 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.40

  • Electromagnetic blood sugar sensing

    A new sensing system is inspired by the anatomy of the arteries and veins of the human hand and arm.

    15 June 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.63

  • Arab healthcare innovation responds to pandemic

    Arab entrepreneurs are tackling the pandemic head-on with artificial intelligence, telehealth, 3D-printed ventilator parts, and contact tracing apps.

    12 June 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.62

  • Arab institutions ramp up COVID-19 research

    Researchers in Arab institutions have joined the global effort to understand, monitor, test and control the spread of COVID-19.

    4 June 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.61

  • New autism-related gene identified

    Mutations in a gene involved in neuronal DNA and protein regulation may be a leading cause of inherited autism.

    24 April 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.52

  • Tracking malnutrition

    Communities in Sudan, Iran and Iraq are among the most vulnerable in the Middle East to the co-occurrence of over- and under-nutrition.

    22 April 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.51

  • Ancient echoes in a climate of change

    People in Arabia adapted to extreme climate changes over the past 12,000 years with a flexibility perhaps needed for our future.

    7 April 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.48

  • The challenge of predicting life’s paths

    A mass collaboration of international researchers demonstrates the pitfalls of using machine learning to predict the lives that individuals may lead.

    3 April 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.46

  • Fossils tell tale of wetter Sahara

    Hunter-gatherers and nomadic herders in the Libyan Sahara ate a large amount of fish some 10,000 years ago.

    19 February 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.28

  • The lowdown on fluoride

    Findings help elucidate the molecular mechanisms that cause dental fluorosis.

    18 February 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.27

  • Monitoring molecules in a flash

    Brief pulses of powerful laser light could unlock new insights into molecular dynamics.

    15 February 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.25

  • Catalysing carbon capture

    An exceptionally effective catalyst converts carbon dioxide into fuels, offering profits while combatting global warming.

    14 February 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.24

  • Breast size matters

    More than two-thirds of women worldwide are unhappy with their breast size. Researchers say there could be health implications.

    7 February 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.22

  • Tweaking influenza’s sugar attachment

    Scientists are investigating whether changes to the position of a sugar molecule on the influenza virus could lead to improved flu vaccines.

    7 February 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.23

  • Towards targeted therapies for amyloid diseases

    Study reveals a promising route for inhibiting the aggregation of harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer’s and other amyloid diseases.

    5 February 2020; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2020.20

  • Self-powered glucose sensing

    A semiconducting polymer shows promise for implantable, self-powered biosensors.

    23 December 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.166

  • Carbon dots light up the blues

    Highly efficient LEDs that emit deep blue light can be fabricated using nano-sized carbon dots.

    18 December 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.165

  • A whale of a tail

    Fossilised remains of a newly identified species of whale found in Egypt represent the evolutionary step from foot-powered to tail-powered swimming.

    11 December 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.163

  • Finding solutions for cities on the frontline of climate change

    Participants at the COP25 in Madrid need to demonstrate a strong commitment to ensuring that the world’s cities become part of the solution, instead of the problem, for climate change, say IDRC’s Dominique Charron and Barbara Shenstone1 .

    5 December 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.160

  • Qatari model forecasts herpes trends in the US

    The version of the herpes virus most commonly known for causing cold sores around the mouth will lead to more genital infections in the coming years.

    21 March 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.40

  • Adolescent health: A call to action

    The world’s adolescents are facing huge health challenges. In the Middle East, these range from a high incidence of injuries to greater rates of obesity.

    20 March 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.37

  • Touch and sight in action

    Understanding the roles of touch and sight in day-to-day activities may help develop rehabilitation aids.

    20 March 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.38

  • Feeding future generations in a shifting climate

    Preventing further rises of greenhouse gas emissions could limit significant changes in global precipitation, but adaptations are needed now to ensure global food and water security.

    13 March 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.35

  • Huge solar storm kept on ice

    A study of ancient ice cores and tree rings reveals that a powerful burst of high-energy protons from the Sun hit Earth about 2,700 years ago. 

    13 March 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.36

  • Lighting up crystalline fireflies

    Heat stimulates light-emitting reactions in solid crystals, with potential applications in materials research and life sciences.

    1 March 2019; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2019.31

  • Focused filtering for gas-based fuels

    A porous solid-state material that can filter unwanted contaminants from natural gas could transform the production of gas-based fuels.

    31 October 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.135

  • Cutting through a global trend

    The numbers of babies born by caesarean section has doubled globally, calling into question the cause of this trend.

    26 October 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.131

  • From black gold to light

    How did Middle Eastern solar power become so cheap, and what can we learn from it?

    15 October 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.127

  • Taller plants on the tundra

    Understanding vegetation changes on the tundra could improve predictions on the impacts of climate change.

    9 October 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.125

  • Why the right questions make the biggest impact

    Drawing on her experience establishing a state-of-the art lab in Jordan using minimal resources, Rana Dajani discusses her role in world-class research.

    31 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.88

  • Making medicine personal in the Middle East

    Habiba Al Safar and Guan K Tay discuss the rising tide of precision medicine in the Middle East and how the West can be used as a model.

    30 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.87

  • The Skill Trap

    Links between skill sets prevent low-income workers from getting better-paying jobs.

    26 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.84

  • Alive in the Universe

    Sarah Hiddleston looks at a Syrian artist’s work at the intersection of science and art.

    25 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.82

  • Strike

    An algorithm that ultimately maps skill sets in the workplace, and the marriage of art and science in a Cambridge-based artist's installations. 

    25 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.83

  • Homing in on blood stem cells

    A new method established in Saudi Arabia enables scientists to study nanoscale interactions between blood stem cells.

    23 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.81

  • Light-trapping nanoshells

    Scientists create nanoshells that focus light like a convex lens, to boost their efficiency.

    22 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.78

  • Sparking the first flame

    Everything is illuminated: New study explains how Neanderthals started the first fire.

    20 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.77

  • A key move makes an egg

    Scientists identify a protein with an essential role in egg cell maturation.

    18 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.76

  • Ultrasensitive sensors

    Embedding carbon nanotubes in polymer films creates highly sensitive sensors as per new research.

    17 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.75

  • Science highlights

    Listen to Pakinam Amer present the latest in science news in the Arab world. 

    16 July 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.74

  • Nano cancer killers

    Scientists develop a creative drug delivery system for use in targeted cancer therapy.

    24 April 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.53

  • Through order comes efficiency

    Record-breaking efficiencies for solar cells can be achieved by perfecting arrangements of quantum dots. 

    23 April 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.52

  • First human fossil in Arabia found

    Finger bone fossil reveals the complex human migrations out of Africa during a time when Saudi Arabia was wet grassland. 

    9 April 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.43

  • The stories bones and stone tell

    An ancient fossil finger, stone tools and animal remains give insights into Arabia and puts the peninsula on the human evolution map.

    9 April 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.45

  • Arab space odyssey

    Tracing a renaissance of space science in the Arab region.

    31 January 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.9

  • Qatar joins the star search

    Returning researcher brings home a quest for cosmic understanding.

    31 January 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.10

  • The UAE sees red

    The UAE’s is aiming for Mars, with a programme to catalyse high-tech innovation, inspire youth, and diversify the nation’s economy.

    31 January 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.11

  • Astronomy among Arabs

    Sedeer el-Showk on a history of modern space science in the Arab world.

    31 January 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.13

  • Space and beyond

    Jörg Matthias Determann talks astronauts, observatories and nationalism in the Arab Middle East.

    31 January 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.14

  • 3D single-crystal catalysts

    Scientists create a more efficient gas-absorbing, single-crystal catalyst.

    30 January 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.8

  • A ministry for change

    This is how the UAE is managing its scarce natural resources in the face of harsh environmental conditions.

    21 January 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.6

  • Predicting droughts

    A climate model that simulates El Niño can help predict droughts in the Arabian Peninsula.

    18 January 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.5

  • Oxygen loss strains marine ecosystems

    A new review highlights the impact of declining oxygen levels in the open ocean and coastal waters due to increasing temperatures and nutrient discharge.

    13 January 2018; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2018.2

  • The malaria control paradox

    Focusing malaria control on hindering its transmission could lead to less virulent infections.

    24 December 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.176

  • Making every drop count

    In a dry region, scientists are investigating sustainable ways water can be treated and used to grow food.

    20 December 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.169

  • Navigating water shortage in the Arab Middle East

    Peter Rogers, Gordon McKay research professor of environmental engineering and professor of city and regional planning at Harvard University, entertains the scenario of a region without freshwater. 

    20 December 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.171

  • Water scarcity predicted to worsen

    Changing weather patterns in the Middle Eastern region will impact the availability of fresh water.

    20 December 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.172

  • From Crisis to Opportunity

    Producing enough freshwater in today’s Middle East and North Africa can be a difficult, energy-intensive task, which makes it difficult to grow enough food to supply the burgeoning population.

    20 December 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.173

  • Return to the sea

    Seawater and saltwater ecosystems offer promise for a region running out of freshwater supplies.

    20 December 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.174

  • Mangrove warriors

    Mangroves are saltwater-tolerant, natural carbon reservoirs; this Arab visual artist is trying to save them.

    20 December 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.175

  • Corrugated, bendable solar cells

    Scientists invent ultra-flexible solar cells to harness the sun’s energy.

    19 December 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.167

  • A dim future under bright nights

    Humans are “voracious users of artificial lighting” and it’s getting worse.

    30 November 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.164

  • Dividing the Nile

    Conflict over Nile water is rooted in population growth and poor soil productivity.

    30 November 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.165

  • Loss of night

    Earth's nights are getting brighter, and it's bad news for everyone.

    29 November 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.163

  • Unraveling protons

    Scientists probe subatomic particles to reveal their secret structures.

    27 November 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.161

  • A possible alternative route for MERS

    New research may explain why MERS infections occur even without direct contact with camels or other carriers.

    22 November 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.159

  • Dental braces that light up

    This biocompatible micro-battery can power up implantable dental braces.

    8 November 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.156

  • Seawater-grown food

    An agricultural endeavor in Aqaba is using saltwater to alleviate Jordan's strain on food, energy and freshwater production.

    30 September 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.143

  • Blooming under heat

    The results of simulations of an ocean warming scenario are at odds with the Metabolic Theory of Ecology.

    27 September 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.140

  • Camels carry a heavy viral load

    A burden of mammalian viruses makes camel a breeding ground for novel human diseases.

    27 September 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.141

  • Fully chemical gene synthesis

    New method of gene synthesis preserves epigenetic marks in resulting genes, optimizes yield and can be automated.

    26 September 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.138

  • Outsmarting disease using nanoparticles

    Scientists make versatile nanoparticles that can ferry drugs that can treat diseases like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s.

    26 September 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.139

  • Willing to die

    New research tries to understand the motivation behind blind devotion to frontline combat.

    13 September 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.136

  • Measuring sunlight

    A new software-based tool can forecast the intensity of sunlight across different geographical locations.

    13 September 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.137

  • In support of a science visionary

    Ismail Serageldin, former director of the Alexandria library and renowned international figure, is sentenced to prison following retirement.

    31 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.133

  • Remote reefs

    Scientists use satellites to get a more complete view of Red Sea coral reefs — and what they observe is fascinating.

    30 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.131

  • Homing in on a stress-busting molecule

    New research unveils the mechanism by which corals-associated algae cope with highly saline waters.

    28 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.129

  • Archaeology from space

    Nature Middle East interviews renowned space archaeologist Sarah Parcak.

    24 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.127

  • ‘Vaccine’ against Abu Hilalain

    A vaccination-based approach enables researchers to understand how the harmful stimulant works.

    22 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.126

  • Scrutinizing MERS immune response

    This first-ever analysis of blood cells from Middle East respiratory syndrome survivors highlights their immune response to the disease.

    16 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.125

  • DNA-binding lipids protect bacteria

    Intracellular lipid droplets help protect bacteria under stress by stabilizing their DNA.

    15 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.121

  • New way to rapidly identify gene function in malaria

    A combined genetic and mathematical modelling approach helps scientists interpret genetic information in the parasite population with high precision in considerably less time.

    15 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.122

  • Underwater fairy rings

    What are those mysterious patches of bare land cropping out in green meadows under the sea?

    9 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.120

  • New hope for ALS

    New insights into the workings of the gene associated with degenerative brain diseases provide potential targets for treatment.

    2 August 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.119

  • The dust menace

    How dangerous are dust storms that transport microbial communities across countries?

    27 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.76

  • Arctic garbage patch

    Trillions of small pieces of floating plastic are coagulating in remote waters near the frozen north.

    25 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.75

  • Invisible Graphene

    Researchers show that a very thin layer of graphene can be “invisible” to an underlying growing crystal.

    24 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.73

  • Drilling the Dead Sea

    Dead Sea drill cores reveal worrying insights into ancient climate.

    20 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.70

  • The Egyptian Slicer

    Fossils reveal a complete picture of a new species of an ancient Egyptian animal.

    20 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.71

  • Keeping an eye on polio

    Early detection of polio is possible, thanks to a new algorithm.

    19 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.69

  • Splicing RNA behind cerebellar ataxia

    The RNA implicated in a congenital neurological condition that leads to developmental and learning delays.

    18 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.68

  • Bone-dry, ice-cold Mars

    How the red planet’s climate changed from warm and wet to harsh and dry.

    12 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.67

  • Laying down a carbon law

    Scientists have developed a roadmap for carbon emissions reduction, but it will be a hard sell in some Middle Eastern countries.

    10 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.63

  • Crop trade depletes global groundwater

    The import and export of crops drawing on groundwater is threatening food and water security in the Middle East and elsewhere.

    6 April 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.58

  • Growing transistors from solution

    Researchers find a way to grow transistors from solution without compromising their performance, promising cheaper and more ecological electronics.

    31 March 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.56

  • Africa’s low-carbon future?

    A new study identifies low-cost, low-impact, and highly accessible wind and solar electricity resources in 21 African countries.

    29 March 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.54

  • Mapping dengue fever in the Middle East

    An underreported mosquito-borne disease is wreaking havoc across Egypt and the region but few are paying attention.

    27 March 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.53

  • Watching the brain walk London

    New techniques in experimental psychology show complex brain interactions behind memory and strategy when we navigate.

    26 March 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.51

  • Next-generation supercapacitors

    Laser treatment and a water-based electrolyte make stable supercapacitors.

    15 March 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.45

  • Ending the scourge of female genital cutting

    A look at FGC practices using a cultural evolutionary approach can help policy makers understand why eradication efforts are not very successful. 

    14 March 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.44

  • Microbes help corals take the heat

    New study sheds light on bacterial community dynamics and patterns of corals' heat-resilience.

    6 March 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.42

  • Smaller, faster routers and processors

    Scientists have managed to manipulate wave propagation through liquid crystals with potential for improving communication systems.

    4 March 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.41

  • More than a grain of truth

    Geophysics and geoarchaeology uncovers sacred landscape of the Nile.

    28 February 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.39

  • Hunting for risk genes

    Geneticists zero in on two genes that increase the risks of rheumatoid arthritis among Arabs.

    21 February 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.35

  • Lego-like electronics

    Researchers present a new etching technique that combines a soft and hard mask in a single entity. 

    14 February 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.34

  • Save and grow

    Water scarcity and depleted soils are forcing the region to find sustainable ways to make use of its vast wastelands and water from the sea.

    9 February 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.28

  • Making best use of a tolerant crop

    The complexity of quinoa’s genome brings the promise of improving and expanding crops in hostile environments previously unfit for agriculture.

    9 February 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.29

  • Urban living is starving the fertile land

    Increased urbanization of Egypt’s agricultural lands is damaging agricultural production, a new study warns.

    9 February 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.30

  • Solutions in salt

    Off the the western coast of the United Arab Emirates is a unique facility that aims to find new ways to help address the region’s food and energy demands.

    9 February 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.31

  • A bittersweet crop

    Quinoa is a promising crop packed in a bitter shell, but can this super food become a staple in this region?

    9 February 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.32

  • Trapping carbon dioxide

    Scientists develop materials for selectively trapping CO2 that can be regenerated easily when fouled.

    2 February 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.27

  • Nerve cells that go the distance

    Newly discovered direction and distance nerve cells in the brains of Egyptian fruit bats could help scientists understand how the brain conducts complex computations and why Alzheimer’s patients are often spatially disoriented. 

    30 January 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.26

  • Wind, sand and speculation

    The shamal of 2015 was down to hot dry weather and unusual easterly wind patterns, not war in Syria. But is this a sign of things to come?

    28 January 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.25

  • The aging brain

    Highlighting the link between aging, and changes to cell-type-specific genes.

    24 January 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.21

  • Designable Semiconductors

    Researchers investigate properties useful for rational design of semiconductors.

    16 January 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.20

  • Location, location, location

    Spatial patterning is significant in the development of neural diversity, investigation into fruit fly optic lobes shows.

    15 January 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.19

  • Will the songbirds keep singing?

    By the end of the century birds migrating farthest south for winter will find it hard to find food.

    11 January 2017; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2017.1

  • Probing Hepatitis C with gold

    Egyptian scientists develop affordable diagnostic technology of gold nanoparticles which uses HCV’s genomic signature.

    30 December 2016; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2016.225

  • New gene linked to autism

    Scientists zero in on harmful genetic mutations that trigger autism.

    15 December 2016; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2016.222

  • A collision of the best of East and West

    Award-winning Moroccan nuclear physicist Rajaâ El Moursli talks to Nature Middle East about her pursuit of excellence in her home country and the elusive “God particle” abroad.

    13 December 2016; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2016.217

  • Bridging the gap between academia and business

    Hoping to build a bridge between academia and business, a professor of chemistry at the American University in Cairo (AUC) has created a spin-off company specialized in novel diagnostics, the first of its kind in Egypt.

    13 December 2016; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2016.218

  • Turning tradition on its head

    Ramy Karam Aziz is causing ripples in his circles through unorthodox mentorship methods. But is bucking the trend bearing fruit?

    13 December 2016; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2016.219

  • World AIDS Day: The fight is still on

    On this World AIDS Day, the Arab world has to remember that despite having a low prevalence of HIV and AIDS, prevention efforts need to be dramatically scaled up.

    1 December 2016; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2016.215

  • A constitution not at peace with science

    Egypt's courts are today scheduled to rule on the legality of the committee which produced a new draft constitution. Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb believes adopting this draft would be a setback for education and science and calls for the committee to be replaced.

    23 October 2012; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2012.151

  • Nature Arabic Edition launches

    News, comments and summaries of all research published in Nature can now be read in Arabic in the new Nature Arabic Edition.

    18 October 2012; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2012.149

  • Reversing the brain drain: a Lebanese model

    A country's efforts to keep doctors and biomedical scientists after they qualify often fail owing to a lack of a clear strategy. Mohamed H. Sayegh and Kamal F. Badr argue they have developed a model in Lebanon, one which could be scaled up and implemented elsewhere.

    4 October 2012; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2012.143

  • A university professor becomes Egypt's president

    Egypt's scientific community is hoping for a renaissance based on engineering and technology, ushered in by the election as president of an engineer with an academic background in material science.

    25 June 2012; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2012.90

  • Affordable fossil fuel: a human right?

    While fossil fuel subsidies in Egypt are now making energy affordable to people, the large expenditure cost makes them unsustainable, and it is time for them to go, argues Lama El Hatow. The Egyptian government does not need to look afar for examples on how best to do it.

    22 June 2012; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2012.89

  • Save the deserts

    As governments and conservationist gather for the Rio Earth summit 2012, desert conservationists are calling on governments to stop neglecting desert ecosystems. Sarah Durant, a conservation biologist at the Zoological Society of London working to save the Saharan cheetah, explains what she found in the deserts of Africa and what needs to be done to help save them.

    14 June 2012; | doi:10.1038/nmiddleeast.2012.85