The 2000s saw a mix of triumphs and challenges in the field of nature. In 2004, the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami destroyed coastal areas, a clear sign of the power of nature. However, natural conservation efforts have seen progress, such as the establishment of the Papahānaumokuākeamarine National Monument in 2006. Climate change attracted global attention, such as with Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” in 2006 and the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in 2009. Extreme weather events increased, with Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Cyclone Nargis in 2008 leaving serial impacts. The species was threatened, causing the threatened monkey to be classified as endangered in 2008 due to loss from melting ice. Amidst these challenges, environmental awareness increased, which brought about the growth of application of innovative energy and sustainable practices globally. The 2000s marked an important era where humanity faced the consequences of its actions towards the natural world, provoking a call for a program of natural conservation and sensitivity.
In the year 2000, nature welcomed the thousand-year event by taking active part in the Millennium Program of the Association of British Sciences. This partnership, notably, included a significant collaboration with the Royal Society on a multilateral program called “More than Meets the Eye”, which was a dynamic mix of science and art demonstrations, talks, and events, and which took place at London’s prestigious Victoria and Albert Hall. Was held in the museum. This endeavor reveals the traditional deep sensitivity of nature and explores the interweaving of science and cultural language. During the 2000s, Nature saw the proliferation of its own branded journals, reflecting the expansion of scientific exploration. During this period, unique discoveries were made in genomics, including the sequencing of multiple genomes.
The Human Genome Project, established in 1990, marked a watershed moment in scientific history. The returning scientific community from America, United States, France, Germany, China, and Japan jointly took up this Mahayagya under the flag of International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium. In the following years, research centers around the world worked diligently toward understanding the human genome. An important milestone came on February 15, 2001, when a special issue of Nature projected the preliminary human genome, marking an unprecedented scientific achievement. Contemporaneously, the journal Science reported private sector contributions to genome sequencing, notably by Celera Genomics. Using innovative technologies such as “whole genome shotgun sequencing”, Celera Genomics, led by Craig Venter, made significant strides in decoding the human genetic blueprint. These efforts culminated in 2006 when the final draft of the human genome was completed, which was welcomed by Nature with a special Human Genome Collection conference and commemorative video.
Nature’s legacy of honoring Norman Lockyer as an icon was paid an emotional tribute in January 2003 at his former residence on Penywern Road in Earls Court, London. English Heritage, which is dedicated to preserving England’s rich historical heritage, awarded Lockyer a Grand Commendation, a symbol of permanent recognition. As an important figure in scientific history, Lockyer’s contributions spanned a variety of fields, from founding the famous journal Nature to solving the mysteries of helium. Furthermore, he also had an indelible influence in the field of education, where he championed high standards in science education and was instrumental in establishing institutions such as the Imperial College and the Science Museum. The unveiling ceremony, which was attended by the then Science Minister David Sainsbury, symbolized Lockyer’s lasting legacy and profound influence on the scientific community.
With the new millennium, Nature stands at the forefront of scientific research, shining a light on Nature’s contribution to the ever-changing landscape of the struggle for discovery and innovation. From cross-disciplinary partnerships to unraveling the complexities of the human genome, Nature’s contributions resonate with scientific richness, inspiring generations to unlock the mysteries of the natural world.
Nature, a leading scientific publication, has an important tradition of reporting scientific news. In 2004, it launched news@nature.com for comprehensive daily news coverage on the web, welcoming the digital age. Previously, Nature produced a weekly print format, replacing the Nature Science Updates of the 1990s. With a free subscription service, the platform was intended to achieve a wider audience, including those with less interest in consuming primary research sensitively. Its impact was immediate, with news@nature.com receiving awards such as the 2004 British Scientific Writing Award for its outstanding coverage of the discovery of the strange floresiensis, also known as “Flores Man”.
The discovery of Homo floresiensis, previously unknown to the scientific world, on the Indonesian island of Flores attracted global attention. Despite skepticism that any human relatives could determine that a human group could live so recently apart, public interest was aroused by the discovery. Consulting in the context of popular culture, particularly with the release of the Lord of the Rings films, H. floresiensis are known as “hobbits” because of their short length. Local folklore also inspired the tales of the humans inhabiting the children’s afterlife. This inspiration also influenced the field of art, as in British artist Damien Hirst’s depiction of a Hobbit skull juxtaposed with that of a modern human. The significance of this discovery marks the changing landscape of scientific exploration and its impact.
For more than a century, “Nature” was synonymous with print publications in the natural sciences, but the advent of the Internet brought new opportunities for experimentation. In 2004, podcasts emerged as an emerging medium, prompting publishers to explore its potential. Using web feeds such as RSS for subscription-based content distribution, “Nature” took the opportunity to engage the masses in a dynamic audio format. In 2005, “Nature” partnered with the Naked Scientists, a group of science communication enthusiasts based in Cambridge, to launch the Nature Podcast. This innovative platform provided a weekly presentation of a selection of scientific news and discoveries, including interviews with researchers and “Nature” editors. The “Nature” podcast quickly garnered praise, leading the “Nature Publishing Group (NPG)” to diversify its podcast offerings, thus promoting accessibility and better customer engagement with the scientific discussion.
The transformation of Nature’s publishing stream proves its commitment to adapting to the changing needs and preferences of its audience. The adoption of digital platforms not only expanded the reach of its content, but also promoted greater interactivity and accessibility. Through news@nature.com and the Nature Podcast, the publication crosses traditional boundaries, delivering a timely and authoritative scientific experience to a diverse global audience. And by adopting multimedia formats and collaborating with science communicators, Nature exemplified a pioneering approach to scientific communication in the digital age. As technology continues to evolve, Nature is determined to keep Niwas at the forefront of the latest innovation, ensuring its legacy of excellence endures in an ever-changing media landscape.
Nature’s transformation from a print-centric publication to a multimedia powerhouse shows its steadfast focus on scientific news and philosophy. Through platforms such as news@nature.com and the Nature Podcast, it embraces the digital age, consistently addressing audiences around the world and shaping the discussion on important discoveries. As it adapts to emerging technologies and audience preferences, Nature continues to be an inspiration in scientific communication, enriching our understanding of our natural world and its complexities.
In the digital history of 2005, the rise of the podcast era signals a new way to disseminate information. However, the year 2006 witnessed the emergence of Internet video and other pioneering web innovations, a unique time at the time. One of the leading names in this field was Nature, which was one of the first to understand the potential of multimedia content to promote scientific communication. Nature embarked on a journey to work with manufacturers to create organized pieces for important papers. This initiative marks a critical situation, allowing scientists to explain their research in their own words. From discoveries like the discovery of ancient jungle art to political change, Nature’s video archives become a treasure trove of science fiction. This digital dock was also the site of the development of AlphaGo, the computer program that won the ancient game of Go. Additionally, Nature’s forays into the digital realm extended beyond video, such as aspects of a Google Earth mashup file to track the global spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The innovative tool, created by Nature’s esteemed news reporter Declan Butler, received praise, winning the organization’s award for best use of a new digital platform in 2006.
As the digital landscape evolved, the term ‘Web 2.0’ emerged as a prediction of the next phase of the Internet—a phase characterized by community-based content creation and sharing, powered by social networking platforms. . With excellence within natural science communication, Nature recognizes the continuing interconnectedness of scientific communication. With this element the identity behind promoting the era between science and networking was put on hold. This important element gave rise to Sen’s historical importance, with Tim Berners-Lee taking up the idea. Building on its traditional emphasis on promoting discussion, Nature adopted a Web 2.0 policy through facilitating open debate on scientific topics. In 2006, the journal stepped into uncharted territory with a new campaign inviting people to discuss in the context of open peer review. Additionally, interactive features such as the Nature Newsblog were included, empowering readers to participate in the scientific discussion. To complement these efforts, special NPG blogs were launched, catering to different scientific communities, further enriching the fabric of online discussion. Additionally, Nature Publishing Group (NPG) led the development of Web 2.0 applications such as Connotes, which empowers scientists to store and share resources online. This advocacy effort to adopt this progressive publishing practice culminated in NPG’s collaborative hosting of Sci Fu Camp 2006, which brought together a core group of distinguished thinkers from the fields of science, technology, and literature in Mountain View, California. Held at the iconic Googleplex.
In September 2010, and as Nature stepped forward in its digital transformation, older publications were made available in digital form, making them possible to access online. This important decision democratized the availability of important works that had previously overlooked printed results, breathing new life into historical scientific discussion. Nature New Biology and Nature Physical Science, earlier editions published alongside the main journal from 1971 to 1973, discovered new life in the digital domain. By embracing the digital frontier, Nature reaffirms its support of advancing scientific communication in the 21st century, ensuring that the lamp of knowledge continues to shine brightly by pioneers like Tim Berners-Lee.