Once subducted into the mantle, material from Earth's continental crust seems to disappear. But its distinctive isotopic signature has been found back at the surface — in volcanic rocks on a Pacific island.

When it comes to understanding patterns of biodiversity, ours is a little-known planet. Large-scale sampling projects, as carried out in two investigations of insect diversity, show a way forward.

How do plant cells respond so vigorously to organisms that damage their cells? Following on from progress made in understanding hormonal control of growth and development comes news of how a plant's security system operates.