China has tremendous climatic and ecological diversity, so the impacts of climate change on natural and managed systems might likewise be expected to be diverse. Yet so far systematic studies have been rare. Here, the impacts of historical and future climate change on water resources and agriculture in China are assessed. Despite clear trends in climate, the overall impacts are overshadowed by natural variability and uncertainties in crop responses and projected climate, especially precipitation.

Neurons of the peripheral nervous system need survival factors to prevent their death during development. Most in the central nervous system do not. Why are peripheral neurons so needy? Here it is shown that the neurotrophin receptors TrkA and TrkC, expressed at high levels by many peripheral nervous system neurons, behave as dependence receptors: they instruct neurons to die if there is no ligand around. By contrast, TrkB, expressed mainly in the central nervous system, does not signal death in the absence of ligand.

Postdoctoral programme pays double the average annual stipend.