Stephen Pincock

In the world of medical research, it would be hard to find two individuals working together whose temperaments were more diametrically opposed than Robin Warren and Barry Marshall, the joint winners of this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Warren, a consultant pathologist now retired from Royal Perth Hospital in Australia, is a reserved man whose colleagues talk about his quiet persistence, thoughtfulness, and careful observation.

No six-year-old wants a sackcloth-and lentil-themed party. Is it possible to have an eco-friendly birthday party that's still colourful, exciting and memorable? The answer is a definitive yes. Organising an eco-friendly birthday party is probably going to involve more than a quick trip to the supermarket. But harried parents needn't fret. With a modicum of forward planning and a bit of ingenuity, it won't be arduous. Probably the most important thing is to keep your basic principles in mind.

Politicians in Australia's upper house of parliament have voted to lift the country's ban on somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning), deciding that any moral doubts over the technology were outweighed by the potential for medical advances. In a rare vote of conscience last week, 34 of 76 senators voted in favour of a private member's bill sponsored by the former health minister Senator Kay Patterson, and 31 voted against. Eight senators were absent and three abstained.