While antismoking campaigns which focus on teens may be useful, an important aim is to determine the ways in which these specific genes influence progression to begin smoking, and to further evaluate whether medications currently on the market which reduce cigarette cravings have any influence on these high risk genes.

FORBES: Genetic Factors Linked to Smoking Addiction in Teens

The study is particularly important because an NIH study, AIM-HIGH, was stopped earlier than expected, in April 2011, because it was so clear that the extended release niacin provided no benefits and continuing the trial would not be helpful.

FORBES: Lessons From Merck's Niacin Failure

The astronauts are aiming to complete China's first manned docking with the Tiangong-1 module already in orbit, an important first step towards China's aim of creating a working space station by 2020.

BBC: China's female astronaut quandary

Sometimes participants aim only to educate themselves on an important issue.

ECONOMIST: American democracy: Building the perfect citizen | The

The ultimate aim is to create an "ecologically coherent" network of protected areas around all UK coasts, safeguarding important natural habitats while allowing other activities such as recreational angling, commercial fishing, surfing and marine energy to go ahead.

BBC: Marine protection bids unveiled