That suggested they formed from interactions between bits of the backbones, rather than the variable side chains.

ECONOMIST: Folding stuff

At first, most people thought that amyloid formed because mutated side chains were interacting with each other in ways they were not supposed to.

ECONOMIST: Folding stuff

These side chains are groups of atoms that are not critical to a tube's structure, but can change the way it interacts with the outside world.

ECONOMIST: Nanotechnology in biology

What global supply chains look like on the other side is widely unknown.

FORBES: Supply Chain Lessons From Japan

On the bright side: as much as consumers are still looking for deals, lower inventory levels at some chains this year means less extreme discounting will be necessary to clear merchandise.

FORBES: Black Friday Weekend: Lots of Buzz, Not So Much Spending