Nature at the femto-scale - a new booklet from FINUPHYMay 27, 2004A non-expert's guide to European research into the nucleus and its applications To explain the exciting programme of European nuclear research, FINUPHY (Frontiers in Nuclear Physics) has produced a booklet which presents the science and applications at a non-expert level. Scientists already explore and manipulate our everyday world at the nano-scale of atoms and molecules. Now, we are poised to make a leap in our understanding of the complexities of matter to an even smaller scale - that of the atomic nucleus - at the femto-level of one million-billionth of a metre. We still know very little about the thousands of kinds of nuclei that might exist. From the many, yet small fraction of nuclear varieties studied, it is clear that they often behave in unusual and surprising ways that reveal the most fundamental properties of the Universe at the deepest level. Discoveries in nuclear science are already leading to significant applications such as new medical treatments and analytical techniques; uncovering novel nuclear behaviour may even result in new kinds of safe energy. Nuclear studies are also shedding light on how elements formed in stars, and became the building blocks of our world and ourselves. Research into nuclei relies on complex equipment at specialised laboratories, and Europe is at the forefront of developing a new generation of advanced facilities. Copies of the booklet can be obtained through Dieter Müller at GSI, Darmstadt in Germany. Dieter Müller The booklet can also be downloaded from the FINUPHY website http://www.finuphy.org | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Related Nuclear Current Events and Nuclear News Articles Genetic mutation causes familial susceptibility for degenerative brain disease Mutation of a gene that helps proteins migrate in and out of the cell's genetic command center - the nucleus - puts some families at higher risk for the degenerative brain disease acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). Plant polymerases IV and V are special forms of Polymerase II It's a little like finding out that Superman is actually Clark Kent. A team of biologists at Washington University in St. Louis has discovered that two vital cellular components, nuclear RNA Polymerases IV and V (Pol IV and V), found only in plants, are actually specialized forms of RNA Polymerase II, an essential enzyme of all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. New appropriate use criteria guide treatment of patients with heart blockage If you're committed to fitness, the decision to climb a couple of flights of stairs rather than take the elevator is clear. But if you develop chest pain on the way up, deciding how to treat the symptoms of clogged arteries in your heart is much more complicated. Molecular imaging enables earlier, individualized treatment of thyroid cancer In a study to determine the diagnostic value of molecular imaging in nodal staging of patients with thyroid cancer, researchers were able for the first time to accurately distinguish between cancerous cells in regional lymph nodes and normal residual thyroid tissue directly after surgery. Lamin A/C deficiency is 'unnerving' Mutations in the nuclear intermediate filament lamin A/C (LMNA) gene are associated with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, but cause the disease by unknown mechanisms. Méjat et al. show that one mechanism involves the disruption of neuromuscular junctions. UC Davis researchers find molecule that targets brain tumors UC Davis Cancer Center researchers report today the discovery of a molecule that targets glioblastoma, a highly deadly form of cancer. The finding, which is published in the January 2009 issue of the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, provides hope for effectively treating an incurable cancer. Activating the lung's antioxidant defense by targeting Nrf2 inhibits the development of emphysema Using a molecule similar to one found in an experimental cancer drug, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health demonstrated that activation of a key component of the lung's antioxidant defense system, Nrf2, can prevent emphysema in mice. Researchers find chink in the armor of viral 'tummy bug' Researchers at Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Melbourne have moved a step closer to identifying a broad spectrum treatment for the dreaded 'viral tummy bug' or rotavirus. What is the mechanism of the chronic radiation enteritis? The use of radiation therapy to treat cancer inevitably involves exposure of normal tissues. MSU researcher nabs 'doubly magic' tin isotope With help from newly developed equipment designed and built at Michigan State University, MSU researchers have been able to make first-of-its-kind measurements of several rare nuclei, one of which has been termed a "holy grail" of experimental nuclear physics. More Nuclear Current Events and Nuclear News Articles |
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