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BrightSurf.com Science News Headlines September 2003
September 30, 2003
Sandia researchers seek ways to lower the cost of wind energy: As the popularity of wind energy rapidly grows worldwide, researchers at the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories are developing ways to lower the cost of this alternative energy and enable turbines to produce more power.
Researchers identify botox receptor: As doctors tout the toxin found in Botox for its ability to iron out wrinkles, calm muscle spasms and treat migraine headaches, defense agencies condemn it as a weapon that could wipe out large numbers of civilians.
On the antiquity of pots - New method developed for dating archaeological pottery: The contents of ancient pottery could help archaeologists resolve some longstanding disputes in the world of antiquities, thanks to scientists at Britain's University of Bristol. The researchers have developed the first direct method for dating pottery by examining animal fats preserved inside the ceramic walls.
Rating the performance of residential fuel cells: Residential fuel cells sound almost too good to be true. Take a hydrocarbon fuel such as natural gas, use a catalyst to extract hydrogen from it, react the hydrogen with air and, presto, you have a home power plant!
University of Toronto professor turns hemp into auto parts: If Mohini Sain has his way, cars of the future may be fitted with tough, durable and completely biodegradable bumpers made of hemp.
Obesity and blood pressure: The number of overweight Americans has reached record levels, and obesity now affects almost one in three citizens.
MRI accurately depicts spread of cancer to bone: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is extremely accurate in helping radiologists identify involvement of soft-tissue sarcomas (malignant tumors found in connective tissue) of underlying bone, according to a study appearing in the October issue of the journal Radiology.
Scientists estimate risk of raven predation on desert tortoises: Young desert tortoises in the western Mojave Desert are at risk of predation by common ravens, both from non-breeding ravens living in large flocks around human developments and from nesting pairs scattered more evenly across the desert landscape.

September 29, 2003
Princeton paleontologist produces evidence for new theory on dinosaur extinction: As a paleontologist, Gerta Keller has studied many aspects of the history of life on Earth. But the question capturing her attention lately is one so basic it has passed the lips of generations of 6-year-olds: What killed the dinosaurs?
Dual microscopes illuminate electronic switching speeds: Designers of semiconductor devices are like downhill skiers---they thrive on speed. And achieving speed in the semiconductor business is all about the stuff you start with.
Scientists determine biological and ecosystem changes in polar regions linked to solar variability: A Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientist, in collaboration with an international team of colleagues, has reported that noticeable changes in the sub-polar climate and ecosystems appear to be linked to variations in the sun's intensity during the past 12,000 years.
Envisat observes resurgent ozone hole: The latest ESA Earth Observation data show that reports of the demise of the ozone hole appearing annually above Antarctica have been greatly exaggerated.
Atomic insight may lead to cleaner cars: MIT researchers affiliated with the Laboratory for Energy and the Environment are gaining atomic-level insight into how sulfur in engine exhaust 'poisons' advanced catalytic converters, reducing their ability to remove noxious emissions from car engines.
Making tiny plastic particles to deliver lifesaving medicine: Many medications such as therapeutic DNA, insulin and human growth hormone must enter the body through painful injections, but a Johns Hopkins researcher is seeking to deliver the same treatment without the sting.
Early Andean cultures part of intensive silver industry: The examination of sediments from the Bolivian Andes suggests that ores were actively smelted earlier than originally thought--providing evidence for a major pre-Incan silver industry, says a University of Alberta professor, part of a team which conducted the research.
Researchers discover gene able to suppress retrovirus insertion mutations: A naturally occurring variation in an essential gene can suppress genetic mutations caused by retroviruses in mice, according to a new discovery by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine.
•Goodê chemical, neurons in brain elevated among exercise addicts: Exercise enthusiasts have more reasons to put on their running shoes in the morning, but an Oregon Health & Science University scientist says they shouldn't step up their work-outs just yet.

September 24, 2003
International scientific body calls for ban on human reproductive cloning: More than 60 science academies from every continent in the world have called on the United Nations to adopt a ban on human reproductive cloning.
NASA completes Orbital Space Plane design review: NASA's Orbital Space Plane (OSP) program is one step closer to becoming the nation's next space vehicle with the successful completion of its Systems Requirements Review. The review evaluated the vehicle's concept design for providing crew rescue and transfer for the International Space Station.
Nanoscale spectrometry probes the nanoplasmonics of gold: In experiments using a device dubbed the 'nanoscale flashlight', a team of Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists have applied a new nanoscale spectroscopic technique to studies of the collective oscillations of electrons in individual gold nanoparticles and their assemblies.
Sandia researchers design unique microfluidic capillary fittings, manifolds and interconnects: Pursuing commercialization of technologies spawned by its highly successful µChemLab(tm) project, Sandia National Laboratories is actively soliciting industry partners to license, manufacture, and sell a unique suite of microfluidic connection products.
Using GPR to estimate tree root biomass: USDA Forest Service (FS) researchers are improving the use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to study tree roots nondestructively. They are refining GPR's processing capabilities by comparing results with those of more invasive methods.
Aspirin reduces risk of first heart attack by one-third: Aspirin reduces the risk of a first heart attack by 32 percent, according to a report by researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center & Miami Heart Institute (MSMC-MHI) published in the current issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Smart electric grid of the future is in development: The nations current electric grid system will not work in the future with solar and wind farms providing substantial but intermittent power over long distances.
Species vs. Species: Because loggerhead shrikes on San Clemente Island are critically endangered, the foxes that prey on their nestlings should be controlled. Right? Wrong. The problem is that the foxes are also at-risk. A new analysis shows that instead of pitting the shrike against the fox, both species could have been protected with an ecosystem-wide conservation plan.
First study to show link between children's solid tumours and their mothers' breast cancer: Mothers of children who develop certain types of cancer are at increased risk of developing breast cancer, according to research presented today (Wednesday 24 September) at ECCO12 - The European Cancer Conference.

September 23, 2003
Largest Arctic ice shelf breaks up, draining freshwater lake: The largest ice shelf in the Arctic has broken, and scientists who have studied it closely say it is evidence of ongoing and accelerated climate change in the north polar region.
Building a 'Nanoscale Flashlight' to explore the nanoscale world: In the nanoscale world, nanoparticles are measured in billionths of a meter, which often make them only a little bit larger than the size of atoms. Because these nanoparticles are typically smaller than the wavelengths of visible light.
Preventing mitochondria from turning ugly may postpone Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's diseases: Sandia nanolaser may help extend life-spans by rapidly analyzing possible neuroprotectant drugs.
SMART-1 - First spacecraft of the future: A very efficient engine, plenty of room for instruments, accurate performance, good price. All these features characterise ESA's SMART-1, due for launch during the night of 27-28 September.
Bones from French cave show Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon hunted same prey: A 50,000-year record of mammals consumed by early humans in southwestern France indicates there was no major difference in the prey hunted by Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon, according to a new study.
Scientists find half-billion-year-old ancestral mountains in the Himalaya: The world's highest and most spectacular mountains, the Himalaya of Nepal, India, and Bhutan, are built on the foundations of a much older mountain system, University of Arizona geoscientists have discovered.
Smart blending technique could change way plastics made: A new 'smart blending' process developed by Clemson University researchers could change the way plastics are made and improve their performance.
Scientists practice Mars drilling near acidic Spanish river: To develop techniques to drill into the surface of Mars to look for signs of life, NASA and Spanish scientists recently began drilling 150 meters (495 feet) into the ground near the source of the waters of the Rio Tinto, a river in southwestern Spain, part of a three-year effort that will include the search for underground life forms.

September 22, 2003
Ecstasy alone can kill--and numbers of deaths continue to rise: The world's largest study of ecstasy-related deaths discovered that one in six people who died after taking ecstasy had not taken any other drug. ''This clears up the debate once and for all - ecstasy alone can kill,'' says Dr Fabrizio Schifano, whose work is published in the October edition of Human Psychopharmacology.
Gamma-ray bursts - are we safe?: For a few seconds every day, Earth is bombarded by gamma rays created by cataclysmic explosions in distant galaxies. Such explosions, similar to supernovae, are known as 'gamma-ray bursts' or GRBs.
Data supports extremely early intervention for multiple sclerosis patients: Immediate initiation of drug treatment with Avonex in individuals considered at risk to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) continues to slow the development of MS after five years compared to initiation of therapy more than two years after the onset of symptoms.
Cellular problem discovered behind syndrome of obesity, learning disabilities: A research team led by Johns Hopkins scientists has discovered a potential new contributor to obesity -- faulty cilia.
Long-term natural gas supplies should meet growing demand in coming decades: Sudden price spikes have led to speculation that the United States is facing a critical shortage of natural gas. But a new study by Stanford University's Energy Modeling Forum (EMF) concludes that gas supplies are likely to meet growing demand in coming decades.
Discovery may be first plant cell surface molecule that halts cell proliferation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scientists have discovered a unique protein on the surface membrane of plant cells, one that apparently contains both 'on' and 'off' molecular switches.
SMART-1 ready for launch: The launch date for ESA's SMART-1 mission to the Moon is confirmed as during the night of 27-28 September 2003.
Genes discovered that regulate blood stem cell development: Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have isolated a gene responsible for making blood stem cells.

September 19, 2003
World's largest rodent identified as ancient sibling to guinea pigs: Roughly the size of a buffalo, a giant rodent that roamed the banks of an ancient Venezuelan river some 8 million years ago, dining on sea grass and dodging crocodiles, was an evolutionary sibling to modern-day guinea pigs.
Galileo to taste Jupiter before taking final plunge: In the end, the Galileo spacecraft will get a taste of Jupiter before taking a final plunge into the planet's crushing atmosphere, ending the mission on Sunday, Sept. 21. The team expects the spacecraft to transmit a few hours of science data in real time leading up to impact.
Powerful new method helps reveal genetic basis of cancer: Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed one of the most sensitive, comprehensive, and robust methods that now exists for profiling the genetic basis of cancer and other diseases.
Hormones and drugs that control blood pressure also control malaria infection: Hormones that regulate cardiovascular function have been discovered to influence malaria infection. As a consequence, beta-blockers, which are safe, inexpensive and commonly prescribed drugs used worldwide to treat high blood pressure, are effective against the deadliest and most drug-resistant strain of malaria parasites.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide greater 1.4 billion years ago: Billions of years ago, there was a lot more greenhouse gas than today, and that was a good thing - else the Earth might be an icy ball.
Adult stem cell research: Piero Anversa, M.D., director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at New York Medical College, has demonstrated again that the heart has its own adult stem cells for regenerating heart muscle tissue following a coronary event.
Built-in eyeshade offers clue to prehistoric past: A new, rare fossil of a prehistoric sea creature bearing eyes like 'twin towers' sheds light on how it lived more than 395 million years ago, says a University of Alberta researcher.
Why we see red when looking at ocean plants: Green was the dominant color for plants both on land and in the ocean until about 250 million years ago when changes in the ocean's oxygen content - possibly sparked by a cataclysmic event - helped bring basic ocean plants with a red color to prominence - a status they retain today.

September 18, 2003
Next generation high performance computing cluster: Sandia National Laboratories today announced at the Intel Developer Forum it will demonstrate an Intel-based next-generation, High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster, the first such cluster to utilize PCI Express visualization systems.
New blood test could detect lung cancer in its earliest stages: Lung cancer is often deadly by the time doctors have detected it, but scientists at Duke University Medical Center are developing a non-invasive test that could detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, while it is still treatable.
'Iron-clad' evidence for spinning black hole: Telltale X-rays from iron may reveal if black holes are spinning or not, according to astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton Observatory.
Contaminated water from abandoned mines threatens colorado ski areas: The ability of several of Colorado's prime ski areas to respond to winter drought is threatened by acidic runoff from abandoned mines, according to researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments.
Ancient relatives of algae yield new insights into role of carbon dioxide (CO2) in earth's early atmosphere: Awareness of the global warming effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) is relatively recent, but the greenhouse gas has been playing a critical role in warming our planet for billions of years.
Astrophysicists discover massive forming galaxies: A Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory astrophysicist, in collaboration with international researchers, has found evidence for the synchronous formation of massive, luminous elliptical galaxies in young galaxy clusters.
Unique two-part macroemulsion offers new approach to cleaning up contaminated aquifers: Environmental engineering researchers have developed a novel two-part approach for cleaning up toxic chlorinated solvents spilled into underground water supplies from former dry cleaning and industrial operations.
Countries find common ground to protect world's rarest gorilla: The Ministers of the environment from Nigeria and Cameroon have established an agreement to protect the Cross River gorilla, the world's rarest subspecies of gorilla that totals a mere 280 individuals throughout its entire range.

September 17, 2003
Hurricane Isabel - Doppler on wheels to intercept eye: Three Doppler on Wheels (DOW) mobile radars developed partly at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) are heading toward the mid-Atlantic coast to intercept the eye of Hurricane Isabel as the powerful storm hits land.
Was the Universe born in a Black Hole?: The universe may have been created by an explosion within a black hole, according to a new theory by two mathematicians recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A.
Ceramics reinforced with nanotubes: A ceramic material reinforced with carbon nanotubes has been made by materials scientists at UC Davis. The new material is far tougher than conventional ceramics, conducts electricity and can both conduct heat and act as a thermal barrier, depending on the orientation of the nanotubes.
Why silicon crystals lose their 'edge': Physicists have discovered a mechanism that forces sharp edges on the surface of a silicon crystal to become rounded, and have described this rounding in detail for the first time.
Ocean plant life slows down and absorbs less carbon: Plant life in the world's oceans has become less productive since the early 1980s, absorbing less carbon, which may in turn impact the Earth's carbon cycle, according to a study that combines NASA satellite data with NOAA surface observations of marine plants.
Fall foliage forecast: What is fall? Air temperature starts to cool, the daylight hours shrink and nights grow longer. The most beautiful aspect of fall is the spectacular red, orange, and yellow hues of trees preparing for winter.
Lunar prospecting with Chandra: Observations of the bright side of the Moon with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have detected oxygen, magnesium, aluminum and silicon over a large area of the lunar surface. The abundance and distribution of those elements will help to determine how the Moon was formed.
Scientists invent search-and-destroy method to flush HIV out of hiding places in body: UCLA AIDS Institute scientists have devised a new technique to switch on and drive hibernating HIV from its hiding places in the body.

September 16, 2003
Los Alamos team develops rapid procedure for radioactivity identification in dirty bomb debris: One nightmare scenario - a terrorist dirty bomb is detonated in a major metropolitan area. Everyone's first question is 'Who did it?'.
NASA keeps watch over Isabel, captures spectacular images: NASA is keeping a close watch on Hurricane Isabel as it churns in the Atlantic with winds that top 150 miles per hour. Instruments aboard NASA's suite of Earth-observing satellites are monitoring the storm as it makes its way toward the East Coast of the United States.
Some forms of cancer behave in an unexpected way: Tumor size may not be an accurate method of predicting lymph node involvement and disease progression in some breast cancers, according to investigators at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).
Chandra X-ray Observatory marks four years of discovery firsts: Launched in 1999, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory promised to be one of the world's most powerful tools to better understand the structure and evolution of the universe - and it has lived up to expectations.
Alcohol may compound its damaging effects through frontocerebellar circuitry: Patients with chronic alcoholism develop a wide range of brain structural and neuropsychological abnormalities. Deficits in executive functioning - such as problem solving, putting things in order, working memory, and doing multiple tasks at once - have been linked to lesions of the prefrontal cortex.
Ductile intermetallic compounds discovered: To material scientists the phrase 'ductile intermetallic compounds' has long been considered an oxymoron. Although these compounds possess chemical, physical, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties that are often superior to ordinary metals, their potential has gone untapped because they are typically quite brittle at room temperature.
Synthesis of cage-like silica structure easier and cheaper: A tailored, cage-like silica structure, developed by Penn State researchers, is easier and less expensive to make than previous materials and is tunable in size.
Why infrared astronomy is a hot topic: ESA's Herschel spacecraft will collect infrared radiation from some of the coldest and most distant objects in the Universe. But why are observations of infrared light so special?

September 15, 2003
'Buckyball' material brings light into line: Using molecules resembling 60-sided soccer balls, a joint team of researchers from the University of Toronto and Carleton University has created a new material for processing information using light.
Using ions to probe ionic liquids: Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory are using a very small and light ion, the electron, to study the structure and dynamics of ionic liquids and how those properties influence chemical reactivity.
Dark Gamma-ray bursts more flighty than shy: Astronomers have solved the mystery of why nearly two-thirds of all gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions in the Universe, seem to leave no trace or afterglow: In some cases, they just weren't looking fast enough.
Enzyme discovery sheds light on causes of rare disease, cancer: Discovery of a new enzyme, PHF9, is providing insight into the biological processes involved in development of Fanconi anemia (FA), a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects children.
Sensory cells for hearing and balance are fast-developing: The functional development of hair cells in the inner ear that mediate hearing and balance takes place over a period of just one day in mouse embryos, according to a study by a research team at the University of Virginia Health System.
Historic Galileo mission nears end: Following eight years of capturing dramatic images and surprising science from Jupiter and its moons, NASA's Galileo mission draws to a close September 21 with a plunge into Jupiter's atmosphere.
Sphingosine kinase inhibitors may hold key to halting growth of some tumors: Penn State College of Medicine researchers have identified compounds that could wipe out an enzyme responsible for tumor growth.
International Space Station Status Report: The unloading of nearly three tons of new supplies from a Progress cargo vehicle began in earnest this week aboard the International Space Station. Commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA ISS Science Officer Ed Lu spent time each day unpacking, cataloging and stowing the equipment.

September 12, 2003
Is this what killed the dinosaurs?: The extinction of the dinosaurs - thought to be caused by an asteroid impact some 65 million years ago - was more likely to have been caused by a 'mantle plume' - a huge volcanic eruption from deep within the earth's mantle, the region between the crust and the core of the earth.
MIT team achieves coldest temperature ever: MIT scientists have cooled a sodium gas to the lowest temperature ever recorded - only half-a-billionth of a degree above absolute zero. The work, to be reported in the Sept. 12 issue of Science, bests the previous record by a factor of six, and is the first time that a gas was cooled below 1 nanokelvin (one-billionth of a degree).
New technique could lead to widespread use of solar power: Researchers envision mass-produced rolls of material that converts sunlight to electricity Princeton electrical engineers have invented a technique for making solar cells that, when combined with other recent advances, could yield a highly economical source of energy.
Cosmic X-ray flashes reveal their distance: Astronomers using X-ray, radio, and optical telescopes have announced a big leap in solving the origin of mysterious objects known as X-ray flashes (XRFs) by finding that they originate from blue star forming galaxies.
NIAID launches malaria vaccine trial in Africa: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, has reached a milestone in its efforts to support accelerated development of malaria vaccines.
Scientists determine large magellanic cloud galaxy formed similar to Milky Way: An astronomer from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, in collaboration with an international team of researchers, have discovered that a neighboring galaxy -- the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) -- appears to have formed with an old stellar halo, similar to how our very own Milky Way formed.
Printing plastic circuits stamps patterns in place: When Benjamin in 'The Graduate' was told to go into plastics, computers were in their infancy and silicon technology ruled. Now, conducting organic polymers are infiltrating the electronics sphere and the watchword is once again plastics, according to Penn State researchers.
Opening up the dark side of the universe: Physicists in the UK are ready to start construction of a major part of an advanced new experiment, designed to search for elusive gravitational waves.
Tourism to Earthês most threatened areas surges by over 100 percent in last decade: Tourism has increased by more than 100 percent between 1990 and 2000 in the world's biodiversity hotspots, regions richest in species and facing extreme threats, according to a report released today by Conservation International (CI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

September 11, 2003
World Trade Center debris pile was a chemical factory: The fuming World Trade Center debris pile was a chemical factory that exhaled pollutants in particularly dangerous forms that could penetrate deep into the lungs of workers at Ground Zero, says a new study by UC Davis air-quality experts.
Waste fiber can be recycled into valuable products using new technique of electrospinning: It may soon be possible to produce a low cost, high-value, high-strength fiber from a biodegradable and renewable waste product for air filtration, water filtration and agricultural nanotechnology, report polymer scientists at Cornell University.
NASA satellites sample hurricane 'ingredients' to help forecasters: The Atlantic Ocean becomes a meteorological mixing bowl from June 1 to November 30, replete with all needed ingredients for a hurricane recipe. NASA turns to its cadre of satellites to serve up a feast of information to the forecasters who seek to monitor and understand these awesome storms.
Researchers develop system to detect biowarfare agents on U.S. Navy ships: An Ohio State University professor is part of a team that developed a new protocol that the U.S. Navy now uses to detect biowarfare (BW) agents, such as anthrax, aboard its ships.
Are comets at the origin of life on earth?: For over 60 years now, the University of Liege Astrophysics and Geophysics Institute (IAGL) has been concerned with the study of comets. Again today, four of its researchers have just made a major discovery for the understanding of these celestial objects : a lot of extra heavy nitrogen detected in two comets suggests the presence of great quantities of complex organic molecules in them.
Technique creates patterns in photonic crystals formed from hydrogel nanoparticles: Researchers have developed a laser-based technique for creating patterns in self-assembled colloidal crystals produced from hydrogel nanoparticles – soft spheres that respond to heat by changing size.
More than 700 threatened species remain completely unprotected: At least 223 bird, 140 mammal and 346 amphibian species threatened with extinction currently have no protection whatsoever over any part of their ranges, according to the most comprehensive analysis of its kind of the world's protected area system.
Tiny holes capture light, could boost sensor capability: Scientists at Ohio State University have found a way to boost the light absorption of a metal mesh up to 1000 times, possibly paving the way for powerful chemical sensors and laboratory instruments.
Young sea animals clone themselvesãcentury-old debate halted: After more than a century of intensive study, scientists have assumed that larvae of non-parasitic invertebrates reproduce only very rarely, but new research by University of Alberta scientists overthrows this conventional wisdom.

September 10, 2003
New cholesterol fighter found in red wine: Scientists have known for some time that red wine is healthy for the heart. Now, they have found evidence that provides yet another explanation for this effect.
Solar wind makes waves; killer electrons go surfing?: 'Killer' electrons capable of wreaking havoc on orbiting spacecraft may 'surf' magnetic waves driven by the solar wind, according to a team of space scientists.
Similar genetic origins possible for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: A study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, University of Cambridge and the Stanley Medical Research Institute appears to offer the first hard evidence that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, severe psychoses that affect 2 percent of the population, may have similar genetic roots.
Chandra 'hears' a black hole: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory detected sound waves, for the first time, from a super-massive black hole. The 'note' is the deepest ever detected from an object in the universe. The tremendous amounts of energy carried by these sound waves may solve a longstanding problem in astrophysics.
Designing a better catalyst for 'artificial photosynthesis': Scientists studying the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide (CO) -- a crucial step in transforming CO2 to useful organic compounds such as methanol -- are trying to mimic what plants do when they convert CO2 and water to carbohydrates and oxygen in the presence of chlorophyll and sunlight.
Reverse reactions helps isolate important intermediate: Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have used a new way to isolate and study an important intermediate in the epoxidation of olefins such as ethylene: They run the reaction in reverse.
Atomic force microscope used to measure how well live bacteria stick: Virginia Tech researchers are using a modified form of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to observe at subatomic levels the efficiency of the attachment of bacteria to silica surfaces.
Lens replacement material may improve cataract treatment, eliminate bifocals: Scientists at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are developing a gel-like material that eventually could be used to replace diseased and aging lenses in the eyes of patients with cataracts.

September 9, 2003
Nanoscale model catalyst paves way toward atomic-level understanding: In an attempt to understand why ruthenium sulfide (RuS2) is so good at removing sulfur impurities from fuels, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have succeeded in making a model of this catalyst -- nanoparticles supported on an inert surface -- which can be studied under laboratory conditions.
Lotion made from tea could help fight skin cancer: A popular drink may soon become a life-saving lotion: Researchers at the University of Minnesota in Austin are developing a new cream composed of compounds found in tea to help fight skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States.
NIAID opens innovative treatment study for West Nile virus: A clinical trial evaluating an experimental treatment for patients infected with West Nile virus has begun enrolling volunteers at 36 sites nationwide, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, announced today.
Hubble assists Rosetta comet mission: Results from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have played a major role in preparing ESA’s ambitious Rosetta mission for its new target, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
In place fabrication solves organic polymer shortcoming: Just like the manufacturers of silicon electronics, a team of Penn State chemical engineers wants to assemble circuit boards in place, but these circuits are made of conducting organic polymers that pose major fabrication roadblocks.
Molecule found to be critical for kidney development: By taking advantage of techniques developed in the search for Alzheimer's treatments, a team of researchers has discovered that a molecule called Notch is essential for the development of critical kidney cells.

September 8, 2003
Brookhaven researchers develop counterterror technologies: Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory are developing counterterrorism technologies to help protect the United States from would-be terrorists wielding nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, toxic chemicals, or explosives.
Solar system 'fossils' discovered by Hubble Telescope: Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have discovered three of the faintest and smallest objects ever detected beyond Neptune. Each lump of ice and rock is roughly the size of Philadelphia and orbits just beyond Neptune and Pluto, where they may have rested since the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago.
Nanotubes Surprise Again - Ideal Photon Emission: Carbon nanotubes, recently created cylinders of tightly bonded carbon atoms, have dazzled scientists and engineers with their seemingly endless list of special abilities--from incredible tensile strength to revolutionizing computer chips.
Black cohosh may reduce hot flashes by targeting brain's thermostat: Black cohosh, a medicinal herb increasingly used by women as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy, may reduce hot flashes by targeting serotonin receptors - some of the same receptors used by the brain to help regulate body temperature.
Los Alamos National Laboratory delivers first accelerator for Neutron Source project: A multi-lab effort to build the world's most powerful source of neutrons took a giant step forward last week thanks to accelerator technology designed and built by Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Exploring oil rigs and an ancient shoreline in the Gulf Of Mexico for new disease cures: Harbor Branch researchers will embark on a mission to explore deep-sea sites in the Gulf of Mexico, including abandoned oil rigs and an ancient shoreline. They will be searching for marine organisms that produce chemicals with potential to cure human maladies ranging from pain and inflammation to cancer and AIDS-related infections.
Millions wasted on blood pressure tablets: Millions of dollars are being spent unnecessarily each year on treatments for high blood pressure says research published this week in BMC Health Services Research.

September 5, 2003
Nurseries in the deep sea: Exploring a deep-sea ridge off Northern California, scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have discovered a unique undersea nursery, where groups of fish and octopus brood their eggs, like chickens on their nests.
Scientists uncover early warning system for copper toxicity: Chemists and biologists at Northwestern University have acquired new insight into how a specialized sensor protein, which acts as an early warning system, detects dangerous amounts of the 'coinage metals' -- silver, gold and copper -- inside cells.
NASA helping to understand water flow in the west: To do their jobs, water resource managers in the Columbia River Basin have mostly relied on data from sparsely located ground stations among the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest.
Astronomers detect plasma at black hole: UCLA astronomers report they have detected remarkably stormy conditions in the hot plasma being pulled into the monstrous black hole residing at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, 26,000 light years away.
Cancer biologists and a cardiologist take a new look at aggressive tumors: An unusual collaboration utilized a multidisciplinary approach to learn more about how aggressive cancer cells function and how they differ from poorly aggressive cancer cells.
NASA opens new chapter in supersonic flight: Flight tests completed by NASA, with government and industry partners, may have demonstrated a way to reduce the window-rattling impact of sonic booms.
New compound library to speed drug discovery: A library of approximately 2,000 tiny molecules (or compounds) that have demonstrated some sort of biological activity has been assembled.
International Space Station Status Report: An unmanned Russian Progress vehicle successfully undocked from the International Space Station on Thursday, heading for a month of scientific benefit before it is commanded to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

September 4, 2003
Nanoscale iron could help cleanse the environment: An ultrafine, 'nanoscale' powder made from iron, one of the most abundant metals on Earth, is turning out to be a remarkably effective tool for cleaning up contaminated soil and groundwater--a trillion-dollar problem.
Close encounters of another kind: The latest discovery of a large asteroid moving through our Solar System puts a spotlight on the studies of these and other wandering celestial objects by the European Space Agency.
Smallest whirlpools can pack stunningly strong force: Researchers studying physical and chemical processes at the smallest scales, smaller even than the width of a human hair, have found that fluid circulating in a microscopic whirlpool can reach radial acceleration more than a million times greater than gravity, or 1 million Gs.
DNA repair activity may be associated with risk of lung cancer: People with reduced DNA repair activity, as determined by a blood test, appear to be at a higher risk of developing lung cancer than people with average DNA repair activity, according to a study in the September 3 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Ocean may sponge up some warmth over next 50 years: NASA's improved global climate computer model, which simulates and projects how the Earth's climate may change, indicates that the oceans have been absorbing heat since 1951 and will continue to absorb more heat from the atmosphere over the next 50 years.
Antimatter factory on Sun yields clues to solar explosions: The best look yet at how a solar explosion becomes an antimatter factory gave unexpected insights into how the tremendous explosions work. The observation may upset theories about how the explosions, called solar flares, create and destroy antimatter.
New algorithm offers fast and accurate X-ray crystal structure identification: Identifying the structures of certain types of molecular compounds can now take minutes, instead of days, and be performed much more accurately, say scientists who developed a new approach for analyzing key experimental X-ray data.
Space Infrared Telescope Facility Mission Status: NASA's Space Infrared Telescope Facility has switched on two of its onboard instruments and captured some preliminary star-studded images. The space observatory was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on August 25.

September 3, 2003
Progress shown in death rates from four leading cancers decline in overall mortality has slowed: Death rates from the four most common cancers - lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal - continued to decline in the late 1990s according to new data from the 'Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2000.'
UNC researchers identify protein crucial to gene silencing: A cellular protein identified by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill may be the crucial molecular element for gene silencing.
New study of Europa may explain mysterious ice domes, places to search for evidence of life: A new University of Colorado at Boulder study of Jupiter's moon Europa may help explain the origin of the giant ice domes peppering its surface and the implications for discovering evidence of past or present life forms there.
Office of Naval Research to unveil the 'matchbox' atomic clock: In October 2003 the Office of Naval Research will unveil the performance of the next-generation, super-accurate clock no bigger than a matchbox. The Ultra-miniature Rubidium (Rb) Atomic Clock, 40 cubic centimeters in volume and using a minuscule one watt of power, doesn't weigh much more than a matchbox either.
Engineer creates software to detect and find leaks in International Space Station: A new software system designed by a University at Buffalo aerospace engineer will help NASA detect and find air leaks in the International Space Station.
Fishing for photos of rare or unknown deep-sea creatures with an electronic jellyfish lure: Using a new lighted jellyfish lure and a unique camera system, researchers from HARBOR BRANCH are working to reveal for the first time life in the deep sea unaltered by the cacophony of sound and light that have been an integral part of most past research there.
Safely achieving tolerance to stem cell transplantation: Dale Greiner and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts have developed a protocol for achieving stem cell transplantation that is not limited by significant patient side-effects and may not necessarily require that donor blood, bone marrow or whole organs are a match with the recipient.
New angle needed to get pike out of Lake Davis: Hoping to keep non-native northern pike in Lake Davis from invading the Sacramento-San Joaquin river system, state wildlife managers have electroshocked, poisoned and netted thousands of the fish. Nonetheless, concludes a new UC Davis study, the pike are thriving.

September 2, 2003
Search-and-rescue robots practice emergency response to simulated earthquake: An earthquake has just laid waste to a small town. Major roads are impassable, and downed trees have cut power. Worse yet, the local library collapsed during the sudden temblor, trapping a half-dozen patrons. The robots are rushed in to help locate and free the survivors.
New method for the manufacture of silicon nanocrystals for optoelectronics and storage technology: A technique for tailormaking silicon nanocrystals on 4-inch wafers has been developed and submitted for patent (German patent number: DE 101 04 193 A 1) by Dr. Margit Zacharias and colleagues of the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Halle(Saale), Germany.
Dual action anthrax vaccine more effective: Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital have created a vaccine that delivers a one-two punch to anthrax and could become a powerful defensive weapon against bioterrorism.
Taking Ecstasy during pregnancy may cause brain damage, behavior problems in babies: Women who take the drug Ecstasy in their first trimester of pregnancy may be putting their unborn child at risk for brain damage, according to a study published in the September issue of the journal Neurotoxicity and Teratology.
Analysis of stratospheric air resolves enigma of hydrogen balance in Earth's atmosphere: Discovery of the last piece of a long-standing puzzle -- what happens to hydrogen gas in the atmosphere -- will help scientists assess the impact of additional hydrogen escaping into the atmosphere if America moves to hydrogen-fueled vehicles.
Study shows brain activity influences immune function: Staying healthy may involve more than washing hands or keeping a positive attitude. According to a new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it also may involve a particular pattern of brain activity.
Researchers measure the electrical resistance of single molecules: Researchers have developed a relatively straightforward method for measuring the electrical resistance of single molecules. The advance, a technical achievement in terms of its precision and repeatability, promises to have a huge impact on the burgeoning field of molecular electronics.
International Space Station Status Report: An unpiloted Russian resupply craft successfully docked to the International Space Station Saturday, delivering nearly three tons of food, fuel, water, supplies and scientific gear to the Expedition 7 crew aboard the complex and for the next crew to launch in October.

[ August 2003 News Archive ]
 
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