Exoplanets clue to sun's curious chemistry
"For almost 10 years we have tried to find out what distinguishes stars with planetary systems from their barren cousins," says Garik Israelian, lead author of a paper appearing this week in the journal Nature. "We have now found that the amount of lithium in Sun-like stars depends on whether or not they have planets." view more (2009-11-12)
Shifting the world to 100 percent clean, renewable energy as early as 2030 -- here are the numbers
Most of the technology needed to shift the world from fossil fuel to clean, renewable energy already exists. Implementing that technology requires overcoming obstacles in planning and politics, but doing so could result in a 30 percent decrease in global power demand. view more (2009-10-20)
For future superconductors, a little bit of lithium may do hydrogen a lot of good
Scientists have a long and unsuccessful history of attempting to convert hydrogen to a metal by squeezing it under incredibly high and steady pressures. view more (2009-10-06)
UNC study pinpoints gene controlling number of brain cells
In populating the growing brain, neural stem cells must strike a delicate balance between two key processes - proliferation, in which the cells multiply to provide plenty of starting materials - and differentiation, in which those materials evolve into functioning neurons. view more (2009-10-05)
Canadian research team reports major breakthrough in lithium battery technology
An NSERC-funded lab at the University Of Waterloo has laid the groundwork for a lithium battery that can store and deliver more than three times the power of conventional lithium ion batteries. view more (2009-05-19)
Battery-powered vehicles to be revolutionized by Universite de Montreal technology
Thousands of small electric scooters, bicycles and wheelchairs throughout Europe and Asia are powered by LifePO4 -- a material used in advanced lithium-ion batteries developed by Université de Montréal researchers. view more (2009-05-06)
Lithium may help radiation target cancer, spare healthy tissue
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center investigators have uncovered a mechanism that helps explain how lithium, a drug widely used to treat bipolar mood disorder, also protects the brain from damage that occurs during radiation treatments. view more (2009-05-05)
New light on bipolar treatment drugs
Lithium has been established for more than 50 years as one of the most effective treatments for bipolar mood disorder. view more (2009-04-21)
Batteries get a boost at Rice
Need to store electricity more efficiently? Put it behind bars. That's essentially the finding of a team of Rice University researchers who have created hybrid carbon nanotube metal oxide arrays as electrode material that may improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. view more (2009-02-10)
New imaging method lets scientists 'see' cell molecules more clearly
Scientists have always wanted to take a closer look at biological systems and materials. From the magnifying glass to the electron microscope, they have developed ever-increasingly sophisticated imaging devices. view more (2009-01-21)
Improved spectrometer based on nonlinear optics
Scientists at Stanford University and Japan's National Institute of Informatics have created a new highly sensitive infrared spectrometer. view more (2008-11-13)
Hydrogen tank lighter than battery
Dutch-sponsored researcher Robin Gremaud has shown that an alloy of the metals magnesium, titanium and nickel is excellent at absorbing hydrogen. view more (2008-11-05)
Secrets from within planets pave way for cleaner energy
Research that has provided a deeper understanding into the centre of planets could also provide the way forward in the world's quest for cleaner energy. view more (2008-10-23)
'Hub' of fear memory formation identified in brain cells
A protein required for the earliest steps in embryonic development also plays a key role in solidifying fear memories in the brains of adult animals, scientists have revealed. An apparent "hub" for changes in the connections between brain cells, beta-catenin could be a potential target for drugs to enhance or interfere with memory... view more... (2008-09-29)
Ceramic material revs up microwaving
Quicker microwave meals that use less energy may soon be possible with new ceramic microwave dishes and, according to the material scientists responsible, this same material could help with organic waste remediation. view more (2008-08-29)
Largest study of its kind implicates gene abnormalities in bipolar disorder
The largest genetic analysis of its kind to date for bipolar disorder has implicated machinery involved in the balance of sodium and calcium in brain cells. view more (2008-08-18)
Penn researchers find key developmental pathway activates lung stem cells
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that the activation of a molecular pathway important in stem cell and developmental biology leads to an increase in lung stem cells. Harnessing this knowledge could help develop therapies for lung-tissue repair after injury or disease. view more (2008-06-18)
Ancient mineral shows early Earth climate tough on continents
A new analysis of ancient minerals called zircons suggests that a harsh climate may have scoured and possibly even destroyed the surface of the Earth's earliest continents. view more (2008-06-16)
Improved ion mobility is key to new hydrogen storage compound
A materials scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has deciphered the structure of a new class of materials that can store relatively large quantities of hydrogen within its crystal structure for later release. view more (2008-05-19)
More safety for cell phone batteries
Fraunhofer researchers will be presenting a novel lithium-ion battery at Hannover Messe on April 21 - 25. It is based on a polymer electrolyte, which is - unlike the liquid electrolyte in conventional lithium-ion batteries - not inflammable. A test set-up for redox flow batteries will also be on display at the show. view more (2008-04-14)
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