Synthetic virus supports a bat origin for SARS
SARS - severe acute respiratory syndrome - alarmed the world five years ago as the first global pandemic of the 21st century. The coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that sickened more than 8,000 people - and killed nearly 800 of them - may have originated in bats, but the actual animal source is not known. view more (2008-11-26)
Super chow, laced with semi-synthetic vitamin E derivative, inhibited spread of cancer in mice
A chemically altered form of vitamin E mixed into mouse chow dramatically reduced spread of aggressive mammary cancer in mice, suggesting that the compound in pill form could be used to treat human metastatic cancer, according to a report in the October 1 issue of the journal Cancer Research. view more (2006-10-03)
Grow Your Own Teeth
People who have lost or damaged teeth could soon be growing their own, thanks to a major scientific breakthrough by a start-up, Odontis Ltd, formed by King's College, London. An investment of £400,000 from NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) - the organisation that nurtures UK creativity and innovation and the... view more... (2004-04-30)
Use of cannabinoids (marijuana) could help post-traumatic stress disorder patients
Use of cannabinoids (marijuana) could assist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder patients. This is exposed in a new study carried out at the Learning and Memory Lab in the University of Haifa's Department of Psychology. view more (2009-11-05)
Nanoparticle Assembly Enters the Fast Lane
The speed of nanoparticle assembly can be accelerated with the assistance of the molecule that carries life's genetic instructions, DNA, a team of researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory recently found. view more (2006-10-12)
Scientists set out to measure how we perceive naturalness
Natural products are highly valued by consumers yet their properties have been difficult to reproduce fully in synthetic materials, placing a drain on our limited natural resources. Until now ... view more (2008-07-07)
Inflammation may cause preterm labor and fetal deaths
Inflammation from bacterial infections is linked to preterm births and deaths, according to researchers from Case Western Reserve University's School of Dental Medicine and the Case School of Medicine. view more (2007-08-09)
Systems biology brings hope of speeding up drug development
Almost every day brings news of an apparent breakthrough against cancer, infectious diseases, or metabolic conditions like diabetes, but these rarely translate into effective therapies or drugs, and even if they do clinical development usually takes well over a decade. view more (2008-11-20)
Thyroid-cancer test reveals recurrence early
A blood test for thyroid cancer can detect persistent or recurrent disease even before doctors can find any trace of a tumor, according to a new study. The findings suggest that people treated for the disease should be examined regularly for early signs of recurrence. view more (2005-06-27)
Gold for the jubilee year
The Queen's Golden Jubilee year has been suitably marked by two British students, who were awarded gold medals at the International Biology Olympiad, held in Latvia. view more (2002-07-16)
Shark skin saves naval industry money
Covering ship hulls with artificial shark skin could help ships sailing smoothly. The growth of marine organisms such as barnacles on ship hulls is a major cause of increased energy costs in the naval industry. Shark skin offers a structural design that prevents this so called 'bio-fouling'. view more (2005-07-18)
Brains of Britain
Two young people are set to represent Britain in, not one school science Olympiad, but two! This is equivalent to an international athlete running in the hundred metres and then throwing the javelin. Erica Thompson, from the Douglas Academy in Glasgow and David Wyatt from Winchester College are representing their country at the International... view more... (2002-05-08)
Superglue from the sea
Sandcastle worms live in intertidal surf, building sturdy tube-shaped homes from bits of sand and shell and their own natural glue. view more (2008-11-25)
Nature inspires new highly specific drugs and organic products
The best place to seek novel compounds for pharmaceutical drugs, alternative energy sources, and a host of industrial applications, is within natural systems that have evolved over millions of years. view more (2008-09-03)
First steps to EMBO research awards agreed by the EMBC
At the summer meeting of the European Molecular Biology Conference (the EMBC), it was decided to initiate the process of launching an EMBO Research Award Programme. This would be a major expansion of the EMBO activities that are predominantly funded by the EMBC. As such, it requires the establishment of a special project, a process that was used... view more... (2003-07-01)
Concrete less sensitive for cracks than previously thought
Reinforced high-strength concrete can crack due to stresses that develop during the hardening process. However, this has been found to be surprisingly less quick than previously thought. Due to Dutch research, extra steps during the hardening process can be omitted. This will result in cheaper concrete. view more (2003-03-21)
Down to the Bone
Although modern medical technology is already well advanced, implants made of synthetic materials can cause problems: they may give rise to rejection reactions or loosen over time because the contact between the surrounding tissue and the implanted material is not good enough. A remarkable procedure developed by a team of chemists working with... view more... (1999-02-09)
'Invisible' bacteria dupe the human immune system
Scientists at the University of York have characterised an important new step in the mechanism used by bacteria to evade our immune system. view more (2008-02-20)
Cobweb Instead Of Nicotine
The cobweb consisting of fibrillar proteins is an extremely strong and elastic material. Researchers are seeking ways to produce cobweb in industrial quantity. As it is a priority trend of biotechnology, experiments by Russian researchers in this area have been funded through the Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian... view more... (2003-12-05)
Professor Eero Vuorio to chair the EMBL Council
Professor Eero Vuorio has been elected to chair the Council of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in 2003. His predecessor Professor Peter Gruss has assumed office as President of the Max-Planck Society. Professor Vuorio is Professor in Molecular Biology at the University of Turku, Finland, and Chair of the Research Council for... view more... (2002-11-29)
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