A new study found that patients with tumors expressing low levels of the tumor suppressor protein p21 are more likely to recur and die from bladder cancer than those with elevated p21 levels. The study suggests that knowing both p53 and p21 status is a more powerful indicator of risk, allowing for clearer treatment decisions.
A team of astronomers detected a population of distant, dusty galaxies forming stars at rates 10-100 times higher than most optical sources. The discovery suggests that much of the star formation in the distant Universe may be hidden to visual observations, requiring a combination of both optical and submillimeter observations.
Researchers created a computer simulation to help robots learn by imitation, using virtual android Adonis to teach the macarena dance. The system demonstrates that imitation can make robots more flexible and effective in learning any task.
The electronic tongue is designed to detect different elements of taste, including sweet, sour, salt, and bitter. The device uses four well-known chemical sensors attached to minute beads placed on a silicon wafer, allowing it to analyse for several different chemical components simultaneously.
The TEMPUS furnace, used on NASA's Microgravity Sciences Laboratory-1 mission in 1998, has demonstrated its value by making repeat measurements that matched very closely with one another. Scientists are now analyzing the data to correct surface tension measurements and make the first-ever reliable viscosity measurements.
Researchers used neutron tunneling to study magnetic properties of thin iron films, discovering a sensitive tool for exploring surfaces. The phenomenon shows promise for studying subtle magnetic phenomena in technological materials.
A team led by Cappy Rothman has successfully used sperm from a dead man to establish a pregnancy. The woman is now one month pregnant after being injected with eggs harvested from the deceased man's wife. Bioethicist Arthur Caplan fears that regulations are lagging behind technical advances in posthumous reproduction.
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) is funding four new research units exploring various scientific topics. These units will investigate the development of better implants, tools for effective small-scale farm management, and the study of arithmetic and its relations to other mathematical fields.
The report shows a decline in infant mortality, high blood lead levels, and child poverty. More children are being read to, participating in early childhood education, and improving their math scores. However, substance abuse, cigarette smoking, and youth violence remain concerns.
A study of over 2,000 American women who underwent medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol found that the method was highly effective and satisfactory, even among those for whom it failed. Women preferred the non-invasive nature and natural experience of the method, and reported few side effects.