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Science News for August 30, 2001


Impact of China trade on jobs, investment

A federally funded study reveals that China trade has led to massive job shifts, with over 34,900 jobs lost in the US and stagnating wages. The study also shows that large companies are targeting low-cost markets in China and abroad, contrary to expectations of rising wages and living standards.

Climate, not CO2, may drive make-up of plant communities

A new study suggests that climate change, particularly drought, plays a key role in shaping plant communities. The research found that grasslands thrive in dry conditions, while trees and shrubs prefer wetter environments. This challenges the long-held assumption that CO2 levels are the primary driver of vegetation changes.

SourceBrown University·JournalScience·DateAug 30, 2001

Rock and ice linked by crushing mechanism

Two Dartmouth researchers, Erland Schulson and Carl Renshaw, propose a theory that brittle materials like rocks and ice crack in the same manner. They identify a specific type of cracking mechanism, 'comb' cracks, which leads to collapse in both ice and rock.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalNature·DateAug 30, 2001

Licensing and registration of firearms makes it harder for criminals and juveniles to get guns, new study shows

A new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds that states with mandatory licensing and registration of handguns reduce the number of crime guns sold by in-state dealers. Cities with stricter gun laws have lower rates of crime guns sold outside the state, supporting the benefits of comprehensive handgun sales laws.

Cancer-detecting microchip - a micromachined cantilever - is sensitive assay for prostate cancer and potentially other diseases, researchers report

Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a sensitive assay for detecting proteins associated with prostate cancer, which could lead to fast screening and molecular profiling for various diseases. The technique uses micromachined cantilevers that can detect levels of protein markers 20 times lower than the clinically relevant threshold.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateAug 30, 2001