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Science News for December 16, 2004


Emory biochemist writes lead essay describing Nobel Prize research on ubiquitin protein

Dr. Keith Wilkinson's Nobel Prize-winning research on ubiquitin has provided detailed information about cell survival and death, shedding light on the ubiquitin system's role in regulating protein turnover rates. The discoveries present opportunities to develop highly selective drugs targeting various aspects of the ubiquitin pathway.

A new twist on an old nebula

Astronomers have discovered a quadra-polar nebula with two disks formed at different times, challenging the companion-star-only model. The study, led by C. Robert O'Dell, used sharp new images from the Hubble Space Telescope to reconstruct the 3D structure of the Helix Nebula.

Few Americans aware they have chronic kidney disease

A study found that only 9% of adults with moderately decreased kidney function reported being told they had weakened or failing kidneys, highlighting a need for increased awareness and diagnosis. The researchers suggest that control of diabetes and hypertension are critical in reducing the rate of progression and complications of chron...

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateDec 16, 2004

OTC treatment for acne as good as antibiotics

A randomized trial involving over 650 participants found that OTC acne treatments were as effective as oral antibiotic tablets. Benzoyl peroxide was identified as the cheapest and most cost-effective treatment, with a significant difference in cost-effectiveness between regimens.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateDec 16, 2004

NYU chemists create DNA translation machine

Researchers have developed a DNA translation machine that imitates the ribosome's translational capabilities. The device uses an arbitrary code to construct specific DNA sequences, potentially leading to new synthetic polymer materials and advancements in DNA-based computational methods.

SourceNew York University·JournalScience·DateDec 16, 2004

Paper of the Year 2004

The Lancet's Paper of the Year 2004 exposed flaws in pharmaceutical companies and highlighted the need for an international register of randomized clinical trials. The paper also mentioned notable contributions from Richard Doll and Salim Yusuf.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateDec 16, 2004

CALIPSO monitors pulse of Soufriere Hills volcano

The CALIPSO project is the first volcano monitoring system of its type installed at an andesitic volcano. By comparing measurements with a computer model, researchers can understand what's happening beneath the surface. The goal is to measure magma reservoir size, magma inflow, and magma characteristics.

Nevada seismology researchers develop model that estimates impact of large earthquake in Los Angeles

Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno developed a model that estimates the impact of a large earthquake in Los Angeles by studying an earthquake in Kern County. The study found that the hanging-wall side of thrust-fault earthquakes experiences more extreme motion and damage than the footwall side.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Reno·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateDec 16, 2004

Crochet some chaos for Christmas

Dr. Hinke Osinga and Professor Bernd Krauskopf from the University of Bristol have created a crochet pattern for a chaos model, known as the Lorenz manifold, which helps understand complex systems like chemical reactions and weather patterns. The pattern consists of 25,511 stitches and took over 85 hours to complete.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalThe Mathematical Intelligencer·DateDec 16, 2004

Hidden fault may contribute to Bay Area earthquake risk

A hidden fault under Marin County, California, could significantly increase the earthquake risk in the San Francisco Bay Area. Researchers believe that a blind thrust fault, which is difficult to detect until an earthquake occurs, may be transferring motion from the northern Hayward fault to the San Andreas fault.