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Science News Archive August 2005 - Page 4


Page 4 of 15

UA physicists find key to long-lived nanowires

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a theory explaining why nanowires thin away at non-zero temperatures. The discovery reveals that higher surface tensions stabilize the wires, making them suitable for repeated use. Copper is identified as the best metal for creating stable nanowires.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 25, 2005

High blood lactate levels may indicate poor prognosis in liver failure

Research suggests that high blood lactate levels can accurately predict a poor outcome in patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). The study examined the relationship between serum phosphate and lactate levels in FHF patients, finding that lactate levels were significantly higher in those who died or underwent a transplant.

SourceWiley·JournalLiver Transplantation·DateAug 25, 2005

The right hitchhiker can save an aphid's life

Aphids vary in their resistance to wasp parasitism, but new research suggests that the difference lies in the symbiotic bacteria carried inside them. Carrying these bacteria reduces parasitism by up to 40% and demonstrates a heritable form of acquired resistance.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 25, 2005

Cleaning up coal's act

Researchers will study chemical reactions and transformation of mercury in flue gases of coal-fired power plants. They aim to develop a mathematical model to predict mercury emissions and create more effective technologies for controlling mercury emissions.

Drug trials & the media

A study examining media reports on the closure of HIV drug trials in Cambodia and Cameroon found that many articles failed to identify primary sources or provided inaccurate information. The researchers stress that both the media and trial organisers have a responsibility to provide accurate information during periods of controversy.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC International Health and Human Rights·DateAug 24, 2005

Climate model links higher temperatures to prehistoric extinction

Researchers used the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) to study the Permian extinction event, which saw 90-95% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial species die. The model found that warming ocean waters at higher latitudes due to rising CO2 levels led to a stratified ocean with little oxygen, making it deadly for marine life.