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Science News Archive May 2008 - Page 7


Page 7 of 22

A foamy drink and the future of food

Tejate, a traditional Maize and Cacao Beverage from Oaxaca, Mexico, holds the key to understanding the future of agriculture and food variety. The authors found that tejate is in decline in modern communities but remains associated with traditional farmers' varieties, which are essential for preserving crop diversity.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalCurrent Anthropology·DateMay 21, 2008

Energy crops take a roasting

A study by University of Leeds engineers found that roasting energy crops using the torrefaction process can increase their energy content, reducing transportation costs and emissions. Willow emerged as the most favourable crop, retaining 86% of its mass and performing best in terms of energy yield.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalFuel·DateMay 21, 2008

Storn winds blow in Jupiter's Little Red Spot

A team of scientists from Johns Hopkins University used data from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft and multiple telescopes to observe the high winds in Jupiter's Little Red Spot. The winds have increased substantially over previous storms, with maximum speeds reaching 384 miles per hour, surpassing Category 5 storm thresholds.

Halting methane squanderlust

Scientists have determined the structure of a catalytic material that can convert methane into benzene, laying the foundation for converting excess methane into various useful fuels and chemicals. The breakthrough was achieved using an ultra-high field nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer to analyze the active catalyst.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 21, 2008

Smoking is addictive, but quitting is contagious

Researchers analyzed 32-year longitudinal data to discover that people quit smoking in network clusters, influenced by education and marginalization. The study suggests that smoking cessation is a social phenomenon, highlighting the interconnectedness of health and social networks.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 21, 2008

What else may probiotics do in adults?

A study found that probiotics have anti-inflammatory potential in healthy adults, characterized by decreased serum CRP levels and reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines. This suggests a possible therapeutic application for probiotics in the prevention or treatment of inflammatory diseases.

SourceWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·JournalWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·DateMay 20, 2008