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Science News Archive June 2010 - Page 19


Page 19 of 24

Natural energy to help power exploration of the universe

The Australian government is funding a project to develop renewable energy technologies for the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory and the Pawsey High-Performance Computing Centre. The Sustainable Energy for SKA facility will support solar and photovoltaic technology and direct heat geothermal demonstrator to cool supercomputers.

Predicting amount of oil in contaminated soils

Scientists have developed a faster technique for testing soils around oil spills, allowing for on-site analysis of petroleum contaminants in moist soil samples. The new method uses visible near infrared light with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to rapidly evaluate soils for oil contamination.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateJun 9, 2010

Targeted intraoperative radiotherapy is as good as whole breast radiotherapy at reducing breast cancer recurrence, and can be carried out in one hospital visit (TARGIT-A trial)

The TARGIT-A trial found that targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT) is non-inferior to whole breast external beam radiotherapy in reducing local recurrences. Patients who underwent TARGIT had similar recurrence rates to those receiving conventional radiotherapy, with lower rates of radiotherapy toxicity.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJun 5, 2010

Treatment for headaches and dizziness caused by traumatic brain injury appears promising, study says

A recent study by Michigan physicians found that specialized eyeglass lenses containing prisms can alleviate or eliminate post-concussive symptoms in patients with traumatic brain injury. The treatment targets vertical heterophoria, a binocular vision condition causing headaches, dizziness, anxiety, and other symptoms.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation·DateJun 4, 2010

Could life survive on Mars? Yes, expert says

A team of researchers has discovered methane-eating bacteria that can thrive in extremely salty and cold environments, similar to those found on Mars. The microbes, which survive by eating methane and breathing sulfate instead of oxygen, have implications for the possibility of life existing on the Red Planet.

The quest for the modern day Methuselah

A global research team gathered over 600 supercentenarians, nearly 20 of whom lived beyond 115, and created the International Database on Longevity. The study reveals that many of these individuals avoided dementia until shortly before death, sparking interest in understanding the secrets behind their longevity.