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Springer launches ChemTexts

ChemTexts offers contemporary knowledge at a high didactic level for students and lecturers, with peer-reviewed texts and supplementary materials like videos and animated presentations.

ChemWiki takes on costly textbooks

ChemWiki, launched in 2008, has received major funding from the National Science Foundation to expand its wiki network and compare its content with standard textbooks. The project aims to provide free online resources for students and faculty, promoting a more accessible and affordable learning experience.

Osmosis is not driven by water dilution

A thermodynamic theory of osmosis was published in 1897, but its explanation has not been fully adopted by chemistry and biology. Key findings include the misconception that osmosis only applies to liquids, and the need for an attractive force to drive the process.

SourceDick Jones Communications·JournalTrends in Plant Science·DateApr 4, 2013

Iranian scholars share Avicenna's medieval medical wisdom

The Canon of Medicine, written by the Persian scholar Avicenna, contains detailed information on respiratory diseases remarkably similar to those used today. The article highlights Avicenna's work on respiratory diseases and conditions, including herbal and non-herbal treatments, which are still valid with modern science.

SourceSAGE Publications UK·JournalTherapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease·DateOct 30, 2009

Free textbooks

The trend of open-source academic publishing is changing the way textbooks are created and distributed. As more authors self-publish their work, it raises essential questions about how to fairly compensate them for their time and effort.

Springer textbook receives prestigious award

The Springer textbook has been recognized for its comprehensiveness and uniqueness in covering stratosphere-troposphere interactions. It provides information on various physical processes involved in the coupling between the two layers of the atmosphere.

DIY anti-satellite system

Researchers warn of vulnerability to satellite attacks due to low technical barriers, threatening global positioning systems, weather satellites, and more. With a college-level team and intermediate-range missiles, amateurish yet effective attacks can be launched.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Critical Infrastructures·DateJun 22, 2007

UD scientists discover new class of polymers

Researchers at UD University discovered a new class of polymers that can be transformed into ultra-thin films with potential applications in coatings, optics, and electronics. The discovery was made possible by a novel polymerization technique developed by the team, which eliminates the need for solvents.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalMacromolecules·DateJan 2, 2007

Tiny bones rewrite textbooks

Scientists have discovered a unique, mouse-sized land animal in New Zealand, which challenges the theory that birds evolved without competition from land mammals. The discovery also sheds new light on climate change in the region, indicating a massive shift from warm and wet to cool and dry conditions.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2006

Rewriting textbooks on DNA crossover

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about DNA crossover during meiosis, which is crucial for sexual reproduction. The new findings suggest that the decision to make a crossover or non-crossover recombination is made much earlier than previously thought, shedding light on the molecular basis of this process.

Making individual health insurance market work

The article argues that guaranteed renewability pools risk and protects consumers from price increases without resorting to heavy regulation of the market or reduced consumer choice. It also prevents adverse selection by preventing those who know they are likely to get sick from buying more generous coverage.

SourceHealth Affairs·JournalHealth Affairs·DateAug 28, 2002

Medical texts lack direct messages on alcohol’s threat to pregnancy

A recent study found that only 14 out of 81 clinical obstetric texts recommend abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy. Many texts instead offer vague or contradictory advice, leading to concerns about physician behavior and patient safety. The lack of clear guidance may stem from the absence of a safe level of drinking during pregnancy.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateJul 16, 2002