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The fastest continent

A team of researchers has found that the Indian plate is only about 100 km thick, whereas the other parts of Gondwanaland are about 200 km thick. This discovery explains why India moved faster and further than the other parts of the supercontinent during its break-up.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNature·DateOct 17, 2007

Potent peptides inhibit HIV entry into cells

Researchers at the University of Utah have developed new peptides that inhibit HIV entry into cells, with up to a 40,000-fold improved antiviral potency over previously reported D-peptides. These peptides resist degradation, making them suitable for oral administration and potentially reducing drug resistance.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2007

New molecular clock from LLNL and CDC indicates smallpox evolved earlier than believed

A new study using a molecular clock indicates that smallpox evolved earlier than previously believed, with divergence times ranging from 16,000 to 68,000 years ago. The research provides a framework for studying the natural history of other diseases and suggests that local pools of old strains existed in geographically dispersed areas.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 25, 2007

Trees to offset the carbon footprint?

A new study suggests that tropical rainforests are crucial in slowing down global warming, while planting trees in mid- and high-latitude locations could exacerbate climate change. The research confirms that forests in these regions would not only fail to mitigate the effects of global warming but also potentially increase temperatures.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 9, 2007

Researchers move closer to switching nuclear isomer decay on and off

Livermore researchers have made the most accurate measurement of a nuclear isomer's excitation energy, a crucial step towards controlling its decay. This breakthrough could enable the use of isomers as high-energy density storage systems like batteries, and has implications for quantum computing, general relativity testing, and more.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 6, 2007

Flexible electronics could find applications as sensors, artificial muscles

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed flexible electronic structures that can bend, expand, and manipulate devices, paving the way for applications in sensors and artificial muscles. These structures were created by forming single-crystalline semiconductor nanoribbons in stretchable geometrical configurations.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry·DateApr 2, 2007

Crops feel the heat as the world warms

A new study by Carnegie Institution and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory reveals that global warming has already affected global food supply, with average yield drops of 3-5% for every 1 degree F increase in temperature. The study estimates annual losses of $5 billion for major food crops.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 16, 2007

Nanoparticle assembly enters the fast lane

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory discovered a way to control the assembly of gold nanoparticles using rigid, double-stranded DNA, which can lead to more efficient energy generation and data storage. The technique takes advantage of DNA's natural tendency to pair up components, allowing for more efficient assembly.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 11, 2006