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AAAS/EurekAlert! build bridges with Middle Eastern science community through journalism fellowships

The AAAS and EurekAlert have launched a fellowship program for Arab science writers, facilitating knowledge and cultural exchanges between the Western and Middle Eastern science communities. The program aims to promote international scientific dialogue and advance the communication of science news to global audiences.

Rewarding fat rats

Peter Shizgal's team investigated the role of leptin in food reward, finding that restricting diet to one meal per day strengthened reward sensations. The study's findings have implications for understanding human motivation and behavior, with potential applications in computer programming and robot development.

Dreaming of a nanotech Christmas: What persuades the public to embrace and buy nanotechnology?

A large-scale study found that greater popular awareness and understanding of nanotechnology increases support for research and reduces concerns. The study compared the experience of emerging nanotechnology to other new technologies, highlighting the importance of citizen-scientist dialogue in shaping public perceptions.

Stroke rates falling in the West

Research finds stroke incidence decreasing in Perth by 43%, largely due to prevention strategies and reduced risk factors like hypertension and smoking. The study suggests successful implementation of healthy lifestyles is contributing to the decline.

The changing nature of proof

Thomas C. Hales famously proved Johannes Kepler's 400-year-old conjecture on sphere-packing using a computer-assisted proof, which was initially met with skepticism by reviewers. Hales is now using his problem-solving skills to 'prove the proof' using a specially written computer language in the Flyspeck Project.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalDiscrete & Computational Geometry·DateFeb 18, 2006

Collapse of Antarctic Ice shelf unprecedented

The Larsen ice shelf collapse was caused by a combination of long-term thinning and short-term increases in surface air temperature, exceeding natural regional climate variation during the Holocene period. Researchers attribute the collapse to climate warming in the Antarctic Peninsula, which is more pronounced than elsewhere.

SourceHamilton College·JournalNature·DateAug 3, 2005

Early Universe was packed with mini black holes

Recent studies of the cosmic microwave background radiation suggest that small black holes were widespread in the early universe and merged to form larger black holes. This finding could indicate an era in which small black holes were commonplace, with potential telltale evidence in galaxies without a central supermassive black hole.