36689029
submission
ACXNew writes:
Imagine the "super bugs to be "Darth Vader" with the armor, light saber et al. How in the world can you defeat him? Easy — remove his armor and light saber! He is now one "naked Darth Vader" and utterly defenseless.
This is the approach researchers are using to fight superbugs that are developing immunity against antibiotics.
Once they are disarmed, they are easy prey to our body's own defense mechanism....
Ain't that smart?
36688071
submission
ACXNew writes:
There is something called "cancer metastasis" which is the escape and spread of primary tumor cells, a common cause of cancer-related deaths and very poorly understood. When tumor cells break through a blood vessel's wall, the stickiness of the blood tears off the tumor cells and scientists do not know the physical forces involved in the process. Using Active Shape Model , a statistical technique that animators use to create furry monsters, the researchers could compute the fluid forces acting on the cell.
36631229
submission
ACXNew writes:
Engineering researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute made a sheet of paper from the world’s thinnest material, graphene, and then zapped the paper with a laser or camera flash to blemish it with countless cracks, pores, and other imperfections. The result is a graphene anode material that can be charged or discharged 10 times faster than conventional graphite anodes used in today’s lithium (Li)-ion batteries.
Rechargeable Li-ion batteries are the industry standard for mobile phones, laptop and tablet computers, electric cars, and a range of other devices. While Li-ion batteries have a high energy density and can store large amounts of energy, they suffer from a low power density and are unable to quickly accept or discharge energy. This low power density is why it takes about an hour to charge your mobile phone or laptop battery, and why electric automobile engines cannot rely on batteries alone and require a supercapacitor for high-power functions such as acceleration and braking.
The Rensselaer research team, led by nanomaterials expert Nikhil Koratkar, sought to solve this problem and create a new battery that could hold large amounts of energy but also quickly accept and release this energy.
http://www.allgoodread.com/first/2012/08/batteries-from-thinnest-materials-for-cars-tomorrow.html
36630573
submission
ACXNew writes:
A study from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, published August 22 online by PLoS ONE, reports that muscle problems reported by patients taking statins were related to the strength or potency of the given cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Adverse effects such as muscle pain and weakness, reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were related to a statin’s potency, or the degree by which it typically lowers cholesterol at commonly prescribed doses.
“These findings underscore that stronger statins bear higher risk – and should be used with greater caution and circumspection,” said investigator Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD, professor in the Departments of Medicine and Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
http://www.allgoodread.com/first/2012/08/statin-potency-linked-to-muscle-side-effects.html
36508381
submission
ACXNew writes:
In a discovery that defies the popular meaning of the word “wire,” scientists have found that Mother Nature uses DNA as a wire to detect the constantly occurring genetic damage and mistakes that if left unrepaired can result in diseases like cancer and underpin the physical and mental decline of aging. Barton won the U.S. National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest honor for scientific achievement, for discovering that cells use the double strands of the DNA helix like a wire for signaling, which is critical to detecting and repairing genetic damage. http://www.allgoodread.com/first/2012/08/dna-wires-can-help-physicians-diagnose-disease.html
36508297
submission
ACXNew writes:
In a discovery that defies the popular meaning of the word “wire,” scientists have found that Mother Nature uses DNA as a wire to detect the constantly occurring genetic damage and mistakes that if left unrepaired can result in diseases like cancer and underpin the physical and mental decline of aging. “DNA is a very fragile and special wire,” said Jacqueline K. Barton, Ph.D., who delivered the talk.Barton won the U.S. National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest honor for scientific achievement, for discovering that cells use the double strands of the DNA helix like a wire for signaling, which is critical to detecting and repairing genetic damage.
http://www.allgoodread.com/first/2012/08/dna-wires-can-help-physicians-diagnose-disease.html
36506653
submission
ACXNew writes:
Using information about the unique mating practices of the male malaria mosquito which, unlike any other insect, inserts a plug to seal its sperm inside the female scientists are zeroing in on a birth-control drug for Anopheles mosquitoes, deadly carriers of the disease that threatens 3 billion people, has infected more than 215 million and kills 655,000 annually. To ensure mating success, an Anopheles male produces a special “mating plug” to seal its sperm inside the female’s mating chamber. The Yale researchers purified the specific enzyme, a transglutaminase, responsible for coagulating another protein called Plugin within the male’s seminal fluid to form the plug. They went on to purify the Plugin protein and reconstitute the coagulation reaction in the lab, setting the stage to search for chemicals that inhibit this reaction.
36493439
submission
ACXNew writes:
The scientists behind three inventions that touch the lives of millions of people around the world will be inducted into a coveted scientific “Hall of Fame” as the latest Heroes of Chemistry named by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society.
33040897
submission
ACXNew writes:
A big question that has been confronting people is how the Universe came into being, existence. Not an easy one to answer and more so when you try to reconcile religion’s viewpoint with what science says. It’s like the debate between supporters of Darwin and supporters of Creationism.
A recent addition to these debates is one scientist’s paper which theorizes that “consciousness” came into existence when the universe was created! "
33040805
submission
omega6 writes:
"Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has renounced his U.S. citizenship, a move expected to save him hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes stemming from the company's impending initial public offering." He has a 4% stake in the company.
