Global climate change presents a serious national security threat that could affect Americans at home, impact U.S. military operations and heighten global tensions, according to a study released today by a blue-ribbon panel of retired admirals and generals.

A series of quietly exhaled breaths might indicate whether or not a patient is at risk for lung cancer. Using DNA recovered from exhaled breath, researchers can examine the state of cells that line the lungs, and potentially detect cancer at an early stage, when treatment may be most successful.

Researchers are investigating a remarkable use of nanotechnology that might change the way doctors monitor patients for cancer-indicating biomarkers. These hydrogel nanoparticles, less than one tenth the size of a red blood cell, could function like "smart" sponges, designed to soak up specific proteins in the bloodstream.