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Biotech

Scientists Identify a Potentially Universal Mechanism of Aging 359

Posted by Soulskill from the wonder-if-boosterspice-is-covered-by-health-care dept.
cybergenesis2008 points us to a summary of research out of Harvard Medical School in which a set of genes known to affect aging in yeast was found to affect aging in mice as well. The genes, called sirtuins, perform two particular tasks; regulating which genes are "on" and "off," and also helping to repair damaged DNA. As an organism ages, the frequency of damage to DNA increases, leaving less time for the sirtuins' regulatory tasks. The increasingly unregulated genes then become a significant factor in aging. Realizing this, the researchers "administered extra copies of the sirtuin gene [to the mice], or fed them the sirtuin activator resveratrol, which in turn extended their mean lifespan by 24 to 46 percent." We discussed the plans for this research a few years ago.
Space

Submission + - Final Frontier for the Paper Plane - Space!

Submitted by
tringtring
tringtring writes: "Later this year Japanese scientists plan to launch a specially designed paper airplane from the International Space Station. Travelling at 17,000mph — the orbiting speed of the station — it is likely to cover more than a million miles before plunging into the Earth's atmosphere. A professor of aerospace engineering at Tokyo University showed the plane was capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 250C and winds seven times the speed of sound. He now plans to give a number of the 20cm planes, which have been treated with chemicals to resist heat and rain, to a Japanese astronaut for a launch from space station later this year. If the first mission is a success, the technology could be used to make unmanned spacecraft."
The Courts

Submission + - SPAM: Do Not Call registry set to become permanent

Submitted by
coondoggie
coondoggie writes: "The Do Not Call registry is on its way to becoming permanent. The Senate on Wednesday followed the House and unanimously passed Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007 that will permanently prevent salesmen and other telemarketers from making those irritating dinner-time phone calls looking to sell you everything from aluminum siding to Zebra insurance (fine if you owned a Zebra I suppose). Aside from what telemarketing junk the bill does prevent, experts note what may also be a big deal is a provision that is NOT in this bill and that is protection for those other annoying time wasters: political robo calls. [spam URL stripped]"
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