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News by Date: May 2007 Los Alamos releases new maps of Mars water 31 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory 'Breathtaking' new maps of likely sites of water on Mars showcase their association with geologic features such as Vallis Marineris, the largest canyon in the solar system. Lab microdrilling technology can cut cost of oil exploration 31 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory A microdrilling technology developed by the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory could fundamentally change the face of oil and gas exploration, a multi-billion-dollar a year global industry. Los Alamos partners with CNT Technologies to commercialize SuperThread(tm) carbon-nanotube fiber 31 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos National Laboratory has licensed its carbon nanotube technology to a new commercial partner, Seattle-based CNT Technologies Inc. The ultrastrong, lightweight carbon-nanotube fiber, branded SuperThread(tm) by the company, can have better properties than steel for many applications and could soon be the primary substance from which airplanes, automobile parts, and sports equipment are made. Initial tests show that SuperThread is pound for pound (for the same weight) one-hundred times stronger than steel and less than one-fortieth the weight. Air bubbles in breakfast syrup illustrate potential pathway to new technology 31 May 2007 - University of Chicago Wendy Zhang, Assistant Professor in Physics, watches an air bubble form a long, thin stem in a viscous fluid. Scientists might be able to use air bubbles to make extremely thin tubes and fibers for biomedical and other applications. Scientists zero in on why time flows in one direction 31 May 2007 - University of Chicago Sean Carroll, Assistant Professor in Physics, and Jennifer Chen, graduate student in physics at the University of Chicago. They are co-authors of a paper presenting a theory about how our universe could give rise to new big bangs from quantum fluctuations in empty space. Quark study breaks logjam between theory, experiment 31 May 2007 - University of Chicago University of Chicago scientists have solved a 20-year-old puzzle in particle physics using data from an experiment conducted for an entirely different purpose. Physicists had long known that something was amiss regarding their understanding of how some quarks interact in the beta decay of particles, a common form of radioactivity. Either dozens of experiments conducted over a period of more than three decades were wrong, or the scientists’ theories were. Now, in a set of four papers, University of Chicago scientists have demonstrated that the theories are correct. Vision system monitors fish populations 31 May 2007 - Matrox VITE Counting the types and numbers of migrating fish is very important to help manage the protection of endangered species and fish harvesting. Areas such as the Columbia River Basin in the US Pacific Northwest spend considerable money on this task. There are 12 mainstem dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers that report daily fish counts and two dams on the Yakima River. Additional fish-counting facilities exist on other river tributaries, as well. Company selected for research & development funding to continue membrane & catalyst development 31 May 2007 - 3M Europe 3M’s progress toward developing hydrogen fuel cell materials and components with the performance and durability to power cars and trucks has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy with their selection for award of $17.3 million in research and development funding over the next four years. RAD introduces a suite of cellular backhaul products to facilitate migration to an all-IP radio access network 31 May 2007 - RAD Data Communications Ltd RAD Data Communications will unveil a suite of cellular backhaul products designed to lower the cost of running 2G, 3G and 3.5G voice and data traffic over packet-based networks. These devices have demonstrated convincingly in pre-launch trials their ability to efficiently separate HSDPA traffic to run over DSL circuits and also to deliver TDM-based and ATM-based (UMTS REL. 99) services robustly with highly accurate clock distribution and recovery across an asynchronous Ethernet network by applying pseudowire emulation technology adhering to stringent timing standards. RAD introduces a suite of cellular backhaul products to facilitate migration to an all-IP radio access network 31 May 2007 - RAD Data Communications Ltd RAD Data Communications will unveil a suite of cellular backhaul products designed to lower the cost of running 2G, 3G and 3.5G voice and data traffic over packet-based networks. These devices have demonstrated convincingly in pre-launch trials their ability to efficiently separate HSDPA traffic to run over DSL circuits and also to deliver TDM-based and ATM-based (UMTS REL. 99) services robustly with highly accurate clock distribution and recovery across an asynchronous Ethernet network by applying pseudowire emulation technology adhering to stringent timing standards. Novel vaccine shows promise against early stage breast cancer 30 May 2007 - American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) A diagnosis of breast cancer has taken on a new meaning in the past 10 years, as research has produced a host of new therapies and detection techniques, significantly improving long-term survival for women who have been fighting the disease. To build on these successes, researchers are now harnessing what they have learned about treating breast cancer and applying it to possible methods of prevention to reduce the total incidence of the disease. Study resolves doubt about origin of Earth’s oldest rocks, possibility of finding traces of ancient life 30 May 2007 - University of Chicago A study led by Nicolas Dauphas of the University of Chicago and Chicago's Field Museum has clarified the sedimentary origin of the world's oldest rocks, reinforcing the possibility that they contain the earliest evidence for life on Earth. These rocks are found in southwest Greenland, including Iron Mountain of the Issua region pictured here. Rocks could hold early secrets of life 30 May 2007 - University of Chicago Experiments led by Nicolas Dauphas of the University of Chicago and Chicago’s Field Museum have validated some controversial rocks from Greenland as the potential site for the earliest evidence of life on Earth. Chemist breaks 50-year-old barrier to better electron representation in molecular computations 30 May 2007 - University of Chicago University of Chicago quantum chemist David Mazziotti has proposed a new research tool that could help scientists more rapidly solve problems in atmospheric chemistry, combustion, medicine and other areas of research where the behavior of electrons plays a key role. 3M to acquire SoftMed Systems Inc., Health Information Management Solutions provider 30 May 2007 - 3M Europe 3M announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SoftMed Systems Inc., a provider of health information management software and services that improve the workflow and efficiency for health care organizations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Matrox announces the Extio F1220, the latest addition to Extio series of Remote Graphics Units 30 May 2007 - Matrox VITE Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professionals, announces the Extio F1220, the latest addition to the Extio series of Remote Graphics Units. The Extio F1220 enables the extension of one or two displays, audio, two IEEE 1394 FireWire ports, and up to six USB devices, including keyboard and mouse, by up to 820 feet (250 meters). Los Alamos Pulsed Field Facility achieves world record magnetic field in 100-tesla quest 30 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Scientists at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory's Pulsed Field Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory have set a pair of world records for nondestructive pulsed-magnet performance that puts them in position to deliver a magnet capable of achieving 100 tesla, the longstanding goal of magnet designers and researchers around the globe. Superdiamonds? Scientists discover superconductivity in diamond 30 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Scientists working at the Russian Academy of Sciences and Los Alamos National Laboratory announced today the discovery of superconductivity at ultracold temperatures in cubic diamond. The discovery offers the potential for a new generation of diamond-based device applications and even suggests that superconductivity in silicon or germanium, which also forms in the diamond structure, may be possible. Vast nitrogen reserves hidden beneath desert soils 30 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory A University of California scientist working at Los Alamos National Laboratory in collaboration with researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, the University of Nevada, the University of Arkansas and Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nev., has recently found evidence that there may be significantly more amounts of nitrogen, in the form of nitrates, than previously estimated in desert landscapes. Desert varnish shines as environmental monitoring tool 29 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory A University of California researcher working at Los Alamos National Laboratory, in collaboration with earth scientists from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Eastern Washington University, has discovered that desert varnish, a thin brownish to black coating that forms naturally on rock surfaces in deserts and other arid places all over the world, may be an ideal passive environmental monitor for atmospherically-deposited heavy and potentially toxic metals, including radionuclides.', Los Alamos unleashes GENIE on Cerro Grande destruction 29 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory The U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory is using a sophisticated image analysis technology to create high-resolution maps of the destruction caused by the Cerro Grande wildfire. Replacing platinum with non-precious metal composite could reduce cost of hydrogen fuel cells 29 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a new class of hydrogen fuel-cell catalysts that exhibit promising activity and stability. The catalysts are made of low-cost nonprecious metals entrapped in something called a heteroatomic-polymer structure, instead of platinum materials typically used in fuel cells. External multi-display upgrade for notebook and desktop computers 29 May 2007 - Matrox VITE Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of professional graphics solutions, today announced the DualHead2Go Digital Edition, the next version to the acclaimed DualHead2Go, now featuring digital outputs. Revealing a secret in plain sight: air makes liquids go splash 29 May 2007 - University of Chicago Photographs of a drop of alcohol hitting a smooth, dry, glass surface. Each row shows the drop at four times. The first frame shows the drop just as it is about to hit the surface. The next three frames in each row show the evolution of the drop at .276 milliseconds, .552 milliseconds and 2.484 milliseconds after impact. In the top row, the drop splashes at atmospheric pressure (100 kilopascals). Teaching math two ways at the same time boosts learning 29 May 2007 - University of Chicago Researchers at the University of Chicago have come up with a technique for teachers to use that increases student understanding of mathematics: explain how to solve a problem in one way, and also provide an alternative approach through gesture. New study affirms reliability of fossil record 29 May 2007 - University of Chicago The quality of the fossil record has passed a critical test, as indicated by a study of bivalves conducted by Susan Kidwell, Professor in Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago. 3M car care solutions for consumers unveiled 29 May 2007 - 3M Europe 3M, a name long associated with innovative products for automotive professionals, is bringing its legendary innovation to a new line of 3M Car Care Solutions. The new line will be available directly to consumers through leading automotive retailers throughout the country, the first time 3M has offered a comprehensive, consumer-focused automotive product line designed specifically for the do-it-yourselfer and enthusiast market. RAD global sales grow by more than 12% 29 May 2007 - RAD Data Communications Ltd Privately held RAD Data Communications, now celebrating its 25th anniversary as a leading manufacturer of network access equipment for data communications and telecommunications applications, has announced that its consolidated revenues reached $168 million, an increase of more than 12 percent over the previous year's figures. RAD global sales grow by more than 12% 29 May 2007 - RAD Data Communications Ltd Expanded International Network of PartnersNorth America remained RAD's largest market. RAD's international network of partners expanded during the course of the year, with new distributors signing on in Australia, China, Germany, France, Ghana, Japan, Poland, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, among other countries. RAD helps mobile operators and broadcasters to clock on to IPChronos tests 28 May 2007 - RAD Data Communications Ltd According to tests carried out by the industry-leading test house Chronos, classic problems such as data loss and errors that are deterring fixed and mobile operators and broadcasters from migrating traffic from telephone to Internet Protocol networks can be eliminated by deploying RAD Data Communications' IPmux pseudowire gateways. What does the public really know about HPV? 28 May 2007 - American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Human papillomaviruses are the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States, and certain 'high risk' types have been shown to cause cervical cancer. Despite recent advances in the detection and prevention of HPV, the link between the virus and cervical cancer is not well known to the public. The Food and Drug Administration approved the first vaccine to prevent infection of two high risk types of HPV, and two types that cause genital warts. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended it for females 9 to 26 years of age. RAD helps mobile operators and broadcasters to clock on to IPChronos tests 28 May 2007 - RAD Data Communications Ltd According to tests carried out by the industry-leading test house Chronos, classic problems such as data loss and errors that are deterring fixed and mobile operators and broadcasters from migrating traffic from telephone to Internet Protocol networks can be eliminated by deploying RAD Data Communications' IPmux pseudowire gateways. In addressing accurate clock synchronization over IP networks, the IPmux allows companies, including mobile operators, to switch over to low-cost IP networks without fear of sacrificing core functionality that can be lost as a result of timing issues. Religious faith has big impact on reducing depression among African Americans 28 May 2007 - University of Chicago A strong belief in God can have a powerful impact on reducing depression, particularly among African Americans, according to a preliminary analysis of data gathered in the study of aging and social relations on health at the University of Chicago. Feat of experimental acrobatics leads to first synthesis of ultracold molecules 28 May 2007 - University of Chicago The experiments, conducted by Cheng Chin, now at the University of Chicago, and his colleagues under the leadership of Rudolf Grimm at Innsbruck University in Austria, may lead to a better scientific understanding of superconductivity and advance a growing new field called superchemistry. In the long term, they may also provide a strategy that could aid the development of quantum computers. Mystery minerals formed in fireball from colliding asteroid that destroyed the dinosaurs 28 May 2007 - University of Chicago After an asteroid measuring six miles in diameter collided with Earth 65 million years ago, the skies filled with a bizarre rain of calcium-rich, silicate liquid droplets. This rain reflected the chemical content of the vaporized rocks around the Chicxulub impact crater in Mexico. 3M completes acquisition of Biotrace International PLC 28 May 2007 - 3M Europe 3M announced today it has completed its acquisition of Biotrace International PLC, a Bridgend, UK-based manufacturer and supplier of industrial microbiology products used in food processing safety, health care, industrial hygiene and defense applications. Machine vision seals beer-barrel integrity 28 May 2007 - Matrox VITE At the St. James Gate brewing plant of Guinness, the company’s draught beer is brewed and kegs are filled for domestic, European, and international customers. To fill, check, and ship these kegs at a rate of approximately 1000 kegs/hour, Guinness has fully automated the plant. Recycled kegs are placed on an automated conveyor system, where they go through several operations before they can be reshipped to the company’s distributors. After the kegs are washed, rinsed, and sterilized, they are filled with beer through a one-way valve at the top of the keg, known as a spear. One-of-a-kind magnet open for science 28 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory The world's most powerful pulsed, nondestructive magnet is now ready to explore the frontiers of high magnetic field science, after 10 years of research, major instrument development, and construction. Los Alamos Volcanologist: apply lessons from meteorology 28 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Reducing the danger posed by volcanoes will require volcanologists to integrate data from throughout volcanology to build predictive simulations and models, according to Greg Valentine, a volcanologist at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dry rock goes supercritical 28 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory By proposing a method for using carbon dioxide under high pressure to extract energy from geothermal reservoirs, a University of California scientist working at Los Alamos National Laboratory has put a new twist on a historic Laboratory project. The proposed invention has the potential to take global geothermal energy science in new and exciting directions. Los Alamos instrument yields new knowledge of Saturn's rings 27 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have begun to analyze data from an instrument aboard the joint U.S.-European spacecraft Cassini. Although Cassini has only been orbiting the planet Saturn since July 1, data from the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer has already begun to provide new information about the curious nature of Saturn's space environment. Telling a salty tale of martian water 27 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory, along with a scientist from Indiana University have devised a method for determining whether sulfate salts can account for evidence of water on Mars. The work could pave the way to a better understanding of the martian environment and the history of water on Mars. Scientists study carbon exchange in Valles Caldera grasslands 27 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Over the past nine months, University of California scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have been working as part of the AmeriFlux carbon exchange research project with researchers from the Valles Caldera National Preserve and Colorado State University using sophisticated eddy monitors, monitors that detect minute changes in wind flow, to study carbon dioxide flow variations and grassland carbon cycle dynamics in a small section of the Valles Caldera. Economics research shows black-white achievement gap has stopped narrowing 27 May 2007 - University of Chicago The achievement gap between African-Americans and whites, which narrowed for much of the 20th century, has stalled and is likely to persist for generations unless something is done to improve the learning experiences of African-American children, contends new research at the University of Chicago. Derek Neal, Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, is the author of an upcoming chapter, “Why Has Black-White Skill Convergence Stopped?” to be published later this year in the Handbook of Economics of Education. Instrument detects particles near Saturn’s moon Enceladus 27 May 2007 - University of Chicago An instrument designed and built at the University of Chicago for the Cassini space probe has discovered dust particles around Enceladus, an ice-covered moon of Saturn that has the distinction of being the most reflective object in the solar system. The particles could indicate the existence of a dust cloud around Enceladus, or they may have originated from Saturn’s largest ring, the E-ring. Genetic & natural chemicals further knowledge on how early molecular interactions lead to cancer 27 May 2007 - American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Scientists are using genetic studies and natural chemicals, such as plant-derived triterpenoids, to further our knowledge on how genetic and early molecular interactions can lead to cancer, and how those early interactions can be manipulated to stave off a variety of cancers. The latest studies with new and promising chemopreventive agents were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meetinG. Conducting-insulating materials reveal their secrets 27 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Research by physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory provides new insight into why some materials made of stacks of metallic planes are conductors in the direction of the planes and are insulators in the direction perpendicular to the planes. Findings may lead to more effective regulations for protecting public health 27 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Using data from one of the most comprehensive U.S. air pollution studies ever conducted, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have identified specific volatile organic compounds as key sources of excess ozone smog in industrial areas of Houston, Texas, which appear to be different from traditional sources of ozone pollution in typical urban areas around the country. Mere sight/smell of food spikes levels of brain pleasure chemical 27 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have found that the mere display of food, where food-deprived subjects are allowed to smell and taste their favorite foods without actually eating them, causes a significant elevation in brain dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. Material could be used to make better filters, more efficient sensors, and faster catalysts 26 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory For the first time, scientists have created a material with a gradient of gold nanoparticles on a silica covered silicon surface using a molecular template. The material, which was developed at North Carolina State University and tested at the National Synchrotron Light Source at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, provides the first evidence that nanoparticles, each about one thousand times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, can form a gradient of decreasing concentration along a surface. More clues about obesity revealed by brain-imaging study 26 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory The idea that obese people eat too much because they find food more palatable than lean people do has gained support from a new brain-imaging study at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory. The study reveals that the parts of the brain responsible for sensation in the mouth, lips, and tongue are more active in obese people than in normal-weight control subjects. New insight into origin of superconductivity in magnesium diboride 26 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory A team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the University of Oslo in Norway has provided new insight into the superconductivity of magnesium diboride, an unusual superconductor discovered only last year. New insight into origin of superconductivity in magnesium diboride 26 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory A team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the University of Oslo in Norway has provided new insight into the superconductivity of magnesium diboride, an unusual superconductor discovered only last year. Study shows how granular materials get themselves out of a jam 26 May 2007 - University of Chicago Eric Corwin (seated), a graduate student in physics, and Heinrich Jaeger, Professor in Physics, both at the University of Chicago, review data from their new study on how the behavior of granular materials changes from a jammed to a flowing state. The study, which will be published in the journal Nature, has implications for solving long-standing questions about how glasses differ from liquids at the atomic level. The device in the foreground displays lines of force as they are transmitted through polymer discs in response to the application of force from above. Scientists devise way to measure RNA synthesis on the fly in a live cell 26 May 2007 - University of Chicago This University of Chicago research team has developed a non-invasive laboratory technique that allows them to instantly map when genes are switched off and on in a living bacterium as it becomes exposed to antibiotics and other changes in its environment. The technique will be announced in the early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists create digital bacteria to forge advances in biomedical research 26 May 2007 - University of Chicago These images are taken from a three-dimensional AgentCell animation showing more than 1,000 virtual cells swimming in an environment that grows richer in nutrients as they move toward the top of the image. Red cells are sensitive to the nutrients and green cells are not. Scientists predict pulsar starquakes 26 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Scientists have discovered how to predict earthquake-like events in pulsars, the dense remains of exploded stars. These are violent episodes that likely crack a pulsar's dense crust and momentarily increase its spin rate. High energy gamma rays may emanate in the Milky Way 26 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos scientists, in collaboration with researchers from nine institutions across the United States, have evidence from the Laboratory's Milagro telescope that TeV (one trillion electron volts) gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation known, can originate in the plane of the Milky Way galaxy. The discovery is the first evidence of such high-energy gamma rays arising from interactions of cosmic rays with matter in our galaxy. Drought, heat and bark beetles a deadly trio 26 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory, working in collaboration with scientists from the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, the U. S. Geological Survey, and four additional universities, believe that severe drought, coupled with high temperatures and a bark beetle coup de grace, was the cause of death for millions of piñon pines throughout the American Southwest. Los Alamos studies nerve activity to improve artificial retina 26 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos National Laboratory is supporting the Department of Energy's artificial retina project by developing better ways to visualize and interpret the patterns of neural activity that result when the retina is stimulated. Employing new and existing techniques, a team from Los Alamos' Biological and Quantum Physics Group has produced movies of the dynamic responses that characterize the function of the ganglion cells that make up the optic nerve. Scientists find quiet place in subspace 25 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory have taken another step forward in the quest for a quantum-based computer by demonstrating the existence of a physical state immune to certain types of information-corrupting 'noise,' which could otherwise disrupt computations based on quantum states. The research appears in a recent issue of the journal Science. Los Alamos scientists make seven bit quantum leap 25 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Scientists at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory have made yet another experimental leap forward in the quest for a functional quantum computer capable of solving large mathematical problems or cracking secret codes faster than today's fastest supercomputers. Magnetic flux ropes created in Los Alamos physics laboratory 25 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory At the Sun's edge, in a region called the heliosphere, magnetic fields and electrical currents align and twist themselves in massive three-dimensional structures called 'magnetic flux ropes.' As these ropes kink, they become twisted and unstable. Occasionally, one of the rope's ends, which was previously 'tied' to the Sun's surface, breaks loose, ejecting electrically charged gas, or plasma, and producing solar flares that can wreak havoc with everything from satellites to electrical power grids. HETE-2 plays key role in solving mystery of short gamma-ray bursts 25 May 2007 - University of Chicago An international team of scientists using three NASA satellites and a host of ground-based telescopes believes it has solved the greatest remaining mystery of gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions in the universe. The shorter of two versions of these bursts appear to be caused by the collision of closely orbiting neutron stars or one of those compact stars and a black hole, said Don Lamb, the Louis Block Professor in Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. Changes in ozone layer offer hope for improvement, says team of scientists 25 May 2007 - University of Chicago Analysis of several different satellite records and surface monitoring instruments indicates that the ozone layer is no longer declining, according to a study by scientists working with the Center for Integrating Statistical and Environmental Science at the University of Chicago. Scientist refines cosmic clock to determine age of Milky Way 25 May 2007 - University of Chicago The University of Chicago's Nicolas Dauphas has estimated the age of the Milky Way at approximately 14.5 billion years by combining telescopic observations with laboratory analysis of meteorites, such as the Murchison meteorite from Australia, pictured here. Biological serendipity: Molecular details of cell membrane fusion revealed 25 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory For the first time, scientists have observed the molecular details of biological cells fusing together, a fleeting event never before observed at this scale. Cellular membrane fusion is well known to scientists, and is one of the most common ways for molecules to enter or exit cells, in processes such as fertilization and viral infection, for example. Structures in molybdenum blue solutions reveal possible new solute state 25 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory For nearly 200 years, scientists have known that the elements molybdenum and oxygen can form various large molecules, which usually impart a unique blue color to aqueous solutions. Only recently have scientists been able to isolate these molecules, but no one was able to explain their supramolecular structure in solution, until now. Nanoscale crystallography reveals hidden structural details 25 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Understanding the properties of nanoscale materials may allow scientists to manipulate these properties to produce new nanomagnets, nanocatalysts, and composites with better optical properties. But such applications require detailed knowledge of the materials' atomic level structure. New technique reveals structure of films with high resolution 24 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists have developed and tested a new imaging technique that reveals the atomic structure of thin films with unprecedented resolution. For the first time, the technique has shown very precisely how the atoms of the first layers of a film rearrange under the action of the substrate on which the film is grown. Scientists identify role of important cancer protein 24 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists working at the National Synchrotron Light Source at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have unveiled the details of an important cancer protein. Though the protein, called Ski (for Sloan Kettering Institute, where it was identified in the early 1980s), is known to trigger tumor growth, how it does this is still not well understood. UI study reveals how a virus escapes from host cells and returns to the environment 24 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Your co-worker has a cold. You know it is only a matter of time before the virus spreads to you and other colleagues, causing a spate of missed workdays. The ability to spread from person to person makes viral infections, even those as benign as the common cold, a large public health problem. Dynamic Ensis invention improves box quality 24 May 2007 - CSIRO A new invention by Ensis that measures the stiffness of corrugated boxes will provide the paper packaging industry with the ability to improve the quality of their products, and help exporters reduce the risk of product damage through faulty boxes. Explaining the methane mystery 24 May 2007 - CSIRO Scientists have explained why atmospheric levels of the greenhouse gas methane have stabilised in recent years, but warn that increases could resume in the near future. Physicists describe strange new fluid-like state of matter 24 May 2007 - University of Chicago A-C show images from a high-speed video of a granular jet produced by the impact of a heavy sphere at atmospheric pressure. D-F show images from a high-speed video of the jet at reduced pressure. Air compressed between the sand grains provides most of the energy that drives the jet, according to scientists at the University of Chicago. Heredity may be the reason some people feel lonely 24 May 2007 - University of Chicago Heredity helps determine why some adults are persistently lonely, research co-authored by psychologists at the University of Chicago shows. Working with colleagues in the Netherlands, the scholars found about 50 percent of identical twins and 25 percent of fraternal twins shared similar characteristics of loneliness. Research on twins is a powerful method to study the impact of heredity because twins raised together share many of the same environmental influences as well as similar genes, thus making it easier to determine the role of genetics in development. Teacher concern associated with reduced anti-social behavior among troubled teens 24 May 2007 - University of Chicago Having a teacher who students perceive cares is associated with lower rates of drug and sexual risk behaviors among high risk youth, according to a new study headed by a University of Chicago researcher. New Supernova models take on third dimension 24 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Astrophysicists from Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, have created the first 3-D computer simulations of the spectacular explosion that marks the death of a massive star. Presented to the American Astronomical Society meeting in Albuquerque, N.M., the research by Michael Warren and Chris Fryer eliminates some of the doubts about earlier 2-D modeling and paves the way for rapid advances on other, more exotic questions about supernovae. Predicting El Niño: Lab researcher has some answers, more questions 24 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory The Spanish term 'El Niño' has been used for centuries by South American fishermen to describe the annual occurrence of warm, southward-flowing oceanic current waters off the coast of Ecuador and Peru around Christmas. El Niño, or the child, specifically refers to the Christ child. Los Alamos scientists shed new light on quantum computation 24 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Scientists at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Queensland's Centre for Quantum Computer Technology in Australia have made an advance in the quest for a functional quantum computer by exploiting currently existing technology in a novel and unexpected way. Jolt could trigger coastal Tsunami 24 May 2007 - University of Southern California A major quake, USC researchers say, could push up ground on the seafloor under Catalina Island, resulting in large waves off the Southern California coast. The ports of L.A. and Long Beach, the nation’s largest, are particularly vulnerable. USC launches new online consumer health magazine 23 May 2007 - University of Southern California The new year has launched a new web magazine designed to showcase USC’s health expertise in a consumer-friendly format. USC Health Now, published by the USC Health Sciences Public Relations and Marketing office, provides the latest health news and tips from USC experts in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, gerontology, occupational and physical therapy, business, and law, among other academic arenas on both campuses. Scientists model disease outbreaks in urban social networks 23 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory University of California researchers working at Los Alamos National Laboratory with colleagues at the University of Maryland and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a method for modeling disease outbreaks in realistic urban social networks. The work suggests that disease outbreaks can be better contained by a strategy of targeted vaccination combined with early detection, rather than mass vaccinations of entire populations. Scientists explore complexities of sea ice from high desert venue 23 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory For nearly a decade, University of California researchers working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have been upgrading and fine-tuning a sea ice modeling program created at the Laboratory. From their dry place in New Mexico's high desert, the Los Alamos team has helped climate scientists around the world develop a better understanding of the surprisingly complicated role that sea ice plays in the global climate. Researchers untangle complex network systems 23 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory By exploring the tangled nature of complex network systems, researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Houston may have found a way to help scientists and engineers better understand dynamic processes on complex networks, such as the spread of infectious diseases, cascading massive electrical power failures, sources of vehicle traffic congestion on metropolitan roadways and information flow on the Internet. Over-the-counter decongestant equals popular prescription drug in relieving hay fever symptoms 23 May 2007 - University of Chicago There is no significant difference between an over-the-counter decongestant and a prescription medication that costs almost four times as much in relieving hay fever symptoms, report researchers from the University of Chicago in the February issue of Archives of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery. Hand waving boosts mathematics learning 23 May 2007 - University of Chicago Students who spontaneously mimic the gestures of their teachers while learning mathematics learn new strategies more quickly than those who don’t, new research at the University of Chicago shows. Gene variation increases SIDS risk in African Americans 23 May 2007 - University of Chicago About five percent of deaths from sudden infant death syndrome in African Americans can be traced to defects in one gene and half of those deaths result from a common genetic variation that increases an infant's risk of developing an abnormal heart rhythm during times of environmental stress, a research team based at the University of Chicago reports in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. CSIRO builds smart farm 23 May 2007 - CSIRO CSIRO is working towards the 'Smart Farm' of the future with research focussing on Wireless Sensor Networks and their potential to transform the Australian agriculture industry. General relativity survives gruelling pulsar test 23 May 2007 - CSIRO Astronomers have used a pair of pulsars orbiting each other, found with CSIRO’s Parkes telescope in 2003, to show that Einstein’s theory of general relativity is correct to within 0.05%, the most stringent limit to date. Scientists reveal a new way viruses cause cells to self-destruct 23 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and their collaborators have discovered that some viruses can use the most abundant protein in the cells they are infecting to destroy the cells and allow new viruses to escape to infect others. Molecular film on liquid mercury reveals new properties 23 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory A team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, Harvard University, and Bar-Ilan University in Israel have grown ultrathin films made of organic molecules on the surface of liquid mercury. Will allow non-invasive study of neurochemistry, behavior, and disease progression 23 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have demonstrated that a miniature positron emission tomography scanner, known as microPET, and the chemical markers used in traditional PET scanning are sensitive enough to pick up subtle differences in neurochemistry between known genetic variants of mice. New insights into superconducting copper-oxide compounds 22 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Working in the field of high-temperature superconductors, researchers from Brookhaven National Laboratory, Princeton University, and several institutions in Japan have determined the upper range of magnetic field at which copper-oxide compounds can be superconducting. Scientists devise tiny liquid crystal devices for telecommunications 22 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists have built tiny liquid crystal devices on the tips of optical fibers, the plastic or glass cables used to carry high-speed signals from television, computer, telephone and radar, to correct signal distortions in high-speed optical communications. Optical communications form the backbone of the Internet and telephone networks and are envisioned to carry multimedia data in the future. Overloaded circuits may explain tendency to binge, relapse 22 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory A brain-imaging study conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory reveals that recently abstinent methamphetamine abusers who reported they avoided harmful situations had higher resting metabolic rates in a part of the brain responsible for making decisions and modifying behaviors than those with low harm-avoidance scores. Loneliness linked to high blood pressure in aging adults 22 May 2007 - University of Chicago Loneliness is a major risk factor in increasing blood pressure in older Americans, and could increase the risk of death from stroke and heart disease, new research at the University of Chicago shows. Scientists provide new evidence for cellular cause of SIDS 22 May 2007 - University of Chicago University of Chicago researchers and colleagues have found strong support that a disturbance of a specific neurochemical can lead to sudden infant death syndrome, the primary cause of death before age 1 in the United States. Approximately 3,000 infants die each year from SIDS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most human-chimp differences due to gene regulation—not genes 22 May 2007 - University of Chicago The vast differences between humans and chimpanzees are due more to changes in gene regulation than differences in individual genes themselves, researchers from Yale, the University of Chicago, and the Hall Institute in Parkville, Victoria, Australia, argue an issue of the journal Nature. Scientists model the dynamics of DNA transcription 22 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory In a collaboration with colleagues at Harvard Medical School, University of California researchers working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a model and diagnostic tools to simulate the dynamics of DNA. The work is an important step towards beginning to decipher the genetic information contained in the human genome and could be a significant leap in our understanding of the fundamental processes of life. Giving voice to young Americans 22 May 2007 - University of Southern California Pop and Politics joins USC Annenberg, relaunching with a new look, focus on “Content Democracy” and education of voters in key demographic. New tools and resources for young voters to participate in local and national elections have been unveiled with the relaunch of PopandPolitics.com Mailbag, Age old questions 21 May 2007 - University of Southern California My compliments to Eric Niiler for his excellent article on Caleb Finch’s investigation of aging. Finch’s inventive thinking that challenges accepted scientific beliefs is the essence of the scientific method. Mapping the evolution of a virus 21 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory A University of California scientist working at Los Alamos National Laboratory with collaborators from the University of Cambridge (England) and the World Health Organization National Influenza Center at Erasmus Medical Center, (Rotterdam, Netherlands) have developed a computer modeling method for mapping the evolution of the influenza virus. Los Alamos computers probe how giant planets formed 21 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Nearly five billion years ago, the giant gaseous planets Jupiter and Saturn formed, apparently in radically different ways. So says a scientist at the University of California's Los Alamos National Laboratory who created exhaustive computer models based on experiments in which the element hydrogen was shocked to pressures nearly as great as those found inside the two planets. Gender equality leads to better sex lives among people 40 and over 21 May 2007 - University of Chicago Older couples who live in Western countries and who enjoy more equality between men and women are most likely to report being satisfied with their sex lives, according to a new study on sexual well-being, aging and health that was conducted in 29 countries by a University of Chicago research team. Study: vegan diets healthier for planet, people than meat diets 21 May 2007 - University of Chicago The food that people eat is just as important as what kind of cars they drive when it comes to creating the greenhouse-gas emissions that many scientists have linked to global warming, according to a report accepted for publication in an issue of the journal Earth Interactions. Newly found species fills evolutionary gap between fish and land animals 21 May 2007 - University of Chicago Paleontologists have discovered fossils of a species that provides the missing evolutionary link between fish and the first animals that walked out of water onto land about 375 million years ago. The newly found species, Tiktaalik roseae, has a skull, a neck, ribs and parts of the limbs that are similar to four-legged animals known as tetrapods, as well as fish-like features such as a primitive jaw, fins and scales. Researchers explore unusual properties of low-resistance nanowire systems 21 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Molecular wires are seen by scientists as one key to producing ever-smaller and faster electronic circuits and switches, like those used in computers and complex electronic devices. Scientists develop technique to determine molecular structure of heterogeneous surfaces 21 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists have refined a technique that uses the very intense light emitted by the National Synchrotron Light Source at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory to determine the structure of chemically heterogeneous surfaces with a submillimeter resolution. Brookhaven scientists describe new statistical approach to predicting Raindrop formation 21 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory How do raindrops form? Physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have proposed a new theory to explain how drizzle forms in warm rain clouds. Scientists image soft tissues with new X-Ray technique 20 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, in collaboration with researchers at Rush Medical College, have demonstrated the effectiveness of a novel x-ray imaging technology to visualize soft tissues of the human foot that are not visible with conventional x-rays. The technique, called Diffraction Enhanced Imaging, provides all of the information imparted by conventional x-rays as well as detailed information on soft tissues previously accessible only with additional scanning methods such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging. Dependent channel structure reveals masterpiece responsible for all nerve, muscle activity 20 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists studying the tiny devices, called voltage-dependent ion channels, that are responsible for all nerve and muscle signals in living organisms for 50 years have been working like a bunch of blindfolded art critics. Could yield biosensors with greater sensitivity, specificity 20 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists at Hebrew University, Israel, in collaboration with researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, have devised a way to use gold nanoparticles as tiny electrical wires to plug enzymes into electrodes. The gold “nanoplugs” help align the molecules for optimal binding and provide a conductive pathway for the flow of electrons. Galaxy evolution in cyber universe matches astronomical observations in fine detail 20 May 2007 - University of Chicago These three images from a supercomputer simulation of the evolution of the universe show a cubic volume of outer space measuring approximately 280 million light years across. The images portray, from top to bottom, the universe 470 million years, 2.1 billion years, and 13.4 billion years (the present) after the big bang. Simulations forecast favorable conditions for verifying Einstein predictions 20 May 2007 - University of Chicago A wispy collection of atoms and molecules fuels the vast cosmic maelstroms produced by colliding galaxies and merging supermassive black holes, according to some of the most advanced supercomputer simulations ever conducted on this topic. Women attracted to men when they see interest in children reflected in their faces 20 May 2007 - University of Chicago Women are able to subconsciously pick up cues of interest in children in men’s faces and use those cues to determine if they are attracted to them for long-term relationships, according to new research at the University of Chicago and the University of California, Santa Barbara. RAD and MRO-TEK set the standard with 350,000 miles of network connectivity in India 20 May 2007 - RAD Data Communications Ltd RAD Data Communications, together with MRO-TEK Limited, its India partner, mark a historic milestone at the end of December when the 350,000th mile supported by RAD products was added to India's telecommunications network. At the same time, RAD's worldwide installed base of telecommunications access products passed the 10 million mark. RAD and MRO-TEK set the standard with 350,000 miles of network connectivity in India 20 May 2007 - RAD Data Communications Ltd RAD Data Communications, together with MRO-TEK Limited, its India partner, mark a historic milestone at the end of December when the 350,000th mile supported by RAD products was added to India's telecommunications network. At the same time, RAD's worldwide installed base of telecommunications access products passed the 10 million mark. Los Alamos experts' book explores advances in reconfigurable computing 20 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory The field of computing has been transformed by the concept of widgets called Field Programmable Gate Arrays, integrated circuits combining logic and memory, that can process digital information. Los Alamos developing new eclipse-based tools for high-performance parallel computers 20 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Eclipse Foundation today announced the Parallel Tools Platform Project, a new Eclipse Technology project aimed at creating better open source software tools for parallel computers. Los Alamos will lead the project and will collaborate with institutions and companies worldwide to develop an open source platform that will enable their products to operate on a wide range of parallel computing platforms. Optical fibers and a theory of things that go bump in the light 20 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a theory describing light pulse dynamics in optical fibers that explains how an interplay of noise, line imperfections and pulse collisions lead to the deterioration of information in optical fiber lines. Study of genetic traits makes progress 20 May 2007 - University of Southern California A team of researchers examines genetic variations of the diverse population in India. The work will help them analyze a range of common diseases in Asian Indians. Study finds better-educated older adults had greater declines in word memory than less-educated peers 19 May 2007 - University of Southern California Study director Eileen Crimmins said she wouldn’t recommend halting any schooling based on the results. The findings, published in the current issue of Research on Aging, suggest that after age 70, educated adults may begin to lose the ability to use their schooling to compensate for normal, age-related memory loss. Los Alamos shows path to nanocrystal quantum dot lasers 19 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have demonstrated that nanoscale semiconductor particles called 'nanocrystal quantum dots' offer the necessary performance for efficient emission of laser light. New computer model to track contaminants 19 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory A powerful new massively parallel computer model for studying subsurface processes in the Earth will be developed by a team of Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists because of a recently awarded $4 million U.S. Department of Energy grant. Funding of a new space payload which dramatically increases on-orbit computational capabilities 19 May 2007 - DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos National Laboratory today announced funding of a new space payload which dramatically increases on-orbit computational capabilities. The project is jointly sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Nonproliferation Research and Development, and the U.S. Department of Defense. Researchers map out networks that determine cell fate 19 May 2007 - University of Chicago A two-step process appears to regulate cell fate decisions for many types of developing cells, according to researchers from the University of Chicago. This finding sheds light on a puzzling behavior. For some differentiating stem cells, the first step leads not to a final decision but to a new choice. In response to the initial chemical signal, these cells take on the genetic signatures of two different cell types. It often requires a second signal for them to commit to a single cellular identity. People unconsciously use 'verbal gestures' when they speak 19 May 2007 - University of Chicago University of Chicago scientists have determined that people spontaneously use a system of communicating when they speak that either reinforces their message or provides additional information that is not conveyed by words alone. Dubbed “analog acoustic expression,” this uninvestigated form of communication is described as a sort of verbal gesturing. Brain-computer link lets paralyzed patients convert thoughts into actions 19 May 2007 - University of Chicago A multi-institutional team of researchers has found that even those with long-standing, severe paralysis can generate signals in the area of the brain responsible for voluntary movement and these signals can be detected, recorded, routed out of the brain to a computer and converted into actions, enabling a paralyzed patient to perform basic tasks. Scientists develop recyclable catalyst for solvent-free reactions 19 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Chemists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a catalyst that achieves complete conversion of reactants to products and can easily be recovered and reused with no waste. Findings intensify search for new form of matter 19 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory The latest results from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, the world’s most powerful facility for nuclear physics research, strengthen scientists’ confidence that RHIC collisions of gold ions have created unusual conditions and that they are on the right path to discover a form of matter called the quark-gluon plasma, believed to have existed in the first microseconds after the birth of the universe. Scientists demonstrate new way to control chemical reactions 19 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope to selectively “tweak” the vibrations of individual molecules, scientists have demonstrated a new way to directly influence the outcome of chemical reactions. The ability to exert such control may one day allow scientists to eliminate unwanted byproducts or selectively produce end products with potential commercial value. Brookhaven Lab and Argonne Lab scientists invent a plasma valve 19 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory have received U.S. patent number 6,528,948 for a device that shuts off airflow into a vacuum about one million times faster than mechanical valves or shutters that are currently in use. The new device, called a plasma valve, was developed through research funded by DOE’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences in the Office of Science. Brookhaven Lab & Battelle collaborate on biological research that may lead to novel anti-microbial drugs 19 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory The U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory and Battelle of Columbus, Ohio, have joined together in a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to determine the structures of microbial proteins, research that may lead to the design of novel anti-microbial drugs. Nanoscale model catalyst paves way toward atomic-level understanding 18 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory In an attempt to understand why ruthenium sulfide is so good at removing sulfur impurities from fuels, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have succeeded in making a model of this catalyst, nanoparticles supported on an inert surface, which can be studied under laboratory conditions. Imaging study reveals effect of smoking on peripheral organs 18 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, who previously found reduced levels of the enzyme monoamine oxidase B in the brains of smokers, now provide compelling evidence that MAO in peripheral organs, the kidneys, heart, lungs, and spleen, is also affected by smoking. This crucial enzyme breaks down neurotransmitters and dietary amines, and too much or too little MAO B can adversely affect health and even personality. Brookhaven Researchers develop counterterror technologies 18 May 2007 - DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory are developing counterterrorism technologies to help protect the United States from would-be terrorists wielding nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, toxic chemicals, or explosives. For super-obese patients, duodenal switch beats gastric bypass 18 May 2007 - University of Chicago In the first large, single-institution series directly comparing weight-loss outcomes in super-obese patients, researchers from the University of Chicago found that a newer operation, the duodenal switch, produced substantially better weight-loss outcomes than the standard operation, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Study adds to links between sleep loss and diabetes 18 May 2007 - University of Chicago Short or poor quality sleep is associated with reduced control of bl