Methadone Breaks Resistance In Untreatable Forms Of Leukemia

Researchers have discovered that methadone, an agent used to break addiction to opioid drugs, has surprising killing power against leukemia cells, including treatment resistant forms of the cancer.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Plant Parasite 'Wiretaps' Host

A parasitic plant that sucks water and nutrients from its plant host also taps into its communications traffic, a new report finds. The research could lead to new ways to combat parasites that attack crop plants.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Fungi Expert Finds New Species In Aberdeen City Centre, Scotland

A leading fungi expert has accidentally stumbled upon a new species in Scotland – as he walked home from work.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Turned-off Cannabinoid Receptor Turns On Colorectal Tumor Growth

New preclinical research shows that cannabinoid cell surface receptor CB1 plays a tumor-suppressing role in human colorectal cancer, scientists report in the Aug. 1 edition of the journal Cancer Research.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

China Becomes A Physics Powerhouse

Judged by the astonishing increase in journal papers written by scientists in China, there can be little doubt that China is finding its place as one of the world's scientific power houses. Michael Banks, Physics World's news editor, quantifies this surge in scientific output from China and asks whether quality matches quantity in August's Physics World.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Smart Contact Lenses Dispense Medication

"Smart" contact lenses that measure pressure within the eye and dispense medication accordingly could be made possible using a new material developed by biomedical engineers at UC Davis.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Science Weekly: Magic, the Brain, and Doping at the Olympics

James Randerson discusses magic, the brain and doping at the Olympics with the help of special guest Julian Savulescu. Plus the exercise drug, and what happens when particle physics meets hip hop.
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 4 Aug 2008 | 12:13 pm

Flu Vaccine May Not Protect Seniors Well

A new study adds fuel to the growing controversy over how well the flu vaccine protects the elderly. The study of more than 3,500 Group Health patients, ages 65 to 94, found no link between flu vaccination and risk of pneumonia during three flu seasons.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 12:00 pm

Cellular Symmetry: What Cues Tell A Cell To Divide At The Center

Cells are intrinsically artistic. When the right signals tell a cell to divide, it usually splits down the middle, resulting in two identical daughter cells. (Stem cells are the exception to the rule.) This natural symmetry is visible on the macroscopic scale as well. All living creatures, be they mushrooms or humans, are visibly symmetric, a product of our cells' preference for equilibrium.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 12:00 pm

Multiple Sclerosis: New MRI Contrast Medium Enables Early Diagnosis In Animal Model

In an animal model of multiple sclerosis, neurologists have been able to visualize inflammatory tissue damage, most of which had remained unrecognized up to now, with the aid of a new contrast medium, Gadofluorine M, in magnetic resonance imaging.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 12:00 pm

Genetically Modified Root Systems Result In Plants That Survive With Little Water

A part of the global food crisis is the inefficiency of current irrigation methods. More irrigated water evaporates than reaches the roots of crops, amounting to an enormous waste of water and energy. A new solution addresses the problem of water loss and promises farmers "more crop per drop."
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 12:00 pm

Light goes out on pioneer machine

The Daresbury Synchrotron Radiation Source is switched off after 28 years of pioneering X-ray science.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 4 Aug 2008 | 11:29 am

Industry Officials Predict Current Procurement Plan Will Delay Galileo

Europe's two big satellite makers urged speeding Galileo satellite system.
Source: Livescience.com | 4 Aug 2008 | 11:15 am

Dark Energy Signs Seen in Giant Clusters and Voids

Scientists have observed dark energy stretching vast regions of the universe called superclusters and supervoids.
Source: Livescience.com | 4 Aug 2008 | 11:15 am

Invasive species bills stuck in Congress (AP)

AP - Tiny foreign mussels assault drinking water sources in California and Nevada. A deadly fish virus spreads swiftly through the Great Lakes and beyond. Japanese shore crabs make a home for themselves in Long Island Sound, more than 6,000 miles away.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 11:10 am

Edouard remaining steady (weather.com)

weather.com -
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 10:06 am

Imperial Energy admits takeover approach after Sinopec report (AFP)

AFP - British oil and gas explorer Imperial Energy said on Monday that it had received a second takeover approach from an unnamed party, reported to be Chinese energy giant Sinopec.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 8:49 am

It's pelican vs. trout in Idaho predator conflict (AP)

AP - A cunning predator that hunts in packs, corners prized game species and devours them whole is angering sportsmen in this eastern Idaho RV hamlet on the Blackfoot Reservoir's wind-whipped shores.

Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 8:43 am

5 Things You Must Know About Sleep (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - You're tired. You could put your head down on a desk right now and fall asleep immediately. You went to bed late last night, had trouble falling asleep and woke up too early. And let's not kid ourselves: Tonight will be the same unless ... well, read on.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 4 Aug 2008 | 1:16 am

Letters: Collective action to save the planet

Letters: Andrew Simms' article was enlightening but his political perspective is flawed and erroneous
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 3 Aug 2008 | 11:05 pm

Say aah: scientists measure the shark bite

At 1.8 tonnes, the great white's chomp is 20 times stronger than that of a human
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 3 Aug 2008 | 11:05 pm

US increases estimate of HIV infections

Government agency study puts number of new infections about 40% higher than previous figures
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 3 Aug 2008 | 11:00 pm

Apocalypse - but not right now. How California stays cool about the Big One

Moderate earthquake is 'teachable moment' in LA's long history of seismic tremors
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 3 Aug 2008 | 11:00 pm

FBI investigates new attacks on Calif. scientists (AP)

AP - The FBI is investigating two bombings that targeted university scientists, the latest in a rash of attacks against biomedical researchers who experiment on animals, authorities say.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 3 Aug 2008 | 9:13 pm

SpaceX launch fails a third time

Engineers investigate why the Falcon 1 rocket, built by private space firm SpaceX, fails to reach orbit for a third time.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 3 Aug 2008 | 3:44 pm

CDC Underestimated New HIV Cases by 40 percent

CDC Underestimated New HIV Cases by 40 percent
Source: Livescience.com | 3 Aug 2008 | 3:37 pm

World's smallest snake is as thin as spaghetti

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists have identified the world's smallest snake -- a reptile about 4 inches long and as thin as spaghetti that was found lurking under a rock on the Caribbean island of Barbados.

Source: Reuters: Science News | 3 Aug 2008 | 3:23 pm

David Albert Jones: What the Catholic church really thinks about medical research

David Albert Jones: There are plenty of people willing to describe the Catholic attitude to medical research, but they're usually wrong
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 3 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

World's Smallest Snake Discovered on Barbados (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - As slim as a spaghetti noodle and able to fit snugly on a U.S. quarter, a new species of snake has been found hiding out in a forest on Barbados. The reptilian runt is now the world's smallest snake.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 3 Aug 2008 | 12:16 pm

World's smallest snake discovered

Scientists describe what they say is the world's smallest snake - a creature just 10cm long and as thin as a spaghetti noodle.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 3 Aug 2008 | 12:16 pm

World's Smallest Snake Discovered on Barbados

The world's smallest snake was discovered on Barbados.
Source: Livescience.com | 3 Aug 2008 | 12:01 pm

Julian Baggini: Is an iPod part of your mind?

Julian Baggini: Is an iPod part of your mind? The question is not as daft as it may sound
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 3 Aug 2008 | 12:00 pm