Fast Quantum Computer Building Block Created

The fastest quantum computer bit that exploits the main advantage of the qubit over the conventional bit has been demonstrated. The scientists used lasers to create an initialized quantum state of this solid-state qubit at rates of about a gigahertz, or a billion times per second. They can also use lasers to achieve fundamental steps toward programming it.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Healthy People And Enhancement Drugs

Healthy people are more willing to take drugs to enhance traits that are not fundamental to their identity. People's willingness to take a pill or drug depends on whether the trait the drug promises to enhance is one they consider fundamental.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

A New Biopesticide For The Organic Food Boom

With the boom in consumption of organic foods creating a pressing need for natural insecticides and herbicides that can be used on crops certified as "organic," biopesticide pioneer Pam G. Marrone is reporting development of a new "green" pesticide obtained from an extract of the giant knotweed. The research will be reported in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Converting Sunlight To Cheaper Energy

Scientists are working to convert sunlight to cheap electricity. They are working with new materials that can make devices used for converting sunlight to electricity cheaper and more efficient.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Key Allergy Gene Discovered

Scientists have pinpointed a major gene for allergic diseases. In genetically susceptible individuals the immune system becomes biased and produces IgE antibodies against harmless agents such as pollen, dust mites or animal hair. These IgE antibodies then work in conjunction with certain cells to get rid of the allergens, a process that gives rise to the symptoms of allergy such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever), atopic dermatitis or asthma.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Anti-tumor Effects Are Enhanced By Inhibiting Two Pathways Rather Than One

Two independent research groups have found that simultaneous inhibition of two signaling pathways -- mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways -- results in substantially enhanced antitumor effects when compared with inhibition of either pathway alone in mouse models of prostate and breast cancer.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 3:00 pm

Archaeologists Lift Lid On Rare Roman Find

Archaeologists in the UK have discovered two rare Roman stone sarcophagi. The 1800-year-old sandstone coffins were uncovered at a dig on the site of former chapel and office buildings in Newcastle upon Tyne They are the first such find -- and arguably the most impressive -- in the area for more than 100 years.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 12:00 pm

Alternative Vaccine Strategy Shows Promise In Prostate Cancer Patients

New research indicates that giving patients a continuous low dose of an immune system booster, a method known as metronomic dosing, as part of a therapeutic prostate cancer vaccine strategy is safe and produces similar immune responses and fewer side effects than the more common dosing method, which is not well tolerated by many patients.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 12:00 pm

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis: New Guidelines Developed For Physicians

Updated rules add new anti-arthritic drugs and proven combinations to the arsenal for treating rheumatoid arthritis. The RA guidelines, issued by the American College of Rheumatology, are the first update since 2002. They focus on several classes of anti-arthritic drugs, including disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and genetically engineered biologics.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 12:00 pm

Tiny Cellular Antennae Trigger Neural Stem Cells

Scientists report evidence suggesting that the tiny cilia found on brain cells of mammals, thought to be vestiges of a primeval past, actually play a critical role in relaying molecular signals that spur creation of neurons in an area of the brain involved in mood, learning and memory.
Source: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 12:00 pm

Bigelow Aerospace Advances Work on Full-scale Space Habitat

Bigelow Aerospace is pushing to get a habitable space module launched.
Source: Livescience.com | 25 Aug 2008 | 10:43 am

Photo Shows Stars Born in Huge Cosmic Wombs

A new infrared image reveals how hefty stars trigger stellar newborns.
Source: Livescience.com | 25 Aug 2008 | 10:43 am

Sky survey yields new cosmic haul

Astronomers uncover a haul of new objects in our Solar System - including an unusual icy object.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 25 Aug 2008 | 10:22 am

The Nation's Weather (AP)

National Summary: The remnants of Tropical Storm Fay will continue to produce widespread rain and thunderstorms for the Gulf Coast and into the Southeast. A large high pressure will keep the Great Lakes and Plains dry, while the Northwest will get wet.AP - The remains of tropical storm Fay were expected to continue to drench the Southeast on Monday with the storm center remaining relatively stationary. Fay's rains were to soak some of the most drought ridden locations in the Southeast, helping refill the region's dwindling water supply.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 9:17 am

Fay weakens to depression after drenching Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Fay was downgraded to a tropical depression late on Saturday after making a record fourth landfall in Florida and drenching the state's northern panhandle with heavy rainfall.


Source: Reuters: Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 5:35 am

Three pandas born during final weekend of Olympics: reports (AFP)

A giant panda at Beijing Zoo. Three giant pandas have been born in southwest China, bringing the total number of new arrivals of the endangered species this year to at least 19(AFP/Peter Parks)AFP - Three giant pandas have been born in southwest China, bringing the total number of new arrivals of the endangered species this year to at least 19, state media reported.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 4:24 am

US-Russia chill threatens NASA space program (AFP)

A Soyuz spacecraft blasts off. The chill left on US-Russian relations by Moscow's military incursion into Georgia could spell problems for future US access to the International Space Station, US experts said. NASA will become dependent on flights to the ISS by Russia's Soyuz spacecraft when it retires the shuttle fleet that has long ferried US astronauts into space in 2010.(AFP/File/Alexander Nemenov)AFP - The chill left on US-Russian relations by Moscow's military incursion into Georgia could spell problems for future US access to the International Space Station, US experts said.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 4:06 am

Small Packages Trick People to Eat More (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - If you think buying junk food in small packages will help you eat less, look out -marketers know the truth.
Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 25 Aug 2008 | 1:51 am

Aggressive TB treatment 'success'

Tuberculosis which is resistant to many treatments can be overcome with aggressive therapy, research suggests.
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 24 Aug 2008 | 11:21 pm

Tropical storm Julio hits Mexico's Baja California

LOS CABOS (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Julio drenched Mexico's Baja California on Sunday and hundreds of residents fled poor neighborhoods that were in danger of flooding near the popular tourist resort of Los Cabos.


Source: Reuters: Science News | 24 Aug 2008 | 11:18 pm

Specialists question decision not to fund drugs for kidney cancer

Advisory body says treatment is too expensive but doctors say they have got their sums wrong
Source: guardian.co.uk Science | 24 Aug 2008 | 11:09 pm

First mass U.S. crossing for hydrogen cars completed (Reuters)

A hydrogen refueling station is pictured in Burbank, California June 11, 2008. (Fred Prouser - UNITED STATES/Reuters)Reuters - Hydrogen fuel cell cars from nine automakers completed a 13-day cross-country trip this weekend, in the first such mass U.S. crossing for vehicles powered by a zero-emission technology still in its infancy.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 24 Aug 2008 | 10:16 pm

Alpine archive

Melting glaciers reveal the lives of ancient humans
Source: BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition | 24 Aug 2008 | 9:37 pm

Gene found for rare and deadly childhood cancer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers have found a gene that causes most inherited forms of neuroblastoma, a rare and deadly form of childhood cancer, and say the discovery points to new treatments.


Source: Reuters: Science News | 24 Aug 2008 | 5:06 pm

Small Packages Trick People to Eat More

If you think buying junk food in small packages will help you eat less, look out.
Source: Livescience.com | 24 Aug 2008 | 2:55 pm

QinetiQ says it has broken unmanned flight record (AP)

Undated handout photo issued by QinetiQ of QinetiQ's Zephyr solar powered high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). in flight in Arizona made available Sunday Aug. 24, 2008. The ultra-lightweight plane built from carbon fiber and powered using paper-thin solar panels has broken the world record for longest-lasting unmanned flight, its manufacturer claimed Sunday. QinetiQ Group PLC said its propeller-driven 'Zephyr' aircraft flew for 83 hours and 37 minutes, more than doubling the official world record set by Northrop Grumman's 'Global Hawk' in 2001. (AP Photo/ QinetiQ/HO)AP - An ultra-lightweight plane built from carbon fiber and powered using paper-thin solar panels has broken the world record for longest-lasting unmanned flight, its manufacturer claimed Sunday.



Source: Yahoo! News: Science News | 24 Aug 2008 | 1:27 pm

Best-laid Plans: Media Beat Obama to the Punch

Democratic presidential candidate got scooped by media on VP announcement.
Source: Livescience.com | 24 Aug 2008 | 12:25 pm