While researchers are calling for studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins for reducing influenza-associated deaths, one such study is just getting underway, largely on volunteerism and shoestring funding. Read more
The UK government has told its independent advisor on drug abuse to resign after he again called for a more scientific approach to drugs. Read more
The words Russia and nuclear always stoke the fires of hacks who hark back to the cold war. But this time the finger hovering over the red button will be launching a rocket to Mars, rather than a missile to end civilisation.
So news that Russia is planning a nuclear-powered rocket to get men to Mars (and back again?) has got widespread attention. The report comes from Russian news agency RIA Novosti who have a short account of Roscosmos head Anatoly Perminov’s address to a meeting of the commission on the modernization of the Russian economy. The spacecraft is still being designed, Perminov is reported as saying, with final plans finished by 2012. The cost will be at least 17 billion rubles, or $580 million.
A parachute failure has left a serious dent in part of the Ares 1-X rocket that NASA test fired on Wednesday.
Although NASA announced the launch as a success, it seems one of three parachutes meant to ensure a stage of the booster rocket drifted slowly back down failed. Although the chute deployed correctly, it later deflated.
Legendary guitarist Toni Iommi is undergoing stem cell therapy in an attempt to keep him rocking.
On October 20th he told a BBC radio show, “I’ve had this problem with my hand and I’ve had this stem-cell treatment on it. The joints [were] rubbing on the joints. It was bone to bone and it was getting a bit painful.”
NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden isn’t afraid let feelings and emotions reign at NASA. Speaking at a NASA Advisory Council meeting on Thursday at Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, Bolden choked up after viewing a short clip of the Ares 1-X test launch. “You don’t launch a new rocket every day,” he said, his voice breaking. “That was very special to me.” It’s not the first time that Bolden’s emotions have gotten the best of him. NASA’s Captain Kirk is clearly different from former administrator Mike Griffin, who once referred to himself as Spock. Read more
Aerosols make methane more potent
Air pollution linked more closely to climate concerns.
Amphibians rarely give earliest warning of pollution
Long-standing ‘canary in the coal mine’ role questioned.
The conventional wisdom these days is that governments should put more money into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. But a new study suggests that better education does not more scientists make.
Earlier this month it looked like the UK government had abandoned plans to keep the DNA of innocent people on its massive police database.
The European Court of Human Rights has already said that data on innocent people should not be retained. Now, however, leaked emails indicate that the government will try to keep hold of their DNA for six years…
GlaxoSmithKline has announced a rosy set of third-quarter financial figures, and is going to be boosted by the ongoing H1N1 outbreak.
The company says it expects further growth in the fourth quarter “including significant sales of influenza products”.
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Experiments reveal that crabs and lobsters feel pain
US research ethics agency upholds decision on informed consent
Chemistry credit disputes under the spotlight
Chemistry credit disputes under the spotlight
Contamination created controversial ‘acid-induced’ stem cells