Alcohol raises risk of cancer

A pint of beer, a large glass of wine or a few spirits a day increases the risk of bowel cancer by 18% and increases the risk of liver cancer by 20%.

There is also evidence that drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer concerning the breast,mouth, larynx,oesophagus and pharynx.

Seaweed powered cars

Oban-based scientists have been given a £5million grant to investigate ways of possibly converting seaweeds like kelp and algae into fuel.

New malaria vaccine trial successfull

A trial to test the RTS,S vaccine,being developed by Glaxosmithkline, suggests that it reduces malaria cases by 53% in 5-17 month-old babies.

Murray's river mouth turns corrosive

The wetlands at the mouth of the Murray river in Australia have developed a yellow crust of sideronite which is as corrosive as battery acid.

Falling water in Lakes Albert and Alexandrina have exposed Iron Sulphide rich soil to the air,leading tothe production of 240,000 tonnes of sulphuric acid which dissolves aluminium,arsenic,lead and zinc which could contaminate water supplies, it is feared.

Ivf, breast cancer, waistlines and mortaliy

A study of over 25,000 women suggests that fertility treatment doesn't increase the risk of breast cancer.

Waistlines and mortality.

A study of more than 350,00 people suggest that women with a waistline of 100cm(39in) and men with a waistline of 120cm(47in) respectively, were twice as likely to die prematurely as those with waistlines of 65cm(25in) and 31in(80cm).

Researchers believe that excess fat releases hormones and compounds that increase the risk of cancer and heart conditions.

I think I might stick to quiches and weight watchers in future

Vitamin pill may slow Alzheimer's Disease

A trial will begin in the new year of high doses of a form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide after trials with genetically modified mice suggested that the vitamin may protect against effects of Alzheimer's.

Patagonian tree fungus produces fuel-like substances

The fungus called Gliocladium roseum grows inside the ulmo tree(Eucryphia cordifolia) tree in Northern Patagonia, Argentina.

The fungus produces hydrocarbon molecules that are almost identifical to fossil fuels.

Further research is needed.

Lithium may slow motor neurone disease

A trial involving giving daily lithium pills to more than 200 motor neurone disease suffers will start in january 2009, lasting 18 months, to see if those taking the pills live longer.

Suffers including Stephen Hawking,the physicist.

Metal contamination in Wine

Tests on white and red wine from 15 countries have revealed potentially hazardous levels of metal ions in such wines, with wines from Hungary and Slovakia being the most contaminated.

Wines from Argentina,Brazil and Italy were the least contaminated.

Such levels could lead to Parkinson's.

Drug gives new hope to multiple sclerosis suffers

Doctors at Cambridge University have done a three-year trial of a drug called alemtuzumab on over 300 MS patients.



Those given the drug,a synthetic antibody developed at Cambridge 30 years ago, were 74% less likely to relapse, were 71% less likely to be disabled in three years time,but also showed fewer signs of disability.

The drug also seemed to promote brain repairs.

Fans may reduce cot deaths

A study suggests that fans reduces the risk of cot deaths/sudden infant death syndrome(Sids) by 72%.

Alternatively, you could open a window.

Beast cancer vaccine a possibility

Professor Valerie Beral who lead the Million Women Study into the causes of breast cancer believes that a breast cancer vaccine is possible.

The study shows that many breast cancer are caused by lack of hormonal changes caused by childbirth and breastfeeding.

Under-15s shouldn't drink alcohol

It appears that `early drinking' leads to alcohol problems.

One theory is that fast changes in teengers' brains means that alcohol affects long-term development, causing alcohol problems.

The chief medical officer has launched a 5-point plan for parents to help them.

Alcohol can damage the prefrontal and hippocampus areas of a teenager's brain.

Paracetamol shouldn't be given to children

Analysis of data on 200,000 children suggests that giving paracetamol to young chilren may increase the risk ot those children developing asthma,eczema and hay fever

Doctor linked to AIDS deniers loses libel case

Dr Matthias Rath, who claimed that his nutritional supplements could cure AIDS,cancer and other ilnesses, has losed a libel case against the Guardian and may have to pay £220,000.

It is said that because of his activities saying antiretrovirals were toxic and useless,some people have died sooner than they would have.

Low birth weight linked to depression

Schoolchildren who were underweight at birth are more likely to suffer anxiety, depression and be more withdrawn during school years, according to a study in the US journal Archives of General Psychiatry of over 800 children in Detroit, Michigan.

Health abstracts 27 August 2007

Doctors should look at the family history of hose with high cholesterol in order to track down those with the familial hypercholesterol gene(FH).

50% of men with this gene will die before they reach 50 years old, and 30% of women with the gene will die before 60.

There are an estimated 110,000 people with this gene.

Those with the gene ideally shouldn't smoke and have an appropiate diet.

Statins may also be prescribed.

A fifth of Ayurvedic medicines avaible on the internet contain arsenic ,lead or mercury, according to reseachers who analysed randomly chosen 193 products from various websites and tested them for metals.

A new drug called Lucentis has been approved for use to prevent people with age-related wet macular degeneration.

It could save the NHS a lot of money long term because suffiers need a lot of expensive care.

An aspirin a day may keep ill health at bay

Researchers have calculated the ideal age for a daily dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attacks,heart disease and strokes which cause 208,000 deaths a year in the UK.
It is 47 for males and 57 for females.

Aspirin can also reduce the risk of dementia.

2.5 million-years-old mastodon found in Romania

A 2.5 million-year-old skeleton of a mastodon was found by miners at a coal mine in a village called Racosul de Sus approxiately 100 miles northwest of Bucharest.
About 90% of tthe skeleton was intact,digging it out of the ground will take about 2 months.

It will then be displayed in the Baraolt museum after research has been done on the remains.

Seaweed gel could save heart attack victims

A gel made from seaweed ,including kelp, is injected in liquid form via the groin into the part of the heart where the heart attack has occured,its helps to build a scaffold in the affected area preventing further damage.

If new human trials are successful, the product could be avaible by 2011, possibly saving as many as 20,000 lives a year.

Vitamin C jabs reduced tumour growth

Studies are going to be carried out to see if cancer patients should be given vitamin C along with normal drugs after research suggested vitamin C jabs dramatically increase survival levels.

High doses of Vitamin C injected into the bloodstream of mice reduced aggressive brain,ovarian and pancreatic tumour growth by between 41-53%..

However,it may not be a panacea.

New Alzheimer's drug gives hope

A new drug called rember appears to slow cognitive decline by 81%, it work by acting on a brain protein called tau which becomes entangled and causes brain cell eath in people wih dementia.

Research suggests rember reduces tau tangles.

angiotensin receptor blockers and dementia

People taking angiotensin receptor blockers may have up to a 40% less chance of having Alzheimer's, slowing the progression of the disease,cutting admission to nursing homes and deaths.

There are plans to examine medical records of about 3 million people to confirm whether these drugs' effects are genuine.

It is possible that these drugs protect nerve cells in the brain.

Walking can help keep diabetes under control

Diabetics with type 2 diabetes who walk an extra 45 minutes or an extra 4,000 more footsteps a day improved their body's ability to store sugar in muscles and burn fat.

Drug gives hope to men with prostate cancer

Abiraterone disables an enzyme that produces testosterone and other hormones that encourage tumour growth.

In a study of 8 men, in 5 men, the tumours shrank, levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood fell 30% in most of the 8 men.

If a future study is successfull,Abiraterone should be avaible in about two years time.

Soya-based food may damage male fertility

A study has found a connection between eating more than two portions of soya-based foods a week and male infertility, such men had on average 41m fewer sperm per millilitre of semen than men who don't eat soya-based products.

Soya-based products can be found in biscuits,bread,pasta and sweets.

Soya-based foods are probably not a good idea for those with low sperm counts.

Climate change and kidney stones

Temperatures rises could increase the number of people who get kidney stones the US by about 2 million.

It is recommended people should drink more waer.

Breast self-examination doing more harm than good

Doctors have raised oubts about self-exasmination after a study of over 388,000 women found that there was no evidence that self-examination reduced deaths from breast cancer.

Those who self-examined had twice the number of biopsies, but no reduction in the death rate from breast cancer.

Women shouldn't eat too many nuts during pregnancy

Scientists have warned that eating a lot of nuts during pregnancy might increase the child's chances of having asthma later on in life.

The study involved over 4,000 pregnant women, asking about their daily intake of fruit,veg,fish,eggs,nilk and nuts during last month of pregnancy.

Children aged 8,whose mothers had consumed nut,or products like peanut butter daily during pregnancy were 47% more likely to have asthma,42% more likely to have wheezing, and 52% more likely to have shortness of breath.

Flatfish missing links found

Modern flatfish eyes are asymmetrically placed whereas ancient flatfish had symmetrically placed eyes.

Now intermediate forms have been found in fossils,one called Amphistium,the other Heteronectes.

In these fossils,the eyes were slightly asymmetrically placed.

Fertility news;10 July 2008

Doctors have warned that obese men should lose weight after research linked a fall in sperm quality to obesity.

In a study,records of over 2000 men with details of their body mass index attending Aberdeen Fertility Centre were examined.

Obese men produced 60% less seminal fluid and 40% higher levels of abnormal sperm than men with a healthy BMI.

Diabetes can also damage fertility.

Researchers in Brazil are looking into whether stem cells from human teeth is possible.

Some people however believe it is unlikely to work.

Travellers to Africa carrying deadly form of malaria back to Britain

Many travellers to Africa, often africans themselves are not taking antimalarial pills,believing that having malaria in their early years, meant they were immune to malaria

This misconception can be fatal, leading to up to 16 deaths a year in Britain.

Shunk smokers more at risk of psychosis

A study suggests that shunk,a more powerful form of cannabis, is 18 times more likely to psychosis in those who smoke it.

This may be because recently shunk has contained 16-18% THC(Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol,a chemical which is held responible for psychotic symptoms.

Enangeered species could be dying out 100 times faster than feared

Some scientists have warned that methods used to predict which species will become extinct are seriously flawed, underestimating the speed of extinction which some species face,which could be months instead of years.

These scientists say that mathematical models failed to take into account such factors as male tofemale ratio and differences in individual reproductive success, these factors can increase the risks of extinction.

gas used in flat-screen tv linked to global warming

A chemical called nitrogen trifluoride used to make flat-screen tvs may be contributing to greenhouse emissions, so Michael Prather of the University of California has warned .

It is potentially 17,000 more potent than carbon dioxide, and if all were released into the atmosphere, equivalent to 67 million tonnes of CO2.

Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology says they used pure fluoride, zero greenhouse gas emissions are claimed.

Pregnant women shouldn't eat junk food, study suggests

The study was carried out on rats.

The study suggests that baby rats whose mothers eat junk food are more at risk of being overweight and prefer to eat junk food.

The baby rats were also more at risk of heart disease and diabetes.

White blood cells could be linked to lifespan

Researchers from the University of Palermo took samples from 45 people aged 75-90 years old who had parent born in Sicily 1900-1908.

Those who had parents that lived over the average age for italians before dieing had more naive B-cells, a type of white blood cells, than those whose parents died before reaching average age of dieing.

Perhaps having more of those type of white blood cells wards off infection in old age,making it more likely fior such a person to live longer.

Risks of fungal inhalination during gardening

A 47 year old man has died from aspergillosis, after inhaling aspergillus fumigatus spores,after opening bags containing rotting plant parts.

A cloud of dust developed as a result.

Face masks might be a good idea.

Endangered British Birds

Black grouse, blackbirds, bullfinches, greenfinches, grey partridge, linnets, ptarmigans and song thrushes may possibly go extinct, according to a study published today

Pedestrian generated power

Generators under supermarket stores floors or railway platforms could soon be installed, powered by pedestrian's footsteps.

Feet compressing pads,which in turn drive fluid through mini-turbines,generating electricity that is stored in batteries.

The first place this might be installed is the Spinnaker Tower,Portsmouth.

I wonder if it would save money.

Alcohol reduces risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

A study suggests that tthe heavier the drinker, the less likely you are to get rheumatoid arthritis.

Two different studies ,with over 2,700 people found that drinking had a protective effect against arthritis, even if you smoke or had a genetic disposition to arthritis.

Those with the highest intake were 50% less likely to get arthritis than those who drank the least.

Hay fever vaccine developed

A company called Allergy Therapeutics, based in Worhing, Sussex has developed a hay fever vaccine called Pollinex Quattro.

Usually, a hay fever patient had to have vaccine shots weekly for about six months, and other shots for about three years.

The new vaccine has 13 different grass pollen extracts treated so they don't overwhelm the immune system, the pollen extracts being combined with tyrosin, which releases the vaccine slowly into the immune system.

A molecule called MPL(monophosphoryl lipid)(MPL is also used in cervical cancer vaccine) is also added,which helps boost the immune system's response to the new vaccine.

Of volunters who took part in trials of the new vaccine 13% reeported improved symptoms compared to those taking a placebo.

Wipes may be spreading infections around hospitals

Researchers believe that wipes bleached witth antibacterials or disinfectants may be spreading infection including MRSA around hospital wards.

It has been suggested that wipes should be thrown away after being used on a small area.

Honeybees can understand other honeybee species dances

Honeybees can communicate and learn to interpret dance moves by honeeybees from other continents, researchers have found.

The nine honeybees species in the world separated about 30million years ago

One of the most most important dances is the waggle dance, which tells other honeybees where to look for nectar.

Two different hives of european and asian honeybees were established and video footage taken to see how their waggle dances differed.

If the bees danced with head upwards, it meant fly towards the sun,head downward meant away from sun.

In European honeybees, a 1.5 second dance meant 600 metres to food, to asian honeybees it meant 400 metres.

Scientists found that asian honeybees could evidiently work out that the european honeybees waggle dance meant a different distance.

Cannabis and shrinking brains

Research using magnetic resonance imaging to do brain scans of regular cannabis smokers found
that such individuals had a 12% smaller hippocampus and a 7% smaller amygala.

A bigger study is needed to confirm this.

Vaccine against glioblastoma muliforme developed

Research suggests that patients who received the vaccine lived on average three years longer than whose who didn't receive the vaccine.

The vaccine contains a protein found on about 50% of tumours.

The vaccine causes the immune system to destroy cancer cells in the brain.

Further research is going to be carried out.

Breastfeeding and girls

Research suggests that beastfeeding protects girls from severe chest infections, but there is no such protective effect in boys.

Premature girls were 8 times less likely to have chest infections if they were breastfed..

Bacterial infections linked to cot death

Researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital have found that infants with an explained cause of death were more likely to have a bacterial infections like Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli than those who died of something else.

There is no proof however.

Lead linked to crime levels

Research suggests that exposure to lead during childhood leads to criminal behaviour in later life.

Lead is known to interfere with children's brain development.

Researchers tested blood from 250 pregnant women 1979-1984 in Cincinati, Ohio, they found the higher the level of lead per litre of blood, the higher the rate of arrest.

380 million year old fossilised embryo found

The embryo with a fossilised umbilical cord, was found in the Gogo formation in Western Australia.

The embryo was of a type of fish called placoderms.

azhdarchids hunted prey on foot.

Research suggests that azhdarchids , a type of pterosaur which lived about 63-230 million years ago , whose wing span could exceed 32t(10 metres) hunted prey on foot, this conclusion is based on fossil location and footprints.

Nasa probe lands on Mars

A Nasa probe landed in the Vastitas Borealis area near the north pole of Mars yesterday.

It has cameras onboard which send back pictures to Earth.

The Phoenix mission cost $420 million and will last about 3 months.

It is hoped that water,ice and soil samples will hopeully be obtained beneath the martian surface and then analysed for organic materials.

There is also a weather station onboard.

Its batteries are replenished by light.

Carbon nanotubes could have similiar health risks as asbestos

Researchers have said that carbon nanotubes could be a cancer risk like asbestos.

Products like car part panels,tennis rackets, yachts masts and bike frames.

It is feared that demolishing these products or putting them in landfill sites could expose people to the risk of cancer.

Workers involved in its manufacture could also be at risk.

55 million years old fossilied parrot found in Denmark

A humerus bone from a 55 million years old parrot was found in a quarry on the Isle of Mors, Jutland.

Called Mopsitta tanta, it didn't have a hooked bill like other parrots.

At the time, a tropical lagoon existed in Denmark.

Doner kebabs can be very unhealthy.

Some doner kebabs had over 100gs of fat.

Eating two of these kebabs a week could lead to a heart attack in 10 years time.

Deep vein thrombosis9DVT) can be triggered by air pollution

Researchers have found that living in an area with 25% higher particulate pollution than the average for huge European cities increases the possibility of getting DVT by 75%.

Stone Age diet possibly best for health

A study suggests that a Palaeolithic diet of berries, nuts,lean meat,fish and vegetables, no cereal killing, no dairy products or refined sugar leads to an average 2.3 kg weight loss,slimmer waistlines and lower blood pressure.

They were also lowered levels of a blood-clotting agent associated with heart attacks and strokes.

When I went to Tesco today(MAY 13 2008), I deceied to buy raspberries and lean meat from the delicessien.

I believe I may have a slightly slimmer waist since I started.

My carer has noticed that I seem to have become a bit thinner since taking up my semi-palaeolithic diet

Cow's milk infant formula bad for health.

A study suggests having dairy products early in life increases diabetes risk.

It is possible that beta-lactoglubin, a protein which doesn't appear in human milk, causes babies to produce antibodies to attack glycodelin.

This could lead to Type 1 diabetes.

Smokers health improves when they give up smoking

A study of more than 100,000 people has found that people who gave up smoking reduced their risk of death by 13% in about 5 years, whereas by 20 years, such people had zero risk from heir past smoking.

Long legged people at less risk of dementia

Every extra inch on a woman's leg reduces the risk of dementia by 16%.

Every extra inch on a man's arm reduces the risk of dementia by 6%.

Breastfed children have higher IQs

Breastfed children by the age of almost 7 scored almost 6 points higher in IQ tests, so a study in Belarus suggests.

Autism linked to parent's mental illness

A child is 70% more likely to have autism if one or more parents have had a mental illness.

There may be a genetic connection.

About 1% of children are autistic.

Polypill may be avaible soon.

If taken by all over-55s, it could possibly prevent 100,ooo premature deaths a year.
It comprises of 3 blood pressure lowering medicines and folic acid.

The pills will be manufracted by Cipla in India.

Daily aspirin dose may reduce breast cancer risk

A daily dose of aspirin may reduce the risk of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer by 16%, so a study of over 126,000 women suggests.

It may work by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase,which lowers the level of oestrogen in the body.

Arsenic in baby food increases cancer risk

Arsenic in some rice-make baby foods is six times the amount of arsenic allowed in water.

Exposure to arsenic can cause lung and bladder cancer.

Researchers say it is better to use rice from California or Andalucia in Spain with lower arsenic levels.

Osteoporosis drug may increase risk of heart conditions

A study suggests that Fosamax aka alendronate increases the chances of having an irregular heartbeat by 86%.

Other researchers however dispute these findings.

Some blood transfusions are bad

Studies have shown that blood transfusion, especially red blood cells ones, are associated with higher mortality rates among patients that had have heart attacks, heart surgery or are in critical care.

Heart attack patients who received blood transfusions were more likely to either die orhave a second heart attack in the 30 days after a transfusion.

Chemical changes in stored blood have been changed.

H5N1 Vaccine

6,000 health workers in Japan will be vaccinated.

Millions of vaccinne doses have been stockpiled.

Woman's diet affects sex of baby

What a woman eats a year before pregnancy can influence a baby's sex.
Eating cereal every day, a fair amount of sodium, calcium and protein increases a woman's chances of having a boy.

`Bionic' eyes

Two men have had `bionic' eyes fitted at a cost of £15,000.
The `bionic' eyes could be in common use in about 3 years time.
The eye has a video camera with electrodes connected to the optic nerves.

Lungless frog found in Borneo,Indonesia

Called Barbourula Kalimantanensis,it lives in streams and breathes through its skin.
Its habitat is threatened by logging etc etc.

Darwin online project

The project,base in Cambridge aims to put manuscripts(60,000 ofthem!),photographs etc etc online.

Smoking,Drinking and Alzheimer's

A study suggests drinkers developed Alzheimers 5 years earlier.
Heavy smokers developed Alzheimers 2 years earlier.
It is reckoned that delaying the onset of Alzheimer's by 5 years would reduce cases by 50%.

World's oldest trees possibly found

A group of Norway spruces have been discovered in the mountains of West Sweden, of which one of the trees is about 8,000 years old, according to carbon dating.

Two similiar trees in Dalarna are between 4,000 and 6,000 years old.

Locality is Fulu mountain

Drug that protects cells from radiation

A single dose of CBLB502 was given to mice and monkeys by researchers before radiotherapy, which dramaically reduced damage to cells.

This drug works by stopping apoptosis.

Survival rates for mice and monkeys respectively were 87% and 70% respecively

Organic waste in bins may be health hazard

Studies suggest that mould spores develop as the organic materials decays, spores can fly out as you lift the bin lid.

These can damage the lungs,causing asthma.

Facemasks are recommenced.

Pregnant women, alcohol and autism

A study suggests that children damaged by their mother's drinking during pregnancy are more likely to have autism.
IT APPEARS THAT THEY IS POSSIBLY NO SAFE LEVEL OF DRINKING DURING PREGNANCY.

Folic acid increases chance of being a father

A study suggests that men who have a high level of folic acid in their diets have a lower proportion of sperm with aneuploidy, genetic changes that leads to Down's Syndrome and miscarriages.

Yak cheese is healthiest.

Yak cheese has higher levels of healthy fats such as conjugated lindeic and omega-3 fatty acids.
This is because of the type of diet that yaks have.
It has been suggested that yaks could be put to pasture at higher altitude as a cash cattle.

Parents should prevent teenagers from binge drinking

The Lancet says parents and guardians should teach children about drinking safely.
It appears 27% of British 15-year-olds drank 5 alcoholic drinks in a row.

Gene therapy success

A team of scientists injected modified HIV which by infecting cells elivered a gene which makes a protein called CRAG which destroys the genetic ault which causes spinocerebellar ataxia.

Pygmy human remains found in Pacific

Bones dating from about 2000 BC to about AD1 have been found in two limestone caves(
Ucheliungs and omedohel) in Palau, Micronesia.
One theory is that envirenmental facors,such as lack of food caused the inhabitants to shrink in size.
Another theory is that it is children's bones.

High blood pressure vaccine developed

The vaccine works by targeting angiotensin 2, a hormone which causes tightening of the blood veins.
33% of British adults have high blood pressure.
A company,cytos biotechnology has been formed to market this vaccine.

Transport tickets should give carbon impact

The Institue of Mechanical Engineers says plane and train tickets should state the carbon emissions released on every journeys.
Carbon emissions for a London-Glasgow journey by air are about 133kg,by train about 46kg.
85% of carbon emmissions are from road traffic.

Hobbit debate takes heated turn

Some australian researchers have suggested tha the hobbit(Homo Floriensis)was a human who suffered from a congenital thyroid deficienty that causes cretinism , a form of dwarfism.

These researchers researchers believe the hobbit's diet was low in iodine and selenium.
However other scientists have dismissed the idea.

G spot may exist.

Doctors at the university of L'Aquila in Italy claimed to have found evidence that the G spot actually exists.
Women who appear to have a G spot produce chemicals such as PDES that trigger male erections.
The G spot is believed to cause female orgasms.
In women who experience an orgasm, the tissue between the vagina and urethrea was thicker.

Stroke victims and stem cell injections

Such injections could be given to stroke patients in about 5 years.
Experiments have shown that stem cells divide into different kinds of brain cells.
In Britain,one person has a stroke every 5 minutes.

Infant diet linked to adult IQ

A study suggests that a high nutrient(formula milk with high fat,protein and micronutrional elements), by the time boys given tthis diet reached the age of 8, their verbal IQ was 12 points higher than those in the non high-protein diet.

Brighton Science festival;2008

Held 23 February-2 March 2008.

details www.BrightonScience.com
telephone 01273 777628

New fossil pterosaur found in China

The fossil was found near Tianchiang in Liaoing Province.

This pterosaur called nemicolopterus crypticus lived inland and had feet similiar to some birds as well as being toothless.

Sweetener linked to obesity

Saccharin causes animals to eat for longer,as well as affecting metabolism.

Europe to launch space telescope

Named after a 18th-century British astronomer called Herschel,it will have ability to look at 13 billion year old stars.

Knee brace energy

A knee brace that produces energy as you walk has been invented.

It is a bit bulky,however.

Folic acid and pregnancy

Taking folic acid,a form of vitamin B9, a year before pregnancy cuts premature births by 70%, potientially saving 1000s of lives every year.

It has been suggested that folic acid should be added to flour and bread.

Hot water and baby bottles don't mix

Hot water appears to increase the release of bisphenol A by 55%.
The Bisphenol A leaks out of the polycarbonate plastic.

Shoes may have been worn 40,000 years ago

The shape and bone density of toe bones from Tianyuan cave near Beijing, China suggests the person whom the toe bones belonged to ,wore shoes.

fossilied Skull found in China

Found in the Xuchang area of Henan province, the skull is believed to be 80,000-100,000 years old.

It supposedly has a fossilised brain membrane.

Repairing damaged hearts with stem cells injection

60 patients with the worst prognosis will be recruited and will be injected with stem cells extracted from their bone marrow.

230,000 people die from heart attacks in the UK.

Pregnant women and caffeine

A study has concluded that pregnant women who drunk 2 or more mugs of coffee had a 25% chance of miscarriage.

Tea, chocolate or cola drinks also have risks.

A recent study has linked caffeine intake of over 200mg a day with small babies.

It is also recommended tha mothers should abstain rom cafeine during first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

New uacari monkey species found

Found in he Pico de Neblina area in north-western Amazonia on the Brazil-Venezuala border, it has been called cacajao ayresii after Marcio Ayres,pioneer of studies on uacaris.

Longer legs considered more attractive

Legs which are 5% longer than the average leg were preferred more.

Shorter legs are associated wih heart problems and type II diabetes.

Scientists create beating heart

This involved stripping existing cells from a dead heart leaving only a protein skeleton, then live `progenitor' cells from newborn rats hearts were used which grow it into a new heart.

This takes about 8 days.

22 million people in the world are at risk of heart disease.

Statins for diabetics

Diabetics who took statins over a period of 4 years were 9% less likely to die.

Heart attacks and strokes also dropped by a fifth.

Scibx Science-Business Exchange

This new publication seeks to convert or connect scientific discoveries into a commercial success.

Published by Nature publishing Group.

Caribbean coral reefs harmed by human activity

They have suffered damage from excessive fishing and agricultural run-off as well as rising sea temperatures.

The value of these coral reefs has been put at $4billion , providing benefits such as fishing, tourism and coastal protection against storms.

Moderate drinking is healthy for you.

A 20 year study of almost 12,000 has reached the conclusion that moderate drinkers have a 30% lower risk of heart disease than nondrinkers.

Combining moderate drinking with regular exercise reduces the risk by between 40-50% compared to teetotal couch potatoes.

Energy Islands

The concept is each `island' has a ocean thermal energy conversion plant(OTEC) which would create energy from the temperature differential between surface water and deep sea water, there would also be wind turbines and solar power.

They might also grow their own food.

Health Abstracts;9 January 2008

Tiny amounts of nitrogylerine are being used to treat pre-eclampsia in pregant women at a hospital in Canada.

Honey coated dressing seem to cure MRSA infected wounds.

The risk of throat and mouth cancer is cut by eating vegetables, especially green beans and peas, so a study of 400,000 people suggests.

Science Jobs;7 January 2008

Nature are looking for editors etc

Cost are also looking for staff

details at http://www.cost.esf.org/

Traffic fumes may damage children's brains.

Researchers from Harvard university studied 200 children from Boston and found that IQ scores of children in polluted area were 3 points lower than those in cleaner areas even after allowing for socio-ecomomic factors.

It is known that in animals, particles from traffic fumes can go along the olfactory nerve from nose to brain where particles can cause brain tissue inflammation.

Damage like that seen in Alzheimer's disease patients has been seen in dogs in heavily polluted areas of Mexico City.

Deaths from flu run in the family.

A study from the university of utah looking at 5,000 deaths from flu suggests that blood relatives of flu victims were more likely to die from flu.

Siblings of flu victims were 74% more likely than unrelated persons to die from flu.

This suggests that there is a genetic reason for this.

3 new species of salamanders found in Central America

Found near the Costa Rica-Panama Border, the 3 species are only centrimetres long.

Biofuels could have greater enviremental effect

Often growing crops to make biofuels like sugar cane or soya ethanol involves destroying tropical forest, including those in the Amazon.

Not a lot of thought has gone into the problem.

Smoking may harm teenage brains

Nicotine binds to receptors in the brain concerning neural development.
This changes the white matter in the maturing brain, especially those relating to the auditory process.

Plants that lock away Carbon

One way to tackle greenhouse gases may be to grow plants that lock away carbon.
Grasses such as wheat, sugar cane or sorghum lock up large amounts of carbon in phytoliths,also known as plantstone.
Farmers could get carbon credits for growing such crops.