Cost of preventable diseases over next ten years

almost 390 million people now living will die from preventable diseases such as heart disease, stroke or diabetes etc over the next ten years.

The cost in lost productivity in that period of time in China, India and the UK alone is almost $850 billion.

Unhealthly eating,lack of exercise, smoking and drinking are implicated in this hidden health crisis.

Fossilised sea scorpion claw found in Germany

This was found in a quarry near Prum, Germany,the claws was 18ins long which suggests the sea scorpion was 2.5 metres long

Stem cells created from skin cells

Two different teams have created embryonic stem cells by returning skin cells to their embryonic state by getting four genes into skin cells.

Gene Therapy for Parkinson's found to work

A GM virus was injected into patients' brains.

This dampens down overactive nerve cells.

Abnormal brain circuits worked healthily.

One patient movements improved 65%.

Converting blood groups into another blood group.

The idea is to convert A, AB and B blood types into type O which is the universial donor type using bacteria.

It might be avaible by 2009.

Meterites could have carried life to Earth

Scientists launched a `meterite' from a satellite which had fossilized bacteria in it.

The conclusion is a right sized meterite could carry life to Earth and survive the descent.

Such a theory is called pansperia.

GM plants with omega-3

A EU study has suggested that GM plants with omega-3 genes could be the only way for people to get enough omega-3.
Omega-3 protects against heart disease and has other health advantages.

Chocolate waste biodiesel

Half a litre of chocolate with the help of a blender, saucepan, electric hob plus methanol and potassium hydroxide can be converted into bioethanol in about 20 minutes.

This was demonstrated by the managing director of Ecotec Fuel plant in Prestion, Lancashire, England.

New dinosaur species found

A dislabeled dinosaur bone in the basement of the Natural History Museum in London has turned out to be a new species of dinosaur.

Called Xenoposeidon proneneuku,itl ived 140 million years ago, it was a type of sauropod

(The museum holds 90 million fossils, some of which may be mislabeled)

Home testing kits for illnesses in ten years time?

The idea is based on the fact that human body organs release 100s of different proteins into the bloodstream.
Approxiametly 50 proteins are unique to each organs.
Alterations in these proteins can indicate disease.

Omega-3 diet lessens risk of dementia

Such a diet reduces risk of dementia by 60%, a study of 8,000 people suggests.

Fruit and vegetable eaters have a 30% less risk of dementia.

Chocolate drunk about 3,000 years ago.

Chocolate drinks were drunk as far back as 1150BC, s0 dating of pieces of pottery suggests.
Chemical analysis of the pottery discovered at Puerto Escondido, Honduras revealed theobromine,found only in cacao plants.

US National institues of health and epigenetics

The NIH is looking for epigenetics project proposals,the deadline is March 2008.

The NIH intends to spend $191 million on such projects.

Organic milk said to keep allergies at bay

A study has suggested that mothers who drink organic milk while pregnant or breastfeeding their children help their chilren beat some allergies.

The same appears to be true if children eat organic foods.

Why Vitamin D is vital for health

Low levels of vitamin D are linked to diseases like cancer.

A study seems to show vitamin D slows the ageing process.

Vitamin D also seems to control immune responces.

Breastfeeding,heart disease and IQ

People who were breastfed as chilren had a lower than average BMI and higher levels of `good' cholestrol.

Another study found breastfed children with a C version of a gene called FADS2 had higher IQ.

New gene linked to arthritis

This gene is thought to be connected to a gene called TNAIF13.

New type of wild pig found in Brazil

Called the giant Peccary,it lives in the Amazonian rainforest.
It only eats fruit.

Herpes virus linked to Alzheimer's disease

Researchers infected cultured human brain cells with HSV-1 and found increased levels of amyloid beta protein,linked to plaque in Alzheimer's.

People with a gene called ApoE4 appear to be more at risk of both HSV-1 and Alzheimer's.

Pre-eclampsia may be connected with heart trouble

Researchers looked at 25 studies covering 3 million women.

Such women had a higher risk of heart disease,stroke or blood clots later in life.

Natureevents Directory 2008

I believe this directory will list conferences etc etc

natureevents.com gives more detail

Solar power generation in Space

It is theorized that by 2050 that there will be solar panels in space beaming solar power to earth.

Colville Permafrost Tunnel fossils

A tunnel was blasted into a fossil bed in northern Alaska in order to get at dinosaur bones.

The efforts may apppear on TV.