Article Archive

Article archive

Electrons can spin and dance

Watching a crystal of bismuth metal in a powerful magnetic field, researchers discovered new states of electrons that behave like light.

Fighting typhoid fever

Scientists have set their sites on typhoid fever and are now using next-generation DNA sequencing technology improve diagnosis, track disease spread and possibly design vaccines.

Disarming a possible biological weapon

Francisella tularensis is a potential biological weapon and the cause of tularemia, a fatal disease. Recently, studying the pathogen has seen a surge.

Evolution Canyon reveals bacterial adaptation

Bacteria living on opposite sides of a canyon have evolved to cope with different temperatures by altering the make-up of their 'skin', or cell membranes.

Advance in pre-eclampsia understanding

Recent mice studies have shed light on pre-eclampsia, a serious and potentially deadly disorder that affects some pregnancies.

Receptor blockers prevent onset of Alzheimer's

Angiotensin receptor blockers, a class of anti-hypertensive medicines, has been linked with a striking decrease in the occurrence and progression of dementia.

Directional semiconductor lasers a reality

Highly directional semiconductor lasers were recently demonstrated in the laboratory, opening the door to a wide range of applications in photonics and communications.

Gallbladder removal without incision

Surgeons have performed a gallbladder removal without having to make a single external incision, reducing pain, speeding recovery, and minimising visible scarring.

Amphibian immunity findings

Researchers characterised genetic variation and detected more than one MHC class II locus in a tailed amphibian.

Gene-expression profiling

Gene-expression data from liver tissue or whole blood can be used to classify histopathologic differences in the effects of hepatotoxins.

Image of the Day: The Alpine newt

The Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris) is the only known tailed amphibian with more than one Major Histocompatibility Complex II locus.

Cell-specific gene delivery

Researchers from Northwestern University and Texas A & M University have discovered a new way to limit gene transfer and expression to specific tissues in animals.

Leukamia drug treats stroke

The drug tPA is the most effective treatment currently available for stroke patients, but its safety is limited to use within the first three hours following the onset of symptoms.

Drug reverses mental retardation

UCLA researchers discovered that an FDA-approved drug reverses the brain dysfunction inflicted by a genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis complex.

New heart stem cell source

Researchers have pinpointed a new, previously unrecognised group of stem cells that give rise to cardiomyocytes, or heart muscle cells.

Unlocking dog diversity

Dogs vary in size, shape, colour, coat length and behaviour more than any other animal and until now, this variance has largely been unexplained.

Helping the elderly sleep

UCLA researchers report that practising tai chi chih, the Westernised version of a 2,000-year-old Chinese martial art, promotes sleep quality in older adults.

Turmeric fights diabetes

Turmeric, an Asian spice found in many curries, has a long history of use in reducing inflammation, healing wounds and relieving pain, but can it prevent diabetes?

Grief tied to pleasure in brain

Scientists at UCLA suggest that such long-term or "complicated" grief activates neurons in the reward centres of the brain, possibly giving these memories addiction-like properties.

Proof selfish gene exists

A new discovery by a scientist from The University of Western Ontario provides conclusive evidence supporting decades-old evolutionary doctrines.

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