Nuclear magnetic resonance aids in drug design

Nuclear magnetic resonance aids in drug design: "(University of Notre Dame) A new study by a team of researchers led by Jeffrey Peng, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, is using Nuclear Magnetic Imaging, to move drug design into groundbreaking consideration of the dynamic flexibility of drugs and their targets."

12 Events That Will Change Everything (preview)

12 Events That Will Change Everything (preview): "

The best science transforms our conception of the universe and our place in it and helps us to understand and cope with changes beyond our control. Relativity, natural selection, germ theory, heliocentrism and other explanations of natural phenomena have remade our intellectual and cultural landscapes. The same holds true for inventions as diverse as the Internet, formal logic, agriculture and the wheel.

What dramatic new events are in store for humanity? Here we contemplate 12 possibilities and rate their likelihood of happening by 2050. Some will no doubt bring to mind long-standing dystopian visions: extinction-causing asteroid collisions, war-waging intelligent machines, Frankenstein’s monster. Yet the best thinking today suggests that many events will not unfold as expected. In fact, a scenario could be seen as sobering and disappointing to one person and curious and uplifting to another. One thing is certain: they all have the power to forever reshape how we think about ourselves and how we live our lives. [More]"

'Google Flu Trends' Found to be Nearly On Par With CDC Surveillance Data

'Google Flu Trends' Found to be Nearly On Par With CDC Surveillance Data: "

Seasonal flu epidemics account for as many as half a million deaths worldwide each year. And the rapid spread of new strains can cause many more (the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic alone killed more than 16,000 people, according to the World Health Organization ). Quickly detecting a regional rise in flu-like symptoms such as coughs, sore throats or high fevers can help public health officials take steps to dampen the impact. However, it can take days--even weeks--for trends spotted in clinics to be reported more broadly. [More]"

All Species Evolved From Single Cell, Study Finds

All Species Evolved From Single Cell, Study Finds: "Creationism is 'an absolutely horrible hypothesis,' says the author of a new study of the statistical probability of a universal common ancestor. "

NYU, Nanjing U. chemists create DNA assembly line

NYU, Nanjing U. chemists create DNA assembly line: "(New York University) Chemists at New York University and China's Nanjing University have created a DNA assembly line that has the potential to create novel materials efficiently on the nanoscale."

Super Slo-Mo Frog Video Reveals Jumping Secrets

Super Slo-Mo Frog Video Reveals Jumping Secrets: "Watch mesmerizing video that's helping unlock secrets of jumping frogs, some of which can leap more than ten times their lengths. Video."

Colossal Squid a Soft, Sluggish Drifter

Colossal Squid a Soft, Sluggish Drifter: "Perseus would have nothing to fear from this kraken-like sea beast: The squid's energy needs suggest it's just a slow, aimless drifter."

Black holes -- gas blowers of the Universe

Black holes -- gas blowers of the Universe: "(Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) Gravity monsters expel gas not only from their host galaxies but even from the space inside galaxy groups."

Mutant Mosquitoes Not Repelled by DEET

Mutant Mosquitoes Not Repelled by DEET: "The popular bug-repelling chemical has lost its power against some disease-carrying mosquitoes, a new study says. But experts caution it's not time to panic just yet. "

Genomics goes beyond DNA sequence

Genomics goes beyond DNA sequence: "

By Alla Katsnelson

What makes two individuals different? Biologists now know that the genome sequence holds only a small part of the answer, and that key elements of development and disease are controlled by the epigenome--a set of chemical modifications, not encoded in DNA, that orchestrate how and when genes are expressed. [More]"

Quantum mechanics reveals new details of deep earth

Quantum mechanics reveals new details of deep earth: "(Ohio State University) Scientists have used quantum mechanics to reveal that the most common mineral on Earth is relatively uncommon deep within the planet. Using several of the largest supercomputers in the nation, a team of physicists led by Ohio State University has been able to simulate the behavior of silica in a high-temperature, high-pressure form that is particularly difficult to study firsthand in the lab."

Neanderthals, Humans Interbred—First Solid DNA Evidence

Neanderthals, Humans Interbred—First Solid DNA Evidence: "Turns out most of us have a little Neanderthal in us, according to the first solid DNA evidence for Neanderthal-human interspecies sex."

Whatever Happened to the Ozone Hole?

Whatever Happened to the Ozone Hole?: "Twenty-five years later, the lingering 'hole' over Antarctica is close to closing—but that may not be entirely a good thing. "

Gulf Oil Spill Fight Turns to Chemicals

Gulf Oil Spill Fight Turns to Chemicals: "Responders are deploying huge amounts of oil dispersant to limit onshore damage from the Gulf of Mexico, but the chemicals don’t make oil disappear.