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Saturday, May 17, 2014

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News


Herpes-loaded stem cells used to kill brain tumors

Posted: 16 May 2014 05:33 PM PDT

A potential solution for how to more effectively kill tumor cells using cancer-killing viruses has been discovered by researchers. The investigators report that trapping virus-loaded stem cells in a gel and applying them to tumors significantly improved survival in mice with glioblastoma multiform, the most common brain tumor in human adults and also the most difficult to treat.

Fast and curious: Electrons hurtle into the interior of a new class of quantum materials

Posted: 16 May 2014 08:09 AM PDT

Scientists have made a step forward in developing a new class of materials that could be used in future technologies. They have discovered a new quantum effect that enables electrons -- the negative-charge-carrying particles that make today's electronic devices possible -- to dash through the interior of these materials with very little resistance.

Between Roquefort and Camembert: Multiple recent gene transfers

Posted: 16 May 2014 07:29 AM PDT

In the paste of Roquefort and on the surface of Camembert, the microscopic filamentous fungi Penicillium roqueforti and Penicillium camembertii are responsible for the formation of a greenish-blue mould in the former case and a so-called "bloom" in the latter. Sequencing of the genomes of these two fungi has recently, and surprisingly, shown that these genomes contain more than 250 strictly identical genes, thus indicating a transfer of genes between these two species. This type of event, until now little described in eukaryotes, may therefore be much more common than previously thought.

Snubbing lion hunters could preserve the endangered animals

Posted: 14 May 2014 12:32 PM PDT

A change in longstanding cultural practice in Tanzania is saving some endangered lions from being killed by hunters. For hundreds of years young men from some ethnic groups in Tanzania, called "lion dancers" because they elaborately acted out their lion killing for spectators, were richly rewarded for killing lions that preyed on livestock and people. Now when a lion dancer shows up he might be called a rude name rather than receive a reward.

Unassuming rampant polluters on two wheels: Small mopeds cause more air pollution than cars

Posted: 13 May 2014 08:33 AM PDT

Not cars or trucks, but mopeds with their two-stroke engines are the main source of fine particles and other air contaminants in many towns in Asia, Africa and southern Europe. The reasons for the high emissions are the combustion properties in two-stroke engines and the overly lenient emission requirements for small two-wheelers.

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