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Pentagon to Create Synthetic Organisms With Molecular Kill Switch
2/7/2010 8:34:33 PM
Tired of waiting for the randomness of natural evolutionary advancement,
the Pentagon has decided to take matters into its own hands: military scientists will create synthetic organisms
that can live forever. But don't fear — they can be killed with a molecular kill-switch. What could go wrong?
Drinking Beer Could Help Prevent Weak Bones
2/7/2010 8:24:09 PM
Beer is a rich source of a nutrient that can help prevent weak bones — but it depends what type you drink, claim researchers at University of California, Davis, today. As one of the nation's favourite tipples, beer is a rich source of dietary silicon, which can help cut the chance of developing diseases like osteoporosis, they conclude. However, not all beers are the same, with those containing malted barley and hops having higher silicon content than beers made from wheat
Plasma Jets Could Replace Dental Drills
2/7/2010 8:13:53 PM
A new study shows that bacteria-killing jets of plasma could soon replace the drills used to treat cavities in our teeth, making visits to the dentist's office a bit less nerve-racking. Plasma is the fourth state of matter, after solids, liquids and gases. It is formed when gases are energised to the point where electrons fly off some or all of their atoms. Researchers recently demonstrated that a small, blowtorch-like device emitting a relatively cool beam of purple plasma can eliminate oral bacteria in cavities, leaving more tooth structure intact than a drill does
PayPal's India Transaction Block Could Last Months
2/6/2010 8:37:24 PM
Online payments service PayPal says its suspension of certain transactions in India could last months. In a post on PayPal's blog Tuesday, spokesman Anuj Nayar wrote that the company will keep blocking personal payments to and from India as it works out questions that Indian regulators have posed. The payments were initially suspended 28 January, after regulators questioned whether PayPal payments should be regulated like wire transfers of cash. However, local bank withdrawals, which had also been suspended, should be available within a few days, Nayar said
In Europe, Challenges for Google
2/6/2010 8:26:56 PM
Google has a problem in China. But it may have bigger headaches in Europe. On issues as varied as privacy, copyright protection and the dominance of Google's Internet search engine, the company is clashing with lawmakers, regulators and consumer advocates. And the fights are escalating across Western Europe. The stakes are high — potentially higher for Google than anything that happens in China — because Google's operations in Europe are so much larger and more lucrative. In Britain alone, Google has roughly 10 times its estimated sales in China. Across most of the Continent, Google is by far the most popular search engine, with a substantially larger market share over its rivals than it has over those in the United States. Google's border-straddling scale and its brash ambitions raise alarms with some European politicians