Signs of the Future

People entering their 60s may have more disabilities today than in prior generations (PhysOrg)

iw — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:18:54 +0000

In a development that could have significant ramifications for the nation’s health care system, Baby Boomers may well be entering their 60s suffering far more disabilities than their counterparts did in previous generations, according to a new UCLA study. The findings, researchers say, may be due in part to changing American demographics…. Read more

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Scientists Hope To Re-Grow Human Breasts (CBS4 Miami)

iw — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:18:46 +0000

Tests carried out on pigs have given Australian scientists hope that they will be able to re-grow women’s breasts lost to cancer…. Read more

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We may be seeing Harry Potter’s invisibility suit sooner than we think (Daily Mail)

iw — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:18:37 +0000

Although the cloaks may sound like something from Harry Potter, researchers in London were today given the go-ahead for a £4.9 million project to create a real invisibility suit…. Read more

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Microbial menagerie: Junk food binge alters community of microbes in the gut in less than a day (PhysOrg)

iw — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:45:59 +0000

Switching from a low-fat, plant-based diet to one high in fat and sugar alters the collection of microbes living in the gut in less than a day, with obesity-linked microbes suddenly thriving, according to new research at the School of Medicine. The study was based on transplants of human intestinal microbes into germ-free mice…. Read more

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Trimming US health care spending will require new approaches, study finds (PhysOrg)

iw — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:45:22 +0000

Slowing the growth in U.S. health care spending will most likely require adoption of an array of strategies as well as an improved approach to moving promising strategies into widespread use, according to a new analysis by the RAND Corporation…. Read more

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UN says hunger stunts some 200 million children (PhysOrg)

iw — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:44:47 +0000

Nearly 200 million children in poor countries have stunted growth because they don’t get enough to eat, according to a new report published by UNICEF before a three-day international summit on the problem of world hunger…. Read more

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Energy-saving powder: Converting methane to methanol (PhysOrg)

iw — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:44:32 +0000

It is currently estimated that natural gas resources will be exhausted in 130 years; however, those reserves where extraction is cost-effective will only flow for another 60 years or so…. Read more

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Poor nations vow low-carbon path (BBC)

iw — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:44:14 +0000

Poor countries vulnerable to climate change plot a low-carbon future and challenge richer states to match them. … Read more

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E. coli used to plumb pipe leaks (the Engineer)

iw — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:43:52 +0000

A group of students from Aberdeen University have shown that certain strains of E.coli can be used to automatically mend leaking pipes…. Read more

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Digital cloud plan for city skies (BBC)

iw — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:43:34 +0000

A giant "digital cloud" that would "float" above London’s skyline is outlined by an international team of architects and designers…. Read more

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