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Watching a cannibal galaxy dine

November 20, 2009

Centaurus A (NGC 5128) is the nearest giant, elliptical galaxy, at a distance of about 11 million light-years. One of the most studied objects in the southern sky, by 1847 the unique appearance of this galaxy had already caught the attention of the famous British astronomer John Herschel, who catalogued the southern skies and made a comprehensive list of nebulae.

Flax and yellow flowers can produce bioethanol

November 20, 2009

Surplus biomass from the production of flax shives, and generated from Brassica carinata, a yellow-flowered plant related to those which engulf fields in spring, can be used to produce bioethanol. This has been suggested by two studies carried out by Spanish and Dutch researchers and published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

Greater certainty in monitoring 3 therapeutic medications is facilitated by new CRMs

November 18, 2009

Rockville, Md., November 18, 2009 -- To help bring greater certainty to the measurement of medication levels in a patient's bloodstream for three drugs with narrow therapeutic ranges, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is releasing new certified reference materials (CRMs).

Ticking stellar time bomb identified

November 17, 2009

"One of the major problems in modern astrophysics is the fact that we still do not know exactly what kinds of stellar system explode as a Type Ia supernova," says Patrick Woudt, from the University of Cape Town and lead author of the paper reporting the results.

Counterfeit euros are detected with an optical mouse

November 17, 2009

The sensor of some optical mice can be used to easily and cheaply detect counterfeit euros, according to a study published by researchers of the University of Lleida (UdL) in the scientific journal Sensors. Almost 80% of counterfeit coins discovered in Europe in 2008 were two-euro coins.

Statement of ESHRE on the European Commission proposal of viral screening

November 16, 2009

With 900,000 assisted reproduction treatments annually such as IVF and intrauterine inseminations in Europe the Commission's proposal to screen both partners before each treatment could lead to costs of over EUR 140 million annually.

Early cooling in cardiac arrest may improve survival

November 15, 2009

Rapidly cooling a person in cardiac arrest may improve their chance of survival without brain damage, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2009.

"We now have a method that is safe and can be started within minutes of cardiac arrest to minimize damage during this very critical period," said Maaret Castrén, M.D., lead author of the study and

Largest gene study of childhood IBD identifies 5 new genes

November 15, 2009

In the largest, most comprehensive genetic analysis of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an international research team has identified five new gene regions, including one involved in a biological pathway that helps drive the painful inflammation of the digestive tract that characterizes the disease.

Rosetta bound for outer Solar System after final Earth swingby

November 13, 2009

Rosetta passed over the ocean, just South of the Indonesian island of Java, at exactly 08:45:40 CET, at a speed of 13.34 km/s with respect to Earth an an altitude of 2481 km. The swingby was pre-planned and fully automated, and the spacecraft was in direct communication with Earth at the time, via the ESa New Norcia Station.

ESA spacecraft may help unravel cosmic mystery

November 12, 2009

When Europe's comet chaser Rosetta swings by Earth tomorrow for a critical gravity assist, tracking data will be collected to precisely measure the satellite's change in orbital energy.

US and European experts applaud new transatlantic task force on antibiotic resistance threat

November 6, 2009

Experts on both sides of the Atlantic applaud President Barack Obama and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, representing the European Union (EU) Presidency, for establishing a transatlantic tas

Carnegie Mellon researchers link health-care debate to risk of dying in US and Europe

November 6, 2009

PITTSBURGH -- The current health care debate in the United States is complicated.

Does prostate-specific antigen velocity help in early detection prostate cancer?

November 5, 2009

Arnhem, November 2009 -- The November issue of European Urology, the official journal of the European Association of Urology, features an article focussing on prostate specific antigen (PSA

Are the Alps growing or shrinking?

November 5, 2009

The Alps are growing just as quickly in height, as they are shrinking. This paradoxical result could be proven by a group of German and Swiss geoscientists.

Carnegie Mellon researchers receive grant

November 5, 2009

PITTSBURGH -- Carnegie Mellon University's Lucio Soibelman, H. Scott Matthews and Jose M.F.



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