NEW DELHI, India, February 9 /PRNewswire/ --

Black holes are massive gravitational fields in the universe that result from the collapse of giant stars. Because black holes absorb light, they cannot be studied using telescopes or other instruments that rely on light waves. However, scientists believe they can learn more about black holes by listening for their gravitational waves.

Scientists hope that a new supercomputer being built by Syracuse University's Department of Physics may help them identify the sound of a celestial black hole. The supercomputer, dubbed SUGAR (SU Gravitational and Relativity Cluster), will soon receive massive amounts of data from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) that was collected over a two-year period at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

Gravitational waves are produced by violent events in the distant universe, such as the collision of black holes or explosions of supernovas. The waves radiate across the universe at the speed of light. While Albert Einstein predicted the existence of these waves in 1916 in his general theory of relativity, it has taken decades to develop the technology to detect them.

NEW YORK, February 8 /PRNewswire/ --

- Pace-Setting Company to Showcase Energy-Efficient LED Lamps and Lighting Solutions at Leading Event for Architectural, Retail and Commercial Lighting Professionals

Lighting Science Group Corporation (Lighting Science) (OTC Bulletin Board: LSCG), a global innovator in providing intelligent, pace-setting light-emitting diode (LED) lighting solutions, will exhibit at The ARC Show (booth M28) on Feb. 11-13th, 2008 in London. The company will showcase its range of environmentally sustainable and highly energy-efficient LED lighting solutions which have been featured in leading-edge architectural designs around the world.

MALVERN, Pennsylvania, February 8 /PRNewswire/ --

Safety of patients treated with Myobloc(R) (Botulinum Toxin Type B) Injectable Solution has always been of primary importance for Solstice Neurosciences, Inc. ("Solstice"). We support education and training of physicians in a number of ways regarding the proper use of this product as outlined in the prescribing information.

We maintain a rigorous and routine process for monitoring and reporting any adverse events to regulatory authorities in compliance with all applicable regulations.

The two atoms of an oxygen molecule severed by a metal catalyst usually behave identically, but new research reveals that on a particular catalyst, one oxygen atom plants itself while the other moves away, probably with energy partially stolen from the stationary one.

Scientists from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found this unanticipated behavior while studying how oxygen interacts with reduced titanium oxide surfaces. The chemists are trying to understand how molecular oxygen -- the stuff we breathe -- interacts with metals and metal oxides, which are used as catalysts in a variety of environmental and energy applications.

LONDON, February 8 /PRNewswire/ -- NHS Choices (http://www.nhs.uk), the online 'front door' to the NHS, launches a daily health news service to help people make sense of the stories appearing in the news about medical research.

Behind the headlines, on NHS Choices (http://www.nhs.uk/News/Pages/NewsIndex.aspx), is an evidence-based analysis of health stories that make the news. The service explains the facts behind newspaper headlines and an understanding of the science. It also provides an authoritative resource for General Practitioners, which they can rely on when talking to patients, and a trusted resource for journalists.

Forty years ago, mathematician Mark Kac asked the theoretical question, "Can one hear the shape of a drum?"

If drums of different shapes always produce their own unique sound spectrum, then it should be possible to identify the shape of a specific drum merely by studying its spectrum, thus "hearing" the drum's shape (a procedure analogous to spectroscopy, the way scientists detect the composition of a faraway star by studying its light spectrum).

But what if two drums of different shapes could emit exactly the same sound?

The February issue of Geotimes takes a look at the complicated issues surrounding Iraq’s oil exploration and production.

Though oil prices have doubled and Iraq boasts the largest untapped oil reserves in the world, the instability that comes with war, attacks on infrastructure and outdated technology in Iraq have led to the lowest reserve-to-production ratio of all oil-producing countries.

Currently Iraq produces 2.0 million barrels per day (bpd), down from an average of 2.6 million prior to the invasion in 2003. Exploration and development in Northern Iraq could easily increase production by 100,000 bpd.

A report published in BMC Public Health states that socio-economics and neighborhood have a more powerful influence on sexual activity among 15- and 16-year-olds than the classroom.

A team of researchers analyzed data on nearly 5,000 pupils from 24 different Scottish Schools. They found that overall 42% of girls and 33% of boys reported experience of sexual intercourse, but the rates between schools ranged widely, from 23% to 61%.

Commenting on the value of sex education in schools, lead author Dr. Marion Henderson said, "It would be over-simplifying to interpret these results as suggesting that sex education isn't valuable. The study was looking at effects of school beyond the sex education curricula."