Researchers are describing a long-awaited advance toward applying the marvels of nanotechnology in the battle against cancer. They have developed the first hollow gold nanospheres — smaller than the finest flecks of dust — that search out and "cook" cancer cells. The cancer-destroying nanospheres show particular promise as a minimally invasive future treatment for malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, the researchers say. Melanoma now causes more than 8,000 deaths annually in the United States alone and is on the increase globally.

Researchers in Canada are reporting that proteins found in a common garden pea show promise as a natural food additive or new dietary supplement for fighting high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Those potentially life-threatening conditions affect millions of people worldwide.

The study was presented at the ACS meeting in Salt Lake City and says that peas can relieve symptoms of CKD naturally.

Peas long have been recognized as nutritional superstars, with healthful amounts of protein, dietary fiber, and vitamins wrapped in a low-fat, cholesterol-free package. The new research focuses on the yellow garden pea, a mainstay pea variety enjoyed as a veggie side-dish and used as an ingredient in dozens of recipes around the world. 

Carbohydrates are tough molecules to build because of their complicated, branched structure. So instead of trying to build carbohydrates from scratch, scientists today use molecules isolated from nature, a painstaking process that could take months.

Speaking at the ACS meeting in Salt Lake City, Peter H. Seeberger, Ph.D., described development of an automated carbohydrate synthesizer, a device that builds these intricate molecules in a few hours — rather than the months or years required with existing technology.

If you read Geek Logik,you may have found, at least for a while, that you lost control over your own decision-making ability.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 21 /PRNewswire/ --

On Monday, March 23rd, 2009, humanitarian Greg Mortenson receives Pakistan's highest civil award, Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan) for his sixteen-year effort to promote peace through rural girls' education and literacy, in an official ceremony in Islamabad.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090321/DC87068)

Only three foreigners have received Pakistan's Sitara award.

This is a great honor and humbling, says Greg Mortenson, presently in Kabul, but the real credit goes to the millions of determined teachers, students and the good people of Pakistan, who persevere and aspire to hope through education, despite enormous obstacles.

There is a conversation about evolution that I’m apparently doomed to replay over and over with various family members, friends and acquaintances.

I tell a friend that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming - everywhere in biology you find the signature of evolution; in every little bizzare, unexpected nook of biology you find unmistakeable evidence that all life is related, descended from common ancestors that lived long ago and took forms that were very different from what we observe in today’s organisms. We swim in a deluge of evidence, and I’m baffled that anyone can disregard the pervasive stamp of evolution in nature.

Whoever I’m having this conversation with is equally baffled. How can I look around at the unparalleled complexity of nature, at the amazing adaptations possessed by millions of species, and think that this all came about through an unintelligent process?

Leading statistician Professor David Spiegelhalter claims today that the number of murders in London last year was not out of the ordinary and followed a predictable pattern. Spiegelhalter's report, published today in Significance, the magazine of the Royal Statistical Society, argues that shocking headline numbers are not as surprising as one might think.

Violence in London attracts headlines. After four people were murdered in separate incidents in London on July 10th, 2008, BBC correspondent Andy Tighe said "To have four fatal stabbings in one day could be a statistical freak." But could it? On July 28th thelondonpaper had the front-page headline: "London's murder count reaches 90". But Professor Spiegelhalter states that this number was predictable.

LONDON and NEW YORK, March 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- Beats Google (Gdrive), Microsoft to Market With First Viable Online Storage Solution

UK-based Livedrive has today announced the launch of its revolutionary online storage service.

Livedrive allows customers to store all their files - including office documents, photos, videos and any other type of file online instead of on their computer's hard disk. Andrew Michael, CEO, commented:

60% of people now have more than one computer. With a growing number of people having more than one device - such as a desktop computer, a netbook and PDA - it no longer makes sense to store files individually on each device. People want all their files together in one place that is accessible from any device.

AMSTERDAM, March 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- Gamers Take the Lead in Redesign MMO HUB

AMSTERDAM, March 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- Today MMO Life Celebrates the Launch of the new Design of Their Flagship Portal, http://www.mmohub.org a Game Community Focusing on the Free- to-Play MMORPG and MMO Games.

In addition to the features and content from the original site, the new gamecommunity exhibits a new aesthetic and is built on an entirely new Bespoke Technical Framework. The design came to life thanks to valuable input of MMOhubs community and is tailored to gamers needs and desires.

Usability and features tailored to gamers needs