Imagine that instead of setting out to invent a better lightbulb, Thomas Edison had announced his intention to invent a light-emitting diode that you could use to illuminate your kitchen. This isn't completely far-fetched: the first examples of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) began to appear as early as 1907. But it wasn't until the 1960's and 70's that useful, visible-spectrum LEDs began to appear, and LEDs haven't been used to light kitchens until very recently. Thomas Edison, had he set out to make a useful, household LED, would have been doomed to failure beacause it would be years before basic science made the necessary technologies possible.

When Richard Nixon declared the conquest of cancer "a national crusade" in 1971, cancer researchers were inevitably set up to be viewed as failures. Although at the time the recent molecular biology revolution led people to think that disease conquest was just around the corner, now we can look back and see that the War on Cancer had no hope of achieving its goals in the 1970's. Scientists are being punished for that hubris now, in the form of misguided news pieces such as Newsweek's current exposé: "We Fought Cancer...And Cancer Won".

LONDON, September 9 /PRNewswire/ --

The 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pumped an average 32.81 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil in August, a Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials showed September 9. This is 40,000 b/d higher than the July production of 32.77 million b/d.

Excluding Iraq, the 12 members bound by OPEC output agreements produced an average 30.41 million b/d, the survey showed. This is 100,000 b/d more than July's 30.31 million b/d and some 737,000 b/d greater than OPEC's 29.673 million b/d output target.

ANTWERP, Belgium, September 9 /PRNewswire/ -- N.V. Universal Bright from Belgium introduces TanBright+(TM), a new Professional Teeth Whitening System, in Russia at one of the world's top dental exhibitions: the Dental-Expo in Moscow. Link: http://www.dental-expo.ru/ from 9 to 12 September 2008.

TanBright+(TM) is a new unique user-friendly teeth whitening system for the dental market. With its superior results (up to 8 shades lighter) and faster procedure time, dentists experience it as one of the most time- efficient quality teeth whitening systems available on the market today.

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, September 9 /PRNewswire/ --

Strong indications for some time of oil in the Dreki area, progress by leaps and bounds in oil exploration technology, a high oil price and possible economic gain are several of the main reasons that Iceland is now preparing a tender offer at the start of next year for exclusive licences for oil exploration in the Dreki area (NE of Iceland, south of the island of Jan Mayen).

This emerged during Minister of Industry Ossur Skarphedinsson's opening speech for the Iceland Exploration Conference 2008, on searching for hydrocarbons in Iceland, which was held recently in Reykjavik. Last but not least, Icelanders will be utilising their right with the nation's future interests as a guide, said the minister.

LONDON, September 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Work Foundation today announces changes to its structure and focus to consolidate its position as the leading research and consultancy organisation specializing in work in the UK and Europe.

It is refocusing around four clear programmatic themes of Leadership, Health and Well Being, The Future of HR, and Ideopolis: Knowledge City Regions to concentrate on offering expert consulting and ground-breaking research in these areas. Existing research in the knowledge economy and in public value, as well as commentary and policy work around labour market and employment issues will continue and support the new focus.

Leadership

DALLAS, Texas, September 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- A Global Collaborative Learning Program for Primary and Secondary School Students

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced a $50,000 contribution to support the Global Virtual Classroom (GVC) - a free online collaborative learning project that fosters teamwork, creativity, cross cultural understanding and teaches IT and website design skills amongst students working together from around the world.

Sponsored by the Give Something Back International Foundation (GSBI), and now in its sixth year, the GVC provides an opportunity for primary and secondary school students from different countries to work with and learn from students in other countries, as they collaboratively design a website on a topic of their choosing.

SUNNYVALE, California, September 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- Company Opens Labs in London and Beijing that Leverage the Innovative Spirent TestCenter (TM) FCoE Solution and Automation Continuum(TM) Framework

CALGARY, Canada, September 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Addax Petroleum Corporation (TSX: AXC and LSE: AXC) ("Addax Petroleum" or the "Corporation") will host a management presentation to financial analysts and investors on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 in Toronto, Canada. The Corporation's senior management team, including Mr. Jean Claude Gandur, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. James Pearce, Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Michael Ebsary, Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Jeff Schrull, General Manager Exploration, will discuss the Corporation's most recent operating results and expectations regarding future operations.

CALGARY, Canada, September 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- Senior Credit Facility Oversubscribed and Increased to US$500 Million

WELLESLEY HILLS, Massachusetts, September 9 /PRNewswire/ --

Joseph F. Finn, Jr., C.P.A. ("Finn"), Assignee of the assets of Spherics, Inc. ("Spherics") for the benefit of creditors, announced today that all oral drug delivery intellectual property will be sold at a sealed bid auction on October 10, 2008.

Spherics' proprietary anhydride based hydrophobic thermoplastic polymers, Spheromers(TM), have superior conventional hydrophilic bioadhesive polymers. These polymers improve drug performance by increasing absorption and residence time in specific regions of the gastro-intestinal track.