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the largest untapped oil reserves in the world, the instability that comes with war, attacks on infrastructure and outdated technology in Iraq have led to the lowest reserve-to-production ratio of all oil-producing countries.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

National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Arden L. Bement Jr. has presented the agency's proposed $6.85 billion budget for fiscal year (FY) 2009, a 13 percent increase over its actual FY 2008 budget. The additional $822.10 million would increase funding for agency programs that advance the frontiers of research and education in science and engineering.

Bement said the increase reflected a growing consensus that the United States needs to invest more resources in basic scientific research if it is to remain a global leader in science and technology. "More than a dozen major studies have now concluded that a substantial increase in federal funding for basic scientific research is critical to ensure the preeminence of America's scientific and technological enterprise," Bement said.

LONDON, February 8 /PRNewswire/ -- ALK Technologies today announced that customers of its award-winning CoPilot Live mobile phone navigation system will be able to benefit from an integral connection to Microsoft's Live Search(TM) API.

Simply key-in a search query into a free-text input box, for example 'bank', 'coffee' or a favoured brand, and a list of the matches closest to the current location is displayed. It's a significant enhancement to CoPilot's on-board address and points of interest search, providing access to a huge variety of dynamic real-time information.

BAAR, Switzerland, February 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Manas Petroleum Corporation moves to an independent management structure in order to enhance corporate governance. Manas is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Flottmann, PhD, as Chief Executive Officer and Rahul Sen Gupta, CFA as Chief Financial Officer. The former CEO, Alexander Becker PhD, and CFO, Peter-Mark Vogel CFA have been appointed Director, New Ventures and Director, Finance. Mr. Becker and Mr. Vogel will continue to play an active role in the company to increase the value of the company by acquiring new projects and negotiating with potential partners and financial institutions.

SAO PAULO, Brazil, February 8 /PRNewswire/ --

- Considered the world's third largest IT market, the country is the company's focus in 2008

The English office of Stefanini IT Solutions, one of Brazil's major IT consulting companies, has completed its second year, and operations are going full force. The unit celebrates its fast growth. Operations volume has doubled each year.