Researchers have developed an environmentally-friendly lubricating grease based on ricin oil and cellulose derivatives, according to the journal Green Chemistry. Bonus: the new formula does not include any of the contaminating components used to manufacture traditional industrial lubricants.

Lubricants used in industry are made from non-biodegradable components, such as synthetic oils or petroleum derivatives, and thickeners made with metallic soaps or polyurea derivatives (a family of synthetic polymers). These are currently the best performers, but they also imply more problems from an environmental perspective. 

In an article that makes us want to review the "Studies you won't need to read" section,  UC  San Diego School of Medicine researchers examined HIV infection among male clients of female prostitutes - in Tijuana, of all places - and decided and found that over half of male clients had recently had other risky sexual behavior, like unprotected sex.

Unprotected sex with a tijuana prostitute  is what poker players would call a 'tell' when it comes to risky behavior.   They also reported a high prevalence of drug use. 

MCLEAN, Virginia, July 9 --

For the first time in its history, the French National Commission for Data
Protection and the Liberties (CNIL) has granted approval to a private testing
company -- the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) -- to collect
biometric data as part of its efforts to ensure the highest level of security
for the GMAT exam. No other private examination has obtained this permission.

The public looks up to scientists but scientists tend to look down on the public; and science journalism gets a lot of the blame.  So say the findings of a new report by the Pew Research Center for the People&the Press which finds that overwhelming majorities of Americans believe that science has had a positive effect on society and that science has made life easier for most people. The public - even those skeptical of climate change and evolution - rates scientists highly and believes government investments in science pay off in the long term. 

LONDON, July 9 --

Planalytics, Inc. announced today that Cott Beverages Ltd. (Cott UK) has
subscribed to Planalytics’ Consumer Insights(SM) Platform. Cott UK, a
subsidiary of Cott Corporation, one of the world’s largest non-alcoholic
beverage companies, is using the service to analyze and plan for weather’s
impact on consumer demand for its products.

WARSAW, Poland, July 9 --

The current economic slowdown has affected many industry sectors but not all
investments have been put on hold. EU compliance deadlines, growing energy
consumption, an ageing infrastructure and EU funding are the major factors
stimulating the Energy and Water and Wastewater sectors in Poland in the Central
Eastern European (CEE) region.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO)

To highlight the significant investment growth opportunities in the Energy and
Water industries and to examine major market drivers and restraints, Frost
Sullivan recently hosted a well-attended breakfast briefing at the Warsaw
office.

LONDON, July 9 -- The Road Haulage Association has reacted strongly to the news
that supermarket giant ASDA is to slash the cost of a litre of unleaded and
diesel to less than GBP1.

Michael White recently blogged about Rock Stars of Science (July 8), which is an educational effort to attract kids to careers in science.  (Michael characterized this as “another hopeless attempt to make nerds look cool.”) 

PARIS, July 9 -- Ben Verwaayen, CEO of Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:
ALU) and Paul Tufano, Chief Financial Officer will present the second quarter
2009 results on July 30, at 1:00 pm CET (12:00 pm GMT, 7:00 am EST). The press
and analyst conference will be held in the company’s headquarters, 54 rue
La Boétie, Paris. If you are a journalist, please confirm your attendance at
press@alcatel-lucent.com. If you are an analyst, please confirm your attendance
at investor.relations@alcatel-lucent.com.

This conference will be available live at the following address:
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/2q2009