Featured Articles

Gene Modification Provides Fungal Disease Resistance, Reduces Wheat Yield Losses

Gene Modification Provides Fungal Disease Resistance, Reduces Wheat Yield Losses

Feb 19 2009 | comment(s)

A new gene that provides resistance to a fungal disease responsible for millions of hectares of lost wheat yield has been discovered by scientists from the US and Israel.  Resistance to stripe rust has previously been achieved using genes that are specific to single races of the disease. Unfortunately, each of these genes has had limited durability in the field because the pathogen has mutated to overcome them.

In the paper to be published in Science Express tomorrow, the international team of scientists report finding a novel type of gene in wild wheat that is absent in modern pasta and bread wheat varieties.
Drink Coffee, Improve Plant And Animal Diversity

Drink Coffee, Improve Plant And Animal Diversity

Feb 19 2009 | comment(s)

Coffee shrubs, both in themselves and because they are most often cultivated in the shade of large trees, can have a positive impact on plant and animal diversity in those parts of the landscape that are deforested and dominated by agriculture.

What constitutes a dilemma for consumers wishing to shop ecologically is that when coffee is grown in a forest, which is also common, the impact on diversity is negative, say researchers at the Department of Botany, Stockholm University, in Sweden, who recently published two articles about the role of coffee cultivation in conserving plants and animals in Ethiopia, the original home of coffee.
Making Dentist Visits Less Scary For Kids

Making Dentist Visits Less Scary For Kids

Feb 19 2009 | comment(s)

For many children, a trip to the doctor or dentist is a stressful experience. The sensory environment (i.e., the sounds, smells, and lights associated with the clinical setting) can cause a child's anxiety levels to rise. This is especially true in children with developmental disabilities who may have difficulty understanding the unfamiliar clinical environment. A new study soon explores the relationship between the sensory environment and anxiety levels in children.
Kepler Gets Set To Look For Life On Other Planets

Kepler Gets Set To Look For Life On Other Planets

Feb 19 2009 | comment(s)

NASA's Kepler spacecraft will soon begin a journey to search for worlds that could potentially host life. Kepler is scheduled to blast into space from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard a Delta II rocket on March 5 at 7:48 p.m. Pacific Time (10:48 p.m. Eastern Time). It is the first mission with the ability to find planets like Earth -- rocky planets that orbit sun-like stars in a warm zone where liquid water could be maintained on the surface. Liquid water is believed to be essential for the formation of life. 
Financial Information Industry Professionals Convene At 2009 World Financial Information Conference (WFIC) In Athens

Financial Information Industry Professionals Convene At 2009 World Financial Information Conference (WFIC) In Athens

Feb 19 2009 | comment(s)

WASHINGTON, February 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- 9th Biennial FISD Event Highlights Financial Information and its Interaction with Risk Management, New Markets, Product Innovation Cost Management

- Keynote by breakingviews.com's Rob Cox Offers Insights Regarding Today's Financial Services Challenges and Strategies

The Financial Information Services Division (FISD) of the Software Information Industry Association (SIIA) today announced that Rob Cox, US Editor and Director for breakingviews.com, will be the opening keynote for its 9th Biennial World Financial Information Services Conference (WFIC), slated for October 4-7, 2009, at Divani Apollon, Athens, Greece.

Ancient Cellular Machinery Pumps Out Signals For Wandering Fly Cells

Ancient Cellular Machinery Pumps Out Signals For Wandering Fly Cells

Feb 19 2009 | comment(s)

Show Me The Science Month Day 17



Often when something new crops up in evolutionary history, it's usually the result of tinkering with functional, preexisting molecular tools.. In a paper published in Science, some NYU researchers find that the protein cues used by  fruit fly embryos to direct their migrating reproductive cells are processed by some very ancient cellular machinery. The scientists test their ideas with a very weird experiment: they use their newfound knowledge to direct the reproductive cells to migrate into the embryos' brains.
Geocache On The Go With Your IPhone

Geocache On The Go With Your IPhone

Feb 19 2009 | comment(s)

SEATTLE, February 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- Groundspeak's Geocaching Application makes high-tech treasure hunting fun, easy and affordable

Geocaching.com, the global headquarters for the sport of geocaching, recently released their official Geocaching iPhone Application. Developed by Groundspeak, the owner of Geocaching.com, the US$9.99 Geocaching Application is available online at Apple's iPhone Apps Store.

SunPower To Build 2.2-Megawatt Solar Power Plant In Italy

SunPower To Build 2.2-Megawatt Solar Power Plant In Italy

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

SAN JOSE, California, February 18 /PRNewswire/ --

- First Phase of Planned 7.1-Megawatt Solar Power Development

SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB), a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Sunshire, S.r.l., a subsidiary of Api Nova Energia S.r.l., to design and build a 2.2-megawatt solar electric power plant in Tolentino, Italy.

Wynston Hill Capital Named Lead Banker By Smith Electric Vehicles U.S.

Wynston Hill Capital Named Lead Banker By Smith Electric Vehicles U.S.

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

NEW YORK, February 18 /PRNewswire/ --

Wynston Hill Capital LLC, a boutique investment bank, announced today that it has been retained by Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation to serve as the company's lead investment banker. Wynston Hill Capital will assist and advise Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. with regard to the company's financings. Corey Singman and Bruce Shalett are the Investment Bankers for Wynston Hill Capital.

AMT To Release Full Year 2008 Results On February 24, 2009

AMT To Release Full Year 2008 Results On February 24, 2009

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, February 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (Euronext: AMT), a leader in the field of human gene therapy, announced today that it will release its financial results for the full year 2008 on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 7:00 am Central European Time (CET). To discuss these results, the Company will conduct a conference call that day at 3 p.m. CET.

If Osama Bin Laden Was A Panda, We Could Find Him With Satellites

If Osama Bin Laden Was A Panda, We Could Find Him With Satellites

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

Thanks to advances in satellite technology, college students are giving government intelligence a run for its money.  A student geography project from UCLA made waves in the Harvard International review for using principles of wildlife diversity to narrow bin Laden’s likely location to a few promising structures in Pakistan.  

Bin Laden has everything in common with a member of a species trying to escape extinction. This allowed the UCLA students used theories of wildlife dispersion to predict his whereabouts. 
Jerry Coyne And Extended Evolutionary Synthesis

Jerry Coyne And Extended Evolutionary Synthesis

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

I guess it was only a matter of time before my colleague Jerry Coyne at the University of Chicago lost his patience while reading one of several pieces that appeared in the press about the current and future status of evolutionary theory.
Ericsson And Orange Bring Sustainable And Affordable Connectivity To Rural Africa

Ericsson And Orange Bring Sustainable And Affordable Connectivity To Rural Africa

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

STOCKHOLM, February 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Guinea Conakry and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) are deploying more than 100 base stations fully powered by solar energy, connecting remote parts of rural Africa. Using Ericsson's energy-efficient base stations, a hybrid diesel-battery solution and solar panels, Orange is increasing mobile coverage in rural and urban areas, while taking concrete steps towards its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2020. This enables remote areas without an established power grid to get access mobile communications.

Oxygen8 Communications Launches New Voice Broadcasting Service For English Speaking Markets

Oxygen8 Communications Launches New Voice Broadcasting Service For English Speaking Markets

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

BIRMINGHAM, England, February 18 /PRNewswire/ --

-'Voice Push' Enables Users to Drive New Revenue Streams Globally Through Interactive Voice Services

International interactive communications company, Oxygen8 Communications http://www.oxygen8.com/ today launches 'Voice Push', a new interactive voice broadcasting service which enables media companies and corporates to drive new revenue streams across all English-speaking territories.

Ericsson To Deploy 28 Mbps Mobile Broadband Speeds In Telecom Italia's Network

Ericsson To Deploy 28 Mbps Mobile Broadband Speeds In Telecom Italia's Network

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

STOCKHOLM, February 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Telecom Italia initiate deployment of mobile network technology of 28 Mbps speeds in early 2009. The deployment will include MIMO technology. Milan will be the first town to become the Italian 'ultra-broadband city', enjoying speeds up to 28 Mbps in download and 5.8 Mbps in upload.

Telecom Italia will be first in Italy to deploy live mobile broadband speeds of 28 Mbps with Ericsson's mobile network technology. Tests in Telecom Italia's mobile network will start early 2009 and initial deployment is planned in the city of Milan in June 2009. National coverage will follow in the second half of 2009.

Cache Creek: Cowboys And Fossils A Plenty

Cache Creek: Cowboys And Fossils A Plenty

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)


Looking for a great family vacation this summer? If you happen to be in BC's glorious interior, stop by and visit Cache Creek, the gateway to B.C.'s Cariboo Country. They boast cowboys aplenty, horses and, as it happens, some great fossil localities.
PCAS: 2008 Results

PCAS: 2008 Results

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

LONGJUMEAU, France, February 18 /PRNewswire/ --

- Sales Affected by the Economic Climate and Exceptional Events

- Operating Profitability Has Resisted Well

- Continued Reduction in Net Debt

In millions of euros 2008 2007 Net sales 168.4 185.3 EBITDA* 19.3 26.8 EBITDA margin 11.5% 14.5% Current operating income* 4.6 12.0 Other operating income and expenses 1.0 (3.0). Financial results (5.4) (5.6) Net income (0.9) 2.7 Equity 73.7 75.3 Net debt 62.4 70.1 Gearing 0.85 0.93 Net asset per share 5.7 5.8

* Including Research Tax Credit (CIR): 2.2 million euros in 2008 and 0.9 in 2007.

Avast! Antivirus Celebrates 75 Million Registered Users

Avast! Antivirus Celebrates 75 Million Registered Users

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, February 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Alwil Software a.s. is pleased to announce that the award-winning avast! antivirus has now passed 75 million registered users. Since the first registration in January 2002, avast! antivirus has grown to be a truly global product. While it took 6 years to achieve the 50 millionth user, it has taken only an additional 12 months for this number to reach 75 million.

Recycling Electrical And Electronic Equipment: Shipment For Re-use Overseas - A Statement From Electrolink

Recycling Electrical And Electronic Equipment: Shipment For Re-use Overseas - A Statement From Electrolink

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

HARLOW, England, February 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrolink Recycling Ltd operates a government-approved compliance scheme for the UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. We are one of the largest contracted collectors of household WEEE from Local Authorities. We are naturally concerned about allegations in the media concerning the shipment of an inappropriate item of WEEE to Nigeria for re-use, although this incident did not involve our company or our operating partners in any way.

Honeywell's UOP Selected To Provide Technology For First Clean Coal Power Station In The United Kingdom

Honeywell's UOP Selected To Provide Technology For First Clean Coal Power Station In The United Kingdom

Feb 18 2009 | comment(s)

DES PLAINES, Illinois, February 18 /PRNewswire/ --

- New gasification plant will be the first in Europe to incorporate carbon capture and storage technology for cleaner power generation

UOP LLC, a Honeywell (NYSE: HON) company, announced today that its technology has been selected by Powerfuel Power Ltd. to capture and remove contaminants from synthesis gas (syngas) made from coal for a new clean coal power station in the United Kingdom.

The UOP Selexol(TM) process technology was selected to remove sulfur and carbon dioxide from syngas in order to meet aggressive environmental targets for Powerfuel's Hatfield Colliery clean coal power station to be built in Stainforth, South Yorkshire.