Scientists have known that newly acquired, short-term memories are often fleeting, but a new study of Drosophila in Cell suggests that there is a good reason for that kind of forgetfulness. An active process of erasing memories may be as important as the ability to lay down new memories.

"Learning activates the biochemical formation of memory," says Yi Zhong of Tsinghua University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. "But you need to remove memories for new information to come in. We've found that forgetting is an active process to remove memory."

A recent study of marine mammals by University of Florida aquatic animal health experts has revealed that dolphins may be the ideal model for studying cervical cancer in humans.

"We discovered that dolphins get multiple infections of apillomaviruses, which are known to be linked with cervical cancer in women," said Hendrik Nollens, a marine mammal biologist and clinical assistant professor at UF's College of Veterinary Medicine today (Feb. 18) at the annual meeting of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science. "Dolphins are the only species besides humans that we know of that can harbor coinfections, or infections of multiple papillomavirus types, in the genital mucosa."

 Scientists searching for alternatives to synthetic pesticides say volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the fungus Muscodor albus may offer a biologically based way to rid certain crops of destructive pests. Reseachers from the USDA's Agriculture Research Service laboratories put the idea to the test in three different studies by pitting Muscodor against potato tuber moths, apple codling moths and Tilletia fungi that cause bunt diseases in wheat.

Ships blowing off steam are aiding researchers who are studying how manmade particles might help mitigate climate change. New results from modeling clouds like those seen in shipping lanes reveal the complex interplay between aerosols, the prevailing weather and even the time of day the aerosol particles hit the air, according to research to be presented Saturday morning at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting.

An investigative piece so explosive, no book company marketing hyperbole can be left out.

"After reading BIG FAT LIES you will never trust the government again - Dr John Briffa"

Hannah Sutter says she has used the analytical eyes of a lawyer to look at the facts and myths of obesity, health and diet and says the proportion of men and women classed as obese has risen steeply in recent years, though there has been no particular increase in the number of people who are overweight, and calorie intake has generally decreased. So we are eating less but obesity has increased. What's going on?

You may think this is an odd claim from Think Training Development Limited, a company that specializes in Leadership Training, but it got them on a site with a million readers so, like a magician exposing trade secrets in a tell-all book, it may just work out.

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You need some help, so you book yourself on to an expensive Leadership Training Course.