clhs sciblog

Musings on current happenings in science from our little slice of the world.

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Entries from April 6th, 2008

Fake…Good or Bad?

April 6th, 2008 · 7 Comments · Biology, Chemistry, Other Science

All the sugary sweets such as CoCo Puffs, Chocolates, candy, brownies..etc. They are very hard to resist as a young child. Since sugar is high in calories, many people eat “diet” candy and artifical sugars.  Though they may taste just as good as regular sugars the results can be outrageous if eating too much artifical [...]

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Biofuels start to falter

April 4th, 2008 · 3 Comments · Chemistry

Biofuels are starting to falter due to the high price of raw materials and the amount of overcapacity. For the first time in five years, when biofuels started to be invested in, the output is greater than the consumption rate. Biofuel firms are getting ready for a big fall in profits. With these problems occuring [...]

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The Bombardier Beetle, Power Venom, And Spray Technologies

April 3rd, 2008 · 3 Comments · Chemistry

The bombardier beetle, found mainly in Africa and Asia, is remarkable in that it can fire a powerful jet of hot, toxic fluid to fight off predators such as birds and frogs. While the chemical reaction that makes the venom has been understood for some time, the actual power behind the venomous squirt, which can [...]

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Chemical cues warn ants of invaders

April 3rd, 2008 · 3 Comments · Chemistry

Biologist and chemists have joined forces to solve a chemical mystery that has been hidden for over a century; discovering the chemical cues ants use to tell if something is their friend or enemy. Scientists have found out that ants produce a mixture of alkenes that is specific to each ant colony. Studies showed that [...]

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chemistry stuff so I get a good grade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

April 3rd, 2008 · No Comments · Chemistry

Searching for reaction in organic synthesis has been made much easier in the current age of computer databases. However, the dilemma now is which procedure one selects among the ocean of choices. Especially for novices in the laboratory, it becomes a daunting task to decide what reaction conditions to experiment with first in order to [...]

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NASA Goes Low Tech To Fix A High Tech Problem

April 3rd, 2008 · No Comments · Physics

WASHINGTON (AP) – To fix a potentially fatal shaking problem on its snazzy new moon rocket, NASA is considering something that works for mud-stained pickups: heavy-duty shock absorbers. For nearly half a year, NASA’s No. 1 technical problem in designing its Ares I rocket, which will eventually propel astronauts back to the moon, has been [...]

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Immune System needs Food

April 3rd, 2008 · 2 Comments · Biology

In a recent study performed by Lynn Martin, scientist have discovered why some children are more prone to get the same diseases time and again. They discovered that when you are sick and your body is fighting off the disease that all the energy in the immune system goes towards killing that disease. When you [...]

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Innovative Atom Trap Catches Highly Magnetic Atoms, Cools Atoms To Almost Absolute Zero

April 3rd, 2008 · 1 Comment · Chemistry, Physics

A research team from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland has succeeded in cooling atoms of a rare-earth element, erbium, to within two millionths of a degree of absolute zero using a novel trapping and laser cooling technique. Their recent report* is a major step towards a capability [...]

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Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatments

April 3rd, 2008 · 3 Comments · Biology, Chemistry

Two professors from UCLA named Jeffrey Zink and Fuyo Tamanoi have possibly developed a new kind of cancer treatment that could be used in the future. They used nanoparticles that can release certain drugs to fight against cancer cells. They have been tested, and they seem to be able to control them pretty well. These [...]

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Physicists discover the ‘superinsulator’

April 3rd, 2008 · 5 Comments · Physics

Here’s an interesting discovery – researchers have found what they call a superinsulator, something “that indefinitely retains electrical charge.” They cooled thin films of titanium nitride toward absolute zero. Ironically, this material, which usually conducts electricity without resistance, insulated electricity perfectly instead, on account of its conditions. Electrons binding together to form pairs ultimately account [...]

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