This week on radio, Tim Thwaites is talking about perfumed nightclubs; smallpox; pain relief; the Maori feather trade; and more
Smallpox wins reprieve again—after US pressure—Smallpox, which has been on death row for decades, has been given another stay of execution. The World Health Assembly has deferred debate about destruction of the remaining virus stocks until 2014. The US says it needs its stocks for research on vaccines, diagnosis and therapies in case terrorists unleash a hidden stash.—Science
A Science story on this topic can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/05/smallpox-virus-wins-three-year.html?ref=hp
Compound offers pain relief with the complications—Chemists have succeeded in making a natural compound that shows promise as a painkiller—but may not cause the side effects of analgesics currently used to treat acute and chronic pain. It comes from a tropical flowering shrub found in southeast Asia, known as the pinwheel flower.—Nature Chemist
A Nature story on this topic can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028138.200-the-climate-change-threat-to-nuclear-power.html
The climate change threat to nuclear power Far from providing a solution to global warming, nuclear power may be highly vulnerable to it, according to a British researcher. She argues that because nuclear power plants have to be located near a good and plentiful water supply, they are susceptible to storms, land shifts and flooding. It makes a Fukushima-style accident more likely, she says.—New Scientist
A New Scientist story on this topic can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028138.200-the-climate-change-threat-to-nuclear-power.html
Ancient DNA points to Maori feather trade—Analysis of the DNA preserved in the kiwi feather cloaks worn by Maori warriors shows it is likely that at least some of the materials came from faraway places and were acquired by trading.—Molecular Biology and Evolution
A Nature story on this topic can be found at http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110523/full/news.2011.309.html
Faster laser promises cheaper data transmission—German researchers have developed a single laser which can transmit data at a rate equivalent to 1000 HD DVDs a second, more than twice as fast as the previous record. They are hoping this might avoid the use of multiple lasers, saving a great deal of energy and money.—Nature Photonics
A New Scientist story on this topic can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20505-faster-laser-promises-cheaper-data-transmission.html
Perfumed nightclubs rock—Dutch researchers report that patrons of scented clubs are more cheerful, dance harder and are more confident in approaching the opposite sex. They drank more too, which should make club operators happy.—Chemosensory Perception
A Science story on this topic can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/05/perfumed-nightclubs-rock.html?ref=hp