NEWSCIENTISTPRESSRELEASE
EMBARGO: NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1997
ORDER #1: PARKING METERS FOR MEAN STREETS Big Brother may soon be watching parked cars in cities across the US. Engineers have unveiled high-tech "spy" parking meters that will instantly alert police to illegally parked cars and keep track of which meters are occupied. The meters can even cry out for help if they are being vandalised. Page 6
ORDER #2: WILL MANY CLONES MAKE LIGHT WORK? The next step for cloning could be mass production. Australian researchers have ceated almost 500 genetically identical embryos. They now have to show that these mass-produced embryos will lead to healthy pregnancies. New Scientist page 4
ORDER #3: CYSTIC FIBROSIS MICE CURED IN THE WOMB Mice have been cured of cystic fibrosis after receiving a novel form of gene therapy in the womb, raising hopes that the disease might be prevented in humans. The success of the gene therapy also challenges orthodox theories about the cause of the disease. Page 20
ORDER #4: FISH WORM ALLERGY PUTS DINERS IN HOSPITAL Modern fishing practices are putting the public at risk from serious allergic reactions to seafood infected with a marine parasite. Because fish are no longer always gutted at sea, the parasite spreads from fish guts to parts that people eat. New Scientist page 7
ORDER #5: CHEMISTS BANISH ELEMENT OF MYSTERY The world's chemists have finally managed to agree on names for six of the heaviest elements. The elements have only existed fleetingly, and are detected in laboratories that smash the elements of nuclei of lighter elements together. New Scientist page 9
ORDER #6: CAN MOZART MAKE MATHS ADD UP? Those loathsome piano lessons may have been worth it after all. Researchers in California have shown that music training improves certain cognitive abilities in youngsters. This may lead to more successful methods of teaching maths and science. New Scientist page 17
ORDER #7: SATELLITE SURFERS BYPASS MODERN BOTTLENECK Internet surfers will soon be able to download massive files at speeds up to a thousand times faster than today's fastest modems - though they will need a satellite dish and a special card for their PC. New Scientist page 22
ORDER #8: SILICONE KNOCKS THE STUFFING Pressed flowers, stuffed fish in display cases and jars of grisly specimens pickled in formaldehyde could all be consigned to the dustbin of history with a new technique that preserves items in silicone polymer. New Scientist page 23
ORDER #9: NIREX LEAK SPARKS RESIGNATION A senior scientist accused of leaking an embarassing internal memo has resigned from Nirex, the company which disposes of Britain's nuclear waste. Martin Broderick, manager of biosphere research and assessment at the company, was suspended two weeks ago for allegedly leaking the memo. Page 6
ORDER #10: WAKE UP TO QUANTUM COFFEE Liquids can play the same part in a quantum computing that silicon plays in conventional number crunching, say physicists in the US. The result may mean that mind-boggling calculations could one day be performed in a fraction of second inside a cup of coffee. New Scientist pages 28-31
ORDER #11: ALL LIFE IS HERE Small stagnant pools teeming with wriggling larvae are miniature ecosystems that are much easier to study than entire lakes or rainforests. Now scientists are using them to test some of the great questions of ecology. New Scientist pages 24-26
ORDER #12: GOING WITH THE FLOW A wind tunnel that reproduces the convection in weather patterns is being built in America. The new device will help scientists study thermal currents in the ocean and even the evolution of the Sun . New Scientist pages 36-40
ORDER #13: LIGHTNING SPEED If your modem keeps you in the information slow lane, you may soon be able to trade it in for one with more oomph. Pages 32-35
-ENDS-
March 12, 1997
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