EMBARGO: NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE:- 14:00 HRS ET US(18:00 HRS GMT) WEDNESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2003
"¢ NEW TECHNOaLOGY SECTION THIS WEEK. Starting in this week's magazine, New Scientist brings you a new 8-page section drawing together the latest technology news and features every week, identifying key trends and giving you an insight into the world of technology.
NEWS:
HAS DARK MATTER BEEN FOUND AT LAST?The identity of the universe's dark matter, which has been a longstanding mystery of modern astronomy, may finally have been discovered. Researchers from England and France say they have found characteristics of dark matter in a pattern of gamma rays coming from the centre of the Milky Way. There is at least seven times as much dark matter in the universe as visible stars and gas, and scientists are certain of its existence because its gravity affects the way galaxies hold together. Pages 8-9
ADVANCED CHIP GIVES CHOICE OF SOFTWAREIntel announced plans last week for a new processing chip that could be one of the decade's most significant breakthroughs in computer technology. The chip would allow future PC users to run alternative operating systems, such as Linux or Apple, alongside the mighty Microsoft Windows operating system. Page 25
'T00 LITTLE' OIL FOR GLOBAL WARMINGOil and gas reserves will run out before even the most conservative of global warming scenarios come to pass, according to a new Swedish analysis. Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defend their original predictions on global warming and say that coal burning could easily make up the shortfall. But both parties agree a switch to coal would be even worse for the planet. Page 18
IRAQIS RECLAIM THEIR ANCIENT WETLANDSThe Marsh Arabs of Iraq are restoring their wetlands drained by Saddam Hussein's regime. Local people are taking matters into their own hands by shutting down pumping stations and breaching dams to re-flood land. However, experts say that although these unplanned efforts are encouraging, they could actually hamper long term recovery. Pages 6-7
FASTER HEALING WITH FEWER SCARSThe first clinical trials of an anti-scarring drug have shown impressive results. The British company who developed the drug say it dramatically speeds up healing and allows the generation of new skin to form in a more organised structure " preventing disfiguring scarring. Page 10
EELS SLIDE TOWARDS EXTINCTIONAlarming figures presented at a scientific meeting last week suggest that the eel could be about to disappear forever. Pressures faced as they head upriver to mature and breed " such as fisheries and dams " have meant fewer eels are making it to adulthood. Page 14
PROTEIN LOCKS OUT PRION DISEASEResearchers in Switzerland have made a chance discovery that could lead to the development of a drug that prevents the onset of prion diseases. If trials on monkeys are successful, the team then hope to test their protein on people with variant CJD. Page 10
SHORT STORIES"¢ SNIFFING OUT STOWAYS. Hitachi have invented a tubular device that can be poked through vehicle vents to sniff out any stowaways - using their giveaway body odours. Page 27"¢ PHOTONIC HANDBAG: The mystery of what a woman keeps in her handbag is about to be illuminated by a German company who have developed a prototype bag which lights up when it is opened. Page 26
FEATURES:-
ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CANThe demand for "smart" mobile phones - with their combination of telephone, video and web capabilities " jumped by 330 per cent last year. But could their intelligence be their very downfall? Security experts are warning that it's only a matter of time before viruses do some serious damage to these sophisticated phones. Pages 30-33
THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS A TWO-PART SPECIAL GUIDE TO WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD
REASONS TO BE CHEERFULScience is beginning to identify the keys to a happy life. In a special report, New Scientist takes an in-depth look at 10 of them, and ranks them according to the importance of each to personal happiness. Top of the list are getting married and genetic make-up, bottom are money and intelligence. Pages 44-47
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESSOur special report also includes an exclusive glimpse of new data on happiness trends around the world. The results reveal that Americans are consistently happier than Brits, but Australians beat both on day-to-day happiness; Puerto Rica is the world's most satisfied country; the Russians are indeed among the most miserable people in the world; and, mysteriously, the Danes are the only people in the West who feel more content today than three decades ago. Pages 40-43
PLEASE MENTION NEW SCIENTIST AS THE SOURCE OF ALL THESE ITEMS AND, IF PUBLISHING ONLINE, PLEASE CARRY A HYPERLINK TO:http://www.newscientist.com
New Scientist TVNew Scientist Reports are weekly science bulletins shown on Discovery Channel's Science Night on Tuesdays from 8pm (Repeated Weds)
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