Newswise — NEWS THIS WEEK:
KYOTO PROMISES ARE NOTHING BUT HOT AIRTwo teams say they have convincing evidence that many countries are under-reporting their emissions of greenhouse gases, threatening to undermine the Kyoto protocol. Both studies calculated atmospheric emissions independently of government estimates. And among the worst offenders are the UK, which may be emitting 92 per cent more methane that it declares under the Kyoto protocol, and France, which may be emitting 47 per cent more. Pages 10-11
TEASING OUT TISSUE FROM A BAG OF BLOODA company in America has refined the technology to produce stem cells from adult white blood cells called monocytes and turn them into many different tissue types, which can be implanted to heal damaged tissue. Crucially, the company are about to submit their results for de-differentiating monocytes back into insulin-producing islet cells. The advantage over using donated tissue is that the transplant would be made of the patient's own cells, thus avoiding rejection. However, sceptics say it would take a huge amount of blood to produce enough islet cells for one patient. Page 18
ONE NET FOR THEM, ANOTHER FOR USPhone and cable monopolies want to introduce a two-tier internet with the power to charge more for a high-speed priority service. They argue that demand on the internet is now exceeding capacity, and the need to continually upgrade cables is proving expensive. Net neutralists on the other hand want all content on the web to be treated equally. They fear that allowing telecommunication companies the freedom to carve up the internet into slow and fast lanes could stifle internet innovation. Pages 30-31
PENTAGON FEARS MICRO ENEMYThe Pentagon no longer trusts its chips. The US Department of Defense is increasingly having to buy its microchips from makers abroad. The Pentagon fears that if such microchips are used in their advanced weapons systems, adversaries could tamper with the electronics to disrupt US military systems. Page 29
HOW TO PROTECT SOLAR FROM WINDStandard solar energy collectors track the position of the sun to maximise sunlight. To withstand damaging strong winds they need to be made of tough materials like steel. However, an Australian inventor proposes floating rafts of solar collectors on lakes. Wind sensors would dunk the rafts below the surface of the water if wind speeds exceed a certain speed. The solar panels could then be made of cheaper plastic. Page 29 DEAR DARWIN, PLEASE EXPLAINA previously unknown letter by Charles Darwin has surfaced in which he modestly illustrates how his theory of evolution works. He writes "I am far from being surprised at anyone not accepting my conclusions on the origin of species" . The letter written in 1860 to a Rev. William Denton, is expected to fetch £20,000 - £30,000 at an upcoming Sotheby's auction in London. Page 6
FEATURES
GOT A MINUTE?Anyone who works in an office will know that with a constant stream of calls, emails, texts and other information disrupting your flow, it is very difficult to work for sustained periods. Technology may be the root to all this, but it could also be the solution to regaining control of your working day. Some researchers believe that the systems of the future will "understand" you, get to recognise when we want to be left alone, and prioritise the calls and emails you do want to be disturbed with. Page 46-49
DINING WITH DEATHAnna Gosline risks her life every time she eats out. She is one of millions who suffer with a peanut allergy. But, she discovers, there are many promising treatments, possibly even cures, already heading for clinical trials. Pages 40-44
LET THERE BE LIGHTNINGGreg Leyh spends his nights generating lightning bolts, and is planning the biggest lightning project ever. Using twin metal-coil towers, 37-metres high, in the Nevada desert, he hopes to generate mammoth lightning bolts across the space between them. As well as being used for dramatic shows, the lightning lab could be used by aircraft engineers to test out how vulnerable new designs are to lightning, and for testing the nature of lightning. Page 37-39
HOW LIFE BRANCHES OUTSince the 1960s one of biology's favourite theories, called the Pleistocene refugia hypothesis, has dominated explanations for the complex diversity of species across Amazonia. Now, through a lengthy study of fossil pollen from South America, researchers have reconstructed the region's climatic history, and give a damning conclusion that the refugia hypothesis fails at every test. Page 50-53
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