BOISE, Idaho (AP) — It sounds like a big fish story: a plan to create a biodiversity map identifying thousands of aquatic species in every river and stream in the western U.S. But scientists say they’re steadily reeling in that whopper and by next summer will have the first Aquatic Environmental DNA Atlas available for … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Like a busy city, a cell works better if it can dispose of and recycle its garbage. Now a Japanese scientist has won the Nobel Prize in medicine for showing how that happens. The research may pay off in treatments for diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s and Type 2 diabetes. Yoshinori … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — Sweden’s Karolinska University says it has fired Italian stem cell scientist Paolo Macchiarini, whose work was once considered revolutionary but has since been deemed to have breached medical ethics. In a statement on Wednesday, Karolinska said Macchiarini was to be informed immediately that his contract has been rescinded. The university said Macchiarini … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — Sweden’s Karolinska University says it is commissioning an external investigation into stem-cell scientist Paolo Macchiarini, who was cleared last year of misconduct charges related to his creation of wind pipes made from patients’ stem cells. In a statement on Friday, the university said it would commission a lawyer to investigate issues including … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — A tool to edit human genes is nowhere near ready to use for pregnancy — but altering early embryos as part of careful laboratory research should be allowed as scientists and society continue to grapple with the ethical questions surrounding this revolutionary technology, organizers of an international summit concluded Thursday. “It would … Continue reading
BERLIN (AP) — The European Space Agency is postponing the launch of probe that will test technology for a future mission to measure gravitational waves. The agency said Tuesday that a technical problem has been discovered in the Vega rocket that was due to lift the probe into orbit Wednesday. Engineers are working on fixing … Continue reading
KENEMA, Sierra Leone (AP) — Something didn’t smell right. As a worker at Kenema Government Hospital mixed a batch of chlorine on a broiling August day, he noticed it didn’t have its typically strong, bleach-like odor. Concerned, he turned to a consultant with the World Health Organization, who tested the disinfectant and found barely any … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — A week ago, Tim Hunt was a well-known Nobel Prize winner who was promoting science education throughout Europe and the world. Today he’s widely perceived as a sexist who has been stripped of most of his positions because of inappropriate comments about women in science. Gone is his position with the European … Continue reading
Governor Terry McAuliffe announced Virginia’s Outstanding Scientists of 2015 on Wednesday, March 24. Dr. Mikhail Noginov, a professor and researcher in the Department of Physics and the Center for Materials Research at Norfolk State University, was one of three Virginia scientists that were recognized. “It is an honor to recognize Virginia’s leading scientific minds,” said … Continue reading
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A former Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist who pleaded guilty to trying to help Venezuela develop a nuclear weapon is set to be sentenced. Pedro Leonardo Mascheroni and his wife, Marjorie Roxby Mascheroni, pleaded guilty in 2013 to offering to help develop a nuclear weapon for Venezuela through dealings with … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — Suddenly, scientists are sexy. With Benedict Cumberbatch nominated for multiple trophies as Alan Turing and Eddie Redmayne turning heads as Stephen Hawking, young British actors playing scientists are all the rage this awards season. So it’s good timing for the Royal Shakespeare Company, whose new play, “Oppenheimer,” features rising star John … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 