SCIENCE IN THE NEWS WEEKLY
New Method Reverts Cells to Embryonic State Without Altering DNA
A new technique for producing embryonic stem cells avoids using viruses that alter the cells' DNA. This safer method could be a major milestone in stem cell research, since viral induced DNA mutations can cause cancer.
Meanwhile, the Economist looked at how the religious and medical communities arrived at a clinical definition of death 40 years ago, in light of growing pressure to reject criteria based on brain death.
In other biomedical news, a new genetic test for the flu virus was approved in the United States last week. It can identify flu strains within four hours instead of four days, a crucial advantage in the event that deadly new strains emerge.
A special New York Times section called "Decoding Your Health" looked at the guiding principles behind medical studies and the application of science to alternative medicine, among other topics.
Scientific American profiled a biologist who is using math to explain the rise of life on Earth, while the Scientist reported that scientists and engineers are using genetic algorithms to find efficient solutions to a wide range of problems.
And according to new genetic analysis, the AIDS virus has been around for at least 100 years. It was "circulating under our radar longer than we knew," one researcher noted.
Science in the Media
Newspapers:
Magazines and Web Sites:
The Science-Media Intersection:
Subscribe to Our Content!
Visit our RSS Feeds page to choose among 13 customized feeds, or create a free My AmSci account to request an email notice whenever a specified author, department or discipline appears online.