Researchers at IBM have made a significant step forward in the development of carbon nanotube computers.
The researchers devised a method to arrange nanotube-based transistors, a neccessary step in the production of integrated circuits which are based on the new technology.
Carbon nanotube computers will be able to run at much greater speeds, consume less power, and produce less wasted heat than the computer circuits in production today.
A major technical problem in the development of fusion reactors has been overcome. Scientists working at an experimental reactor in San Diego have solved the problem of plasma containment.
Before this breakthrough, plasma would leak out of it’s container and cause expensive damage to the equipment. The researchers still don’t fully understand how their solution works, so they will have to do more research before the reactors can go into production, but this is a great step forward.
Fusion reactors utilize the same nuclear reaction that occurs inside the sun to produce electricity. Fusion power is hailed as the next great solution to the energy crisis.
All over the world, people are celebrating: the road to peace in the Darfur region of the sudan has been paved. The question now is weather or not we shall all walk it together.
Over 400 000 people have lost their lives in the continuing genocide in Darfur. The signing of this peace deal marks the beginning of the process of ending the genocide.
For more information, including things that YOU can do TODAY to help, visit these websites:
www.savedarfur.org
www.darfurgenocide.org
www.projectequity.org
Surgical techniques that do not require blood transfusions are becoming more and more popular, according to an article on MSNBC. Surgeons use a variety of techniques and technologies to minimize or remove the need for costly blood transfusions during surgery.
These bloodless operations were once only available to Jehova’s Witnesses, who’s religion prohibits blood transfusions, but are now being offered tothe general public at many hospitals.
Transfusions are very costly, and also carry a risk of rejection by the patient. Many people opt to have transfusions of their own blood, drawn in advance, before a surgery. Bloodless surgery techniques save money and are better for the patient.
The Washington Post is reporting on a group of 12 volunteers has just started on the first human trial of an HIV vaccine. The trial is being conducted at four American universities.
The vaccine is administered in stages over the course of about 2 months. The recipient is exposed to fragments of HIV DNA, followed by a modified poxvirus which is meant to boost the immune system.
In this first stage trial, researchers will be checking to see if the vaccine is safe to be administered at low doses. If the trial is successful, it will move onto a larger trial, and eventually the researchers will test to see if the vaccine actually prevents AIDS from developing.
In animal trials involving rhesus macaques, the vaccine protected 22 of 23 animals.