23/08/2007

Nasty bacteria need sunlight to do their worst

Certain types of bacteria have sunlight-sensing molecules similar to those found in plants, according to a new study. Surprisingly, at least one species—responsible for causing the flu-like disorder Brucellosis—needs ...

The car that diagnoses its own servicing needs

An intelligent system that could before long enable cars to tell mechanics which of their parts need servicing has been unveiled by engineers at the University of Cambridge.

Are civil unions a 600-year-old tradition?

A compelling new study from the September issue of the Journal of Modern History reviews historical evidence, including documents and gravesites, suggesting that homosexual civil unions may have existed six centuries ago ...

Condition of bluefin tuna in gulf of maine is declining

The quality of giant bluefin tuna caught in the Gulf of Maine has declined significantly since the early 1990s, researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found by analyzing detailed logbooks from a commercial tuna ...

AKARI's observations of asteroid Itokawa

The space-borne infrared observatory AKARI, observed asteroid Itokawa last month with its Infrared Camera. The data will be used to refine estimates of sizes of potentially hazardous asteroids in the future.

HAWK-I takes off

Europe's flagship ground-based astronomical facility, the ESO VLT, has been equipped with a new 'eye' to study the Universe. Working in the near-infrared, the new instrument - dubbed HAWK-I - covers about 1/10th the area ...

'Thin-layer' solar cells may bring cheaper 'green' power

Scientists are researching new ways of harnessing the sun’s rays which could eventually make it cheaper for people to use solar energy to power their homes. The experts at Durham University are developing light-absorbing ...

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