Social scientists and biologists collaborate to address human dimensions of biodiversity
...ifferent literature and attend different meetings" observes Ann Kinzig, biologist at Arizona State University and member of the panel. "If we are going to develop a real understanding of how peoples perceptions of biodiversity and the values and actions of society sustain, and are sustained by biological dive...The role of science in restoring California's water resources
... ``There`s a lot of water in California,`` observes Freyberg, ``but not where people live.`` In fact, most Californians reside in the southern part of the state, in arid desert communities such as Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego. And California`s multibillion-dollar agriculture indust...Baboon studies suggest strategies for coping with stress
...at, evoked over time, can make us sick. Sapolsky observes baboons in the wild to determine their ranks, personalities and social affiliations. Then he anesthetizes them with a blowdart to collect blood samples that reveal levels of stress hormones, antibodies, cholesterol and other indicators of health stat...Coping with natural disasters along the Pacific Rim
...ar sociopolitical, economic and cultural growth,`` observes Ernst, noting that when disaster strikes Taiwan or Silicon Valley, the economic repercussions are felt half a world away. ``Natural disaster reduction must be coordinated across and transcend political boundaries if we are to be more effective in the...New study reveals a major cause of global warming - ordinary soot
...of the soot particles that pollute the atmosphere, observes Jacobson, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. ``Soot consists primarily of elemental carbon,`` he says, ``and 90 percent of it comes from the consumption of fossil fuels - particularly diesel fuel, coal, jet fuel, natural g...Biological warfare: an emerging threat in the 21st century
...ns Biological warfare is as old as civilization, observes Block, but it was international revulsion over the...tists are managing to find gainful employment now, observes Block. ``Some experts contend that a low but significant level of bioresearch still exists today,`` ...Global warming: lessons taught by snails and crabs
... that is consistent with our physiological data,`` observes Somero. Overall, he says, species from intertidal locations around the Pacific already are living at the edge of their thermal limits and might not be able to survive even slight temperature increases. In contrast, subtidal species from all habitat...Defense Department awards Stanford nearly $5.3 million for a 'revolutionary' biosciences project
...unication. "Biological systems are very complex," observes Claire J. Tomlin, assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics. As one of the 10 DARPA researchers, Tomlin will use her expertise in air traffic control systems to simulate genetic regulatory networks in cells. "We are working on a mathematica...Discovery of armored viruses may inspire new designs for nanotechnology
...a manner similar to the five-ring Olympic symbol," observes Tsuruta. "Together, the rings form a rigid, spherical cage shaped like a 20-sided soccer ball." This unique chain-link structure makes the HK97 virus extraordinarily stable, adds Scripps biologist John E. Johnson, a co-author of the Science study. ...Uncovering structure of cellular switch could aid design of cancer-fighting drugs
...he design of drugs and finally to clinical trials, observes Douglas D. McGregor, associate dean for research in the College of Veterinary Medicine. He points to Cornell's expertise in chemical biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, the universitywide Genomics Initiative and MacCHESS, as well as to the ...Scientists figure out how cells' tiniest motors work
... - but the cores of their motors are very similar, observes Sarah Rice, lead author onthe paper and a UCSF graduate student in cellular and molecular pharmacology. "The two motors handle the ATP chemical energy in a similar way," Rice says, "but the two types ofmotors evolved different solutions to create mo...MIT study assesses effects of Kyoto Protocol
...uld greatly reduce costs of meeting the Protocol," observes Dr. JohnReilly, lead author of the paper and associate director for research at the MITJoint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. "Economicallyefficient policies will be required that encourage reduction of these emissions-- not an eas...X-Ray Concentrator Will Expand Window On High-Energy Universe
...aunch in April 1999. The Chandra X-ray Observatory observes in the 0.1 to 10 keV range. CapillaryX-ray optics will extend the observable range from 10 to 80 keV range. Blueprints for proteins Improved drugs to treat cancers and other diseases may be designed with the helpof capillary X-ray optics. "We ex...News Backgrounder: Duke Primate Center Successfully Fosters Mysterious Aye-Ayes
...nels cut into the depths of pieces of lumber, then observes howthe animals use their finger-tapping sonar to detect mealworms placed in thetunnels. "Essentially, I've tried to understand what cues the aye-aye uses infinding prey beneath the wood surface," said Erickson. His first studiesattempted to d...Transplanted Neurons Restore Function In Rats After Stroke
...one inimproving movement and behavioral recovery," observes Sanberg. The University of South Florida Health Sciences Center has graduated2,000 doctors, 3,300 nurses, and 1,000 public health professionals. In1996-1997, 350 faculty-physicians in the College of Medicine handled 470,000patient visits, HSC spons......ig; not fibre æ was responsible. Dr Topping observes some of the new plant-based plastics now coming ontothe market are made mostly of resistant starch æ although he doesnot advise anyone to eat them in their present form. Nevertheless, one daythe idea of "edible plastics" may not be as strange a...