A lead from the past
Evidence trawled from lake sediments in Sweden traces atmospheric lead pollution back to more than 2 millennia
A deep breath of fatal dust
An incurable lung disease digs the grave for workers employed in sandstone mines and brick and cement factories
Gasping for breath
Entire tree species face the threat of extinction from the increasing concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide
Windows for the Third World
Scientists claim highly insulating windows called "Low-E (emissivity)" windows could save considerable amounts of power in developing countries.
Inducing cell death to fight cancer
Some scientists claim tumours might be formed because cells refuse to die -- and not because they multiply at a high rate.
Conflict in the womb
An American biologist claims that a pregnant woman and her foetus are constantly engaged in a struggle with each other
The guests who came to kill
A new study suggests that the more the number of hosts a parasite feeds on, the more virulent it becomes
The bacteria behind the iron curtain
Microbiologists say a species of bacteria was responsible for iron deposits in the sedimentary layers that run hundreds of kilometres deep in the …
Enzymes that came in from the cold
The ability of microorganisms found in the Antarctic region to produce enzymes at low temperatures could save energy used for heating in …
Foetal tissue can cure terminal diseases
Tissue taken from aborted foetuses and implanted into the bodies of patients suffering from several incurable diseases has shown encouraging results
A drop of wood alcohal helps to perk up plants
Plants grow taller and faster if sprayed with a solution of methanol, claims an American farmer
Removing the slouches and aches from keyboards
Computer manufacturers have come up with new designs for keyboards that they claim, will help users avoid painful wrists and hunched shoulders.
AIDS drug trial leaves bitter taste behind
AIDS victims the world over are dismayed by the discovery that taking azidothymidine as soon as HIV infection is confirmed does not delay death …
Paper wasps early casteists
Wasps are among insects that live in highly organised colonies with a clear line of authority. But a wasp species studied recently disclosed some …
Computers set to conquer language barriers
Computers are poised to make it possible for people to speak to each other in their own languages.
Human hand inspires scientists
Engineers are trying to develop a mechanical hand that can handle objects with human sensitivity and prove to be a boon to scientists and doctors.
Front isn't best in a bus
Long bus journeys usually result in an aching back and queasy stomachs for passengers. But sitting in the front only worsens their discomfort.
A close encounter with Jupiter's secrets
Spacecraft Ulysses passed the largest planet in the solar system and picked up a rich haul of information before heading for the sun on its …
Car manufacturers spurring battery research
The flywheel is one of the options US car makers have in the search for better batteries to run electric cars that will meet future emission …
Roller-coaster riders inside cells
Specialised structures such as chromosomes were thought to float haphazardly in cells. Now, researchers believe tiny motors guide them on …
Fighting parasites with parasites
Scientists are fighting the uzi fly, a parasite of the silkworm, with a wasp-like insect that can help reduce that menace of the uzi fly, a …
Monsoon drops in some areas, increases in others
Annual rainfall is declining in some parts of the country and increasing in others. While the overall effect may be negligible, such trends could …
Ice caps may grow in higher temperatures
Research shows that a warmer earth may not melt polar ice and cause sea levels to rise, as has been feared so far.
Caffeine could fight cancer
Research shows that the once-dreaded caffeine can be used in the battle against certain cancers
Pudgy babies have the edge
Recent studies indicate that the greater the weight of babies at birth, the less prone they are to heart disease during their riotous adult years