Resurrected 4-Billion-Year-Old Protein Reveals Clues to Evolution of Shape

Proteins today possess an impressive degree of structural diversity. Yet exactly how these shapes evolved has long remained a mystery. Now, scientists are unraveling exactly how these 3D structures arose by resurrecting a 4-billion-year-old Precambrian protein in the laboratory.

Strontium lattice clock and the new ‘Second’: World evolves to 21st Century Optical ‘Time’

A new atomic clock, using optical frequencies rather than microwave frequencies, may be used to redefine the SI unit of time, the 'second'. Believed to be three times more accurate than any previously built clock, we are now evolving to the 21st Century timekeeping.

Britain may approve world’s first three-parent baby

The world's first "three-parent baby" could be born in Britain by 2015, if detailed proposals for regulating the procedure pass a public consultation and are approved by Parliament next year.

Sound waves precisely position nanowires

The smaller components become, the more difficult it is to create patterns in an economical and reproducible way, according to an interdisciplinary team of researchers who, using sound waves, can place nanowires in repeatable patterns for potential use in a variety of sensors, optoelectronics and nanoscale circuits.

‘Chimera’ states are real: Invisible tug-of-war behind bad hearts and power grids

Systems such as a beating heart or a power grid that depend on the synchronized movement of their parts could fall prey to an invisible and chaotic tug-of-war known as a “chimera.”

GMO: Why genetically modified crops fail to fight pests

A new global assessment helps scientists explain why genetically modified crops have suppressed some pests for longer than a decade, while others adapted in a few years.

6-foot-long “Lizard King”, Giant Reptiles Coexisted with Mammals

The Lizard King, one of the biggest known lizards to ever live on land roamed tropical forests alongside mammals in the forests of Southeast Asia for food and other resources. some 40 million years ago. A team of paleontologists think that the warm climate during that period of time allowed the evolution of a large body size and the ability of plant-eating lizards to successfully compete in mammal faunas.

To improve today’s concrete, do as the Romans did

Ancient Roman structures that have withstood the elements for more than 2,000 years and has remained coherent against aggressive maritime environments are showing engineers how to make today’s concrete more durable and sustainable. The new engineering research says that the production of lime for Roman concrete is much cleaner, requiring temperatures that are two-thirds of that required for making Portland cement. What's the Ancient Romans' secret ingredient, yet not so secret, that science just discovered now? Volcanic ash.

Lost in Translocation? How Bird Song Could Help Save Species

Translocation -- or moving animals to safer places -- is a vital tool for saving species from extinction. Many factors influence the success of these new populations, including habitat quality, predators, capture and release techniques, the number and sex of individuals, and their genetic diversity. Now new research, the first of its kind, suggests bird song could also be important.

Earth’s iron core is surprisingly weak, Researchers say

The researchers used a diamond anvil cell to squeeze iron at pressures as high as 3 million times that felt at sea level to recreate conditions at the center of Earth. The findings could refine theories of how the planet and its core evolved.

Moon and Earth have common water source

Researchers used a multicollector ion microprobe to study hydrogen-deuterium ratios in lunar rock and on Earth. Their conclusion: The Moon’s water did not come from comets but was already present on Earth 4.5 billion years ago, when a giant collision sent material from Earth to form the Moon.

ELISA, the Bioterrorism Defense: New test quickly detects if food is contaminated

Sales of chicken products in China plummeted recently during an outbreak of a deadly new strain of bird flu. From bird flu to mad cow disease, numerous food scares have made global headlines in recent years. Now scientists invented a new technique which could make food contamination testing more rapid and accurate. The new test, called ELISA, could also accelerate warnings after bioterrorism attacks to only one hour, compared to four to six hours which the standard method now used.