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Maths predicts rise and fall of empires

Researchers have developed a new mathematical model that accurately describes the evolution of ancient empires.

The computer model can predict with 65% accuracy where and when the largest complex societies arose in human history.

The research, which suggests that intense warfare is the evolutionary driver of large complex societies, is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). It was carried out by researchers from the University of Exeter in collaboration with University of Connecticut and the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) in the US. (more…)

Cocaine use can make otherwise resistant immune cells susceptible to HIV

Health

In many ways, the spread of HIV has been fueled by substance abuse. Shared needles and drug users’ high-risk sexual behaviors are just some of the ways that narcotics such as cocaine have played a key role in the AIDS epidemic in much of the world.

There is, however, relatively little research into how drugs can impact the body’s defenses against the virus. But a new UCLA study published in the October issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology examines how cocaine affects a unique population of immune cells called quiescent CD4 T cells, which are resistant to the virus that causes AIDS. (more…)

The most important meal?

Health

Research shows a correlation between eating breakfast and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes

As Americans continue to fight the obesity epidemic and try to stem the incidence of type 2 diabetes, dietary guidelines are becoming increasingly important.

Among the possible keys to better health? Eating breakfast, for starters. (more…)

Flawed Diamonds: Gems for New Technology

Science

Using ultra-fast laser pulses, a team of researchers led by UA assistant professor Vanessa Huxter has made the first detailed observation of how energy travels through diamonds containing nitrogen-vacancy centers – promising candidates for a variety of technological advances such as quantum computing.

A team of researchers led by University of Arizona assistant professor Vanessa Huxter has made the first detailed observation of how energy travels through diamonds that contain nitrogen-vacancy centers – defects in which two adjacent carbon atoms in the diamond’s crystal structure are replaced by a single nitrogen atom and an empty gap. (more…)

Climate change: fast out of the gate, slow to the finish

Environment

Washington, D.C.— A great deal of research has focused on the amount of global warming resulting from increased greenhouse gas concentrations. But there has been relatively little study of the pace of the change following these increases. A new study by Carnegie’s Ken Caldeira and Nathan Myhrvold of Intellectual Ventures concludes that about half of the warming occurs within the first 10 years after an instantaneous step increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, but about one-quarter of the warming occurs more than a century after the step increase. Their work is published in Environmental Research Letters.

The study was the result of an unusual collaboration of a climate scientist, Ken Caldeira, who contributed to the recently published Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, and Nathan Myhrvold, the founder and CEO of a technology corporation, Intellectual Ventures LLC. It is the third paper on which they have collaborated. (more…)

Greenpeace-Aktivisten protestieren bundesweit für Freiheit ihrer inhaftierten Kollegen in Russland

Environment

30 Umweltschützern drohen bis zu 15 Jahre Haft

Hamburg, 4. 10. 2013 – In 30 Städten protestieren am morgigen Samstag Greenpeace-Aktivisten für die Freilassung ihrer in Russland inhaftierten Kollegen. Die 28 Aktivisten und zwei Journalisten befinden sich in russischer Untersuchungshaft und sind von einem Gericht in Murmansk wegen bandenmäßiger Piraterie angeklagt. Bei einer Verurteilung drohen ihnen bis zu 15 Jahre Haft.

Die Umweltschützer hatten gegen Ölbohrungen des russischen Ölkonzerns Gazprom in der Arktis protestiert. Einen Tag danach war das Greenpeace-Aktionsschiff „Arctic Sunrise“ von der Küstenwache in internationalen Gewässern geentert und nach Murmansk geschleppt worden. (more…)

A symbiosis

Science

Partnership study helps China examine safety for elderly

An unexpected partnership between the University of Delaware and the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology (BJAST) is proving to be a symbiotic relationship. (more…)

We are sorry to see this

Economy, Environment, Politics, Science

While U.S President Barack Obama blames House Speaker John Boehner for the Federal Government Shutdown, it already started to hit at the cores of scientific developments in America. Today we noticed that the website of USGS (U.S Geological Survey) whose logo says ‘Science for a changing World’ is unavailable.

It reads ‘Due to the Federal government shutdown, usgs.gov and most associated web sites are unavailable.’ (more…)