| Science cuts: threatened projects The Diamond Light Source – a facility which supplies important information for disease research – is among those under threatDiamond Light SourceSynchrotron light is created by accelerating electrons to produce beams of x-rays, ultraviolet and infrared rays. Researchers at the Oxfordshire facility can use these to study samples at an atomic and molecular level. The light from Diamond has been used in everything from basic research into the understanding of diseases such as Parkinson's and cancer to pandemic flu and HIV. Hundreds of protein structures have been analysed here and more than 430 scientific papers have been written using Diamond data in the past two years.IsisThis facility, an Oxfordshire neighbour of Diamond, uses beams of neutrons to probe the tiniest 3D structures. Neutrons can give information on the location and movement of light atoms such as hydrogen and lithium, which are not so easy to see with x-rays.The beams from Isis were used to help in the design of the ultra-strong and ultra-light materials used in the wings of the Airbus A380 aircraft. First opened in 1985, the facility employs about 400 staff and hosts about 2,000 scientists from 30 countries every year, who between them produce in excess of 400 scientific papers. A large expansion at a cost of £145m to the taxpayer was recently completed.CernThe international particle physics laboratory in Geneva is the birthplace of the world wide web and now home to the Large Hadron Collider, the 17-mile particle accelerator that smashes protons together to recreate the moments after the big bang. By examining the remnants of the collisions, scientists want to investigate the fundamental constituents of matter and look for the origins of mass and evidence of extra dimensions.Economic spinoffsAccording to the Campaign for Science and Engineering, every £1 spent on public or charitably funded research has given a return of 30p a year in perpetuity from direct or indirect GDP gains, on top of the direct gains of the research. From 2003 to 2007, 31 university "spin-outs" were floated on stock exchanges, with an initial value of £1.5bn, and 10 spin-outs were bought for a total of £1.9bn.Alok JhaScience policyLiberal-Conservative coalitionCernParticle physicsPhysicsAlok Jhaguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Strengthening La Nina could mean more hurricanes By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID 2010-09-09T17:21:36ZWASHINGTON (AP) -- The La Nina climate phenomenon is strengthening, increasing the likelihood an active hurricane season could get even busier.... hosted.ap.org |
Florida panthers bound back thanks to Texas mates By LAURAN NEERGAARD 2010-09-23T19:34:37ZWASHINGTON (AP) -- In the quest to save the endangered Florida panther, their Texas cousins were the cat's meow. Wildlife biologists moved eight female panthers from Texas - close relatives yet genetically distinct - into south Florida 15 years ago in hopes of boosting reproduction, and the immigration paid off.... hosted.ap.org |
Sparrow disease watch urged Health and biosecurity authorities in Tasmania are on the alert for another mass outbreak of salmonella in the state's sparrow population. abc.net.au |
Dot Earth: Winter Extremes Seen for Northwest, Southwest A cool Pacific will powerfully influence winter weather in western states. feeds.nytimes.com |