ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Soft spheres settle in somewhat surprising structure
• Epigenetic 'memory' key to nature versus nurture
• New photonic crystals have both electronic and optical properties
• Pocket chemistry: DNA helps glucose meters measure more than sugar
• Graphene's 'quantum leap' takes electronics a step closer
• Two genetic variations predict second cancers after radiation for children with Hodgkin lymphoma

Soft spheres settle in somewhat surprising structure Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:55 AM PDT Latex paints and drug suspensions such as insulin or amoxicillin that do not need to be shaken or stirred may be possible thanks to a new understanding of how particles separate in liquids, according to chemical engineers, who have developed a method for predicting the way colloidal components separate based on energy.

Epigenetic 'memory' key to nature versus nurture Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:55 AM PDT Researchers have made a discovery that explains how an organism can create a biological memory of some variable condition, such as quality of nutrition or temperature. The discovery explains the mechanism of this memory -- a sort of biological switch -- and how it can also be inherited by offspring.

New photonic crystals have both electronic and optical properties Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:55 AM PDT In an advance that could open new avenues for solar cells, lasers, metamaterials and more, researchers have demonstrated the first optoelectronically active 3-D photonic crystal.

Pocket chemistry: DNA helps glucose meters measure more than sugar Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:55 AM PDT Glucose meters aren't just for diabetics anymore. Thanks to a team of chemists, they can be partnered with functional DNA sensors as simple, portable, inexpensive meters for a number of target molecules in blood, serum, water or food. The researchers demonstrated using functional DNA with glucose meters to detect cocaine, the disease marker interferon, adenosine and uranium. The two-step method could be used to detect any kind of molecule that a functional DNA or RNA can bind.

Graphene's 'quantum leap' takes electronics a step closer Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:55 AM PDT The Nobel Prize winning scientists Professor Andre Geim and Professor Kostya Novoselov have taken a huge step forward towards creating electronics from wonder material graphene.

Two genetic variations predict second cancers after radiation for children with Hodgkin lymphoma Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:55 AM PDT A genome-wide association study found two tiny genetic variations that predict which patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma are likely to develop radiation-induced second cancers years after treatment. This could help physicians reduce the risks for susceptible patients. Younger the patients and those who receive more radiation are most at risk. This late side effect is the second leading cause of death for Hodgkin's survivors.

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