Neil A Conway

California columnists: ACC lobbyists won the bag war Yesterday I blogged about how California residents feel about their legislature failing to pass a ban on plastic bags. Today, we’ll let columnists from several California newspapers weigh in. One common theme: The American Chemistry Council won this battle with… Clear Vinyl Source […]

Brainy worms: Scientists uncover counterpart of cerebral cortex in marine worms Unexpectedly, scientists have now discovered a true counterpart of the cerebral cortex in an invertebrate, a marine worm. Their findings give an idea of what the most ancient higher brain centers looked like, and what our distant ancestors used them for. clear menu holders […]

Capsaicin can act as co-carcinogen, study finds; Chili pepper component linked to skin cancer New research links capsaicin, a component of chili peppers, to skin cancer. While the molecular mechanisms of the cancer-promoting effects of capsaicin are not clear and remain controversial, the new research has shown a definite connection to formation of skin canc […]

Cranberry juice shows promise blocking Staph infections Expanding their scope of study on the mechanisms of bacterial infection, researchers have reported the surprise finding from a small clinical study that cranberry juice cocktail blocked a strain of Staphylococcus aureus from beginning the process of infection. clear menu holders […]

Computer technique could help partially sighted ‘see’ better Thousands of people who are partially sighted following stroke or brain injury could gain greater independence from a simple, cheap and accessible training course which could eventually be delivered from their mobile phones or hand-held games consoles, according to a new study. clear menu holders […]

Cancer-causing gene crucial in stem cell development, study finds A research team has shown for the first time that a gene called Myc, which is traditionally thought of as a cancer-causing gene, may be far more important in the development and persistence of stem cells than was known before. clear menu holders […]

Science’s policy clout diminished, but oil risk looms large, study finds More people are likely to believe scientific studies claiming that oil drilling is riskier, not safer, than was previously thought, according to a new study of attitudes in California. What’s more the findings show that scientists’ efforts to influence public opinion have a limited [... […]

Children who eat vended snack foods face chronic health problems, poor diet, study finds School children who consume foods purchased in vending machines are more likely to develop poor diet quality — and that may be associated with being overweight, obese or at risk for chronic health problems such as diabetes and coronary artery disease, […]

Miniature auto differential helps tiny aerial robots stay aloft Engineers have created a millionth-scale automobile differential to govern the flight of minuscule aerial robots that could someday be used to probe environmental hazards, forest fires, and other places too perilous for people. Their new approach is the first to passively balance the aerodynamic […]

Experiment records ultrafast chemical reaction with vibrational echoes To watch a magician transform a vase of flowers into a rabbit, it’s best to have a front-row seat. Likewise, for chemical transformations in solution, the best view belongs to the molecular spectators closest to the action. Those special molecules comprise the “first solvation shell,” and […]