December 21, 2007

• An asteroid
  Asteroid
  Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
  
  , designated 2007 WD5
  2007 WD5
  ' is a diameter Apollo class near-Earth object and a Mars-crosser asteroid discovered on November 20, 2007, by Andrea Boattini of the Catalina Sky Survey. Early observations of 2007 WD5 caused excitement amongst the scientific community when it was estimated as having as high as a 1 in 25 chance...
  
  , is discovered to have a 1-in-75 chance to impact
  Impact crater
  In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
  
   the planet
  Planet
  A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
  
   Mars
  Mars
  Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
  
  . Future updates to the observed orbit
  Orbit
  In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
  
   are expected to change these odds over the next weeks. (Times)

• Through the discretion of the President of ISMCBBPR (International Society for Molecular and Cell Biology and Biotechnology Protocols and Researches), Isidro T. Savillo, the Molecule of the Year 2007 is the PKD2L1.(Scientists Solutions)

December 11, 2007

• The protein
  Protein
  Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
  
  -protein interaction between mutated Ras
  Ras
  Ras is the name given to a family of related proteins found inside cells, including human cells. All Ras protein family members belong to a class of protein called small GTPase, and are involved in transmitting signals within cells...
  
   and Raf
  C-Raf
  RAF proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase also known as proto-oncogene c-RAF or simply c-Raf is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the RAF1 gene. The c-Raf protein functions in the MAPK/ERK signal transduction pathway as part of a protein kinase cascade...
  
   has been shown to prevent a cell from turning one switch off, leading to the uncontrolled cell growth of cancer
  Cancer
  Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
  
  . (PhysOrg)
• Researchers found that computer programs commonly used to scan DNA
  DNA
  Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
  
   missed 29 to 61 percent of regulatory DNA. (ScienceDaily)
• Physicists complete the first quantum calculation – finding the prime factor
  Prime factor
  In number theory, the prime factors of a positive integer are the prime numbers that divide that integer exactly, without leaving a remainder. The process of finding these numbers is called integer factorization, or prime factorization. A prime factor can be visualized by understanding Euclid's...
  
  s of 15 – as a proof of concept to show if more complicated quantum computer
  Quantum computer
  A quantum computer is a device for computation that makes direct use of quantum mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data. Quantum computers are different from traditional computers based on transistors...
  
  s are made cryptography
  Cryptography
  Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
  
   based on large primes would be vulnerable. (PhysOrg)

December 9, 2007

• After another try to launch Space Shuttle Atlantis
  Space Shuttle Atlantis
  The Space Shuttle Atlantis is a retired Space Shuttle orbiter in the Space Shuttle fleet belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States...
  
   is scrubbed due to persistent problems with fuel sensors, NASA
  NASA
  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
  
   decides to reschedule STS-122
  STS-122
  STS-122 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station , flown by the Space Shuttle Atlantis. STS-122 marked the 24th shuttle mission to the ISS, and the 121st space shuttle flight since STS-1....
  
   for January 2008. (Reuters)

December 7, 2007

• The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis
  Space Shuttle Atlantis
  The Space Shuttle Atlantis is a retired Space Shuttle orbiter in the Space Shuttle fleet belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States...
  
   is delayed due to faulty sensor in the external tank
  Space Shuttle external tank
  A Space Shuttle External Tank is the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contains the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. During lift-off and ascent it supplies the fuel and oxidizer under pressure to the three Space Shuttle Main Engines in the orbiter...
  
  . (BBCNews)
• A study on Chikungunya
  Chikungunya
  Chikungunya virus is an insect-borne virus, of the genus Alphavirus, that is transmitted to humans by virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes. There have been recent breakouts of CHIKV associated with severe illness...
  
   published in Public Library of Science journal
  Public Library of Science
  The Public Library of Science is a nonprofit open-access scientific publishing project aimed at creating a library of open access journals and other scientific literature under an open content license...
  
   PLoS Pathogens
  PLoS Pathogens
  PLoS Pathogens is an open-access scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science. It publishes research and reviews on the biology of pathogens and host-pathogen interactions. The 2010 impact factor is 9.079....
  
  reports a mutation that allows the virus
  Virus
  A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
  
   to spread to new regions via the Aedes albopictus
  Asian tiger mosquito
  The Asian tiger mosquito or forest day mosquito, Aedes albopictus , from the mosquito family, is characterized by its black and white striped legs, and small black and white striped body...
  
  mosquito. (Reuters)

December 5, 2007

• The NRU
  National Research Universal Reactor
  The National Research Universal reactor, located in Chalk River, Ontario, is one of Canada’s national science facilities. It is a multipurpose science facility that serves three main roles....
  
   reactor
  Nuclear reactor
  A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
  
   at the Chalk River Laboratories
  Chalk River Laboratories
  The Chalk River Laboratories is a Canadian nuclear research facility located near Chalk River, about north-west of Ottawa in the province of Ontario.CRL is a site of major research and development to support and advance nuclear technology, in particular CANDU reactor...
  
  , Canada
  Canada
  Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
  
  , is shutdown for a longer period than expected, resulting in the loss of about 2/3 of the world's production capacity for medical radioisotopes
  Radionuclide
  A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus, which is a nucleus characterized by excess energy available to be imparted either to a newly created radiation particle within the nucleus or to an atomic electron. The radionuclide, in this process, undergoes radioactive decay, and emits gamma...
  
  . (CCTV) (Reuters)