Small wonder

Shake a few bits of silicon in a petri-dish containing water and lo, you have a three-dimensional structure!

Saviour steroids

A new theory attempts to explain the mystery behind steroid hormones' anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressive qualities

Yeastly tales

Mating practices of yeast cells provide some pointers to the little-known area of asymmetrical cell division

On hoary grey cells

There is new evidence that the human brain does not generally disintegrate with advancing age. And that even if it does, the maladies are curable

Temperamental fabric

The weather may be unpredictable but this new fabric quickly adjusts to its mood swings and maintains a balance between your body temperature and …

Not junk

Introns, which till recently were seen just as junk DNA, might be playing an important role in coding

The omega of it

Research points to the existence of a developmentally regulated gene that does not encode any protein

New life for nerves forgotten

Preliminary studies reveal that a particular group of compounds could go a long way in regenerating nerves damaged by diseases such as multiple …

Tough time, safe landing

Results of simulated landings using the global positioning system show that planes can now land safely even in zero visibility

Destination drive

The Japanese have come up with a new software that guides drivers about the best route to where they are headed, avoiding the traffic jams on way

The bending details

At the spring meeting of the Materials Research Society, researchers for the first time showed what happens at the atomic level when a material bends

Return of a fabric

Instant success, total failure and stupendous return -polyester completes the cycle and comes out of oblivion to hit the market once again

To wake you up

Good news for somnolent drivers: a new system that wakes them up if they are feeling drowsy on the wheels is all set to enter the market

Toxic truths

A soil bacterium produces a lethal toxin which kills insects as they chew their way into a plant

Tumour truths

The p53 protein's association with tumours is probed further, leading to revelations about tumour growth

Stable switch

A flicker of brain signals received by a 'mind switch' and 10, disabled people can do a lot of handy work!

Mission: Planet Earth

NASA scientists have developed a new space-based imager with very high resolution which will help foresters, farmers and geologists, and lay the …

Balancing boulders

Earthquake- free regions may be pinpointed by studying the number of delicately poised rocks that dot them

Exploring a deep gusher

Discovering Mars, a tantalisingly vast oilfield beneath the waves of the Gulf of Mexico, is petroleum giant Shell's big achievement, and the …

Diamonds are not forever

Scientists are busy looking for a compound which they say is going to replace diamond as the hardest substance

Birth of a molecule

The first human-made three dimensional molecule, christened 'dendrimer: could give a fillip to industries like cosmetics, computer chips and gene …

Dealing with fetish

Purposeless preoccupations of the mind like the constant worry of the well being of loved ones can be treated by effective behavioural treatment

Sounds like panacea

Regulating the supply of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, could be the first step towards a therapeutic cure for cocaine addiction, schizophrenia …

It's on the air

The new high speed radio network is set to take over the UK. its cheaper and more convenient, but watch out for the aesthetics

Matters of hearth

Development of a low-cost kiln for baking pottery in rural areas comes as a boon to those dependent on this ancient craft for a living. At the …