Scientists have found that subjects with injuries to a particular part of the brain – the insula – can instantly and permanently break a smoking habit, opening up new areas of research into addiction.

A very simple tutorial to how to get to see your own DNA in a few minutes time. There are also links to the more advanced genetics hackers who want to do more in their home.

OK, who said medicine and cutting edge medical procedures were difficult? In less effort than it takes to cook a meal, you can freeze your own amniotic stem cells for future use with this exceedingly simple howto (and a strong stomach).

The Pillars of Creation, a gaseous /dusty area which resemble pillars: are considered the birthplace of planets as many young planets can be seen inside them using IR: The above pictures were taken in 1995. In a dramatic turn of events, some huge force has blown the pillars to bits, around 6000 years ago. People Read more about Pillars of creation toppled by something[…]

A metamaterial with a negative refractive index for visible light has been developed. Welcome to the cloaking device – fer real this time.

And it’s huge – it’s 4,000 km across and 50 light years away from us. It’s the compressed heart of an old star.

The university of Dresden has developed a simulator in a java applet which allows you to change loads of variables on a road with an inroad in an attempt to see what causes traffic jams. Watch your road congest in front of your eyes as you add traffic lights!

This drug, Varenicline (champix), mimics the effect of nicoting on the body, allowing people to stop smoking without the withdrawl symtoms and few side effects.

A group of psychologists have created a list of the 100 most dangerous murderers in London – before they’ve committed the murders. This minority report type study is being hailed as being ‘obscene’, even though apparently spying on your citizens day and night isn’t. There are plans to arrest the would be murderers allthoug no Read more about Pre murder suspects[…]

Apparently materials containing titanium dioxide break down smog. Structures and roads have been coated with this stuff, which has lead to a reduction up to 60% (depending on light and temperature) of smog in that area. The material itself stays clean as well, reducing cleanup costs. There have been no long term studies, and considering Read more about Smog eating coating[…]

Just the optical illusion of moving a phantom limb in VR cures amputees of Phantom Limb Pain (PLP), researchers have discovered. It doesn’t even have to be a particularly realistic illusion either, as the graphics on the page show.

Researchers have found a way to spur the growth of stem cells in adult brains. Great news for sufferers of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and MS. Can we use it to increase our brain capacity even if we’re not ill?!

Travellers on the space elevator may be killed by the radiation in the van Allen belts around the earth between 1000 and 20000 km away from the earth. Because the elevator travels at 200 mph, passengers will be exposed for days to the radiation, whereas rocket travellers go much faster. I wonder how they solved Read more about Space elevator may kill[…]

Pieces of wire stimulating different areas of the brain silmutaneously controlled through a circuitboard shows that the brain associates the two areas and can allow you to bypass damaged areas, which is especially hopeful for stroke or spinal-cord injury victims.

Scottish scientists have developed a sticker / plaster which activates the anti-skin cancer cream using light allowing patients to have the treatment on the go instead of having to lie motionless for hours under cumbersome hospital equipment. Initial studies are very promising.

Apparently the blue dye in jeans, when inserted in cells and activated by red light destroy said cell. As cancer cells are voracious there is a way to get them and nothing else to eat the blue dye. Zap with red light and off it goes.

These boffins have managed to win the jackpot worth $13 million using probability theory. Or did they? They’ve been going at it for the past eight years…

NASA has set up two annual competitions to spur development of space elevator technologies – one in which the robot climber has to go up the tether at a minimum speed of 1m per second and one to measure the strength of the tether itself.

And we get to watch it – aparently these are the best pictures we’ve had yet of the closest colliding galaxy to ours.

Putting paid to all those namby pambies who find smacking children cruel, a 32 year running study has shown that children that were smacked on the butt, arms or legs with an open hand do better in society than kids that weren’t smacked.

Can be caused by zapping parts of the brain with electricity.

Whilst we have been able to teleport single atoms and light for a few years now, finally another breakthrough has been made in Denmark, where they have managed to teleport a macroscopic atomic object containing thousands of billions of atoms half a metre. The scientists use light as a carrier of information using entanglement and Read more about Teleportation II[…]

The Ig Nobel Prizes are given by Harvard to scientists that is improbable yet thought provoking. Some of the winners might seem absurd, but past Ig laureates have made massive commercial successes out of their research or inventions. At 7.15 PM Boston time the event will begin, also viewable on a live webcast.

Early indications show that sulfasalazine can reverse liver scarring of diseased livers. The treatment would be cheap tablets.

This is an amazing animation of the movement of cells within your body. Very beautiful.