Major insights into evolution of life reported by UCLA molecular biologist

Humans might not be walking the face of the Earth were it not for the ancient fusing of two prokaryotes รข€" tiny life forms that do not have a cellular nucleus. UCLA molecular biologist James A. Lake reports important new insights about prokaryotes and the evolution of life in the Aug. 20 advance online edition of the journal Nature.

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Microsoft asks court to hold off on Word ban

(AP) -- Microsoft Corp. is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to allow it to keep selling Word software as it fights an unfavorable patent ruling.
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Inflatable heat shield tested in space for first time

One day, spacecraft may use inflatable shields, rather than heavy, solid ones, to protect themselves as they plunge into the atmosphere


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Gene experts see high-yield rice in flood zones (Reuters)

photoHONG KONG, Aug. 19, 2009 (Reuters) -- Researchers in Japan have identified two genes that make rice plants grow longer stems and survive floods, and hope this will enable farmers to grow high-yielding rice species in flood-prone areas. ... > read full story



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Google helps advertisers predict hot search topics

Google has developed a formula to predict hot online search topics in what promises to be a boon for businesses eager to target ads that accompany Internet search results.
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Watching stem cells repair the human brain

There is no known cure for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. But new hope, in the form of stem cells created from the patient's own bone marrow, can be found ― and literally seen ― in laboratories at Tel Aviv University.
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Space shuttle Discovery cleared for lift-off (AFP)

Space Shuttle Discovery at the Kennedy Space Center on August 4, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The space shuttle Discovery will blast off next Tuesday on a mission to the International Space Station, NASA said, clearing the launch after days of debate over safety issues.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Matt Stroshane)AFP - The space shuttle Discovery will blast off next Tuesday on a mission to the International Space Station, NASA said, clearing the launch after days of debate over safety issues.



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