Imperial-News 110

Imperial-News 110 - 6 February 2004

Welcome to the latest edition of Imperial-News. Delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, Imperial-News keeps you up to date with the latest developments at Imperial College London.

In this edition: Plant power could solve future energy needs and Christina Aguilera's penchant for meagre attire doesn't predispose her to colds, scientist says.

Judith H Moore

>>> Plant power could solve future energy needs
Imperial researchers report this week they have solved the structure of the molecular reaction centre that plants use to split water during photosynthesis. The team led by Professor So Iwata of the Department of Biological Sciences suggest visualising the centre provides an insight into a possible method of producing a cheap supply of hydrogen in the future. "Researchers have investigated using electrolysis to split water into oxygen and hydrogen but today it costs ten times as much as natural gas, and is three times as expensive as gasoline. Yet nature figured out how to split water using sunlight in an energy efficient way 2.5 billion years ago. By revealing the structure of the water splitting centre we can begin to unravel how to perform this task in an energy efficient way too."
www.imperial.ac.uk/P4881

www.reuters.com

>>> Catapulted to stardom
Catapult designers were the celebrity scientists of the ancient world, according to new research by Dr Serafina Cuomo of Imperial's Centre of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine. Speaking to the Scotsman (06/02/04), Dr Cuomo explains that until the discovery of gunpowder, the catapult was the most powerful weapon in existence. Their construction required great mathematical and engineering skill and became a science in itself, known as 'belopoietics'. "Ancient engineers saw their knowledge as cumulative and progressive and believed that they were making an important contribution to the welfare of cities and the power of kings," wrote Dr Cuomo in this week's edition of Science.
news.scotsman.com

>>> Aguilera's penchant for meagre attire doesn't predispose her to colds
Dr Andrew Williams of the Department of Biological Sciences reassures us this week that Christina Aguilera's preference for wearing very small clothes doesn't predispose her to catching colds. In a letter to the Times (02/02/04) Dr Williams writes: "If Ms Aguilera went rowing across the Atlantic in the middle of winter, wearing nothing but nipple caps and a G-string, she would be no more susceptible to catching a cold than if she remained tucked up in bed with her favourite book. Many people, including journalists, fail to make the vital connection between getting a cold and coming into contact with a virus. No virus, no cold (bacteria do not cause colds)."
www.timesonline.co.uk

>>> Regulation of Antarctic research required
Antarctic organisms are facing an onslaught of biotech companies keen to exploit their unique nature, according to research out this week. Commenting, Dr Nick Russell of the Department of Agricultural Sciences said the introduction of regulations would help clarify who owned information that came from research on the continent. "Most scientists are confused about this. It's an extremely grey area and it does need to be clarified," he told the Guardian (02/02/04).
www.guardian.co.uk/antarctic

>>> Researchers pinpoint gene in Vitamin K that aids blood clotting
A new treatment for potentially fatal blood clots could be in the pipeline thanks to Imperial researchers. By investigating the blood clotting properties of vitamin K they have been able to pinpoint the gene essential to the process. The results will aid scientists' understanding of how current warfarin treatment thins the blood to prevent clot formation and will allow them to develop new therapies. "This is an exciting discovery," said Professor Ted Tuddenham of the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre at Imperial. "Pinpointing the target of warfarin will help us find out more about how vitamin K works. And this may lead to the development of more effective blood thinning treatments for all those whose health is at risk from the formation of blood clots."
news.bbc.co.uk