BiotechMashup

A nanomaterial originally developed to fight toxic waste is now helping reduce debilitating fumes in homes with corrosive drywall.

(American Institute of Physics) As a first line of defense, steel barrels buried deep underground are designed to keep dangerous plutonium waste from seeping into the soil and surrounding bedrock, and, eventually, contaminating the groundwater. But after several thousand years, those barrels will naturally begin to disintegrate due to corrosion. A team of scientists at Argonne National Lab in Argonne, Ill., has determined what may happen to this toxic waste once its container disappears.

(National Science Foundation) The National Science Foundation today announced Science Across Virtual Institutes, an effort to motivate collaboration among scientists and educators around the globe to spur scientific discovery. By connecting researchers with common interests and goals, SAVI can better leverage taxpayer resources while helping to address some of society's most vexing problems.

(National Science Foundation) The National Science Foundation today released the first in a series of video programs called Innovation Nation, hosted by veteran science and technology correspondent Miles O'Brien and currently airing nationally on the the Science Channel.

Just as we must take out the trash to keep our homes clean and safe, it is essential that our cells have mechanisms for dealing with wastes and worn-out proteins. When these processes are not working properly, unwanted debris builds up in the cell and creates a toxic environment. Now, a new study describes a master regulator of the intracellular recycling and waste removal process and suggests an alternative strategy for treatment of metabolic disorders associated with the abnormal accumulation of waste in the cell.

(University of Gothenburg) Although nuclear waste has been produced for a long time, there is still no good way to discard the highly toxic material, which remains hazardous for up to 130,000 years. In his new book titled "Nuclear Waste Management and Legitimacy: Nihilism and Responsibility," Mats Andren, professor in History of Ideas and Science at the University of Gothenburg, discusses the nuclear waste issue from a humanistic perspective.

(National Science Foundation) NBC News' educational arm, NBC Learn, and the NBC Sports Group recently teamed up with the National Hockey League and National Science Foundation to release "Science of NHL Hockey"--an informative 10-part video series exploring the science behind the fastest game on ice.

(National Science Foundation) On March 29, 2012, the National Science Foundation conducted a bipartisan congressional briefing sponsored by the Coalition for National Science Funding and hosted by the Congressional Research and Development Caucus and its Co-Chairs Rush Holt (NJ-12) and Judy Biggert (IL-13) and special guests Representatives Daniel Lipinski (IL-3) and Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18).

(National Science Foundation) The National Science Foundation, in cooperation with the Thirty Meter Telescope Project and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory invites journalists to attend Future Science: The Frontiers of 21st Century Astronomy.