Ice work

The mystery of how ice forms may have been solved and the discovery could have a huge impact on earth's climate.  The smallest pieces of ice were trapped and photographed by British and German scientists using a tunnelling microscope.  They found the nanoclusters - made up of water molecules - bonded to each other with varying degrees of strength.  The findings may improve our knowledge of cloud formation, which could be used to control climate in future.

Omega 3

Blindness could be prevented by eating more oily fish.  Omega 3 fatty acids , found in oily fish, may protect against blindness caused by abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.

White blood cells rebuild immune system

People who have life-threatening treatments such as chemotherapy could be given a brand new immune system.  Scientists have been given permission to collect and store white blood cells from healthy people.  They can be used to rebuild the immune system should it be lost because of HIV infection, autoimmune disease, or cancer treatment.

Many people about to undergo chemotherapy have immune cells extracted and stored.  But there is a risk that the cells might have suffered previous cancer damage.  ‘Instead, we can send them their ‘pristine’ cells from 25 years ago, Mr Delaronde told new scientist magazine.

In the case of HIV, which progressively destroys immune cells, the cells could be replaced once a year after being grown in the laboratory.  But such an approach, which appears to work in monkeys, has not yet been demonstrated in humans.  Also, some types of white blood cells may not survive freezing.

Asthma

A study has suggested that one possible reason for the rise of asthma in children could be a chemical used in Teflon non-stick coating. Per fluoro-octanoic acid may target the immune system to overreact to allergy triggers such as the dust mite.  DuPont, which makes Teflon plastic coatings, said the chemical was unlikely to cause allergy related problems in humans.

Less Pain

Hypnosis can cut the feeling of acute pain by a third.  In a study thirteen people were tested by having increasing levels of laser stimuli on their hands – once in a normal state and then while hypnotised.  Perception of intense pain was significantly altered while participants were under hypnosis.

For smokers

A type of cigarette with 70% less nicotine and no toxic substances to harm passive smokers has been invented.  The cigarettes, which ‘look and taste like the real thing’, are due to be launched shortly.  They will go on sale in Belgium soon, then in the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and may be rolled out across Europe.  They were created by researchers at a Belgian university.

Liquid telescope on moon

A giant ‘liquid’ telescope 1000 times more powerful than those in today's observations could one day be built on the moon.  The telescope would use a highly reflective liquid reflector which can withstand lunar temperatures of –143°C (-225°F).  Without the earth’s fuzzy atmosphere as a hindrance, it could observe remote images extremely well, Canadian scientists said.

Time team

A team of archaeologists is racing against time to rescue clues about an ancient kingdom, which existed between 2000 and 1500BC.  So far, a cemetery and a gold processing centre have been unearthed at the first sub-Saharan state – the kingdom of Kush.  However, the site in Hosh el-Geruf, about 365km north of Khartoum, Sudan, could be flooded by as early as next year, due to the steadily rising river Nile.

Pesticide

Pesticide use on house plants has been linked to brain cancer.  A French study of 700 people showed that exposure to pesticides increased their chances of developing brain tumours.  Agricultural workers and people using these chemicals at home were found to be twice as likely to develop cancer as those with no exposure.

Pill to hold back menopause

Scientists are developing a new drug that could delay the menopause.  Experts say the breakthrough could lead to women being able to choose to have a child later than ever before.

Professor Robert Winston who leads a team at Imperial College, London has pinpointed the protein it believes could be used to extend the life of women's egg.  They now hope to develop it into an easy-to-use pill or injection

Eye Light

A mutant gene which causes blindness in babies has been identified.  Researchers investigating an inherited retinal degenerative disorder believe it is caused by a faulty gene.

Too much sun can harm unborn babies

Heat exposure at the start of pregnancy puts the foetus at risk of having a lower than expected birth-weight, doctors suggested.  Some studies have suggested that babies can be affected by heat during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.  Similarly , exposure to low temperatures in the final three months of pregnancy may have a similar effect.

Dirty snow

Global warming campaigners now have a new enemy - dirty snow.  The soot infused snow is darker than normal snow and therefore reflects less sunlight back into space and has less of a cooling effect.  Dirty snow could be as damaging as greenhouse gases.