Science

Gas, gas, quick boys

TERRORISM is most commonly associated with the bomb and the bullet, but ever since an incident on the Tokyo subway system in 1995, the security services have also had to worry about poison gas. That attack, which used a nerve-gas called sarin, killed 12 people and severely injured another 50. Sarin is to be feared because it is invisible, odourless and 500 times more deadly than cyanide. But other gases (not least cyanide itself) could be used instead.

AIDS Denialism vs. Science (Skeptical Inquirer September / October 2007)

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has killed more than twenty-five million people and remains a major threat to humankind (UNAIDS 2006). The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS by undermining the immune system, eventually resulting in death (Simon et al. 2006). Although no cure has been discovered, scientific advances have resulted in the development of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (Brocklehurst 2006) and to extend the lives of ...

'Surprises' discovered in Herod's tomb

An Israeli archaeological team released more details Wednesday about what it believes is Herod's tomb, uncovering new sarcophogi and an amphitheatre in the ancient monument built by the New Testament figure. "It is outstanding to discover such surprises," says archaeologist Ehus Netzer of Hebrew University, who led the team, by phone.

A Robot Network Seeks to Enlist Your Computer

In a windowless room on Microsoft’s campus here, T. J. Campana, a cybercrime investigator, connects an unprotected computer running an early version of Windows XP to the Internet. In about 30 seconds the computer is “owned.”

Olfactory diagnostics | Smelling bad

Doctors may soon have a new diagnostic tool in their kit bags

Global warming | A changing climate of opinion?

Some scientists think climate change needs a more radical approach. As well as trying to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, they have plans to re-engineer the Earth