Spread the love, not the cancer
HPV is known to be the cause of cervical cancer in almost all cases. A new study shows the same virus can increase a person’s chances of developing throat cancer by 38 times or 58 times if individuals test positive for HPV-16, a fiercer strain of the virus. In comparison to patients that had never engaged in oral sex, those with one to five oral-sex partners were at twice the risk of getting throat cancer. Having more than five oral-sex partners increased their chances of getting the disease by 250 per cent. Astoundingly, participants who had more than five oral-sex partners and tested positive for HPV-16 had a 750 per cent higher chance than normal. Researchers hope this new information will put HPV on the list of throat cancer risks and encourage more men to get the HPV vaccine.
SOURCE: NewScientist.com news service
-Andrea Yeomans
Newfound planet gets major sunburn
A research team at the University of Central Florida has recently discovered what they believe to be the hottest and blackest planet ever found. The Spitzer Space Telescope has provided data indicating that planet HD 149026b reaches temperatures as high as 2040º Celsius, comparable to the temperature of some small stars. The planet is 25 times nearer to its star than the Earth is to the Sun and it does not seem to reflect any of the light it receives from its star. The reason behind the planet’s high temperature is not known, but it is speculated that “heavy” elements – those that are not helium or hydrogen – in the atmosphere could be the culprit. These elements may possibly soak up all of the light the planet receives, thereby causing it to heat up.
SOURCE: NewScientist.com news service
-A.Y.
Plastic blood thwarts vampires
Fake blood could soon be making appearances in more places than just movie sets. Scientists from the University of Sheffield have developed a prototype of a synthetic “plastic blood”. Plastic molecules link together forming a tree-like structure that permits oxygen to bind to the iron core, similar to how oxygen binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells. “Plastic blood” has many advantages over its natural counterpart. Real blood must be refrigerated, thrown away after 35 days, and is cumbersome to transport. “Plastic blood” has a much longer shelf life and can withstand room temperature conditions. Also, it could potentially be carried in a blood bag as a paste and then mixed with water immediately before it is administered, making it much lighter to carry. Although still in its development stage, scientists at the University are hopeful that the armed forces and emergency response units could one day use the new technology to save lives.
SOURCE: University of Sheffield news release
-A.Y.
