A Week of Science 
(20/1/2006 to 26/1/2006)

IOL Health & Science Staff

Jan. 30, 2006

'No Link' Between Cell Phones and Brain Tumors

January 20, 2006

The largest study so far has found no evidence of a link between cell phone use and brain tumors. The epidemiological survey found no evidence that using a cell phone increased the risk of developing a tumor or that prolonged usage increased risk either.

Thames Whale Amazes and Intrigues

January 21, 2006

The rare sight of a whale in the Thames in central London brought crowds—and the world's media—out to the banks of the river. Hundreds of onlookers watched in wonder as the northern bottle-nosed whale, an endangered species, swam in the river on Friday.

Dirt 'May Hold Clue' to Super Bugs

January 22, 2006

Studying bacteria in the soil may provide key clues to understanding how so-called super bugs develop resistance to antibiotics, research suggests. Canadian scientists tested 480 different soil bacteria and found every single one had some resistance to major classes of antibiotics.

Asia 'Leads Europe' In Science Spending

January 23, 2006

China has played a major role in helping Asia overtake Europe in research and development spending, according to a report released last month (December 2005) by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It says that from 1997 to 2002, Asian funding from public and private sources rose by four per cent, enabling Asia to account for 32 per cent of global research spending. Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa contributed just 0.1 per cent of the global total.

ED May Signal Heart Trouble

January 24, 2006

Erectile dysfunction may be a warning sign of serious heart disease. Recent studies have tied erectile dysfunction to vascular disease, but this study links it with abnormal results on cardiac stress testing. One recent report found that men who had no problems with sexual function at the start of the seven-year study but later developed erectile dysfunction were 25 percent more likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared with those who did not develop erectile dysfunction.

Scientists Find 'Smallest Fish'

January 25, 2006

Scientists have discovered the smallest known fish on record in the peat swamps of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Mature individuals of the Paedocypris genus can be as small as 7.9mm (0.3in) long, researchers write in a journal published by the UK's Royal Society.

Animal Research Suggests Perimenopause Is a Critical Time for Women's Health

January 26, 2006

Research in monkeys suggests that the perimenopause—the five to 10 years before a woman's menopause—is a critical time for preventing heart disease and osteoporosis. Research in animals suggests that the five years before menopause are when bone is lost and when heart vessel disease begins to accelerate."

Source: ScienceDaily.com