Issue # 172 _ June 2010
S&T Policy
Planning

Points of agreement
National conference seeks ways to improve science, technology and innovation policies
By Fabrício MarquesDisseminating information

Diverging paths
Partnership between scientists and journalists in favor of scientific culture are still far apart
By Mariluce MouraEnvironment

Jungle democracy
Possibility of reconciling exploitation and conservation of the forest brings government and entrepreneurs together, but faces resistance
By Carlos FioravantiPublic policies

Increasing demand for energy
Using idle land could expand biofuel and food production
By Carlos FioravantiPublic health

Patient at the other end of the line
Smartphone tested for collecting field data to feed online medical records
By Marcos PivettaScience
Biology

The synthesis of creation
First organism controlled by an artificial genome proves that DNA really is the chemical recipe of life
By Marcos PivettaBiology

The impact of transforming one life into another
Venter's technological feat spurred a media revolution like that of the cloning of the sheep Dolly in 1996
By Mayana ZatzBiology

Craig Venter, a necessary good
The scientist is like a naughty boy who is after the tasty tidbits, whether this is completing the human genome as fast as possible or making a bacterium from scratch
By João MeidanisBiology

Synthetic biology and bioenergy
How the discovery that it is possible to transfer a genome created in a lab may affect biofuel technologies
By Marcos BuckeridgePhysiology

Fear in the air
Biologists identify proteins that indicate the presence of predators to mice
By Ricardo ZorzettoEpidemiology

Halting steps
New studies show how to detect and reduce the risk of falls among the aged
By Maria GuimarãesEcology

The sloth's hidden friend
Mammal's fur is home to a type of symbiotic green algae not found elsewhere in nature
By Marcos PivettaAstrophysics

The secret of Perseus
Simulations help to explain the high temperature of the gas found in agglomerations in the galaxy
By Salvador NogueiraTechnology
Physics
The brightest light
Laboratory completes project for new synchrotron light production ring
By Marcos de OliveiraComputer Science

Virtual convergence
Microsoft Research uses anti-spam screening logic to find vulnerable points in HIV virus
By Dinorah ErenoComputer Engineering

Vegetable code
A system to identify fruit and vegetables automatically
By Evanildo da Silveira