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Scientists in China identify its powerful antioxidant properties. Other research highlights include fish-oil supplements for healthy hearts, incubation of turtle eggs, a new class of bisimides for transistors, non-viral gene carrier for p53 and fabricated metal-organic microtubes.

Following the signing of space collaboration agreement between China and Russia earlier this year, scientists at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) got a new chance to design their state-of-the-art space tools for a mission to Mars onboard a Russian spacecraft.

Malaysia will be sending its first astronauts to the International Space Station on 10 October, 2007 where they will be conducting 10 different experiments. One of the experiments is designed by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to understand the structure of protein under microgravity.

Scientists from The Asian Institute of Technology analysed remote sensing images around the Mesopotamia Marsh and identified how much of the marsh has disappeared.

Ultrahigh-energy cosmic particles are extremely rare—only 11 have been observed in 13 years. No one knows where they come from, or how they could have that much energy left over after the long journey through intergalactic and interstellar space. RIKEN is planning to observe them on board the International Space Station.

UPM researchers have developed BiOX, a new type of bismuth oxide nanoparticle, which is cheap and ecologically friendly to produce. Bismuth oxide is important in everyday life its non-toxic properties. It can be used as a substitute for lead, eradicating peptic ulcer bacteria, in cosmetics and in solid oxide fuel cell

Neanderthals could have spread as far east as central Asia and Siberia. Summaries of newsworthy papers include NO end to protein modification, Micro-managing HIV replication, The long and the short of fatty liver, The gene-mapper’s best friend, Learning in stressful times, HIV stuns immune cells and Mitochondrial downfall in Parkinson’s disease

One jellyfish can throw a swimmer into a panic, but relentless swarms can disrupt entire economies. The isolation of a promising new protein by Japanese researchers could help reverse the economic damage being done by exploding jellyfish populations

Scientists have confirmed that a powerful particle accelerator has recreated the intense conditions that existed just microseconds after the beginning of the universe.

Japanese neuroscientists from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute have uncovered a mechanism for an epileptic disorder which occurs in infants. “We hope to develop effective therapies for this intractable epilepsy from further work,” says project leader Kazuhiro Yamakawa.

Early farmers in eastern China used fire and flood control to manage coastal swamps and turn them into the first known rice paddy fields. Summaries of other newsworthy papers include MicroRNAs & metastasis, Effective gene silencing, Processing with superconducting circuits, Lovelock proposes global warming fix, Taking dendritic cells into medicine

Scientists in China have found that measuring potassium by gamma-ray spectroscopy is a cheap and easy way to assess weathering in rocks, which has implications for the construction and geotechnical industry.

The dung-aw, the pasyon, and the panagbiag are three Filipino traditional practices that differ in form, purpose, and content. However, a research establishes the interrelationship of these three in constructing life histories which makes them elements of the pakasaritaan ti biag or the Ilocanos’ narration of life histories.

Streaming JMCS is the next step in providing rich multimedia experience for 3G mobile users. A 3G mobile user can download and install a Java based application that will enable him to dynamically “stream” video contents to his mobile device using the high speed 3G network.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include In charge of biosensing, Fountain of youth and Finding co-dependent genes in fission yeast

Collective motion of molecules in a crystal could lead to new electronic devices

Multipolar-to-biopolar neuronal transition is essential during brain development. A team of Japanese scientists have determined that a protein called cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is required for neurons to develop their proper shape.

New research has revealed how protein filaments drive a key cellular process by physically wrapping around and constricting bits of cell membrane

Japanese and American scientists have discovered a bactericidal peptide in M cells that is connected with gut immunity. M cells ingest bacteria or viruses and deliver them to our immune system. This research will help scientists develop a drug delivery system that can deliver medicines specifically to M cells.

Serotonin is used faster in the winter by people suffering from seasonal depression when compared with a control group, according to research to be published in Neurpsychopharmacology this month. The research also shows that serotonin usage returns to normal both where depression is treated effectively and during the summer months.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Stem cells: Identifying self renewing cells, Climate change: British bog holds clue to ancient global warming and Geochemistry: Argon retention in terrestrial planets

Hydrogen ions produced in very hot water are used in the eco-friendly hydrolysis of cellulose. Other research highlights from Nature China include Gadd45a regulation, Stem-cell transplantation: Cut risks to the bone, Asian dust: Where the dust settles, Quantum dots: Two is not a crowd, Thin films: The stress test

According to the latest research report on “Customer Perceived Value in Hong Kong’s Retail Sector” conducted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Faculty of Business, both local and non-local shoppers are becoming less satisfied with the services of Hong Kong’s retail sector.

The world’s first database storing 3D head and face measurements of ethnic Chinese has come into use, after 18 months of dedicated efforts by pioneering researchers of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. As a result of this important ergonomic data, industrial designers will now be able to design products that fit Chinese people properly.

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) also known as Gumboro disease is the second most important poultry disease after Newcastle disease. In this study, we reported for the first time the use of Sybr Green I based real-time PCR to differentiate different strains of IBD virus.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Biochemical pay dirt in Nature Chemical Biology, Delicate and dynamic immunological equilibrium in Nature Immunology and Many targets – one tube in Nature Methods

Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of shrimps, yet its share of the world largest shrimp market - the European Union - is proportionally far lower. This project aims to understanding the problems and devise solutions and training to boost the incomes of many poor farmers and improve access to the European Union market.

Japanese scientists describe crystal structures at the heart of antitumor compound synthesis

A RIKEN-led team of researchers from Japan and the US has used an innovative combination of genome survey techniques in live Drosophila fruit flies to reveal a previously unknown master gene involved in setting circadian rhythms.

"Biotechnology has the potential to produce more food to meet the increasing demand in developing countries, but it must be nutritionally and environmentally safe." Representatives and scientists from 16 countries and three international organizations met in Syria to develop an integrated regional framework on biotechnology and biosafety.