October 2003

• Gene tweak halts mad cow disease

  Toxic by-product, not rogue proteins, may cause fatal brain wasting.

  31 October 2003

• Cheap test monitors HIV drugs

  Dried blood spots could track developing world treatment success.

  31 October 2003

• Designer transplant drug shows promise in monkeys

  Compound may block organ rejection without side-effects.

  31 October 2003

• Brain fakes it

  Nerve-cell activity when eyes are shut reveals internal views of the world.

  30 October 2003

• Seafloor vents spawn spat

  Ancient springs are thousands of years old, not billions, say geologists.

  30 October 2003

• Nanoparticles may help fight fraud

  Magnetic barcodes could provide counterfeit-proof tagging.

  30 October 2003

• SARS sources widen

  Labs brace for disease comeback.

  30 October 2003

• Calculations illustrate fossil-fuel crisis

  Plant-to-oil equations point up unsustainable profligacy.

  29 October 2003

• New EPA head confirmed

  Senate vote gives Michael Leavitt the reins at Environmental Protection Agency.

  29 October 2003

• Pharmacy data reveals impact of smoking ban

  Bioterror surveillance throws up health intelligence.

  28 October 2003