August 2004

• Tiny timepiece is ultra-accurate

  Portable atomic clock is the size of a grain of rice.

  31 August 2004

• China bans blood trade to tackle HIV

  Legislation targets country?s growing AIDS crisis.

  31 August 2004

• Drug eases cravings for food and cigarettes

  Pill seems best yet for obesity and nicotine addiction.

  31 August 2004

• Recreational fishing threatens marine stocks

  Amateur anglers are beating the commercial catches in certain species.

  27 August 2004

• Secret weapon of 'flesh-eating bugs' revealed

  Bacteria hijack human protein to break through protective blood clots.

  27 August 2004

• Tailor-made jaw helps cancer patient chew again

  Computer designs replacement bone to fit face perfectly

  27 August 2004

• IVF embryos meet contrasting fates

  Confusion reigns over how US fertility clinics deal with their 'waste'.

  27 August 2004

• Cars get a cleaner start

  A solid sponge could reduce pollution from vehicles.

  27 August 2004

• A moral minefield

  Couples going through IVF should be allowed to choose what happens to their unwanted embryos, says Helen Pilcher.

  27 August 2004

• Mental ping-pong could aid paraplegics

  Competitors learn to create brain signals that can control devices.

  27 August 2004