ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

More light shed on on biomass breakdown Posted: 23 Jan 2015 09:17 AM PST A recently discovered family of enzymes can degrade resistant forms of starch, researchers report. Starch is a polysaccharide that is highly prevalent in both food and plants. Determining the way it is broken down by an LPMO now offers potential for utilising this starch in new ways, potentially including the production of biofuels.

Surprising insights into effects of wood fuel burning Posted: 22 Jan 2015 12:48 PM PST The harvesting of wood to meet the heating and cooking demands for billions of people worldwide has less of an impact on global forest loss and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than previously believed, according to a new study.

Promising drug candidate protects against radiation exposure from nuclear fallout Posted: 22 Jan 2015 10:31 AM PST A drug candidate called DBIBB that increases the survival of mice suffering from radiation syndrome, even when treatment started three days after radiation exposure, has been identified by scientists. The findings suggest that DBIBB shows promise for becoming the first drug capable of treating acute radiation syndrome caused by the high levels of radiation released by nuclear explosions.