What do we do with the waste?

India wants nuclear power, China does too. And Iran, despite its oil, says atom power is crucial for its future.

India wants nuclear power, China does too. And Iran, despite its oil, says atom power is crucial for its future. Nuclear power is enjoying a renaissance as a green alternative to coal—expect that it comes with a dangerous byproduct—radioactive waste, disposing of which is a major concern. One idea is to combine the waste with radiation-resistant ceramics and bury them underground until they’re harmless—which would take about 240,000 years. Physicist Ian Farnan of Cambridge University has come up with a technique, using magnetic resonance scanners, for measuring what happens when materials are exposed to radiation for that long. Some types of ceramics, he says, could leak in a mere 1,400 years, posing an unacceptable risk to future generations. Farnan thinks the technique will allow scientists to find other materials that will stand up better: “It gives us a more predictable understanding of what happens to materials over long time scales.”

Parasitic infection may benefit MS patients

Patients with multiple sclerosis who also happen to have an intestinal parasite appear to have significantly fewer relapses and better outcomes than other MS patients, a new study found. The finding suggests that when the body’s immune system is occupied with an external threat, it might be less likely to misfire, which happens in conditions known as autoimmune disorders. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibres. The study—published in the January issueof Annals of Neruology by Jorge Correale and Muricion Farez of the Raul Carrea Insittute for Neurological Research, Beunos Aires—tracked 12 multiple sclerosis patients who were found to have an intestinal parasite and compared them with 12 other patients. Over four years, there were stark differences. There were three relapses among the patients who had the intestinal infection and 56 relapses in the other group.

Ancient skull gives credence to Africa hypothesis about human migration

The 36,000-year-old skull of a human who lived in what is now South Africa bears striking similarities to skulls from the same period found in Europe and western Asia—giving support to the “Out of Africa” hypothesis that says modern humans came fully developed out of sub-Saharan Africa. The skull, from the town of Hofmeyr, was uncovered 50 years ago, but its importance was only recently established by a team from Stony Brook University in New York. The team established the fossil’s age by measuring the radiation that had been absorbed by sand grains that filled the braincase. Lead researcher Frederick Grine said the findings support the thesis that ancient Eurasian humans migrated north from sub-Saharan Africa, and undercut the competing hypothesis that non-African groups such as Neanderthals made an important contribution to the genetic makeup of modern humans. The paper appeared in the January 12 issue of the journal Science.

‘Given stale food, locked up’: Truck cleaner on ‘abduction’ horror at Khedkar residence

Cities30 min ago

A truck cleaner in Navi Mumbai was rescued by the police after being abducted by the father of a sacked IAS officer. The victim was held captive, given stale food, and threatened with murder. The accused demanded compensation for their damaged car and threatened to kill the victim if not paid. The accused have been charged with extortion and destruction of evidence.

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