Science Elements

Substances in unroasted coffee beans could help kill insects and protect crops. Safety labels on some household pesticides may do more harm than good. How insects can harm endangered meat-eating plants in an unexpected way.

How bathing could be washing more than just dirt off your body. Why ingredients in some shampoos could help fight global warming. Green technology might re-tire your car. Making biofuels could soon be a lot cheaper. Some scientists are turning over a new leaf when it comes to generating power.

A new roof coated with something found in almost every fast food restaurant could help save energy. A process used in plasma TVs could produce an ultra-clean fuel. Eating less meat and dairy products probably won’t affect global warming. We conclude this week’s special edition of Science Elements with a pair of stories: sourdough bread and wine.

World crude oil production may peak earlier than some predict. NoMix toilets are taking hold in Europe. How a form of carbon could revolutionize the electronics industry.

Substances that helped us avoid one environmental problem could be worsening another. How microbes in the soil are becoming more resistant to antibiotics. Why supermarket lighting could actually boost the nutritional value of spinach.

A sex hormone found in an unexpected place. electrifying news about body movement. and a laser surgery technique that is helping to restore some of the world’s great masterpieces.

The hunt is on for a new way to detect diabetes.

A tool used to search for new medicines could help dampen the effects of global warming. A few chemical tweaks could make PVC plastics safer. How a sophisticated medical technology could help foil art forgeries.

New doubts about the safety of Ginkgo herbal medicines. The secret life of smoke in fostering rebirth and renewal of forests and grasslands. An eco-friendly way of decomposing BPA-containing plastic.

How blueberry juice could improve memory in older adults. Why people older than 50 should be concerned about copper and iron. A blood test for a common mental illness that could be available soon.

Research in Singapore could help streamline production of a common anti-flu drug. Chinese scientists have detected a new set of biomarkers for colon cancer. Chemists in Japan may have unraveled the secret behind a painful weapon used by one of the world’s strangest creatures.

High blood pressure drugs might help subdue a common complication of diabetes. A new fabric could help improve blood circulation in people who have diabetes. How coal linked to an ancient mass extinction could still be taking lives today.

A recap/digest of the top 2009 stories for ACS and Science Elements this past year.

How food aromas could help combat the battle of the bulge. Heart drugs that show promise for fighting colon cancer. Tiny tweaks could ease concerns about nanoparticles in sewage.

How calorie-restricted diets fight obesity and extend life span. New research suggests older dental fillings might be safer than previously thought. Scientists are making progress toward a fast, accurate urine test for pneumonia.

How scientists are sniffing out new ways to preserve old books. A natural Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation is linked to coral bleaching. Fruit flies could lead to better addiction treatments.

Why hepatitis B hits men harder than women. How changes in a woman’s saliva could help doctors detect and treat age-related diseases. An ultraviolet light switch could lead to better understanding of paralysis.

Explosive findings about the inner realm of living cells. A vast new liver protein database that could shed light on combating disease. New evidence that dark chocolate helps ease emotional stress.

New evidence suggests that an old idea about oil and gas might be right. How personalized solar energy could become a reality. A new test could quickly and easily detect pesticide residues on foods.

A new study that could turn our notions about household dust inside out. A nanoparticle finding that could knock your socks off. Why disease-causing microbes should be afraid of pumpkins.