Новости науки и техники в "Scientific American"

GENOME SEQUENCES OF TWO SARS VIRUS STRAINS CONFIRMED

Scientists have confirmed the genomes of two different strains of the virus thought to be responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which has so far claimed 391 lives worldwide. As part of an international endeavor to stop the spread of SARS, most of the genetic data was made public as soon as it became available. Now independent researchers have reviewed and verified the genetic sequences. The hope is that knowledge of the full virus genome will help efforts to contain the disease by aiding development of diagnostic tests, therapies or vaccines.

EARTHQUAKE WARNING SYSTEM SOUNDS ALARM SECONDS BEFORE TREMORS BEGIN

Most seismologists agree that predicting earthquakes days in advance is not going to be possible anytime soon. But borrowing from a system developed in Japan, scientists have devised an early warning system that will alert southern California residents seconds before a temblor begins.

BOOKSTORE: THE GEOGRAPHY OF THOUGHT: HOW ASIANS AND WESTERNERS THINK DIFFERENTLY...AND WHY by Richard Nisbett

Nisbett, a psychologist and Distinguished University Professor at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, used to believe that "all human groups perceive and reason in the same way." A series of events and studies led him gradually to quite another view, that Asians and Westerners "have maintained very different systems of thought for thousands of years. Different how? "The collective or interdependent nature of Asian society is consistent with Asians' broad, contextual view of the world and their belief that events are highly complex and determined by many factors. The individualistic or independent nature of Western society seems consistent with the Western focus on particular objects in isolation from their context and with Westerners' belief that they can know the rules governing objects and therefore can control the objects' behavior." Nisbett explores areas that manifest these different approaches - among them medicine, law, science, human rights and international relations. Are the societal differences so great that they will lead to conflict? Nisbett thinks not. "I believe the twain shall meet by virtue of each moving in the direction of the other.

ANTHRAX GENOME SPILLS ITS DEADLY SECRETS

Mutations in just a few genes can turn a benign dirt bacterium into the deadly form of anthrax that was used to kill five people in the fall of 2001, researchers report. Scientists compared the deadly pathogen's genetic makeup with those of its two closest, and less dangerous, relatives. The findings should help elucidate how virulence evolved and help researchers mount a better defense against the potential bioterror agent.

MIGRATIONS MAY MAKE BIRDS BRAINIER

For some people, a trip across town is enough to make them lose their way and find it difficult to get home again. Many migratory bird species, in contrast, make annual 10,000-kilometer treks without taking a single wrong turn. New research suggests that such long sojourns actually make birds brainier. It seems that the lifestyle of migratory birds leaves them with better long-term memories.

IMMUNE SYSTEMS OF NEW MUTANT MICE FIGHT OFF CANCER

Scientists have discovered, quite by accident, a mutant mouse strain that is capable of staving off cancer. The results of a new study indicate that these animals can endure numerous injections of cancer cells without succumbing to the disease.

ASK THE EXPERTS: WHY IS THE SOUTH POLE COLDER THAN THE NORTH POLE?

Robert Bindschadler, a senior fellow and glaciologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, explains.