News Briefs

The universal blood donor

Scientists in Denmark have discovered a way to convert blood into type O from A, B, and AB blood types cheaply and efficiently. Since the O blood type is the universal donor, this breakthrough will prove vital during emergency transfusions. The scientists reported that they had discovered a bacterial enzyme that can remove sugar molecules from red blood cells which cause blood to be rejected by the body. The problem with blood types is that each one has its own type of sugar molecules. If someone receives blood with an incorrect blood type, the antibodies will attack the red blood cells and possibly kill the person.



China displays new nuclear lunar rover

China is planning on launching an unmanned rocket destined for the moon in 2012 that will contain a nuclear powered lunar rover. One of several businesses competing to develop the rover displayed their prototype this week. It has many features including the ability to collect and analyze soil samples as well as create 3-D images of the moon’s surface. It will also be able to travel up to 100 meters per hour. Researchers on the project are still working on designing the rover to withstand the harsh lunar environment. Some critics of the rover project are critical of what may happen if the rocket carrying the rover explodes on liftoff. An explosion could put people up to 60 miles downwind in danger of inhaling nuclear particles.



Nine hurricanes predicted this year

Scientists are predicting that there will be seventeen named storms in the Atlantic region of the southern United States this year. Nine of those storms will be full-fledged hurricanes and five of them will turn into major hurricanes with category ratings of three, four, or five. It will be a very active season this year for the storms, but still not as active as the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The predictions, according to the scientists, are based on current global and atmospheric conditions such as El Niño. They are also basing their predictions off previous hurricane seasons, but not giving much weight to the 2004 and 2005 seasons since they were “unusual” by hurricane standards. Scientists said there is a seventy-four percent chance that at least one large hurricane will make landfall along the U.S. coastline this year.