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Wednesday, July 31, 2002 Obesity increases risk of heart failure You may have heard this before but a new study to be published in the New England Journal of Medicine tomorrow shows it scientifically. Risk of heart failure is 34% greater for overweight people and 104% greater for obese people. Previous studies concentrated on obese subjects so did not show whether 'mere' overweightness led to an increase in risk.   8:01:42 PM  Your views [] Zeolite makes oil refining more efficient Oil taken directly from the ground is in the form of long chain molecules. To be useful as fuel, it needs to be broken into smaller molecules - this process is called cracking. Zeolites, large structures that have open pores throughout them, act as catalysts to drive the cracking process. The acidic interior of the zeolite breaks up the long molecules that squeeze in through holes at the surface. The research is reported in tomorrow's issue of Nature. More at Nature Science Update   7:34:22 PM  Your views [] Natural high Nature reports in tomorrow's issue that cannabinoids in the brains of mice may be able to wipe out bad memories. Drugs that boost cannabinoids may then be able to reduce panic attacks, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, home treatments with cannabis may not help as the drugs need to target the fear centre of the brain, the amygdala. The side effects of a joint could make any problems worse. Other cannabis research Cannabis-like compounds in the brain control appetite (as if you couldn't guess!) Cannabis' influence on asthma sufferers   7:23:59 PM  Your views [] Giant marsupial bones found in the outback Reuters reports that the skeletal remains of giant kangaroos, wombats and flesh-eating marsupial lions have been discovered by accident in the Australian outback. The remains may be 1.6 million years old. The Nullarbor (from Latin "no trees") plain is full of caves, sinkholes, etc. that have trapped unwary animals over time and are proving to be a good resource for finding ancient remains. (And not so ancient ones - a caver friend of mine once found human remains in a cave there. In that case, it seems like the cave was good for disguising foul play.)   11:22:04 AM  Your views [] < % radio.macros.weblogEditBox ()%>

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