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Good for a change
A common pollutant strongly impacts the behaviour of arsenic and possibly other toxic metals in some lakes, shows a research conducted by us-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Nitrate pollution reacts with naturally occurring iron to create iron oxides that in turn adsorb arsenic. The result is a suppression of seasonal arsenic release into the water.

More than a best friend
Researchers from Sweden-based ABB Group Services Centre have made films of synthetic diamond that have electrical properties approaching those of silicon chips.

Got some nerve
Researchers from Japan Science and Technology Corporation have prompted mouse brains to replace nerve cells that were killed by stroke. The feat raises hopes that drugs can trigger brain regeneration. Using a mix of two serums, the researchers were able to stimulate new nerve cells to grow in animals' injured brain region.

Insight
A camera that takes atomic-scale snapshots may soon be available, with the creation of a microscope that forms three-dimensional images using X-rays. The feat was achieved by researchers from California-based Stanford University. The microscope enables seeing any arrangement of atoms in three dimensions, as X-rays have wavelength similar to atoms.

Raining trouble
Volcanic eruption can be triggered by heavy rain, indicates a study. Strong statistical link between rainfall and volcanic eruptions were found by researchers of the University of East Anglia, the UK. The possible explanation being that rainwater vapourised by molten rock leads to high pressure inside the volcano, triggering the eruption. Therefore, simply watching weather forecast could save lives.

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