March 2005 in Science - March 28, 2005

March 28, 2005

• Ric Pashley of the Australian National University in Canberra found that oil and water do mix if the gas dissolved in the liquids is removed. This could lead to faster testing of new drugs; and simpler less expensive formulations with fewer side-effects of current drugs. (NewScientist)
• Luxtera has announced a new type of silicon chip which could blend the low-cost manufacturing prowess of the semiconductor with laser optical networking. By April 2006 Luxtera expect to have an inexpensive chip that can handle 10-gigabit office networks. (InfoWorld)
• Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology show that plant hemoglobins act like animal hemoglobin, removing oxygen and thus assisting in fixation of nitrogen in the root nodules of legumes. (EurekAlert!)