On the Radar

The pick of the science news

Dinosaur dwarfs

A new study backs up a theory of dwarf dinosaurs on Hateg Island in Romania. A century ago, dinosaur bones discovered there were noted to be smaller than related species in Europe and the US, and now research on the island remains, which is 65 – 70 million years old, shows the bones came from adult animals. The findings could suggest “island dwarfing”.

“The general idea is that larger animals that find themselves isolated on an island either become extinct because there isn’t enough space to survive, or they adapt,” says researcher Prof Mike Benton from the University of Bristol. “One way to adapt is to become smaller.”

Cool vaccines

Scientists at Oxford have come up with a potential way to keep vaccines stable without refrigeration, which can be particularly important for transport and storage in developing regions.

The technique, described in the journal Science Translational Medicine, puts the vaccine-virus into a sugar solution then dries it slowly and traps it on a filter. The vaccine can then be reconstituted when needed.

Their tests with the types of virus being used to make trial vaccines for malaria, HIV and TB showed the viral carriers were still able to function even after six months at 45 degrees Celsius.

“There is evidence that the corrosion in the public attitude to climate science has spread over to other areas of science.”

Ralph Cicerone, president of the US National Academy of Sciences (Financial Times)