A GRAPE HELP
The leftovers of winemaking may be just as beneficial as a glass of red wine, Turkish scientists report. Extracts from the seeds, skin and stems of grapes can block the growth of various bacteria, according to The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. The extracts, which could be used as natural preservatives in food, were high in phenolic compounds, the same chemicals that give red wine antioxidant properties.
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NEW MOONS
Astronomers have spotted five new moons around Neptune. Telescopes in Chile and Hawaii discovered the satellites, as well as a sixth mystery moon that has not been sighted since. The moons, which measure between 30km and 50km across, may have been chunks of a parent rock that collided with Nereid, one of the icy planet’s eight previously known moons.
MOTHER’S DIET
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Mothers who eat more fruit, vegetables and protein-rich foods are less likely to have a child who develops leukaemia, Cancer Causes and Controls reports this month. The researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, suggest that while a healthy diet prevents adult cancers, these health benefits can be transferred by pregnant mothers to their unborn children.
STEM CELL THREAT
Scientists fear that the resignation of New Jersey’s Governor, James McGreevy, after a gay extramarital affair will throw the state’s support for stem cell research into turmoil. McGreevy planned to turn New Jersey into a safe haven for those involved in the controversial research, by setting up an institute with state funds that could lure experts from all over the world. However, an aide said he would make the issue a priority before leaving office in November.
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ANJANA AHUJA