Upcoming: Friday, July 25th, 2008

Basalts on seafloor near Juan de Fuca Ridge. Cruise AT11-16, Alvin Dive 4045, http://4dgeo.whoi.edu

Hour One- 2pm EDT

Secrets of the Spleen

What's a spleen good for? New research says nerves within the spleen could provide an interface between the brain and the immune system. (more)

A New Direction for AIDS Vaccine Research

The National Institutes of Health has decided to cancel a large-scale test of an experimental AIDS vaccine, saying that more focused research was needed on the way such vaccines interact with the immune system. We'll talk with Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Diseases, about the decision. (more)

Tobacco Plants Grow Cancer Vaccines

Researchers report that they've been able to use tobacco plants as biological factories to manufacture specialized proteins needed for an experimental individualized cancer therapy. (more)

Hour Two-3pm EDT

Treating Depression

In this segment, we'll talk about what depression is and what can be done about it. Conventional therapies for depression involve medications and talk therapy, often used in combination. But is that approach the only way out of depression? (more)

Deep-Sea Carbon Sequestration

Could porous rocks deep in the ocean floor be a place to stash unwanted carbon dioxide? video available (more)

Science Friday Archives:

SciFri Blogs

From Ira's Desk: SciFri Social Community? -- Should SciFri create it's own social community? We on the mother ship have been talking about whether we should create our own social community, of a form or type to be yet determined... (more)

Annette on Energy: And the Winner Is? -- In (more)

On Sustenance: BS of A -- The truth be told, I was a first class boy scout in my youth... (more)

China Watching: Olympic Air Pollution Blues -- The Chinese government has announced it's reducing traffic on the roads of Beijing from July 20th to try and clear the air ahead of the August 8-24 Olympics... (more)

Noteworthy: Berry Power

New research explains why cranberry juice may ward off urinary tract infections. The berry beverage was shown to prevent disease-causing bacteria from attaching to urinary tract cells in the body.

daveparker/flickr.