Heavy metal hazard
Cigarettes from China have concentrations of potentially cancer-causing heavy metals two to three times those found in Canadian cigarettes, a survey of 13 Chinese brands has found. The exceptionally high levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium are known to amplify the well-known hazards of tobacco smoke (Tobacco Control, ).
Mouse memory jogger
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Forgetful elderly mice have had their memories refreshed by UE1961, a drug that dampens the effects of stress hormones in the brain. After 10 days on the drug, the mice could perform as well as young mice in memory tests in mazes, whereas untreated elderly mice could not (Journal of Neuroscience, ).
Longest migration鈥�
A female humpback whale has gone for gold in the competition for the world鈥檚 longest migration. She travelled at least 9800 kilometres, from the Brazilian coast to the east coast of Madagascar 鈥� the furthest any mammal has been found to travel ().
鈥nd biggest genome
The record for the largest known genome has been broken by the Japanese flower Paris japonica. Its genome contains 150 billion letters, 15 per cent more than the previous record holder, the marbled lungfish ().
Computers win again
A computer called Akara has beaten a human at Japanese chess, or shogi, for the first time. Akara got the better of top shogi player Ichiyo Shimizu in 86 moves. A game of shogi has 10224 possible outcomes. Shimizu says she hopes humans and computers will become stronger through friendly competition.