British scientists claim to have discovered the mechanism cancer cells use to spread around the body — a breakthrough which could stop the disease right in its tracks.

In their research, the scientists have found that a protein called Ecadherin is essential to keeping cells stuck together and when its levels fall, other proteins move to the surface of the cells and they manage to break away and spread.

“Potentially, our findings can be applied to the most common form of cancer, carcinoma, found in the breast, lung and gut for example, which makes up 80 to 90 per cent of all cancers,” lead researcher Chris Ward said.

The researchers, who used embryonic stem cells to unlock the secret behind how cancer spreads around the body, now plan to create drugs that interfere with this process.

Norman Barrett of the Association for International Cancer Research, which funded the study, said: “Ward and his team are pursuing research which could change the lives of tens of thousands of people in the UK and many more across the world.”

New alloy for motors

Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Ames Laboratory have designed a high-performance magnet alloy, which would help to make electric drive motors more efficient and cost-effective.

The new magnet alloy operates with a good magnetic strength at 200 degrees Celsius, and is expected to play a major role in advancing electric drive motor technology to meet the enormous swell in consumer demand expected over the next five years.

The work is part of the DOE's Vehicle Technologies Programme to develop more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly highway transportation technologies that will enable America to use less petroleum.

LEDs to light up homes

Soon, your household bulbs could be brighter and more energy-efficient, for scientists are on their way to introducing the technology of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) into households.

Though LEDs, already used in electrical equipment such as computers and mobile phones, are several times more energy efficient than standard light-bulbs, their structure and material traps much of the light. “By making microscopic holes on the surface of the LEDs it is possible to extract more light, thus increasing the brightness of the lights without increasing the energy consumption,” lead researcher Faiz Rahman, from the University of Glasgow, said.

Eco-friendly mobile home

A Mississippi State University researcher has designed an environmentally friendly, energy efficient mobile home.

Architecture professor Michael Berk, who names the new house the GreenMobile, has revealed that he has applied sound construction methods and energy-saving concepts in their design to lower utility costs.

He claims that the GreenMobile design meets International Residential Codes for structurally sound foundations, involves using better insulation.

It promotes the use of energy-efficient appliances, and creates interior spaces better suited for natural-day lighting and ventilation.

Inducing impulse shopping

The aroma of a mouth-watering dessert can make you splurge money on unnecessary purchases.

A new study has suggested that exposure to something that stimulates the appetite can make a person more impulsive with unrelated purchases.

The study, led by Xiuping Li of National University of Singapore, found that an appetitive stimulus not only affects behaviour in a specific behaviour domain, but also induces a shared state that propels a consumer to choose smaller-sooner options in unrelated domains.