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Tomorrow in Brief
edited by Cindy Wagner

Phototherapy for Skin Problems
Laser light treatment, or photodynamic therapy (PDT), promises new hope for patients with skin problems ranging from acne to cancer. PDT uses pulsed laser energy to activate a photosynthesizing agent on the skin. Studies reported by the American Academy of Dermatology show that PDT can shrink oil glands in acne patients, helping to improve scarring and skin texture and offering dermatologists the "first new therapies to treat acne in more than 20 years," according to one researcher. For skin cancer patients, researchers at Scotland's University of St. Andrews have developed a lightweight bandage with its own light source, which could make PDT treatment portable, convenient, less expensive, and more effective. Worldwide, the incidence of skin cancer is growing rapidly, affecting 40% of the U.S. population and 75% of Australians at some point in their lives.

Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, 930 East Woodfiled Road, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173. Web site www.aad.org. University of St. Andrews, Press Office, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 9AJ, United Kingdom. Web site www.st-andrews.ac.uk.

Vending for Health
With a new war on childhood obesity, snack-vending machines are among the most precarious segments of the food industry. Now, YoNaturals Healthy Vending Machine hopes to reverse the industry's fortunes by replacing soft drinks and candy bars with dried fruit, organic milk, and vitamin water, among other healthier choices. Healthy-choice snack machines have failed in the past, but a "consumer quest for healthy lifestyle changes and nutritional influences has never been greater," says YoNaturals nutrition adviser Roy Vartabedian, author of Nutripoints. The healthy-vending machines are also high-tech, with software allowing distributors to remotely monitor each machine's stock, as well as cashless payment systems.

Source: YoNaturals Incorporated, The Beachwalk, 437 South Highway 101, Suite 209, Solana Beach, California 92075. Web site www.yonaturals.com.

Fusion Power for Space Propulsion
Deep-space travel may come closer within reach with new vehicle propulsion technologies based on fusion energy. At the University of Alabama, Huntsville, researchers working on the Plasmoid Thruster Experiment are hoping to develop a small-scale pulsed plasma thruster. "Larger, more powerful versions can produce fusion for both power and space propulsion, allowing human travel to the outer planets," says Jason Cassibry of the University's Propulsion Research Center.

Source: University of Alabama, Huntsville, University Relations, SKH 321, Huntsville, Alabama 35899. Web site www.uah.edu/News

Southern Ocean May Slow Warming
Westerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere have moved southward over the past 30 years, meaning the Southern Ocean may absorb 20% more carbon dioxide than current climate models show. As the winds continue shifting poleward, they could slow down the rate of global warming, according to researchers at the University of Arizona. The downside of this scenario is that the change in ocean chemistry could affect the habitats and livelihoods of marine organisms.

The Power of Trash
A portable generator that turns food, paper, plastic, and other trash into electricity has been developed by a team of engineers at Purdue University. Designed for military applications, the "tactical biorefinery" can process several different kinds of waste at once, converting it into fuel and producing about 90% more energy than the process consumes. One advantage for the military is that the process eliminates telltale information in a unit's waste, enhancing its security.

Source: Purdue University, News Service, Engineering Administration Building, 400 Centennial Mall Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907. Web site www.purdue.edu/UNS/.