OU researchers isolate microorganisms that convert hydrocarbons to natural gas Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400 (University of Oklahoma) When a group of University of Oklahoma researchers began studying the environmental fate of spilt petroleum, a problem that has plagued the energy industry for decades, they did not expect to eventually isolate a community of microorganisms capable of converting hydrocarbons into natural gas. Candy-coating keeps proteins sweet Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400 (National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)) Researchers at NIST have developed a fast, inexpensive and effective method for evaluating the sugars pharmaceutical companies use to stabilize protein-based drugs for storage at room temperature. UH researchers win top prize for research with humanitarian applications Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400 (University of Houston) Understanding how microbes govern human and environmental health, two University of Houston researchers -- Yuriy Fofanov and Lennart Johnsson -- understand that what we don't see often carries big-picture implications. They've garnered international recognition for applying such vision while creating technologies to help monitor the sizes and genomic diversity of microbial communities. They were named winners of the second-annual Itanium Solutions Alliance Innovation Contest for the humanitarian applications of their team's research.