August 5, 2014 edition

Five students from Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java, have discovered that a cure for diabetes might be obtained by processing a substance called anthocyanin found in the peel of purple yam.
"This waste product provides abundant raw material for medical purposes through extraction," said Akbar Setyo Pambudi, an agricultural engineering major. Along with Yani Rahmawati, Ajeng Nawangwulan, Nabillah Hisyam and Kinanti Mahmud Pradita, Akbar has successfully extracted anthocyanin from purple yam peelings.

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January 1, 1970 edition

Every summer, the scenic Bavarian town of Lindau, Germany, plays host to the geniuses of the world, as they hold a week-long scientific dialogue known as the Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting. This year, no less than 600 scientists from around 80 countries and 37 Nobel laureates participated in the program, from June 29 to July 4, dedicated to the science of Physiology and Medicine. Tempo was invited to report on this prestigious event and had the chance to talk to some of the brightest minds in their fields.
Franoise Barr-Sinoussi
Nobel Laureate in Medicine (2008)
Brought to worldwide fame by her discovery of HIVshared with colleague Luc MontaignerBarr-Sinoussi now barely has time to herself, as her schedule is fully booked until 2017. In addition to her continuing pursuit of an AIDS cure, she is also a prominent AIDS activist. The French native virologist currently presides over the International AIDS societythe leading association of HIV/AIDS researchers. The following are excerpts of an interview with Barre-Sinoussi.
People in the developing world have very limited access to antiretroviral treatments. Some who had access had to stop treatments due to a shortage of supplies. This could lead to a reemergence of the HIV epidemic. What would be the best way to resolve this issue?

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January 1, 1970 edition

World's virus experts are facing a new challenge. After China's bird flu and Hong Kong's acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a new threat has emerged from the Arabian Peninsula: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, otherwise known as MERS, the culprit behind the increasingly malignant Arabian flu.
From the time it was first detected in September 2012 until this week, MERS has infected more than 530 people. Almost a third of them lost their lives. Most cases have turned up in Saudi Arabia and surrounding countries. Two Indonesians are among the victims. Scientists are racing against the clock to find a cure as more and more people have fallen ill to the virus within the last few months.

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