News Headlines - 30 January 2014

▽Acid bath offers easy path to stem cells : Nature News & Comment

In 2006, Japanese researchers reported1 a technique for creating cells that have the embryonic ability to turn into almost any cell type in the mammalian body — the now-famous induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. In papers published this week in Nature2, 3, another Japanese team says that it has come up with a surprisingly simple method — exposure to stress, including a low pH — that can make cells that are even more malleable than iPS cells, and do it faster and more efficiently.

▽Nissan creates 3cyl engine with power of a V8 - Telegraph

Nissan has created one of the most powerful eco engines yet devised with its 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol making an astounding 400bhp.
The newly unveiled powerplant weighs just 40kg and will first see service paired to an electric motor in the radical Zeod RC racer at the Le Mans 24-hour race this year.

▽Google sells Motorola Mobility to Lenovo for $2.9bn - FT.com

Google has agreed to sell its Motorola Mobility division to Lenovo, marking a rapid retreat after less than two years in the handset business.
The deal values the business at $2.91bn in cash, stock and deferred payments, the companies said, and is set to leave Google with a stake of around 5 per cent in the Chinese hardware maker.

▽BBC News - Asian stocks tumble on Fed taper and currency fears

Asian markets have tumbled after the US central bank cut stimulus spending for a second month, and fears persisted over emerging market currency losses.
The Federal Reserve said it was scaling back its monthly bond-buying programme by another $10bn to $65bn (￡39bn) due to the improved US economy.

▽Three charged with stealing food from skip behind Iceland supermarket | The Guardian

A man will stand trial next month after being caught taking some tomatoes, mushrooms and cheese from the dustbins behind a branch of Iceland.
It is expected Paul May, a freelance web designer, will argue that he was taking the food because he needed it to eat and does not consider he has done anything illegal or dishonest in removing food destined for landfill from a skip.