hurricane forecasters William Gray and Phil Klotzbach say their October forecast calls for three named storms, two of them becoming hurricanes.
If that proves accurate, it would result in nearly twice the storm activity level of an average October.
The Colorado State University weather scientists noted they correctly predicted above average Net Tropical Cyclone activity for the month of September.
Gray, professor emeritus of atmospheric science, and Klotzbach, a research scientist, said that while they correctly predicted above-average September NTC, they predicted more activity than occurred.
"Our October-only forecast calls for thre named storms, two hurricanes, one major hurricane and NTC activity of 35, which is well above the October-only average value of 18," they said. "We think we are now entering a new period of heightened activity that is likely to go for another two or three weeks.
"Information obtained through (Sept. 30) shows we have so far experienced 124 percent of the average of a full season's NTC activity and about 155 percent of the long-period average season through September," they said.
The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
Study may cut malaria treatment costs
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have developed a method of mass producing an anti-malarial compound, potentially making malaria treatments less expensive.
The researchers, led by University of Illinois microbiology Professor William Metcalf, said the compound is one of a group known as phosphonates, that is made in nature by bacteria. Metcalf said be became interested in that process partly because some phosphonates have antibiotic properties.
Recently, Metcalf and his lab reported successfully identifying the processes by which bacteria make that particular phosphonate compound, known as FR900098.
Although the compound was previously chemically synthesized, that is a costly process, the researchers said. By knowing how the phosphonate is biosynthesized, it can now be inexpensively mass-produced by harnessing the cellular machinery of bacteria.
"Malaria is a problem in Third World countries that can least afford expensive medicines, and many antibiotics are expensive," Metcalf said.
Now he and chemical engineering Professor Huimin Zhao are working to engineer E. coli strains to overproduce FR900098, which can then be harvested for medicine.
The research is reported in the Aug. 25 issue of the journal Chemistry & Biology.
