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BOB HIRSHON (host):
Can LSD treat alcoholism? I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
In the late 1960s, researchers tried treating alcoholism with the hallucinogenic drug LSD. When LSD became illegal, the research stopped. But a new paper in the Journal of Psychopharmocology examined those studies and found the results intriguing: single doses of LSD helped many patients kick alcohol for months. Obviously, the drug can have negative side effects. But the article suggests further study of LSD, to better understand its effects on self control and brain chemistry.
In other news, Israeli researchers report in the journal Advanced Materials that they’ve build electronic circuits using protein molecules found in blood, milk and mucous. The proteins self-assemble into semiconductor films that can be used to build computer displays and logic circuits. The organic circuits can be far smaller than conventional silicon chips, and are also biodegradable. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society
