Crush of the Week: GFP

This week's crush led to awarding really smart dudes Dr. Osamu Shimomura of Boston University Medical School, Martin Chalfie of Columbia University, New York, and Roger Y. Tsien of University of California, San Diego being awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Green Florescent Protein (or GFP) is amazing research that uses the natural biochemistry of certain jellyfish to reveal more about the workings of organisms at the cellular and subcellular levels. Besides giving us glowing pigs, GFP is helping to reveal new information about the working of cells and assisting researchers in tracking the spread of cancer cells. It's my first ever crush on a protein, but I think it's a well deserved one.

Near Crush: Martti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish president, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace last week. I like Finns and I like peace, so makes for a good crush. Pay attention tomorrow, for the Nobel award in Economics will be announced. With the downturn in stocks, banks and US and global finances, this person better be good.