I read a Journal Article as part of my university course examining a possible flying wing to be used as a counter to the (then) A3XX. It also stated that the basic design of all aircraft flying today, and those on the drawing board for tomorrow stem from the same basic design created by boeing in the late 1940's early 1950's with its B-47 bomber. (i.e. podded engines, swept conventional wings etc).
It then went on to show how a flying wing could have a lower Cd and therefore greater efficiency and also how greater numbers of passengers could be accomodated safely.
If i remember correctly it was called "Design Considerations for Very Large Transport Aircraft" by McMasters and Kroo(sp?) cannot remember which journal it was, possibly "Aviation Design".
If i can dig it out i'll post some of the numbers up
Matty