Scientists seek former students in toxic Montana town to learn scope of asbestos illnesses

Scientists seek former students in toxic MT town

SPOKANE, Wash. – Researchers have embarked on an ambitious study to track the health of thousands of high school graduates over a half century in a Montana town where a toxic mine has killed hundreds of people and made it the deadliest Superfund site in the nation.
People who … Read more : Scientists seek former students in toxic Montana town to learn scope of asbestos illnesses.

Teens’ brains hardwired to take risks

LONDON – Adolescent brains are biologically wired to engage in risky behavior, according to a new study.

“Our results raise the hypothesis that these risky behaviors, such as experimenting with drugs or having unsafe sex, are actually driven by over activity …. Source  : Teens’ brains hardwired to take risks.

Hints of life on Saturn’s moon Titan

LONDON – Cassini orbiter has discovered hints of life on Saturn’s moon Titan.

Titan is too cold to support liquid water on its surface, but some scientists suggest exotic life-forms could exist in the lakes of liquid methane or ethane that dot the moon’s surface.

And [..] Read the original article: here.

Molecular changes that helped Tamiflu resistance explained

WASHINGTON – American biologists have come up with a molecular explanation for the evolution of Tamiflu resistance.

The study, led by David Baltimore, California Institute of Technology’s Robert Andrews Millikan Professor of Biology and postdoctoral scholar Jesse D. Bloom, appears …. Source article  : Molecular changes that helped Tamiflu resistance explained.

Low cardio fitness levels foreshadow stroke risk

WASHINGTON – Lower levels of cardio-respiratory fitness in men can increase the risk of death due to stroke by sixty percent, a new study has found.

The study was conducted at the University of South Carolina’s (USC) Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH).
A stroke is a condition where a blood clot or ruptured artery … Original source on Gaea Times at : Low cardio fitness levels foreshadow stroke risk.

Successful islet isolation process makes diabetics insulin independent

WASHINGTON – A team of researchers has found a way to isolate pancreatic islet cells from brain dead donors. These cells when received by three type 1-diabetes patients made them insulin independent.

“Inconsistent islet isolation is one of the important issues in clinical islet transplantation,” said Dr. …. Source  : Successful islet isolation process makes diabetics insulin independent.

Early Earth haze similar to Titan may have been UV shield for planet

WASHINGTON – A new study shows a thick organic haze that covered the Earth several billion years ago, similar to that on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, may have provided ultraviolet shield for planet.

The University of Colorado at Boulder scientists believe the haze was made up primarily of methane and nitrogen chemical byproducts … Original article on : Early Earth haze similar to Titan may have been UV shield for planet.

Device to help blind manoeuvre around obstacles developed

WASHINGTON – An innovative optical radar system has been developed by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev students that helps blind people manoeuvre around obstacles.

The radar system incorporates a computer, two video cameras and a scanning light source to warn the blind of obstacles with audible alerts.

The system detects obstacles – … Read more »».

Seizure drug could help treat severe genetic liver disease

WASHINGTON – According to new research, a drug used in treating seizures can prove effective in treating genetic liver disease – for which many children undergo liver transplantation.

The liver scarring of a1-antitrypsin (AT) deficiency, the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Seizure drug could help treat severe genetic liver disease.

How did higher life on Earth evolve?

LONDON – An international research team has for the first time decoded the complete genome of a brown alga, opening a new door to the understanding the evolution of two key prerequisites for higher life on Earth – multicellularity and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : How did higher life on Earth evolve?.

Like humans, mongooses too pass on traditions to their young

WASHINGTON – Just like humans, mongooses too carry out traditions that are passed down from one generation to the next, a new study has found.

Mongooses do have some features that made them ideal for a study like this one as a result of peculiarities of …. Source article  : Like humans, mongooses too pass on traditions to their young.

Anti-fear drug may help erase painful memories

LONDON – It is possible to overcome bad memories of painful situations with the help of a chemical that works on the brain, say scientists.

Researchers suggest that anti-fear medication could help soldiers deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.he new study was carried out on laboratory rats.

According to boffins, instead of working in the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Anti-fear drug may help erase painful memories.

Low-dose HRT skin patches ’safer than tablets’

LONDON – A new study by researchers in Canada and Germany suggests that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) skin patches containing low doses of oestrogen carry less risk of stroke than oral therapy and may represent a safer alternative to tablets.

However, the risk increases significantly …. Read the original article  : here.

Is Saturn’s moon Titan home to some kind of exotic life form?

WASHINGTON – Complex chemical activity on the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan has baffled scientists. While some think it’s non-biological chemistry, others believe there might exist some primitive, exotic form of life.

Astro-biologists theorize that the signatures fulfil two important conditions necessary …. Original article  : Is Saturn’s moon Titan home to some kind of exotic life form?.

Patients can “regrow their knee” in lab

LONDON – In a revolutionary approach, British medics have found a novel way to “re-grow” knees in patients whose knee cartilages have been damaged.

Because the body cannot regenerate shock-absorbing cartilage, thousands of patients have to undergo multiple knee replacement operations. But … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Patients can “regrow their knee” in lab.

China’s Yangtze River 40 million years older than previously thought

WASHINGTON – A new research has clarified that the Yangtze River in China is 40 million years older than previously thought.

A study of minerals by a team led by Durham University reveals that the Yangtze River began to cut the Three Gorges area around 45 million years ago.

Findings …. Original source  : China’s Yangtze River 40 million years older than previously thought.

Report: Myanmar beginning a nuclear weapons program

Report: Myanmar seeking nuclear weapons
BANGKOK – Documents smuggled out of Myanmar by an army defector indicate its military regime is trying to develop nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, and North Korea is probably assisting the program, an expatriate media group said Friday.

The Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma said the defector had been involved in the …. Source  : Report: Myanmar beginning a nuclear weapons program.

Massive decline in butterflies in Himalayas (June 5 is World Environment Day)

SHIMLA – The lofty western Himalayas are being slowly robbed of their butterflies, with at least 50 percent of the species showing a massive decline in less than a decade due to human interference.

Studies conducted by the high altitude zoology field station of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) based in Solan town of Himachal …. Source  : Massive decline in butterflies in Himalayas (June 5 is World Environment Day).

Mercury in Delhi records sharp drop after rains

NEW DELHI – A day after the minimum temperature soared to its highest in over 40 years, Delhiites Friday woke up to a pleasant morning with thundershowers, reported in some parts of the capital, bringing down the mercury sharply.

Residents of the capital got some respite from the scorching summer as the minimum temperature …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Mercury in Delhi records sharp drop after rains.

Amateur astronomer who discovered collision scar on Jupiter spots another hit

Amateur astronomer spots another Jupiter strike

LOS ANGELES – Jupiter has gotten whacked again.
An amateur astronomer in Australia peering at the giant gas planet Thursday reported witnessing a bright flash from an object hitting Jupiter and apparently burning up in the atmosphere.
“When I saw the flash, I couldn’t believe it,” said amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley. “The …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Amateur astronomer who discovered collision scar on Jupiter spots another hit.