Drugs and alcohol can fuel creativity is a myth, says psychiatrist

LONDON – Psychiatrists have claimed that drinking and taking drugs does not enhance a person’s creative quotient.

While there are many artists and writers famous for drug abuse, most of them created their greatest works when they were not intoxicated, according to psychiatrist Iain Smith.

In fact, alcohol and drugs are more likely to hamper creativity, he …. Source article  : Drugs and alcohol can fuel creativity is a myth, says psychiatrist.

Bariatric surgery can resolve sexual dysfunction in obese women

WASHINGTON – A new research has revealed that bariatric surgery could prove useful in improving female sexual dysfunction (FSD) apart from helping people lose weight.

As many as 54 sexually active women, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 45, were studied before and after having either laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) or Roux-en-Y gastric … Read more >>>.

Why drug users become addicts

WASHINGTON – A typical drug user’s transition to addiction could result from a persistent impairment of synaptic plasticity in a key structure of the brain, suggests a new French study.

The research, by the teams of Pier Vincenzo Piazza and Olivier Manzoni, at the Neurocentre Magendie in Bordeaux, appears in the journal Science.

This study is …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Massive algae outbreak growing bigger off China’s east coast

Big algae bloom expanding off China’s east coast

BEIJING – A huge bright green algae bloom is blanketing the sea off China’s east coast and wind is driving it closer to land, an official said Friday.
Cui Wenlin, an official with the State Oceanic Administration, said the slimy bloom is the biggest China has seen since a …. Source article  : Massive algae outbreak growing bigger off China’s east coast.

Even workers can produce queen bees!

LONDON – Cape honeybee workers can produce a new queen at any time, new Australian research reveals.

While in most bee species, the eggs laid by workers always grow into males, Apis mellifera capensis workers can produce females.

However, these workers tend to lay eggs only after their queen dies.

Madeleine Beekman and Ben Oldroyd of …. Read the original article  : Even workers can produce queen bees!.

Replace your hard chair with a soft seat to experience a change of heart

WASHINGTON – Our sense of touch has a significant bearing on our thoughts, behaviour and our overall perception of the world, new research reveals.

For the study, a Yale-led team of psychologists conducted a series of six experiments that have been documented in the June 25 issue of the journal Science.

Interviewers holding a heavy clipboard, compared … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Replace your hard chair with a soft seat to experience a change of heart.

Heavy rains hit normal life in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Heavy rains, triggered by the southwest monsoon, hit normal life in some parts of Orissa Friday.

The highest 130 mm of rainfall was recorded at Soro in Bhadrak district followed by Ambabhona town in the same district which witnessed 110 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, he said.
In Bhubaneswar … Read more »».

Scientists provide insight into jet lag

LONDON – Everyone hates jet lag – insomnia, loss of appetite, decreased alertness and depressed mood – that accompanies travel to locations in different time zones.

The symptoms of jet lag are caused by misalignment of a person’s internal body clock and external time.
Now, Gregor Eichele and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Scientists provide insight into jet lag.

Partial lunar eclipse to grace sky on June 26

WASHINGTON – A partial lunar eclipse will be visible across much of North America early Saturday morning.

According to the editors of StarDate magazine, as Earth’s long shadow falls across the Moon, the part in the shadow will turn dark. It will look as though a chunk were missing from the Moon.

The entire eclipse is visible … Original source on Gaea Times at : Partial lunar eclipse to grace sky on June 26.

System that controls sleep in humans may be same for most mammals

WASHINGTON – An international team of researchers has shown that the neural circuitry that controls the sleep/wake cycle in humans may also control the sleep patterns of 17 different mammalian species.

These findings, reported by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), the University of Sydney, and the Center for Integrated Research and Understanding of …. Original article  : System that controls sleep in humans may be same for most mammals.

Humans will be extinct within 100 years, says Oz scientist

WASHINGTON – A 95-year-old Australian microbiologist has declared that humans will be extinct in another 100 years or so.

“We’re going to become extinct. Whatever we do now is too late,” Discovery News quoted Frank Fenner as telling The Australian in an interview.

“A lot of other animals will, too. It’s an irreversible situation. I think it’s …. Original source  : Humans will be extinct within 100 years, says Oz scientist.

Lower BP may be unhealthy for kidney patients, say expert

WASHINGTON – An expert is suggesting that lower blood pressure could be unhealthy for patients with chronic kidney disease.

Recent guidelines by The National Kidney Foundation Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF KDOQI) call for lower target blood pressure levels in patients with CKD.

But in the absence of high-quality scientific evidence, there’s a chance this recommendation … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Lower BP may be unhealthy for kidney patients, say expert.

Moms’ favouritism negatively affects kids in adulthood

WASHINGTON – A mother showing favouritism to one child can have lasting effects – her children can show depressive symptoms in middle-age, says a new study

The recent survey of 275 Boston-area families is the first to show that such harmful effects persist long into adulthood.

Prior research has shown that parental favouritism negatively affects mental … Read more >>.

Rat lungs renovated in lab using stem cells

WASHINGTON – Scientists from Yale University have discovered a novel technique that uses stem cells to build better lungs.

According to the researchers, ‘reseeding’ lungs with a patient’s own stem cells before a transplant could save millions of lives.

The researchers have come up with a technique to remove all cells from a lung and then reseed … Read more »»».

Sex for 10 minutes is ‘ideal’

LONDON – It may come as a surprise to many people, but the most desirable length for sex is just 10 minutes, a survey of has revealed.

A survey of 50 members of the Society for Sex Threapy and Research, who counsel and treat couples with sexual problems, said that between one and two minutes was … Original source on Gaea Times at : Sex for 10 minutes is ‘ideal’.

Feds invest millions to keep groceries open as many rural residents face long drives for food

Grocery closings leave rural residents few options

TURKEY, Texas – Craig Chancellor tried everything he could, but last November he finally closed the Turkey General Store, leaving the small Texas Panhandle town without a grocery.
Although Chancellor tried to trim overhead and relocated a small cafe he owned into the store, he couldn’t make it work. He … Original source on Gaea Times at : Feds invest millions to keep groceries open as many rural residents face long drives for food.

Indian origin scientist develops software to make PCs ’sleep-work’

WASHINGTON – Personal computers in offices can now save energy and money by “sleep-working,” thanks to new software SleepServer developed by a team led by an Indian-origin American scientist.

Sleep-working enterprise PCs are accessible via remote connections and maintain their presence on voice over IP, instant messaging, and peer-to-peer networks even though the PCs are [..] Read the original article: here.

Bilingualism can check decline, extinction of languages

WASHINGTON – Spanish researchers claim to have found a way to check the decline and the ultimate extinction of languages.

There are about 6000 different languages in the world, but only a handful, including English, dominate.

Some mathematical models have demonstrated how dominating languages can cause the decline and extinction of less popular languages.

Such models seem to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Bilingualism can check decline, extinction of languages.

Now, living, breathing human lung-on-a-chip

WASHINGTON – American scientists have used a microchip to develop a device that mimics a living, breathing human lung.

Researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston collaborated to come up with the device.

About the size of a rubber eraser, it acts much like a …. Original article  : Now, living, breathing human lung-on-a-chip.

Showers cool Delhi

NEW DELHI – Pre-monsoon showers cooled Delhi Friday, bringing down the temperature by several notches. The weatherman said more rains were in store.

The minimum temperature settled at 27.4 degrees Celsius, down from 31.6 Thursday. The minimum temperature Friday was two notches below the normal for this time of the year.
The capital has received …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Showers cool Delhi.