Rains flood Delhi again, traffic takes a hit

NEW DELHI – The low-lying areas in Delhi were flooded yet again Wednesday as rains continued to drench the national capital for the fourth consecutive day, leading to slowing down of traffic and snarls in the city.

Delhi received 30 mm of rainfall between Tuesday night and 8.30 a.m. Wednesday.
The showers caused waterlogging across …. Original article  : Rains flood Delhi again, traffic takes a hit.

New hope for restoring vision in the blind

LONDON – Scientists have successfully translated retinal cone cells, vital for colour vision, into blind mice.

Four years ago, the same research team transplanted rod cells, used in night vision.

The hope for restoring vision in the blind is that transplantable cells which mature into rods or cones can be …. Source article  : New hope for restoring vision in the blind.

Deep brain stimulation leads to ‘effortless’ smoking cessation, weight loss

WASHINGTON – A new case report revealed that electrical stimulation of the brain in a patient with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) led to some unanticipated benefits-”effortless” smoking cessation and weight loss.

The patient was a 47-year-old woman who had extremely severe OCD … Read more >>.

Why brain cell communication is so fast

WASHINGTON – Brain cells work like an organic supercomputer they keep everything going, from breathing to solving riddles. And now, researchers have for the first time described how nerve cells manage to transmit signals practically simultaneously.

The cells of the nervous system …. Original source  : Why brain cell communication is so fast.

Dancing robot swan touches viewers’ emotional chords

WASHINGTON – A robot in the form of a swan left many people with wet eyes after it performed a four-minute-long dance routine recently.

Created at Malardalen University and choreographed by professional dancer Esa Unander-Scharin, the ballet performance [..] Read the original article: here.

Leaders better at understanding emotions

WASHINGTON – People who become leaders in groups with no formal authority have a better understanding of emotions, reveals a new study.

The findings come through two different studies using commerce students.

In the study, participants were given an emotional ability test as part of the … Read more »»».

Himachal rivers in spate, may spell trouble for Punjab, Haryana

SHIMLA – Moderate to heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh since early Wednesday may aggravate the flood-like situation in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana as most rivers running downstream from the hills are in spate again, officials here said.

“The water level in the Beas and Satluj rivers has increased abnormally due to continuous rainfall in their catchment …. Original source  : Himachal rivers in spate, may spell trouble for Punjab, Haryana.

Now, test to analyse kids’ saliva for cannabis or cocaine use in 5mins

LONDON – Brit scientists have developed a disposable drugs test that allows parents to check whether their wards have been taking cannabis or cocaine by analysing a droplet of saliva.

The handheld device, which resembles a pregnancy testing kit, costs just 1.50 pound and produces an accurate result within five minutes.

Its creators say it could be … Read : Now, test to analyse kids’ saliva for cannabis or cocaine use in 5mins.

Whistling while working makes you do your job better

LONDON – Whistling while you work could help you do your job better, suggests a new study.

According to a leading psychologist, whistling or singing helps distract the mind from trying too hard and prevents mental overload.

The suggestion is based on a study into the phenomenon of ‘choking’ – the moment when a footballer misses a … Read : Whistling while working makes you do your job better.

Scientists discover clue to cell damage after stroke

WASHINGTON – A Dutch-German medical research team has discovered that an enzyme is responsible for the death of nerve cells after a stroke.

The enzyme NOX4 produces hydrogen peroxide, a caustic molecule also used in bleaching agents. Inhibition of NOX4 … Read more : Scientists discover clue to cell damage after stroke.

Inner voice helps us exercise self-control

WASHINGTON – When it comes to exercising self control, talking to yourself may be the right thing to do, suggests a new study.

The research, carried out by the University of Toronto Scarborough, shows …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Inner voice helps us exercise self-control.

Vitamin D protects obese women against endometrial cancer

WASHINGTON – Obese women can reduce their increased risk of endometrial disease if they take vitamin D supplements, a new animal study has revealed.

Researchers at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Centre said that 25 percent of obese mice fed a vitamin …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Vitamin D protects obese women against endometrial cancer.

Officials say 74 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach; 25 already dead

74 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A pod of 74 pilot whales stranded themselves on a remote northern New Zealand beach – the second time in a month that a mass beaching has happened in the region, officials said Wednesday.
Twenty-five of the animals were already dead when officials arrived at …. Original article  : Officials say 74 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach; 25 already dead.

New therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s identified

WASHINGTON – Neurological researchers at Rush University Medical Center have found a new therapeutic target that can potentially lead to a new way to prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The target called neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) is a protein that when activated, can cause a chain of …. Original source  : New therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s identified.

Watching too much TV ‘a risk for mental health’

LONDON – People who are addicted to television are jeopardizing their mental health, says a new study.

It revealed that Scots who spend more than four hours a day are 80 per cent more likely to be depressed and anxious than those watching less than two.

They also typically …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Watching too much TV ‘a risk for mental health’.

Large Hadron Collider offers clues about infant universe

LONDON – It looks like the big bang machine or the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is living up to its name-it is giving clues of what may be the hot, dense state of matter thought to have filled the universe in its first nanoseconds.

Researchers on the Compact Muon Solenoid …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Large Hadron Collider offers clues about infant universe.

Cuddle chemical improves social cognition only in less socially proficient people

WASHINGTON – Naturally occurring hormone oxytocin-the so-called cuddle chemical-selectively improves social cognitive abilities for less socially proficient individuals, but has little effect on those who are more socially proficient, according to researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

The scientists wanted to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Cuddle chemical improves social cognition only in less socially proficient people.

Speech centre embedded in much more complex brain than believed

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered several molecularly and cellularly different cortical areas in Broca’s language region, the motor centre for speech-a finding that shows that our faculty of speech is actually embedded in a much more differentially developed brain landscape than we have believed … Original source on Gaea Times at : Speech centre embedded in much more complex brain than believed.

Biblical wind movement caused parting of Red Sea waters

WASHINGTON – The movement of wind could have led to the parting of Red Sea waters-a finding which is similar to description of its formation in the biblical account, say researchers.

A new computer modeling study by researchers … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Biblical wind movement caused parting of Red Sea waters.

US military postpones Guam buildup decisions on live fire training range, carrier berth

US military postpones 2 Guam buildup decisions

HONOLULU – The U.S. military has postponed two key decisions related to its buildup of forces on the Guam to ensure it’s complying with environmental and historic preservation laws.
But it gave final approval to the single biggest part of the buildup: a proposal to move 8,000 Marines and their … Read more : US military postpones Guam buildup decisions on live fire training range, carrier berth.