Science News – Newsletter for November 29, 2010

UN climate summit starts with little hope

CANCUN – The rate at which the earth is heating up has picked pace again, but the annual UN summit to combat climate change that starts here later Monday is not expected to do anything substantial to halt the causes.

The Nov 29-Dec 10 summit of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is … Read more »»».

Women more stressed about Facebook updates than men

SYDNEY – An Australian survey has found that women were more stressed out than men to keep their Facebook status updates interesting.

Sixty nine percent women of the 420 Australians interviewed said they felt the pressure to keep their status updated, as opposed to only 39 percent of men, reports News.com.au.

The Cenovis Chill Pill survey, conducted … Original source on Gaea Times at : Women more stressed about Facebook updates than men.

MRI recommended for women with personal history of breast cancer

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that women with a personal history of breast cancer should consider annual screening with MRI in addition to mammography.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines have recommended annual screening with breast MRI in women with a known gene mutation or with a strong family history indicating a lifetime risk …. Original source  : MRI recommended for women with personal history of breast cancer.

Irreversible inhibition of a protease central to hepatitis C infection: Study

LONDON – A new study has demonstrated that irreversible covalent inhibition can increase selectivity, potency and duration of action, broadens applications for targeted covalent drugs to the protease gene family.

Avila Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel targeted covalent drugs, has demonstrated the first-ever selective irreversible inhibition of a viral protease using a targeted covalent … Original source on Gaea Times at : Irreversible inhibition of a protease central to hepatitis C infection: Study.

Walking ’slows Alzheimer progression in adults’

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that walking may slow cognitive decline in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as in healthy adults.

“We found that walking five miles per week protects the brain structure over 10 years in people with Alzheimer’s and MCI, especially in areas of the brain’s … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Walking ’slows Alzheimer progression in adults’.

Daily running could ’cause leg muscles to degenerate in athletes’

WASHINGTON – A new study conducted amongst athletes revealed that despite running daily, their leg muscles degenerate because of the immense energy consumption.

Using a mobile MRI unit, researchers at the University Hospital of Ulm in Germany followed runners for two months along a 4,500-kilometer course to study how their bodies responded to the high-stress conditions [..] Read the original article: here.

Good-looking couples likelier to have daughters: Study

MELBOURNE – A new study has shown that attractive couples are more likely to have daughters as compared to plainer parents.

Satoshi Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist at the London School of Economics and author of Ten Politically Incorrect Truths about Human Nature, also argues that beauty is a stronger predictor of reproductive success for women than …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Good-looking couples likelier to have daughters: Study.

New gene therapy may ‘fix memory problems in Alzheimer patients’

LONDON – Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND) in San Francisco have discovered a new gene therapy that successfully fixed memory problems in mice with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Learning and memory requires communication between brain cells called neurons. This communication involves the release of chemicals from neurons that stimulate cell surface receptors on … Original source on Gaea Times at : New gene therapy may ‘fix memory problems in Alzheimer patients’.

Scientists may have found ‘elixir of eternal youth’

LONDON – The elixir of eternal youth may soon be reality, thanks to scientists from the Harvard University.

Such a drug might not just increase life span, but also allow men and women to have children naturally until they are a ripe old age. It might free people from illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and heart disease, … Read more >>>.

Paracetamol for kids under 15 months ‘doubles their risk of asthma’

MELBOURNE – A new study has revealed that paracetamol use in children aged under 15 months can double their chances of getting asthma.

Researchers at University of Otago Wellington conducted the study amongst 1400 children and found that by age six, 95 per cent of children were using paracetamol, significantly increasing the risk of asthma and … Original article on : Paracetamol for kids under 15 months ‘doubles their risk of asthma’.

China to select new site for moon rocket launch

BEIJING – China is considering launching rockets from a new site for the next phase of the country’s lunar exploration programme because of transportation problems, the programme’s top scientist has said.

China had launched its second unmanned lunar probe, Chang’e-2, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan province Oct 1.
Now, authorities are …. Read the original article  : China to select new site for moon rocket launch.

Writing exercise helps women close gender gap in science

LONDON – A brief writing exercise can help women improve their performance and narrow the gender gap in physics classes, says a study.

The writing exercise seems to benefit female students who believe that males perform better in physics.
Akira Miyake from the University of Colorado in US and other researchers from Colorado and … Read more >>.

At 9.9 degrees, Delhi gets colder

NEW DELHI – A chilly and bright morning greeted the national capital Monday with the minimum temperature settling at 9.9 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature was at average level for this time of the season but it was two degrees less than Sunday’s 11.7 degrees Celsius.
“There was mist in the morning but sky … Read more »»».

Misty morning makes way for sunny Sunday

NEW DELHI – The national capital witnessed a clear and sunny Sunday after shallow fog in the morning. A chill could be felt both in the morning and the evening.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 25.8 degrees Celsius, which was the average for this time of the year, while the minimum was 11.7 …. Source article  : Misty morning makes way for sunny Sunday.

Now, high-powered laser that unblocks arteries in minutes

LONDON – People whose arteries get blocked due to cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes may now get a quicker treatment as a high-powered laser, which unblocks arteries in minutes, has been designed in the UK.

The Turbo Elite ‘drill’ fitted to a new laser called the Excimer blasts tissue into particles so small they can only be …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Now, high-powered laser that unblocks arteries in minutes.

TERI, Australian varsity to set nano-biotechnology centre

NEW DELHI – The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Australia’s Deakin University Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to set up a research centre in the field of nano-biotechnology.

The centre will be kknown as TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Research Centre and the focus areas in research will be pharmacology, food, agriculture and environment, …. Source  : TERI, Australian varsity to set nano-biotechnology centre.

Temperature falls marginally in Himachal

SHIMLA – The minimum temperature fell marginally Saturday across Himachal Pradesh, but the day was quite pleasant with sunny conditions, the Met Office said here.

Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti district, was the coldest place in the state with a minimum of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius. The town saw a low … Read more »»».

Global warming has slowed down in the past decade: Scientists

LONDON – Scientists have said that the rate at which global temperatures are rising has slowed down over the past 10 years.

In a report, the Met Office said the slow in the rate of warming was down to a combination of natural variation in the weather and pollution.

Scientists said that one of the major factors [..] Read the original article: here.

Iran’s nuclear plant to go on line in January

TEHRAN – Iran’s nuclear power plant of Bushehr will be connected to the national electricity network in January, Atomic Energy Organization chief Ali-Akbar Salehi said Saturday.

Salehi told official ISNA news agency that all fuel rods would be installed into the Russian-built 1,000-megawatt reactor by January.
Iran is mired in a dispute with the international … Original source on Gaea Times at : Iran’s nuclear plant to go on line in January.

Scary movie scores mimic sounds that naturally set people on edge

WASHINGTON – A new research has found that the musical scores accompanying classic Hollywood horror and drama films tend to imitate sounds that naturally set people on edge.

Such music cues may resemble fuzzy static noise or even screams, said Daniel Blumstein, of the University of California.

Blumstein had …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Scary movie scores mimic sounds that naturally set people on edge.