Leopard strays into Himachal capital

SHIMLA – Panic gripped this Himachal Pradesh capital Thursday when a leopard was spotted strolling in areas adjoining the Mall, an official said. The animal was later trapped by the wildlife wing.

After receiving information this (Thursday) morning that the leopard attacked a man, we reached the spot. After three hours of searching, we traced it …. Original source  : Leopard strays into Himachal capital.

Scientists find new clues as to why animals grow bigger in the cold

WASHINGTON – Scientists have across new clues that offers new insight to Bergmann’s rule that animals grow larger at high, cold latitudes than their counterparts closer to the equator.

The scientists, who found the solution to this 163-year-old puzzle, were from the …. Source  : Scientists find new clues as to why animals grow bigger in the cold.

Larger and more frequent fires could aid ecosystems

WASHINGTON – Scientists have said that there’s a good chance that forest fires in the Pacific Northwest will become larger and more frequent, which could actually aid ecosystems.

The future of fire in this region is difficult to predict, …. Read the original article  : Larger and more frequent fires could aid ecosystems.

Scientists discover genetic link between misery and death

WASHINGTON – UCLA researchers have found the genetic link between misery and death.
The new study has also discovered a specific genetic variation in some people that apparently disconnects that link, rendering them more biologically tough to face adversity.

Steven Cole, a member of the … Original article on : Scientists discover genetic link between misery and death.

How key hormone helps animals to recognize others by their smell

WASHINGTON – In a new study, scientists have pinpointed how a key hormone helps animals to recognize others by their smell.

The study, by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, has shown that the hormone vasopressin helps the brain differentiate between familiar and new scents.
The study … Read more »».

Scientists discover first female sex hormone in a plant

WASHINGTON – Scientists have reported the first discovery of the female sex hormone progesterone in a plant.

Until now, scientists thought that only animals could make progesterone.
A steroid hormone, secreted by the ovaries, progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy and maintains pregnancy.
A synthetic version, progestin, is …. Source article  : Scientists discover first female sex hormone in a plant.

Prozac, Celexa show promise for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

WASHINGTON – A new British study has found that fluoxetine and citalopram exhibit anti-inflammatory effects.

The study led by Sandra Sacre, Ph.D. from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) in the UK found that treatment with fluoxetine and citalopram, which are available under …. Original article  : Prozac, Celexa show promise for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Laser surgery technique finds second life in art restoration

WASHINGTON – A laser technique best known for its use to remove unwanted tattoos from the skin is finding a second life in preserving great sculptures, paintings and other works of art.

This was highlighted in a recent article in ACS’ monthly journal, Accounts of Chemical Research.
The technique, called laser ablation, involves removing … Read : Laser surgery technique finds second life in art restoration.

Heaviest chemical element 112 named “Copernicium”

BERLIN – Reports indicate that the heaviest recognized chemical element with the atomic number 112 has officially been named “Copernicium” and carries the chemical symbol “Cn”.

The element was discovered at the GSI …. Source article  : Heaviest chemical element 112 named “Copernicium”.

BSF to check rhino poaching in Kaziranga

KAZIRANGA – The Border Security Force (BSF) will be deployed at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam to check a spurt in incidents of rhino slaughtering by organised syndicates, officials said Thursday.

A wildlife department spokesman said the decision to deploy the BSF to assist forest guards at Kaziranga was taken at a high level meeting …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : BSF to check rhino poaching in Kaziranga.

Scientists trying to interpret baby’s bawling

WASHINGTON – Babies bawl aloud to reveal their emotions, but none of the parenting handbooks can tell whether they are feeling hunger or discomfort. To study this behaviour, Japanese engineers have now turned to an approach known as kansei engineering, which aims to “measure” feelings and emotions.

It was invented in the 1970s by Mitsuo …. Original source  : Scientists trying to interpret baby’s bawling.

US faces prospect of losing all out cyberwar

WASHINGTON – Computer-based network attacks are slowly bleeding US businesses of revenue and its market advantage. Even the government faces the prospect of losing in an all-out cyberwar, experts told US senators in a hearing.

“If the nation went to war today in a cyberwar, we would lose,” said Michael McConnell, executive vice president of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US faces prospect of losing all out cyberwar.

‘Monster croc’ feasted on humans 2 million years ago

LONDON – Scientists have identified the remains of a 7.5-metre man-eating crocodile in 1.8-million-year-old sediments in Olduvai gorge in Tanzania, an animal that would have been the largest predator ancient humans in the region … Read more »».

Coming soon: Emotion detector for babies

WASHINGTON – Parents-to-be can take a breather: It may soon be possible to translate infant cries, all thanks to Japanese scientists who have come up with a statistical computer program that can analyze a baby’s crying.

The details of the breakthrough have been …. Original article  : Coming soon: Emotion detector for babies.

Humans like sharing wealth – subconsciously

LONDON – Researchers from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, have become the first to gather images to prove that the human brain is a big believer in equality.

In their research, the team found that the reward centers in the human brain respond more strongly …. Original article  : Humans like sharing wealth – subconsciously.

Immunosuppressive drug may help fight Alzheimer’s

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that rapamycin, a drug that keeps the immune system from attacking transplanted organs, may help fight Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio found that rapamycin rescued learning … Read more >>.

Stem cell therapy may help restore sight in retinitis pigmentosa sufferers

WASHINGTON – Scientists have successfully used mouse embryonic stem cells to replace diseased retinal cells and restore sight in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa.

According to the research team led by Columbia University Medical Center, this strategy could potentially become a new treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, … Read more »».

Modified adult stem cells may help patients with spinal cord injury

WASHINGTON – Transplanting genetically modified adult stem cells into an injured spinal cord can help restore the electrical pathways associated with movement, a new study in rats has shown.

In spinal cord injury, demyelination, or the destruction of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system, occurs.
The myelin sheath, produced …. Original source  : Modified adult stem cells may help patients with spinal cord injury.

World’s temperature record to be re-analyzed

LONDON – Reports indicate that the whole of the world’s instrumental temperature record is to be re-analyzed in an attempt to remove doubts about the reality of global warming.

According to a report in The Independent, the new analysis, which would take into account millions of observations dating back more than … Original article on : World’s temperature record to be re-analyzed.

World’s first: Danish woman gives birth to two kids after ovarian transplant

WASHINGTON – A Danish woman has become the world’s first to give birth to two babies after receiving an ovarian transplant following successful cancer treatment.

Stinne Holm Bergholdt, from Odense, Denmark, had ovarian tissue removed and frozen during treatment, which was later restored following her recovery.
She then gave birth to a girl in February 2007 after … Original source on Gaea Times at : World’s first: Danish woman gives birth to two kids after ovarian transplant.