Mild snowfall in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA – The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh Monday received mild snowfall while the lower areas witnessed moderate rain, the weatherman said.

The hills of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu and Chamba districts experienced mild spells of snow early this morning, Manmohan Singh, the director of the meteorological office here, told IANS.
He said Keylong, the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

A Mars rover where astronauts can work, sleep and exercise for 3 weeks

WASHINGTON – An Illinois-based design consulting firm has designed a compact Mars space rover in which astronauts could comfortably work, sleep and exercise for up to 3 weeks at a time on the Red Planet.

According to a report in Discovery News, the team won the “Good Design Award” in … Original article on : A Mars rover where astronauts can work, sleep and exercise for 3 weeks.

Mushroom roots can make stronger packages

WASHINGTON – A company in the US is using mushroom roots to design packages because they are much more stronger.

According to a report in Discovery News, the company in question is Ecovative Design.
“We should make products that fit into nature’s recycling system,” said Ecovative Design cofounder …. Read the original article  : Mushroom roots can make stronger packages.

Warm Holi for Delhiites as temperature rises

NEW DELHI – The national capital was awash in the colours of Holi Monday with the pleasant weather adding warmth to the celebrations, even as the weatherman predicted some rain in the city later in the day.

According to the India Meterological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature Monday in the city will hover around 33 … Read more »»».

Organic farmers seek to bar genetically modified beets, source of about half of US sugar crop

Suit seeks to bar genetically modified sugar beets

PHILOMATH, Ore. – Organic farmers fear this year’s spring breezes will carry pollen from genetically altered sugar beets, which they say could render their crops worthless.
So they’re hoping to persuade a federal judge in San Francisco to halt the plantings nationwide.
Industry groups say such an injunction could jeopardize … Read more >>.

Extinctions were more severe in northern oceans after catastrophe 65 mln yrs ago

LONDON – A new study has determined that the extinctions that happened 65 million years were more severe in northern oceans than the southern ones.

The extraterrestrial body that slammed into Earth 65 million years ago is best known for killing off the dinosaurs.
But it …. Source article  : Extinctions were more severe in northern oceans after catastrophe 65 mln yrs ago.

Stomach hormone may offer novel fibrosis therapy

WASHINGTON – Spanish researchers have suggested that ghrelin, a stomach hormone, could offer therapy for fibrosis.

In the study, boffins determined that rats treated with recombinant ghrelin displayed a reduction in liver fibrosis. Ghrelin reduced the amount of fibrogenic …. Original article  : Stomach hormone may offer novel fibrosis therapy.

Reports of alien sightings to be binned in Britain

LONDON – Britain’s defence ministry is fed up with mounting reports of alien sightings and says it will destroy all future reports in order to save staff time.

Reports of sightings have been kept for 30 days before being binned after Britain’s official UFO (unidentified flying object) investigation unit and hotline were closed down in December. …. Original article  : Reports of alien sightings to be binned in Britain.

Global warming likely to impact rainfall patterns

WASHINGTON – Climate models project that the global average temperature will rise about 1 degree C by mid-century, if we continue with business as usual and emit greenhouse gases.

The global average, though, does not tell us anything about what will happen to regional climates.
Analysing global model warming projections in models used by the …. Read the original article  : Global warming likely to impact rainfall patterns.

Beewolves produce ‘antibiotic cocktail’ to fend off infections

WASHINGTON – In a new research, scientists have found that digger wasps of the genus Philanthus, so-called beewolves, house beneficial bacteria on their cocoons that guarantee protection against harmful microorganisms.

The research was carried out by scientists of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Beewolves produce ‘antibiotic cocktail’ to fend off infections.

‘Green fuels’ cause more harm to the environment than fossil fuels

LONDON – A new study by the British government has determined that using fossil fuel in vehicles is better for the environment than so-called green fuels made from crops.

According to a report in The Times, the findings show that the UK Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) target for raising the level of … Read : ‘Green fuels’ cause more harm to the environment than fossil fuels.

Genetic test may help ‘personalize’ drugs for cancer patients

LONDON – A genetic test that predicts how well chemotherapy will work in cancer patients is being developed by scientists.

According to creators, the revolutionary test will allow doctors to prescribe drugs only to those people who are likely to benefit from the medicines rather than giving them … Read more >>>.

Brainy men ‘less likely to cheat’

LONDON – Men with higher IQs are less likely to cheat on their wives, concludes a new study.

And, according to researchers, it is so because of evolution.
New analysis of social trends indicates that intelligent place greater value on monogamy and sexual exclusivity than their less intelligent peers.
However, … Read more >>>.

Leopard attacks on humans on rise in Himachal

SHIMLA – Leopard attacks on humans are on the rise in several districts of Himachal Pradesh due to the depleting forest cover and shortage of prey in the wild which force the animals to stray from the jungles.

“In the past few years, attacks by leopards on humans have increased. Thirteen people, mostly women and …. Source article  : Leopard attacks on humans on rise in Himachal.

CCTV surveillance system modified to work as bush-fire alarm

LONDON – Researchers have modified an ordinary CCTV surveillance system to develop an automatic early warning system that can detect the first flames of a bush fire.

According to a report in New Scientist, the bush-fire alarm, devised by fire-safety engineer Yaping He of the …. Original source  : CCTV surveillance system modified to work as bush-fire alarm.

Tsunamis spawned by Chile quake were tiny, say experts

WASHINGTON – Experts have said that the tsunamis spawned by the devastating earthquake in Chile were relatively tiny.

The giant quake that stuck Chile on February 26 was one of the most powerful ever recorded, killing more than 700 people and leveling cities.
Yet, experts …. Read the original article  : Tsunamis spawned by Chile quake were tiny, say experts.

Will growing seagrass beds bring back rare sea cows to Chilika?

CHILIKA – Wild life experts are hoping the highly endangered dugong or sea cow could again come visiting Orissa’s Chilika Lake, thanks to the expanding beds of sea grass growing in the shallow waters – a critical requirement for the big marine animal.

Seagrass meadows are the only marine flowering plants found in shallow waters. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Will growing seagrass beds bring back rare sea cows to Chilika?.

40 tons of dead fish removed off Brazilian coast

Rio de Janeiro, March 1 (IANS/EFE) Up to 40 tons of fish, that died apparently due to lack of oxygen caused by excess growth of algae, was removed off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, authorities said.

According to Brazil’s environment department official, the cause of sudden, massive extermination of fish has not yet been ascertained, …. Source article  : 40 tons of dead fish removed off Brazilian coast.

World’s largest atom smasher in Geneva cautiously restarts in runup to new science experiments

Atom smasher restarts to prepare for new science

GENEVA – Operators of the world’s largest atom smasher restarted their massive machine Sunday in a run up to experiments probing secrets of the universe, a spokeswoman said.
The European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, sent low energy beams of protons in both directions around the 27-kilometer (17-mile) … Read more : World’s largest atom smasher in Geneva cautiously restarts in runup to new science experiments.

AP Enterprise: How restricted nuclear equipment ended up where it wasn’t supposed to _ Iran

AP Enterprise: How nuclear equipment reached Iran

TAIPEI, Taiwan – Early last year, a Chinese company placed an order with a Taiwanese agent for 108 nuclear-related pressure gauges. But something happened along the way. Paperwork was backdated. Plans were rerouted, orders reconfigured, shipping redirected.
And the gauges ended up in a very different place: Iran.
The story behind …. Read the original article  : here.