Apple’s ‘iKey’ to replace the humble door key

LONDON – Computer giant Apple is set to revolutionize the traditional door key with introduction of a hi-tech alternative nicknamed the ‘iKey’.

It means people can stop carrying around a bunch of keys, and instead use a single electronic device to unlock their car, front door and gain access to their office.
The technology simply requires the … Read more : Apple’s ‘iKey’ to replace the humble door key.

Radiation ineffective after mastectomy, says study

WASHINGTON – Radiation may not help most early-stage breast cancer patients after mastectomy, a new American research has revealed.

The study, conducted by researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer, found low present-day risk of recurrence following modern surgery and systemic therapy.
The research demonstrated that stage I and II patients, without spread to …. Original source  : Radiation ineffective after mastectomy, says study.

Meet Snackbot: robot that serves snacks!

LONDON – American scientists have created a new robot that can deliver snacks.
Paul Rybski and colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, came up with the “snackbot” after two years of research.

The 20,000-dollar robot comes complete with laser navigation, sonar sensors and a Point Grey Bumblebee 2 stereo camera that function as its eyes.
A New York … Read more : Meet Snackbot: robot that serves snacks!.

Pigeons outdo humans at solving ‘Monty Hall’ problem

WASHINGTON – Pigeons are better off than humans, when it comes to solving the ‘Monty Hall’ problem.

The new findings – involving the pigeons superior ability to solve a perplexing statistical problem – might in turn shed light on why humans are bad at solving certain kinds of problems, scientists added.
The so-called Monty Hall problem is … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pigeons outdo humans at solving ‘Monty Hall’ problem.

People dress pets like humans to feel in control

WASHINGTON – People tend to name their pets and cars, because they feel more in control and connected, claims a psychologist.

Psychology researcher Adam Waytz of Harvard University, insists that people anthropomorphize, the act of attributing human traits to non-humans, to feel connected to environment.
As part of his study, Waytz and his team asked people to … Read more >>.

Conserving and restoring moorlands can slow down climate change

WASHINGTON – Scientists have stressed that conserving and restoring the moorlands is important because they are some of the rarest habitats in the world, home to extremely rare animals and plants, and can also slow down climate change.

Seventy-five per cent of the world’s heather moorlands are in the UK. However, pollution, overgrazing and wild fires … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Conserving and restoring moorlands can slow down climate change.

Scientists find glitch in common digital security system

WASHINGTON – Computer scientists at University of Michigan have found a major flaw in a most common digital security technique used to protect both media copyright and Internet communications.

The experts claim that they could foil RSA authentication system by varying the voltage supply to the holder of the “private key,” which would be the consumer’s …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Encroaching woody plants don’t slurp up water

WASHINGTON – A study by researchers at the Texas A and M University, US, has suggested that the assumption that encroaching woody plants slurp up water and drain nearby rivers in a particular area, is not true, and clearing these plants might make drought worse.

The assumption is the driving force behind efforts from Texas to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Improved technology a must to feed world’s projected 9 billion people by 2050

WASHINGTON – A top agricultural economist has determined that technology that can enhance food production will be a significant asset, in order to feed a world population projected to exceed 9 billion people by 2050.

The academician in question is Ted Schroeder, university distinguished professor of agricultural economics, Kansas State University.
He said that dramatically increased food … Read more : Improved technology a must to feed world’s projected 9 billion people by 2050.

Eruption of Alaska’s Redoubt Volcano sparked new type of lightning

WASHINGTON – Three-dimensional imaging has shown that the eruption of Alaska’s Redoubt Volcano last year, created a new type of lightning, in the form of small, quick sparks.

“We long suspected that the first eruption might be different – and it was,” University of Alaska volcano seismologist Stephen McNutt, told Discovery News.
By monitoring seismic data, researchers … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Eruption of Alaska’s Redoubt Volcano sparked new type of lightning.

Growing support for ‘hobbit’ as distinct species

Growing support for ‘hobbit’ as distinct species

Here is what other scientists have discovered about Homo floriensis, “the hobbit”:
-An analysis of the teeth from at least three hobbits found traits similar to early Homo species or Australopithecus, which lived in Africa between 3.8 million and 2.9 million years ago. The research by Peter Brown and Tomoko … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Growing support for ‘hobbit’ as distinct species.

Tenn. hospitality association CEO sends e-mail comparing first lady to Tarzan’s Cheeta

E-mail compares first lady to Tarzan’s Cheeta

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The CEO of Tennessee’s hospitality association is apologizing for sending an e-mail to a group of public figures that compares first lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee.
The Tennessean of Nashville reports that Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker’s e-mail compares the first lady to Tarzan sidekick … Read more >>>.

Galileo’s early research may have led him to support Earth as center of Universe

ASHINGTON – A physicist has determined that if Galileo Galilei had followed the results of his observations to their logical conclusion, he should have backed the view that Earth didn’t move, and that everything else circled around it and the Sun.

According to a report in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Galileo’s early research may have led him to support Earth as center of Universe.

UK event to make Internet users more security conscious

WASHINGTON – It has emerged that Sunderland City Council has teamed up with a group of academic researchers to put on an exciting interactive event aimed at making Internet users more aware of the problems of disclosing personal information online.

The event forms part …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : UK event to make Internet users more security conscious.

Teaching kids self-control skills reduces classroom problems

WASHINGTON – Children who are taught self-control skills, such as monitoring and controlling anger and other emotions, face significantly fewer school disciplinary referrals and suspensions, says a study.

Researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center found that mentoring kids has a significant impact on their behaviour in the classroom.
The study’s principal author Peter Wyman, associate professor …. Source  : Teaching kids self-control skills reduces classroom problems.

Nokia develops self-charging cellphone

LONDON – Experts have come up with a cellphone that can recharge its own battery by harvesting energy from the owner’s motion.

The self-charging handset by Nokia, who has already filed for a US patent, was predicted to work with heavier components, such as the radio transmitter circuit and battery, supported on a sturdy frame.
The frame … Read : Nokia develops self-charging cellphone.

Idle talk can make you unhappy

LONDON – Idle chit chat can make people unhappy, claims a new study.
A team of American psychologists from the University of Arizona studied if happy and unhappy people differed because of the types of conversations they had.

They asked a team of volunteers to wear an unobtrusive device called an Electronically Activated Recorder for four days, … Read more >>.

Virus infections may lead to gluten intolerance

LONDON – Virus infections may be a contributing factor in onset of gluten intolerance (coeliac disease), a new research suggests.

Gluten intolerance is an autoimmune reaction in the small intestine. The gluten that occurs naturally in grains such as wheat, barley and rye causes damage to the intestinal villi, problems with nutrient absorption and potentially other … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Virus infections may lead to gluten intolerance.

New strategy to give fingerprint for genes involved in endocytosis

LONDON – By applying a new strategy, researchers at Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics can now identify and characterize genes involved in endocytosis.

Endocytosis is the process by which cells ingest substances from the external environment. If affected, it can lead to infectious diseases or cardio-vascular diseases, cancer, Huntington’s and diabetes.
For the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : New strategy to give fingerprint for genes involved in endocytosis.

A look at federal reservoirs being used for water supply without initial authorizations

A look at reservoirs used for water supply

WASHINGTON – A list of federal reservoirs by state that were not initially authorized for water supply but are now being used for that purpose:
ARKANSAS – Lake Ouachita, DeGray Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Nimrod Lake, Norfork Lake
GEORGIA – Carters Dam and Lake, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : A look at federal reservoirs being used for water supply without initial authorizations.