Coolers help zoo animals beat heat

BHUBANESWAR – Coolers and water sprinklers are being used at Orissa’s Nandankanan zoo to protect animals from heat as several towns recorded 35-38 degrees Celsius temperature.

“Coolers have been installed in the enclosures of Squirrel monkey and Orangutan as they are prone to heat wave attack,” zoo deputy director S.K. Mohapatra told IANS.
“All water tanks …. Source  : Coolers help zoo animals beat heat.

Scientists turns mosquito into ‘flying vaccinator’

WASHINGTON – A team of Japanese researchers has developed a mosquito that spreads vaccine instead of disease.

The new research, led by Associate Professor Shigeto Yoshida from the Jichi Medical University in Japan, has revealed that mosquito genetic engineering can turn the transmitter into a natural ‘flying vaccinator’, providing a new strategy for biological control over …. Source article  : Scientists turns mosquito into ‘flying vaccinator’.

India and China need to team up to deal with environmental problems

WASHINGTON – A Michigan State University (MSU) scientist and colleagues have said that China and India need to collaborate to slow global warming, deforestation, water shortages and other environmental issues.

“China and India are the two largest countries in terms of population,” said Jianguo Liu, MSU University Distinguished Professor of fisheries and wildlife who holds the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Saturn may have oxygen atmosphere, reveals Cassini’s latest snapshot

WASHINGTON – NASA’s Cassini orbiter’s latest snapshot of Saturn has revealed the rapidly rearranging rings of the planet, as well as colliding moonlets, and an oxygen atmosphere.

Scientists were surprised to find that the atmosphere around Saturn’s rings is largely made up of oxygen.
“Most people thought the ring atmosphere would be water molecules-H2O-and their breakdown products …. Read the original article  : Saturn may have oxygen atmosphere, reveals Cassini’s latest snapshot.

Brain receptor behind learning deficits post-puberty identified

WASHINGTON – A novel brain receptor, alpha4-beta-delta, has been labelled as the culprit behind learning deficits that come with puberty.

It is well known that the onset of puberty marks the end of the optimal period for learning language and certain spatial skills, such as computer/video game operation.
In the new study, Dr. Sheryl Smith, professor of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Brain receptor behind learning deficits post-puberty identified.

Songbirds offer insight into human speech production

WASHINGTON – Scientists say they’re using songbirds to gain insight into how the human brain functions, which may lead to a better understanding of complex vocal behaviour, human speech production and ultimately, speech disorders and related diseases.

Pennsylvania State University Assistant Professors Dezhe Jin and Alexay Kozhevnikov said they are studying how songbirds transmit impulses through …. Read the original article  : here.

Tiger kills animals in Sundarbans village

KOLKATA – A tiger sneaked into a village in the Sundarbans forests of West Bengal and killed several animals before it was tranquilized early Friday.

Forest department sources said the tiger entered Sudhangshupur village in South 24 Parganas district Thursday night and killed three cows, some fowls, a goat and a dog.
After villagers alerted the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Tiger kills animals in Sundarbans village.

Day and night to be equally long Saturday

NEW DELHI – Sky gazers in the capital are looking forward to watch the spring equinox Saturday – when the sun shines directly overhead as viewed from the earth, making the night and day equally long.

According to scientists, equinox marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere and the word ‘equinox’ is derived …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Day and night to be equally long Saturday.

Recognising sensual sounds is culture specific

WASHINGTON – When it comes to recognising positive emotions like sensual pleasure, relief and achievement, there exists a strong cultural divide, according to researchers at University College London’s psychology department.

The scientists studied a range of non-verbal emotional vocalizations, such as screams and laughs, in two very different cultural groups.
They compared the responses of Westerners to … Original article on : Recognising sensual sounds is culture specific.

NASA mission prepares for study of arctic glaciers

WASHINGTON – NASA’s Operation IceBridge mission, the largest airborne survey ever flown of Earth’s polar ice, is all set to kick off its second year of study of arctic glaciers when NASA aircraft arrive in Greenland on March 22.

The IceBridge mission allows scientists to track changes in the extent and thickness of polar ice, which … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : NASA mission prepares for study of arctic glaciers.

Blocking protein may prevent smoke-induced lung damage

LONDON – A new research has found that blocking a certain protein can reduce or prevent cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation in mice.

Inflammation results in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and many other smoking-related ailments.
Cigarette smoke triggers the release of Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which is linked to growth, activation and survival of leukocytes directly …. Original article  : Blocking protein may prevent smoke-induced lung damage.

Velociraptor’s closest cousin discovered by scientists

LONDON – A team of scientists has discovered a new species of dinosaur that was closely related to the Velociraptor.

According to a report by BBC News, the researchers discovered the dinosaur’s exquisitely well-preserved skeleton in sediments dating from the Upper Cretaceous period in Inner Mongolia.
The fossilised skeleton was in almost perfect condition, with complete claws … Read more : Velociraptor’s closest cousin discovered by scientists.

How men produce 1,500 sperms in a second

WASHINGTON – A man produces 1,500 sperm in a single second and researchers have now found how males manage to accomplish this seminal feat.

For a long time, it is believed that stem cells in the testicles-also called germline stem cells-become sperm only through a simple, two-step process.
However, the researchers found that germline stem cells apparently …. Read the original article  : How men produce 1,500 sperms in a second.

Sperm of ants battle inside the queens

LONDON – Queens of ants and bees normally obtain a lifetime supply of sperm on a single day of sexual activity, and sperm competition is expected to occur in lineages where queens receive sperm from multiple males. Now, a new research has shown that it’s not the males that try to harm each other: it’s … Original source on Gaea Times at : Sperm of ants battle inside the queens.

Leafcutter ant queens shut down male-male sperm competition

WASHINGTON – Leafcutter ant queen that mates with many males can stop the battle between competing sperm in her reproductive tract, a new research has found.

Queens of ants and bees normally obtain a lifetime supply of sperm on a single day of sexual activity, and sperm competition is expected to occur in lineages where queens …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Leafcutter ant queens shut down male-male sperm competition.

Facebook refuses to install paedophile ‘panic button’

LONDON – Facebook has refused to install the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) centre ‘panic button’ on its page to report suspected paedophiles, but it has vowed to develop its existing system.

The social networking site has been pressured to start the ‘panic button’ on its pages, after Peter Chapman was convicted for the murder … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Facebook refuses to install paedophile ‘panic button’.

Newly discovered exoplanet may have water

WASHINGTON – Scientists have suggested that the newly discovered planet Corot-9b is temperate enough to allow the presence of liquid water.

Corot-9b was found on 16 May 2008 and orbits its star every 95.274 days, a little longer than Mercury takes to go round the Sun.
It is the first transiting planet to have both a longer … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Newly discovered exoplanet may have water.

36 wild animals killed in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR – Poachers killed 36 wild animals in Chhattisgarh in the past 24 months, a forest official said Friday.

Eleven wild animals were killed in 2008-09 and 25 till February this year, the official told IANS.
He said poachers had largely targeted leopards in Kanker and Dhamtari districts.
Meanwhile, police arrested two youths Friday morning … Read more »»».

Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak created in 3D

WASHINGTON – The magical cloak that featured in the Harry Potter series has become closer to reality, thanks to German scientists who’ve created a three-dimensional “invisibility cloak” that can hide objects by …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak created in 3D.

Japanese fish dealers welcome rejection of tuna trade ban, but urge that quotas be enforced

Japanese fish dealers welcome tuna ban rejection

TOKYO – Japanese fish dealers on Friday welcomed the rejection of a proposed trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna – a prized ingredient of sushi – while urging that existing quotas be more strictly enforced to protect the species from overfishing.
Thursday’s vote at a U.N. meeting in Doha, Qatar, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Japanese fish dealers welcome rejection of tuna trade ban, but urge that quotas be enforced.