Volcano helped dinos gain upper hand in battle for global dominance 200 mln yrs ago

SYDNEY – In a new study, scientists have confirmed that a massive volcanic eruption and the loss of half of Earth’s plant life 200 million years ago tipped the scales in favour of the dinosaurs over crocodiles in the battle for global dominance.

The idea is not new, but connecting the eruption to a 200-million-year-old mass …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Volcano helped dinos gain upper hand in battle for global dominance 200 mln yrs ago.

Soon, operate your cellphone without touching it

WASHINGTON – You could soon operate your cellphone just at the point of a finger, without even having to touch the display-thanks to touchless control made of printable polymer sensors.

The sensors, just like human skin, react to the tiniest fluctuations in temperature and differences in pressure and recognize the finger as it approaches.
And the feat …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Soon, operate your cellphone without touching it.

More sensitive sensor paves way for better prosthetic limbs, cars and missiles

WASHINGTON – Get ready for more thrilling videogames, better functioning prosthetic limbs, cars that can detect collisions and dangerous turns before they occur, and missiles that can reach a target far more precisely-all thanks to sensitive sensors being developed by researchers at Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Engineering.

Prof. Yael Hanein, Dr. Slava Krylov and their …. Original source  : More sensitive sensor paves way for better prosthetic limbs, cars and missiles.

425-mln-yr-old creature is only third ever to be found in ancient rocks

WASHINGTON – A team of scientists has uncovered an ancient water flea-like creature from 425 million years ago, which is only the third of its kind ever to be discovered in ancient rocks.

Professor David Siveter, of the Department of Geology at the University of Leicester worked with Professor Derek Siveter at the Oxford University Museum …. Original article  : 425-mln-yr-old creature is only third ever to be found in ancient rocks.

Tree health likely to suffer due to climate change

WASHINGTON – A new literature review has shown that climate change generally will lead to reductions in tree health and will improve conditions for some highly damaging pathogens.

Currently, the forested area annually infected by insects and pathogens in the United States is approximately 45 times the area affected by fire, with an economic impact almost … Read more : Tree health likely to suffer due to climate change.

20-yr-old study reveals precise estimates of Earth’s tectonic plate movements

WASHINGTON – A 20 year-long study by scientists has yielded precise estimates of the interlocking tectonic plates that account for about 97 percent of Earth’s surface.

The study was carried out by Rice University geoscientist Richard Gordon and collaborators Chuck DeMets of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Donald Argus of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, …. Original article  : 20-yr-old study reveals precise estimates of Earth’s tectonic plate movements.

New portable device reveals booze’s true strength

WASHINGTON – A portable device that determines the strength of alcoholic drinks quickly and easily has been unveiled.

Published in the open access Chemistry Central Journal, the researchers show that their technique is just as accurate, and more sophisticated, than widely used lab-based methods.
Along with his colleagues, Dirk Lachenmeier of testing agency Chemisches und Veterinaruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) … Read this article on Gaea Times at : New portable device reveals booze’s true strength.

Jab that can cure phobias may soon be a reality

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the University of Hiroshima in Japan have found a way to switch off a ‘fear centre’ in the brain, a finding that could make cure for phobias a reality.

Boffins claim that injecting a common local anaesthetic directly into the brain may cure fears.
Masayuki Yoshida and Ruriko Hirano studied the cerebellum, an …. Original article  : Jab that can cure phobias may soon be a reality.

Helium rain explains scarcity of neon in Jupiter’s atmosphere

WASHINGTON – In a new research, scientists at the UC (University of California) Berkeley, US, have suggested that helium rain is the best way to explain the scarcity of neon in the outer layers of Jupiter.

Neon dissolves in the helium raindrops and falls towards the deeper interior where it re-dissolves, depleting the upper layers of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Helium rain explains scarcity of neon in Jupiter’s atmosphere.

Australia – Kiwi 100 mln yr old break-up indicates similar fate for South America

SYDNEY – A team of geoscientists have created a mathematical model that accurately predicts how Australia and New Zealand broke apart 100 million years ago, and indicates that a similar process could be happening under South America.

According to a report in ABC Science, Australian geoscientists Associate Professor Patrice Rey and Professor Deitmar Muller from the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Australia – Kiwi 100 mln yr old break-up indicates similar fate for South America.

Cancer radiotherapy ups cardiovascular disease risk later in life

WASHINGTON – Karolinska Institutet scientists have suggested that the sustained inflammation in the arteries brought on by changes in gene expression as a result of cancer radiotherapy could be the reason why so many people who survive their cancer diagnosis go on to develop cardiovascular disease later in life.

Epidemiological studies have shown that a course … Original article on : Cancer radiotherapy ups cardiovascular disease risk later in life.

Genes that keep watch on blood clotting time found

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have discovered three genes that could shed light on the genetic causes of blood-clotting disorders such as thrombosis and some types of stroke.

The boffins discovered that the three genes make a substantial contribution to how long it takes blood to clot.
The team thinks that identifying these genes … Original source on Gaea Times at : Genes that keep watch on blood clotting time found.

Archaeologists to unravel origins of iron and steel in India

WASHINGTON – In a new research, archaeologists have studied the origins of high carbon steel-making and iron in the southern Indian sub-continent.

The six-week archaeological research expedition, to a remote region of rural Andhra Pradesh in India, consisted of a team of Exeter University staff and students.
Setting out at 7.00 every morning from their base camp …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Archaeologists to unravel origins of iron and steel in India.

Tiny pieces of silent RNA behind healing chronic wounds

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found the reason behind why chronic wounds have trouble healing- tiny piece of RNA, called as miR-210.

In a new animal study, the Ohio State University researchers discovered that this RNA segment in wounds with limited blood flow lowers the production of a protein that is needed to encourage skin cells to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Tiny pieces of silent RNA behind healing chronic wounds.

Growing portion sizes in ‘Last Supper’ paintings indicate growing appetites

WASHINGTON – After observing almost four dozen depictions of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’, scientists have claimed that the sizes of the portions and plates in all the adaptations of the famous work have gradually grown bigger in the past 1,000 years, indicating growing appetites among people.

The finding from researchers at Cornell University suggests … Read more »».

Sunlight may play a bigger role than vitamin D in controlling multiple sclerosis

WASHINGTON – Ultraviolet portion of sunlight plays a bigger role than vitamin D in controlling multiple sclerosis (MS), according to researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

For more than 30 years, scientists have known that multiple sclerosis (MS) is much more common in higher latitudes than in the tropics.
Because sunlight is more abundant near the equator, many … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Sunlight may play a bigger role than vitamin D in controlling multiple sclerosis.

Consumption of meat, dairy products not linked to global warming

WASHINGTON – Cutting down on consumption of meat and dairy products will not reduce global warming, says a new research.

Until now, experts had linked diets rich in animal products to production of greenhouse gases.
Air quality expert Frank Mitloehner insists that the notion is fruitless to curbing global warming.
He said campaigns such as “meatless Mondays” and …. Source article  : Consumption of meat, dairy products not linked to global warming.

Cognitive decline 4 times faster in Alzheimer’s patients

WASHINGTON – Cognitive abilities decline four times faster in Alzheimer’s patients than those without any cognitive impairment, say researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

The research is the second population-based study to quantify the rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.
“Knowledge about the progressive cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease is mainly based on studies …. Source  : Cognitive decline 4 times faster in Alzheimer’s patients.

Jesus Christ Supersizer: Food in Last Supper paintings has grown by biblical proportions

Study: Last Supper paintings supersize the food

Has even the Last Supper been supersized?
The food in famous paintings of the meal has grown by biblical proportions over the last millennium, researchers report in a medical journal Tuesday.
Using a computer, they compared the size of the food to the size of the heads in 52 paintings of … Read more »»».

Northern NJ hotel owner admits discharging polluted wastewater into river, must pay $75,000

Hotel owner pleads guilty to polluting NJ river

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The owner of a northern New Jersey hotel has admitted discharging wastewater contaminated with sewage into a river.
RD Secaucus LP is the corporate owner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Secaucus, just west of New York City. It pleaded guilty Monday to unlawfully discharging … Original article on : Northern NJ hotel owner admits discharging polluted wastewater into river, must pay $75,000.