Modified yeast to boost biofuel production

WASHINGTON – A team of scientists has worked out how to modify yeast cells so that they successfully convert a wider range of sugars from plant waste such as wheat and rice straw into alcohol that can be used as biofuel.

The scientists in question are …. Original article  : Modified yeast to boost biofuel production.

Now use eye movement to play computer games

LONDON – In an invention that could go a long way in helping the disabled, students have developed a computer game that can be operated by eye movement.

The students, from Imperial College London (ICL), have developed an open source game called ‘Pong’, where a player uses his eye to move a bat to hit a …. Source article  : Now use eye movement to play computer games.

Bugs can help rid oceans of plastic pollution

LONDON – Bits of plastic floating in the ocean are not just unsightly but are also a potential threat to marine life and our eco-system. But there is some hope, say researchers.

Coastal microbes may offer a smart solution to clean up plastic contamination, said Jesse Harrison, from the University of Sheffield in Britain, part of … Read more : Bugs can help rid oceans of plastic pollution.

Air pollution shortening Brits’ lives by nine years

LONDON – The level of air pollution is so high in the UK that it is shortening people’s lives by up to nine years, according to a report by the House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee.

Nitrogen oxides, ozone and particles of sulphate, carbon and dust are the most common … Original article on : Air pollution shortening Brits’ lives by nine years.

Marine ecosystems under threat from ocean acidification

WASHINGTON – Experiments by a team of scientists has determined that acidification of the oceans as a result of increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) could have significant effects on marine ecosystems.

Postgraduate researcher Michael Maguire, together with colleagues at Newcastle University, performed experiments in which …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

China has added over 3 million hectares of new forests since 2000

WASHINGTON – A new report indicates that in the last ten years, China has displayed an incredible feat of environmental engineering by adding over 3 million hectares of new forests, in order to combat deforestation.

According to Discovery News, a new report issued by … Read more »».

Coastal microbes may offer smart solution to clean up plastic contamination

WASHINGTON – In a new research, a team of scientists has determined that coastal microbes may offer a smart solution to clean up plastic contamination.

The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Sheffield and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries … Read more : Coastal microbes may offer smart solution to clean up plastic contamination.

Google to hand out Internet guide leaflet

LONDON – Google is set to encourage more people to turn to cyberspace with plans of producing an Internet guide in a leaflet.

The search giant will hand out the information on how to work basic online tasks, such as communicating with friends, and not promote its …. Original article  : Google to hand out Internet guide leaflet.

New strategy to treat type 2 diabetes

LONDON – A cellular pathway that fails when people become obese has been identified, and scientists believe that it could act as a new strategy for treating type 2 diabetes.

By activating this pathway artificially, researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston could normalize blood …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Teens’ music taste determined by conformity with peers: Study

LONDON – A new study has linked teenagers’ music choices to the horror of failing to conform with their peers.

Gregory Berns, Chair of Neuroeconomics at Emory Univerity in the US, conducted the research on teenagers listening to songs on social networking sites such as MySpace.
“We wanted to know, …. Original article  : Teens’ music taste determined by conformity with peers: Study.

Scientists identify gene that dramatically boosts yield in tomatoes

WASHINGTON – A team of scientists has identified a gene that pushes hybrid tomato plants to spectacularly increase yield.

The yield-boosting power of this gene, which controls when plants make flowers, works in different varieties of tomato, and crucially, across a range of environmental conditions.
“This discovery … Read more >>.

‘Big Bang Machine’ all set to start operations tomorrow

LONDON – Reports indicate that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), popularly known as the ‘Big Bang Machine’, is all set to start operations aimed for record-breaking high-energy particle experiments on March 30, after an 18-month delay for repairs.

According to a report in The Guardian, operators of …. Read the original article  : ‘Big Bang Machine’ all set to start operations tomorrow.

Fossil find reveals tinier version of T-Rex

SYDNEY – A fossil find shows that a tinier version of T-Rex existed in Australia.

An international team found the hip bone at Dinosaur Cove in south-west Victoria. The team was led by Pat Rich, paleontology professor at Monash University (MU), and Tom Rich, honorary researcher in the School of Geosciences.
Researchers believe the bone would … Original article on : Fossil find reveals tinier version of T-Rex.

Now, tiny gold probes to tell how disease develops

WASHINGTON – Taking a leap in diagnosing ailments, researchers have now developed tiny probes comprising gold-coated particles that can be implanted into patients and tell how a disease is progressing.

After being inserted into cells, the gold particles could enable diseases to be detected and monitored remotely using light … Read more : Now, tiny gold probes to tell how disease develops.

‘Hormone therapy’ may help treat food-borne infections

WASHINGTON – In the gut, decoding hormonal messages that help to reduce the production of lethal toxins by pathogenic bacteria, could be a better way to treat serious food-borne infections where antibiotics do more harm than good, according to scientists.

Vanessa Sperandio said that gut bacteria, …. Read the original article  : ‘Hormone therapy’ may help treat food-borne infections.

Skipper wants to ‘fly’ boat around the world in 40 days

WASHINGTON – Reports indicate that Alain Thebault, the captain of the world’s fastest sailboat, the Hydroptere, has announced that he wants to sail his boat around the world in 40 days.

According to a report in Discovery News, Thebault has said [..] Read the original article: here.

Rainfall brings relief to drought-hit Chinese province

BEIJING – Cloud seeding brought rainfall over the weekend in drought hit Yunnan province in southwest China, a media report said Monday.

Meteorologists, however, said the light to moderate rainfall will have limited effect on the worst drought situation affecting the region in a century.
Rainfall occurred in 11 cities and prefectures, including Kunming, capital of …. Original article  : Rainfall brings relief to drought-hit Chinese province.

Pet rodents smarter than wild relatives, courtesy owners

WASHINGTON – Domesticated animals such as rodents have been found to showcase more intelligence than their wild relatives, thanks to owners, says a new study.

Researchers from the University of Munster, Germany, based the main focus of their study on guinea pigs.
Lars Lewejohann and colleagues examined how domesticated … Read : Pet rodents smarter than wild relatives, courtesy owners.

Alcohol tester to expose drink fraud developed

LONDON – Experts have come up with a briefcase-sized testing kit that helps measure alcohol content in drinks.

The new portable device, manufactured by Unisensor Sensorsysteme, also of Karlsruhe, was said to be available for 3,000 pounds and produced almost similar results to powerful lab equipment.
Dirk Lachenmeier of the Chemical and …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Alcohol tester to expose drink fraud developed.

Mercury soars, another hot week for Delhi

NEW DELHI – With the minimum temperature remaining well above average early Monday, the capital is set for yet another scorching week ahead, the weather office said.

“The minimum temperature recorded early Monday was five degrees above average, at 22 degrees Celsius. The maximum is expected to touch 38 degrees Celsius,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) … Read more : Mercury soars, another hot week for Delhi.