Soon, drugs that could kill cancer cells before their formation

LONDON – Just like dentists scrape away plaque to prevent tooth decay, it would soon be possible to keep cancer at bay by killing off precancerous cells every few months.

Researchers have identified drugs that could accomplish the same in mice.
Until now, attempts at the “chemoprevention” of tumours have not been …. Original source  : Soon, drugs that could kill cancer cells before their formation.

Getting closer toward lightweight batteries

WASHINGTON – Researchers at MIT have taken a step closer towards a technology that could lead to lightweight batteries with up to three times the energy density of any battery that currently exists.

Yang Shao-Horn said that many groups … Read more »».

Cases of massive timber felling in Himachal

SHIMLA – The Himachal Pradesh forest department has registered 31 cases of illegal felling of trees, involving timber worth Rs.700,120, in less than a year, the state forest minister said Saturday.

“Eight ‘van thanas’ or forest police stations that were set up in the state in May last year have registered 31 cases of illegal forest …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Cases of massive timber felling in Himachal.

Plastic electronics can slash cost of solar panels

WASHINGTON – A new technique developed by engineers for producing power-conducting plastics could slash the cost of making solar panels, say researchers. … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Plastic electronics can slash cost of solar panels.

Now, technology to see through fog

WASHINGTON – Engineers have developed a new technology that will enable pilots to peer through fog and doctors to see more precisely into the human body without surgery.

Developed by Princeton engineers, the method relies on the surprising ability to clarify an image using rays of light that would typically make the image unrecognisable, such as …. Original article  : Now, technology to see through fog.

Showers likely in Uttar Pradesh Saturday

LUCKNOW – Temperatures across Uttar Pradesh have been hovering around a scorching 40 degrees Celsius but the weatherman has forcast rain in some parts of the state Saturday, signalling relief for the people.

“Due to upper air cyclonic pressure over western Uttar Pradesh, parts of the state would receive showers,” met department director J.P. Gupta told … Original article on : Showers likely in Uttar Pradesh Saturday.

Traces of rain, but its still hot in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Despite some rain a day earlier, the national capital continued to be hot Saturday, recording a minimum of 23.1 degrees Celsius, five notches above average for this time of the year.

“There were traces of rainfall yesterday evening. But the capital would still be warm Saturday. The sky is expected to be partly …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Traces of rain, but its still hot in Delhi.

Structure of key protein in common HIV subgroup uncovered

LONDON – Scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have uncovered the structure of key protein in common HIV subgroup.

The boffins have provided the first-ever glimpse of the structure of a key protein-gp120-found on the surface of a specific subgroup of the human immunodeficiency virus, … Read more »».

How the brain stores memories of specific fears

LONDON – Neuroscientists have found that the human brain is capable of holding and retrieving memories for specific fears.

The discovery reveals a more sophisticated storage and recall capacity of the brain than previously thought, boffins claim.
The study, which appears in the journal Nature Neuroscience, was conducted by … Read this article on Gaea Times at : How the brain stores memories of specific fears.

How introverts’ brains process the world around them

WASHINGTON – Introverts may actually process their world differently than others, leading to differences in how they respond to stimuli, say researchers.

About twenty percent of people are born with this “highly sensitive” trait, which may also … Read more »».

Here’s how human brain remembers the future

LONDON – A group of researchers has discovered that the brain saves energy by forecasting what it is likely to see.

Boffins in the Dept. of Psychology at the Univ. of Glasgow, working in collaboration with the Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany, claim that the … Read more : Here’s how human brain remembers the future.

Federal historic council recommends US interior secretary reject Mass. coast wind farm project

Council: Feds should dump Mass. wind farm project
BOSTON – A federal council recommended Friday that the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior reject a proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound, saying it would have “destructive” effects on dozens of nearby historic properties.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation said the Kennedy family …. Source  : Federal historic council recommends US interior secretary reject Mass. coast wind farm project.

Late Vt. budget trims would affect nursing home residents, state parks, other areas

Critics blast package of late Vt. budget trims

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Advocates for the elderly worry about changes in Medicaid funding for nursing homes, environmentalists say state park land would be sold too easily and regional planners say they can’t be rushed into a merger with economic development offices.
Those are among the complaints being voiced about … Read more »».

There goes Peter Cottontail: Bunnies have mysteriously forsaken New York’s Central Park

In NY’s Central Park, where goes Peter Cottontail?

NEW YORK – If anyone knows why the bunnies have disappeared from Central Park, wildlife officials are all ears.
Though abandoned pet rabbits perennially turn up after each Easter in what’s affectionately called New York’s backyard, a wild cottontail hasn’t been spotted in the park for about four years.
“I’ve …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

20-year study finds 50 native plants disappearing from NYC area, less diverse landscape

NYC study: 50 native plants disappearing
NEW YORK – Oriental Bittersweet was an exotic foreigner still found mostly in East Asia when the New York Botanical Garden planted its first specimen in 1897.

Today, it is everywhere. The shrubby vine is common in woodlands and fields in 21 states, ranging from North Carolina, to Maine, to Illinois.
The …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 20-year study finds 50 native plants disappearing from NYC area, less diverse landscape.

Arch Coal sues EPA over veto of permit for largest surface mine in West Virginia

Arch Coal sues EPA over veto of W.Va. mine permit

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A subsidiary of mining giant Arch Coal Inc. sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday over the planned veto of a water quality permit for West Virginia’s largest surface mine.
St. Louis-based Arch argues in the federal lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., that the …. Read the original article  : Arch Coal sues EPA over veto of permit for largest surface mine in West Virginia.

Obama: US economy ‘turning the corner’ with positive jobs report, but times still hard

Obama welcomes jobs report as rare good news
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – President Barack Obama on Friday hailed a new government report showing the most jobs created in nearly three years. “We are beginning to turn the corner,” he told employees of a manufacturing plant that received government stimulus money.
Steps …. Source article  : Obama: US economy ‘turning the corner’ with positive jobs report, but times still hard.

Tiger reserves in country going Panna way, rues Ramesh

BHOPAL – Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh Friday said most of the tiger reserves in the country are in a bad shape and are going Panna and Sariska reserves way, which have no tigers left.

Ramesh, who was in this Madhya Pradesh capital for the seventh convocation of the Indian Institute … Read more : Tiger reserves in country going Panna way, rues Ramesh.

Heat wave intensifies in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Heat wave intensified in Orissa as Titilagarh town of Bolangir district Friday recorded a maximum temperature of 43.6 degree Celsius, the highest of the season in the state, an official said.

Unusually high temperatures were recorded in several places in the state, including Sambalpur at 42.5 degrees, Bolangir at 42.3, and Jharsuguda at 41.3 …. Source article  : Heat wave intensifies in Orissa.

NASA begins countdown for Discovery launch Monday; only 3 flights left after this one

NASA begins countdown for Monday’s shuttle launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’s countdown clocks began ticking Friday for next week’s launch of shuttle Discovery on a space station supply run, one of only four remaining.
Discovery is scheduled to blast off just before dawn Monday with seven astronauts and a load of science experiments and spare parts … Read : NASA begins countdown for Discovery launch Monday; only 3 flights left after this one.