Skull CT scans recreate face of woman in ancient world

SYDNEY – An anthropologist has successfully recreated the face of a woman, who lived 600 years ago in New Zealand, with the help of a skull excavated in 1939.

Using digital technology, facial anthropologist Susan Hayes from the University of Western Australia (UWA) determined the facial structure from Computed Tomography (CT) scans of the skull recovered …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Skull CT scans recreate face of woman in ancient world.

Space shuttle crew arrives for pre-dawn launch; Space station delivery mission on tap

Space shuttle crew arrives for pre-dawn launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Discovery’s astronauts waved and gave thumbs-up as they headed to the launch pad early Monday for a pre-dawn launch to the International Space Station, one of the last few shuttle flights.
Discovery was scheduled to blast off at 6:21 a.m., nearly an hour before …. Source article  : Space shuttle crew arrives for pre-dawn launch; Space station delivery mission on tap.

Can the Yamuna be cleaned, the Finnish way?

LAHTI – If there is will power and a clear vision, the now dying Yamuna river in India can be saved, says an expert from Finland where the once sewage Lake Vesijrvi now provides crystal clear water to people in this country.

Vesijrvi, near this Finnish city, was a sewage and industrial wastewater dump 30 …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Can the Yamuna be cleaned, the Finnish way?.

Why some people are smarter than others

LONDON – Scientists have found why some people are smarter than others-because they have more efficient neural networks in their brains.

Martijn van den Heuvel, a neuroscientist at Utrecht University Medical Center in the Netherlands, found that smarter brains seem to have more efficient networks between neurons.
This means that it takes fewer steps to relay a …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Why some people are smarter than others.

Bangladesh adopts green brick kiln technology

DHAKA – In an effort to reduce carbon emission, Bangladesh is looking at smokeless brick making technology to replace the over 150-year-old traditional method in the country.

The new technology has been introduced by the UNDP as part of its project “Improving Kiln Efficiency in the Brick Making Industry”.
The UNDP, which started its pilot project …. Source  : Bangladesh adopts green brick kiln technology.

Indian, US scientists question Big Bang theory

NEW DELHI – An Indian and an American scientist have questioned the Big Bang theory, saying it does not serve as a viable explanation for the origin of the universe.

The research papers of Ashwini Kumar Lal of India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and Rhawn Joseph of Northern California’s Brain Research Laboratory …. Source article  : Indian, US scientists question Big Bang theory.

Retired professor’s courtyard is haven for sparrows

MEERUT – The numbers of house sparrows may be dwindling fast, but certainly not in the courtyard of a retired professor’s house in this north Indian city where these gregarious birds have been hosted for half a century. He even has private guards to protect them from predators.

With two guards to keep off predators, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Space shuttle Discovery fuels for predawn launch; Space station delivery mission on tap

Space shuttle Discovery fuels for pre-dawn launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA fueled Discovery late Sunday for a pre-dawn launch to the International Space Station, one of the last few shuttle flights.
Discovery was scheduled to blast off at 6:21 a.m., nearly an hour before sunrise. The shuttle and its crew of seven will deliver …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Space shuttle Discovery fuels for predawn launch; Space station delivery mission on tap.

Female astronauts to set record in space

LONDON – Space is about to have an explosion in female population, with four women set to be in orbit at the same time.

This week NASA will attempt to launch three women to the International Space Station, where they will join another woman already circling earth in a Russian capsule and it will be the …. Read the original article  : Female astronauts to set record in space.

Water bills go up in down economy as usage drops from slow manufacturing, real estate, tourism

Water bills go up in down economy as usage drops

PORTLAND, Maine – The grim economy is hitting some consumers in the wallet in yet another way: their water bills.
Many water utilities are raising rates because water use is down, in part because manufacturers have closed or are cutting back, tourism has fallen and the real … Read more »».

‘Clean Ganga’ campaign kicked-off in Uttarakhand

RISHIKESH – Taking a pledge to cleanse the Ganga river from its source in the Himalayas and along its journey to the Bay of Bengal, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank got some popular celebrities to kick off his new “Sparsh Ganga” campaign here Sunday.

While declaring Bollywood actors Hema Malini and Vivek Oberoi as “brand …. Read the original article  : ‘Clean Ganga’ campaign kicked-off in Uttarakhand.

Astronauts from Russia, US reach International Space Station

MOSCOW – A US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts arrived punctually at the International Space Station (ISS) Sunday, Russia’s mission control spokesman Valeri Lyndin said.

The Russian Soyuz spaceship carrying American Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, 40, and her Russian colleagues Mikhail Korniyenko, 49, and Alexander Skvortsov, 43, were launched in their Soyuz space capsule Friday from the Baikonur …. Original source  : Astronauts from Russia, US reach International Space Station.

World’s tallest tower saves 3,200 KW daily

DUBAI – Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, saves up to 3,200 KW of energy every day by tapping solar power to heat the 140,000 litres of water required by its occupants.

This translates into an annual saving of 690 MW, said Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director of Emaar Properties that constructed the tower. … Original article on : World’s tallest tower saves 3,200 KW daily.

Shimla’s temperature six degrees above average

SHIMLA – Temperatures across Himachal Pradesh Sunday remained above average by three to eight degrees, the weatherman said, adding that state capital Shimla saw a high of 23.5 degrees Celsius, six notches above average.

“Temperatures increased across the state due to lack of rain in the past few weeks. The maximum temperature remained above average by …. Original source  : Shimla’s temperature six degrees above average.

No respite for Delhi as mercury continues to soar

NEW DELHI – There is no respite in sight for the capital’s residents as the mercury continued to soar Sunday – with the maximum temperature nearly touching 40 degrees Celsius – and the met department forecasting a similar day Monday.

“The minimum temperature recorded this morning was five degrees above the average, at 22 degrees Celsius. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : No respite for Delhi as mercury continues to soar.

Did Jesus have a sense of humour?

WASHINGTON – Scholars, pastors and bloggers are mulling over Jesus’ sense of humour.
Robert Darden, associate professor of journalism at Baylor University and author of the book “Jesus Laughed: The Redemptive Power of Humor”, said: “If we agree that Jesus was human … Read more »»».

26th anniversary of first Indian in space Monday

NEW DELHI – India will Monday celebrate the 26th anniversary of its first astronaut Rakesh Sharma’s trip to space.

The Russian Centre of Science and Culture in the capital will organise an interaction with Sharma, where he will share his experiences.
Sharma, then a squadron leader in the Indian Air Force (IAF), embarked … Original source on Gaea Times at : 26th anniversary of first Indian in space Monday.

‘We are facing greatest extinction since dinosaurs disappeared from earth’

WASHINGTON – We are now witnessing the greatest extinction crisis since dinosaurs disappeared from our planet 65 million years ago, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

IUCN, which is the oldest and largest global environmental network, has said that the governments have failed to meet targets to reduce the rate of … Original source on Gaea Times at : ‘We are facing greatest extinction since dinosaurs disappeared from earth’.

MIT researchers work on more powerful batteries

WASHINGTON – A team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing a technology that could lead to more powerful, lightweight batteries than existing ones.

Yang Shao-Horn, MIT associate professor of mechanical engineering, says that many groups have been pursuing work on lithium-air batteries, a technology that could advance work on …. Original source  : MIT researchers work on more powerful batteries.