52-year-old dies of heat stroke in Haryana

CHANDIGARH – The prevailing intense heat wave in Haryana has claimed its first victim as temperatures continue to reign five to seven degrees above normal in the state, officials said Sunday.

According to health officials, 52-year-old Rishi Pal died Friday while he was working in his fields in Jhinjhauli village of Sonepat district.
The met department … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 52-year-old dies of heat stroke in Haryana.

E-readers motivate less-enthusiastic kids

WASHINGTON – Electronic readers like Kindle motivate children to read by making them interact with texts in ways they don’t interact with the printed word, an expert says.

Lotta Larson, Kansas-State University (KSU) assistant professor of elementary education, has been using the Amazon Kindle in her work with a pair of second-graders since 2009.
The e-reader … Original article on : E-readers motivate less-enthusiastic kids.

Mobile media venture gives voice to Gond tribals

JASHPUR – Even as this region hits the headlines for the wrong reasons, in particular the running battle with Maoists, an innovative mobile phone-based media venture is giving a voice to the native and badly exploited Gond tribals and helping them reach out to the rest of India.

CGnet Swara, the mobile phone-based information network, has …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Mobile media venture gives voice to Gond tribals.

No respite from heat for Delhiites

NEW DELHI – Delhiites will continue to reel under the scorching heat Sunday with the maximum temperature likely to hover around 43.7 degrees Celsius, weather officials said.

The minimum temperature recorded Sunday morning was 30.6 degrees, six notches above normal.
“There will be no respite from the scorching summer as mercury continues to go northwards. …. Read the original article  : No respite from heat for Delhiites.

Failed mission not to impact May satellite launch

BANGALORE – India is preparing to launch an advanced remote sensing earth observation satellite in May, undeterred by the failure of its cryogenic rocket mission last week, says a senior space official.

“We are going ahead with the schedule of launching the remote sensing Cartosat-2B satellite in the sun-synchronous polar orbit in May second week (8-10) … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Failed mission not to impact May satellite launch.

Electric eco-cars have not yet won the race; hydrogen-powered engines may make a comeback

Hydrogen still in the eco-car race
BERLIN – Hydrogen, one of Earth’s most abundant elements, once was seen as green energy’s answer to the petroleum-driven car: easy to produce, available everywhere and nonpolluting when burned.

Hydrogen energy was defeated by a mountain of obstacles – the fear of explosion by the highly flammable gas, the difficulty of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

How did eggs and sperm evolve?

LONDON – Scientists have disclosed the secret behind the biggest question in reproductive science-why most sexually reproducing organisms have two contrasting sex cells: large, immobile eggs and plentiful smaller, motile sperm.

To answer the question, James Umen and colleagues at the … Read more »»».

Improved nano diamonds production to improve bio imaging of proteins

MELBOURNE – By developing a new way to keep tiny nano-sized diamonds separated during production, Aussie scientists have opened new avenues in medical imaging.

With the new discovery, scientists can see new light properties not exhibited by larger diamonds.
Led by Associate … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Improved nano diamonds production to improve bio imaging of proteins.

Delhi records hottest April day in 52 years

NEW DELHI – Delhi residents continued to reel under the scorching heat with the mercury rising to 43.7 degrees Celsius, the highest recorded in April in the past 52 years.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), there seems to be no respite from heat wave conditions on the weekend as the maximum is likely to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Delhi records hottest April day in 52 years.

Discovery undocks from ISS, heads for home

WASHINGTON – The space shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station Saturday and headed home after a mission to install a new ammonia tank and deliver experiments and other gear.

The Discovery astronauts completed three spacewalks to install the ammonia tank to the station’s cooling system. But a problem with a stuck valve needed to … Read more : Discovery undocks from ISS, heads for home.

Summer sun scorches Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA – The mercury continued to rise across the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh Saturday, recording temperatures five to 10 degrees higher than average. In some areas, it crossed 43 degrees Celsius.

State capital Shimla recorded a high of 29.6 degrees Celsius, 10 notches above average.
“The maximum temperature remained above average by five to 10 [..] Read the original article: here.

Shuttle Discovery undocks from space station; next stop is Earth to wrap up 2-week mission

Discovery leaves space station; next stop is Earth

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Discovery and its crew left the International Space Station on Saturday and aimed for a homecoming in two days to wrap up one of the last missions of NASA’s storied shuttle program.
The space station residents were “really, really sad” to see their friends go. … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Shuttle Discovery undocks from space station; next stop is Earth to wrap up 2-week mission.

Awesome power of supermassive black holes revealed

WASHINGTON – Nottingham University researchers have shed new light on the super destructive capacity of black holes.

For the study, Asa Bluck in the School of Physics and Astronomy and colleagues, used images of unprecedented depth and resolution from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Awesome power of supermassive black holes revealed.

Research ushers in new ray of hope for severe alcoholic hepatitis sufferers

WASHINGTON – Two French studies have shed new light on the treatment options for patients suffering from severe alcoholic hepatitis.

The first research showed the positive potential of performing liver transplantation for patients suffering from severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) earlier than …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Research ushers in new ray of hope for severe alcoholic hepatitis sufferers.

World’s water cycle has intensified

WASHINGTON – Ocean salinities show an intensified water cycle, according to a new research.
The stronger water cycle means arid regions have become drier and high rainfall regions wetter as atmospheric temperature increases.

The study, co-authored by CSIRO scientists Paul Durack and Dr …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : World’s water cycle has intensified.

‘Java Man’ may have existed millennia before modern man

WASHINGTON – ‘Java Man’ may have existed hundreds of thousands of years before modern day humans (Homo sapiens), suggests a new research.

A majority of anthropologists have believed, until now, that H. erectus may have persisted on the Indonesian island of Java as recently as 30,000 …. Source  : ‘Java Man’ may have existed millennia before modern man.

India’s GSAT-4 rocket lost, but precious payload safe

BANGALORE – A fateful but providential decision by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) saved a precious Indo-Israeli science payload from crashing into the sea in the failed GSLV launch mission Thursday.

Under the original plan, the ultraviolet telescope called TAUVEX was to be carried by GSAT-4, which plunged into the Bay of Bengal after the …. Source  : India’s GSAT-4 rocket lost, but precious payload safe.

2 space crews say goodbye, close hatches between shuttle and station for undocking

2 space crews say goodbye, close hatches
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – It’s almost check-out time for space shuttle Discovery.

The seven shuttle astronauts and six station residents said goodbye and hugged one another Saturday morning. Then they closed the hatches between them in preparation for Discovery’s undocking.
Shuttle commander Alan Poindexter thanked his International Space Station friends for …. Source article  : 2 space crews say goodbye, close hatches between shuttle and station for undocking.

Mystery behind mummy’s missing toe solved after 50 yrs

LONDON – The age-old mystery of Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten’s lost left big toe has been solved-it has been residing in Liverpool for the past 50 years.

And this week, the toe has been transferred from the store of University of Liverpool to …. Read the original article  : Mystery behind mummy’s missing toe solved after 50 yrs.

‘Spooky’ technique exhumes graves long lost

WASHINGTON – Canadian scientists are using hyperspectral imaging, a technique that detects minor changes in light from plants and soil caused by a decomposing body, to find unmarked animal graves.

The procedure used by researchers at McGill University could help police solve cases involving missing persons and/or unearth mass …. Original source  : ‘Spooky’ technique exhumes graves long lost.