Now, ‘Green’ decontaminants to break down chemical weapons

WASHINGTON – Chemists have developed a set of ‘green’ decontaminants, tough enough to get rid of chemical weapons like nerve gas, mustard gas, radioactive isotopes and bio-terrorism agent anthrax.

They are also non-toxic, based on ingredients found in food, cosmetics and other consumer products.
George Wagner of the US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Centre … Original article on : Now, ‘Green’ decontaminants to break down chemical weapons.

Flower can boost efficiency of anti-cancer drugs by one million times

LONDON – An extract from the white bloom can boost the efficiency of anti-cancer drugs by one million times, claim scientists.

According to experts working for Leukaemia Busters, molecules from Gypsophila Paniculata – commonly known as Baby’s Breath – appeared in trials to break down … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Flower can boost efficiency of anti-cancer drugs by one million times.

Melting sea ice spurs warming in Arctic

SYDNEY – Melting sea ice is a major cause of warming in the Arctic, says a new study.

The findings by the University of Melbourne (UM) team reveal that the rapid melting of sea ice has dramatically increased the levels of warming in the region in the last two decades.
Lead author James Screen of … Read : Melting sea ice spurs warming in Arctic.

Scientists probe earth’s core with quake ‘whispers’

LONDON – Scientists are observing distant earthquakes by ‘listening’ to them to reveal new clues about the top of the earth’s core.

The approach is akin to hearing a conversation across a whispering gallery, such as those in the domes of some large cathedrals.
Using a novel digital processing approach, researchers at the University of …. Original article  : Scientists probe earth’s core with quake ‘whispers’.

Sea ice loss major cause of warming in Arctic

LONDON – According to a University of Melbourne, Australia study, melting sea ice has been shown to be a major cause of warming in the Arctic

Published in Nature, the study revealed the rapid melting of sea ice has dramatically increased the levels of warming … Read more : Sea ice loss major cause of warming in Arctic.

Nanodots breakthrough could pave way for ‘a library on one chip’

WASHINGTON – A breakthrough in the use of nanodots, or nanoscale magnets, has resulted in the development of a computer chip that can store an unprecedented amount of data – enough to hold an entire library’s worth of information on … Original article on : Nanodots breakthrough could pave way for ‘a library on one chip’.

Organic labels on snacks lead to overeating

WASHINGTON – A new study has concluded that organic labels really do make people think their snack has a lot fewer calories than it really does, which ultimately leads to overeating.

Jenny Wan-Chen Lee, a graduate student with the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, said … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Organic labels on snacks lead to overeating.

Now entire library on chip developed by Indian-American

WASHINGTON – An Indian-American scientist has developed a computer chip that can store an unprecedented amount of data – enough to hold an entire library.

The new chip stems from a breakthrough in the use of nanodots, or nanoscale magnets, and represents a significant advance in computer-memory technology.
“We have created magnetic nanodots that store …. Read the original article  : Now entire library on chip developed by Indian-American.

Leicester hospital set for world’s first robot arm heart op

WASHINGTON – An expert at University of Leicester is going to conduct the world’s first robotics system operation at Glenfield Hospital Leicester.

Dr Andre Ng, Senior Lecturer in Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester and Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist, Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester, is the first person in the world to carry out … Original article on : Leicester hospital set for world’s first robot arm heart op.

NASA unveils compelling evidence of life on Mars

LONDON – NASA has revealed compelling evidence of life on Mars.

NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity missions have disclosed signs of sulphates on Mars, which evidently means there could be water on the Red Plant and consequently life.

While previous missions have also suggested the presence of water on Mars, NASA says the recent evidence …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : NASA unveils compelling evidence of life on Mars.

Icy asteroids may have seeded life on Earth, claim scientists

LONDON – Scientists analysing ice molecules on an asteroid believe it may be a ‘living fossil’ with clues to origin of Earth’s oceans.

Researchers at the University of Central Florida discovered a thin layer of water ice and organic molecules on the surface of 24 Themis, the largest member of the Themis asteroid family orbiting between … Read more : Icy asteroids may have seeded life on Earth, claim scientists.

Developing nations will produce more e-waste than developed ones by 2016

WASHINGTON – If a new research is to be believed, then developing countries will produce double the electronic waste (e-waste) of developed countries by 2016.

The study foresees in 2030 developing countries discarding 400 million – 700 million obsolete personal computers per year compared to 200 million – 300 million in developed countries.

Eric Williams and colleagues … Read more >>.

Neural mechanism that help adapt to new situations discovered

WASHINGTON – A new research has offered intriguing insight into the way humans approach novel situations.

The new study by David Badre, assistant professor of cognitive and linguistic sciences at Brown University, and colleagues at the University of California-Berkeley suggests that the brain’s frontal cortex may have a larger role in decision-making in unfamiliar situations than …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Neural mechanism that help adapt to new situations discovered.

Noah’s ark discovery ‘a hoax’?

WASHINGTON – An American ark-hunter claims that the latest discovery of Noah’s ark in eastern Turkey could be a hoax.

A group of Chinese and Turkish explorers had announced this week that they are ‘99.9 percent’ sure of their discovery on Mt. Ararat, reports CSMonitor.com.

However, Dr. Randall Price, an evangelical Christian and former member of the …. Source  : Noah’s ark discovery ‘a hoax’?.

Neuroscientists verify how nerve cells distinguish odours

WASHINGTON – Mice in which a certain receptor in the olfactory centre is missing can distinguish similar smells more quickly than mice without genetic manipulation, showed a new study.

The researchers in Professor Dr. Thomas Kuner’s team at the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Heidelberg University Medical School and Dr. Andreas Sch???fer at …. Original source  : Neuroscientists verify how nerve cells distinguish odours.

Newly discovered fossils reveal how dinosaur feathers changed with age

WASHINGTON – Analysis of newfound fossils of a feathered dinosaur has suggested that the extinct reptiles might have had a diversity in plumage types that puts modern birds to shame.

Farmers in northeastern China have unearthed two roughly 125-million-year-old specimens of the dinosaur Similicaudipteryx- a member of the group called the oviraptorosaurs, which are believed … Original article on : Newly discovered fossils reveal how dinosaur feathers changed with age.

Turmeric component ‘opens up’ resistant cancers

WASHINGTON – Pre-treatment with a component of the spice turmeric, called curcumin, makes ovarian cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, reveals a new study by Indian-origin researchers.

The researchers found that delivering the curcumin via very small (less than 100nm) nanoparticles enhanced the sensitizing effect.

Dr. Subhash Chauhan, and Dr. Meena Jaggi, led a team …. Source  : Turmeric component ‘opens up’ resistant cancers.

Do babies make for better swimmers?

LONDON – Teaching babies to swim turns out to be more than just fun. Baby swimmers have better balance and are also better at grasping things than non-swimmers.

This difference persists even when the children are five-years-old. Children taught to swim as babies outperform their peers, research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Do babies make for better swimmers?.

More e-waste from developing than developed nations

WASHINGTON – Developing countries will be producing at least twice as much electronic waste (e-waste) as developed countries in the next six to eight years, says a new study.

It foresees in 2030 developing countries discarding 400 million to 700 million obsolete personal computers (PCs) per year as compared to 200 million-300 million in developed countries. …. Original source  : More e-waste from developing than developed nations.

Scientists finds water ice on asteroid’s surface

WASHINGTON – Asteroids may not be the dark, dry, lifeless chunks of rock. According to recent research, there is evidence of water ice and organic material on the asteroid 24 Themis.

The research led by Josh Emery, assistant professor with the earth and planetary sciences department at the University of Tennessee (UT), found evidence that … Original article on : Scientists finds water ice on asteroid’s surface.