Novel stem cell therapy to tackle HIV

WASHINGTON – A novel stem cell therapy could in the future be used to treat HIV, say researchers.

Researchers are studying a new approach that arms the immune system with an intrinsic defence against HIV.
While speaking at the Society for General Microbiology’s spring meeting in Edinburgh, Professor … Original article on : Novel stem cell therapy to tackle HIV.

Therapeutic target to stop cancer metastases found

WASHINGTON – Scientists from New York University have found therapeutic target to stop cancer metastases.

Published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, the new research suggests that combating immune suppressive cells in the liver early after a cancer develops may keep the disease from spreading to the liver.
“Our … Read more »».

Self-test for memory disorders designed

WASHINGTON – Researchers have designed a self-administered test to screen for early dementia, and it could help speed the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of memory disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.

The handwritten self-assessment, which can take less than 15 minutes to complete, is a reliable tool for evaluating …. Original article  : Self-test for memory disorders designed.

Unroasted coffee beans the next-gen insecticides?

WASHINGTON – Proteins in unroasted coffee beans may become next-generation insecticides, scientists in Brazil have reported.

The boffins claimed that coffee beans contain proteins that can kill insects and might be developed into new insecticides for protecting food crops against destructive pests.
Their study, which …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Dinosaur skull shape changed drastically during growth

WASHINGTON – University of Michigan paleontologists have claimed that long-necked sauropod dinosaur, Diplodocus, went through drastic changes in skull shape during normal growth.

To reach the conclusion, paleontologists John Whitlock and Jeffrey Wilson, along with Matthew Lamanna from the Carnegie Museum examined …. Original source  : Dinosaur skull shape changed drastically during growth.

Scientists grow jaw bone from adult stem cells

WASHINGTON – Scientists have for the first time grown a complex, full-size jaw bone from human adult stem cells.

Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, professor of biomedical engineering at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, reports that her team grew a temporomandibular joint (TMJ-joint of the jaw) from stem cells derived from bone marrow.
“The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Scientists grow jaw bone from adult stem cells.

Songbird’s genome may offer clues to human speech

LONDON – Scientists have sequenced the complete genome of a songbird – the Australian zebra finch.

According to researchers, their work could provide insights into how humans learn language and new ways of studying speech disorders.
During the study, researchers found a much higher proportion …. Original article  : Songbird’s genome may offer clues to human speech.

Gene therapy successfully restores vision in mice

WASHINGTON – Using a form of gene therapy that does not involve the use of modified viruses, researchers at Buffalo, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City took a major step towards making the blind see.

Scientists have described how they used a non-viral, synthetic nanoparticle carrier to improve and save the sight …. Original source  : Gene therapy successfully restores vision in mice.

Look up in the sky, to remember good things of life

WASHINGTON – A happy person is on top of the world, a sad person is down in the dumps-that is how we use spatial words to describe positive and negative emotions. Now, scientists have said that we use spatial concepts to think about emotional states as well.

To …. Source article  : Look up in the sky, to remember good things of life.

Soon, pill that signals it has been swallowed

WASHINGTON – University of Florida engineering researchers are designing a pill which confirms that patients have taken their medication.

The boffins have added a tiny microchip and digestible antenna to a standard pill capsule. The prototype is intended to pave the way for mass-produced pills …. Original article  : Soon, pill that signals it has been swallowed.

Osteoarthritis tied to unequal length of leg

WASHINGTON – Arthritis in the knee is linked to the common trait of having one leg that is longer than the other, claims a new study.

Developing early strategies for treatment may be possible, believes Derek Cooke, Queen’s University adjunct professor and a …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Osteoarthritis tied to unequal length of leg.

Coming soon: Drug that slows ageing process?

LONDON – The secrets of a key gene that helps us to live longer and fight disease have been unlocked by University of Birmingham researchers.

With the breakthrough, boffins believe developing drugs that slow the ageing process could be a possibility, reports The Daily Express.
They reckon a drug based …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Bacterial memory helps them sense peril and food

LONDON – It’s not easy being a bacterium and constantly having to adapt to whatever your environment throws at you.

Robert Endres of Imperial College, London, (ICL) explained how bacteria rely on their ‘memory’ to fine-tune their ability to sense food and danger.
Endres and his team at ICL, developed a mathematical model to … Read : Bacterial memory helps them sense peril and food.

More miles on less fuel: Gov’t setting tough new efficiency standards for advanced vehicles

Fuel efficiency rules aimed at advanced vehicles
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is setting tough gas mileage standards for new cars and trucks, spurring the next generation of fuel-sipping gas-electric hybrids, efficient engines and electric cars.
The heads of the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday were signing … Read more : More miles on less fuel: Gov’t setting tough new efficiency standards for advanced vehicles.

Fathers activate exploration in toddlers

WASHINGTON – Fathers give toddlers more breathing space and that allows them to actively explore their environments, according to a new study.

The Universite de Montreal study has been published in Early Child Development and Care.
Daniel …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Fathers activate exploration in toddlers.

Japanese start buying affordable electric cars, helped by government incentives, price war

Japanese start buying affordable electric cars

TOKYO – Japan’s first mass-market electric car went on sale in showrooms Thursday as the futuristic technology becomes more affordable amid a burgeoning price war.
The four-seater bubble-shaped i-MiEV from Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Japan’s fifth-biggest automaker, costs 2.8 million yen ($30,500) after government incentives are figured into the price of 4 …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Japanese start buying affordable electric cars, helped by government incentives, price war.

Unhappy people unlikely to find job satisfaction

WASHINGTON – Those unhappy in life are unlikely to find satisfaction at work, a new study says.

Nathan Bowling, assistant professor at Wright State University and colleagues Kevin Eschleman and Qiang Wang undertook an analysis of the results of 223 studies carried out between 1967 and 2008.
The studies investigated the combination of job … Original source on Gaea Times at : Unhappy people unlikely to find job satisfaction.

Sri Lanka’s national parks reopen after 25 years

COLOMBO – After remaining closed for more than 25 years because of the civil war between the security forces and the Tamil tigers, Sri Lanka’s national parks are once again set to see tourists flocking there.

Designated as a sanctuary in 1905 and upgraded to a national park in 1938, the country’s largest wildlife area, Wilpattu, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sri Lanka’s national parks reopen after 25 years.

Mars rover Spirit misses communication session, may be in low-power ‘hibernation’ for winter

Mars rover Spirit misses communication session

LOS ANGELES – The aging, sand-trapped Mars rover Spirit failed to make a scheduled communication this week and may have gone into a power-saving hibernation to survive the Red Planet’s winter, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said Wednesday.
Spirit had been expected to communicate with the orbiting Mars Odyssey spacecraft on Tuesday.
“We … Read more »»».

Fla. Everglades restoration plan to buy land from sugar farmers jeopardized by judge’s ruling

Ruling could hinder US Sugar/Everglades deal

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A federal judge overseeing Everglades restoration has ordered Florida officials to restart a stalled multimillion-dollar construction project once aimed at helping store water to help clean the ecosystem of pollution.
U.S District Judge Federico Moreno on Wednesday granted a motion from the Miccosukee Indians, who live …. Read the original article  : Fla. Everglades restoration plan to buy land from sugar farmers jeopardized by judge’s ruling.

Russian rocket takes off for International Space Station

Moscow, April 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A Russian rocket carrying two cosmonauts and a US astronaut took off on a six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Baikonur space centre Friday.

Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Mikhail Korniyenko and US astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, part of the ISS Expedition 23, are scheduled to land [..] Read the original article: here.

Leaders act more decisively in crowd-like situations

LONDON – Do you find yourself leading groups, or are you more comfortable following others? The latest research shows that if you want to be a leader you are better off at the edges of a crowd, and not in the middle of the action.

In experiments on crowd behaviour, a biological science research team at …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Leaders act more decisively in crowd-like situations.

Carbon emissions lead to dangerous changes in oceans

SYDNEY – The rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is driving fundamental and dangerous changes in the chemistry and ecosystems of the world’s oceans, warn international marine scientists.

More than 30 percent of the CO2 released from burning fossil fuels, cement production, deforestation and other human activities goes straight into the oceans, turning them gradually more … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Carbon emissions lead to dangerous changes in oceans.

How an ordinary T-shirt could become body armor

WASHINGTON – An ordinary cotton T-shirt can be converted into body armour, thanks to scientists from South Carolina, Switzerland and China.

They combined the carbon in the cotton with boron to create a tough, lightweight fabric of boron carbide, the … Read more »»».

Blind snakes inhabited Madagascar even before its creation

WASHINGTON – A newfound snake family’s genes have indicated that blind snakes lived on the island of Madagascar even before it was an island.

The discovery could help decode how these rarely seen, and not completely blind snakes came to colonize much of the planet.
Blind snakes, growing … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Blind snakes inhabited Madagascar even before its creation.

Mechanism behind calcium protein mutation causing night blindness uncovered

LONDON – The molecular mechanism behind the mutation in a calcium channel protein that causes congenital stationary night blindness has now been uncovered, courtesy researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Congenital stationary night blindness is an inherited condition that affects one’s ability to see in the … Original article on : Mechanism behind calcium protein mutation causing night blindness uncovered.

Baby elephant dies in Alipore zoo

KOLKATA – A baby elephant died of diarrhoea in the Alipore Zoological Garden here Friday, a forest department official said.

The four-month-old ailing elephant had been given five bottles of saline after it developed an infection, said West Bengals Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Atanu Raha.
It had been brought to the zoo when it was …. Source article  : Baby elephant dies in Alipore zoo.

California bill would expand pesticide safety program, targeting threats to farmworkers

Calif. bill would expand pesticide safety program

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Josefina Miranda doesn’t need scientific studies to tell her about the dangers of pesticide exposure. She knows them all too well.
On a Thursday morning in 1995, the four-months pregnant farmworker spent several hours working in a field in the small Central Valley town of Earlimart – …. Source article  : California bill would expand pesticide safety program, targeting threats to farmworkers.

Scientists sequence peach tree DNA

WASHINGTON – Scientists have sequenced the DNA of the Lovell peach tree.
The tree’s DNA sequence has opened a new era in fruit-tree research that could have far-reaching implications for the future of peaches, as well as many other valuable plants.

This genome sequence is the culmination of an … Read more >>>.

Sleep apnea associated with hard-to-diagnose eye disorders

WASHINGTON – Scientists in the UK have found that the condition known as floppy eyelid syndrome (FES) is strongly linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The finding implies that when doctors see FES in a patient, they should also look for OSA, and vice-versa.
Study’s lead author Daniel G. Ezra, MRCOphth, of …. Read the original article  : Sleep apnea associated with hard-to-diagnose eye disorders.

Drug that extends life span may prevent Alzheimer’s

WASHINGTON – Rapamycin, a drug that has been shown to extend lifespan in mice and is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, has demonstrated an ability to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

A few weeks after a report that rapamycin curbed the effects of Alzheimer’s disease …. Source article  : Drug that extends life span may prevent Alzheimer’s.

Laughter not the best medicine after all

WASHINGTON – Laughter is not the best medicine, that’s what a scientist has pointed out.
In a study, Dr. Margaret Stuber, a psychiatry professor at University of California Los Angeles Medical School, studied whether laughter helped patients.

After analyses, she found [..] Read the original article: here.

On/off button on plants’ alarm system discovered

WASHINGTON – A group of biologists has discovered an on/off button on plants’ alarm system.
When attacked by herbivores or pathogens, plants respond by activating defense programs that drive off or even kill the attackers. These defense responses require a great deal …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

For Stone Age Scandinavians, milk was ‘too hard to swallow’

WASHINGTON – Researchers at Uppsala University and Stockholm University have claimed that the hunter-gatherers who inhabited the southern coast of Scandinavia 4,000 years ago were lactose intolerant.

The study has been published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.
It supports the researchers’ earlier conclusion … Read : For Stone Age Scandinavians, milk was ‘too hard to swallow’.

Rain, snowfall likely in Himachal Friday

SHIMLA – Temperatures across Himachal Pradesh hover four to seven degrees Celsius above average — but the weatherman Friday held out hopes of rain and snowfall in the hill state.

“Western disturbances are approaching the region Friday. This would bring rain and snow in the hill state,” Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological office here, … Read more »».

Anxiety of chronic worry may modify some of depression’s ill effects

WASHINGTON – Anxiety may modify depression for better or for worse, says a new study.
The research, thereby, establishes a link between anxiety and depression, claiming that they co-occur.

The study, in the journal Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, looked at depression and two types of anxiety: anxious arousal, the fearful vigilance that sometimes turns …. Original article  : Anxiety of chronic worry may modify some of depression’s ill effects.

Delhi may get some respite from heat

NEW DELHI – Delhiites may get some respite from the scorching heat with the likelihood of a cloudy sky Friday, the weatherman said.

The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 36.9 degrees Celsius, three degrees above average.
“The minimum temperature was recorded at 20.5 degrees Friday, also three degrees above average,” an official of …. Source article  : Delhi may get some respite from heat.

Rocket carrying 2 cosmonauts, 1 astronaut blasts off from Kazakhstan to Space Station

Rocket blasts off with 2 Russians, 1 American

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan – The International Space Station is set for some heavy traffic over the coming days in a tightly packed schedule that kicked off Friday when a Russian rocket transporting three astronauts blasted off from a space center in southern Kazakhstan.
The Soyuz craft carrying California native Tracy … Read more »»».

Rocket carrying NASA astronaut blasts off from Kazakhstan to International Space Station

Rocket with NASA astronaut blasts off for ISS

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan – A Russian rocket has blasted off from a space center in southern Kazakhstan, transporting a NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts to the International Space Station.
The Soyuz craft carrying California native Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Russians Alexander Skvortsov and Mikhail Kornienko rose into brilliant blue … Original article on : Rocket carrying NASA astronaut blasts off from Kazakhstan to International Space Station.

More miles on less fuel: Gov’t efficiency standards will mean higher car prices, fuel savings

New mileage rules: Pay more for cars, less at pump

WASHINGTON – Drivers will have to pay more for cars and trucks, but they’ll save at the pump under tough new federal rules aimed at boosting mileage, cutting emissions and hastening the next generation of fuel-stingy hybrids and electric cars.
The new standards, announced Thursday, call for … Original article on : More miles on less fuel: Gov’t efficiency standards will mean higher car prices, fuel savings.

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.

Pros and cons of the iPad

WASHINGTON – After weeks of buildup, the iPad finally debuted Saturday in the US.
The sleek device went on sale at Apple stores around the US and at branches of the leading electronics chain Best Buy, as well as through Apple’s website.

Long queues of consumers eager to be among the first to get their hands on …. Source  : Pros and cons of the iPad.

Child’s fossil could be missing link between man and ape

LONDON – A two-million-year-old skeleton of a child, discovered in South Africa, could be the missing link between apes and humans, and may lead to the history of human evolution being re-written, a media report said.

The Telegraph reported that the new species of hominid, the evolutionary branch of primates that includes humans, is to be …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Andaman earthquake confirms worst fears: Geologist

BANGALORE – The 6.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred north of the Andaman Islands on March 30 is yet another confirmation that this particular region will continue to be source of severe earthquakes, says a leading Indian geologist.

“This is what we had been worried about,” Vineet Gahalaut at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad … Read more »».

Scientists discover missing link between man and apes

LONDON – Experts have found a “missing link” between humans and their apelike ancestors.
The scientists will unveil a two-million-year-old skeleton of a child, thereby revealing the new species of hominid, the evolutionary branch of primates that includes humans, reports The Telegraph.

According to the boffins, the almost-complete fossilised skeleton belonged to a previously-unknown type of early … Read more >>.

Russian space official says Soyuz craft docked successfully at International Space Station

Russian spacecraft docks at orbiting station

MOSCOW – A Russian space official says a Soyuz craft carrying an American and two Russian astronauts has docked successfully at the International Space Station.
Russia’s Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin says the spacecraft hooked up with the orbiting station using an automatic docking system at 9:26 a.m. Moscow time (0526 …. Original article  : Russian space official says Soyuz craft docked successfully at International Space Station.

Send Nepal’s dancing bear Rubina to India: Rights activists

KATHMANDU – For years, Rubina, the “dancing bear”, wandered through Nepal’s villages with her gypsy master, beaten, starved and her hair plucked out by superstitious villagers in the hope it would guard them against illnesses.

Last month, though Nepal’s animal rights activists rescued the sloth bear – the species has been immortalised by Rudyard Kipling in …. Read the original article  : Send Nepal’s dancing bear Rubina to India: Rights activists.

Chinese to train Bolivians how to operate satellites

LA PAZ – Seventy-four Bolivians will get training from Chinese scientists on how to operate communication satellites, Bolivia’s vice-minister for telecommunications Roy Mendez said.

The trainees will learn the techniques of construction, pre-launch testing and gathering data from the satellites from the space.
He said a newly formed Bolivian Space Agency will also give training to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Chinese to train Bolivians how to operate satellites.

Simple blood test for breast cancer developed

LONDON – A Norwegian company has developed a simple blood test for breast cancer in women.
Brainchild of Diagenic ASA, the test can pick up a cancer the size of a small seed before a woman has developed any symptoms, reports The Daily Express.

The test looks for raised levels … Read more : Simple blood test for breast cancer developed.

End of the road: Underdog Butler to meet powerhouse Duke in NCAA tournament final

Underdog Butler to meet powerhouse Duke in final

The NCAA tournament couldn’t have written a better script.
All that’s left is the final act.
It will be tiny upstart Butler, the hometown college that has never been on such a stage, taking on the blueblood Blue Devils of Duke, a school which already has three title banners hanging …. Source  : End of the road: Underdog Butler to meet powerhouse Duke in NCAA tournament final.

Blue Devils and Bulldogs: Duke beats WV, joins Butler in the NCAA final

Duke beats WV, joins Butler in the NCAA final

Duke will be playing for another national championship game, this time against the most unlikely of opponents.
The No. 1 seed Blue Devils got big games from Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler in a 78-57 rout of West Virginia, sending the South Regional champions into the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Blue Devils and Bulldogs: Duke beats WV, joins Butler in the NCAA final.

Air search spots oil patches near coal carrier aground on Great Barrier Reef off Australia

Oil seen near ship aground on Great Barrier Reef

BRISBANE, Australia – Small patches of oil were seen Sunday from a coal-carrying ship that ran aground on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Maritime Safety Queensland said in a statement that the Chinese coal carrier Shen Neng 1 ran aground on a shoal late Saturday east of the Great … Original article on : Air search spots oil patches near coal carrier aground on Great Barrier Reef off Australia.

Sidney’s Candy leads all the way in winning Santa Anita Derby; Lookin At Lucky is troubled 3rd

Sidney’s Candy wins drama-filled Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sidney’s Candy led all the way in winning the Santa Anita Derby. Behind him, drama unfolded for 4-5 favorite Lookin At Lucky, whose troubled third-place finish set off the tempers of jockey Garrett Gomez, trainer Bob Baffert and his wife.
Sidney’s Candy won by 4?? lengths Saturday, …. Original article  : Sidney’s Candy leads all the way in winning Santa Anita Derby; Lookin At Lucky is troubled 3rd.

Sidney’s Candy leads all the way in winning Santa Anita Derby

Sidney’s Candy wins Santa Anita Derby
ARCADIA, Calif. – Sidney’s Candy led all the way in winning the Santa Anita Derby by 4?? lengths Saturday, with 4-5 favorite Lookin At Lucky finishing a troubled third in a ride by jockey Garrett Gomez that trainer Bob Baffert called “horrendous.”

After bobbling at the start, Joe Talamo took Sidney’s … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Sidney’s Candy leads all the way in winning Santa Anita Derby.

NASA clears space shuttle Discovery for Monday morning launch; good flying weather forecast

NASA clears Discovery for Monday morning launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA has cleared Discovery for a Monday morning launch to the International Space Station, the last scheduled liftoff in darkness for the soon-to-retire shuttle program.
Mission managers met Saturday and gave the “go” to proceed toward liftoff. The unanimous decision came after … Original source on Gaea Times at : NASA clears space shuttle Discovery for Monday morning launch; good flying weather forecast.

NASA spacecraft to photograph Saturn’s moons

LOS ANGELES – NASA has announced its plan to capture closer images of the two moons of Saturn through its spacecraft next week.

The spacecraft Cassini will have a closer look at Saturn’s moons Dione and Titan, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said.
The Titan fly-by, planned for Monday, will take Cassini to within … Read more : NASA spacecraft to photograph Saturn’s moons.

Japanese man makes android version of himself!

WASHINGTON – A roboticist at Japan’s Osaka University has created an android version of himself.

Hiroshi Ishiguro has built many robots, but his latest aren’t run-of-the-mill automatons, with them looking like normal people.
Ishiguro controls his mechanical doppelganger remotely, through his computer, using …. Original article  : Japanese man makes android version of himself!.

Flamingos, microbes found in Andes volcano could tell how life began on Earth

LONDON – Flamingos and mysterious microbes have been found living in an alkaline lagoon nestled inside a volcano in the Andes- a discovery that could tell how life began on Earth.

According to Argentinian investigators, the organisms, exposed to arsenic and poisonous gases, could shed light on how life began on … Read : Flamingos, microbes found in Andes volcano could tell how life began on Earth.

Video of heart before it begins to beat captured

WASHINGTON – A University of Houston professor has captured video of the embryonic heart before it begins beating.

In collaboration with scientists at Baylor College of Medicine, Kirill Larin is documenting the formation of the mammalian heart through a high-resolution, non-invasive imaging device, providing perhaps the best live imagery taken of the … Read more »».

Tomorrow’s bouquets and potted plants would last longer

WASHINGTON – Bouquets and colourful potted plants could last longer in future, thanks to floriculture research by a plant physiologist at Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

Cai-Zhong Jiang’s investigations might help boost the vase life of favorite cut flowers and shelf life of prized potted plants.
In current studies, the researchers have shown that …. Read the original article  : Tomorrow’s bouquets and potted plants would last longer.

NASA to host Earth Day tweet up

WASHINGTON – NASA is all set to host its first Earth Day Tweetup on the National Mall in Washington with @NASA Twitter followers and NASA scientists on April 18.

The event will be part of a weeklong series of exhibits and activities on the National Mall marking the 40th …. Original article  : NASA to host Earth Day tweet up.

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.

Male bowerbirds deck up their love nest to attract a mate!

WASHINGTON – The male bowerbird builds and decorates an elaborate nest to attract a partner.

It can take weeks for this bird to plan and build its bower, which is used purely for mating, reports Discovery News.
The bower – a structure woven around a sapling that …. Original article  : Male bowerbirds deck up their love nest to attract a mate!.

Why some people develop depression after experiencing stress

WASHINGTON – A new mouse model may provide some clues about what makes some people more likely to develop depression after experiencing stress.

A collaborative group of European researchers have created a mouse that carries a genetic change associated with …. Read the original article  : Why some people develop depression after experiencing stress.

Babies unwittingly absorb toxic bisphenol the most

LONDON – Many synthetic and packaging materials contain the hormonally active substance bisphenol A. Consequently, the substance can find its way into the food chain and the human organism. And babies who are fed with polycarbonate bottles are especially at risk.

A new study from ETH Zurich showing just who is exposed and to what extent …. Original article  : Babies unwittingly absorb toxic bisphenol the most.

Exposure to 3 kinds of chemicals likely to derail puberty

WASHINGTON – Exposure to three common chemical classes – phenols, phthalates and phytoestrogens – in young girls may disrupt the timing of pubertal development, and put girls at risk for health complications later in life.

“Research has shown that early pubertal development in girls can have adverse social and medical effects, including cancer and diabetes later … Read more >>.

Record-holding Sherpa to scale Mount Everest again to scatter Hillary’s ashes

Sherpa to scale Everest to scatter Hillary’s ashes

KATMANDU, Nepal – A record-setting Nepalese Sherpa flew to Mount Everest on Tuesday to prepare to ascend the world’s highest mountain once again and scatter the ashes of its most celebrated climber, Sir Edmund Hillary.
Apa, who with 19 successful climbs holds the record for the most trips to …. Original article  : Record-holding Sherpa to scale Mount Everest again to scatter Hillary’s ashes.

3-year-old tigress found injured in Ranthambore

JAIPUR – In what appears to be one more instance of tigers fighting for territory, a three-year-old tigress was found severely injured in Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park, a forest official said Tuesday.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that the tigress must have been injured in a fight with another wild cat over territory,” a forest official said.
“Proper …. Read the original article  : 3-year-old tigress found injured in Ranthambore.

Birds protect trees by eating insects

WASHINGTON – Birds, bats and lizards protect trees by reducing the numbers of leaf-eating insects, a new research has found.

“Our findings are relevant to natural communities like grasslands and forests, but also to human food production, as these insect-eating animals also reduce insect pests on crop plants,” said Sunshine Van Bael, scientist at the Smithsonian …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Birds protect trees by eating insects.

Gene mutation quadruples double breast cancer risk

WASHINGTON – A new study has shown that women who develop breast cancer before the age of 55 and carry the inherited gene which causes the disease are four times more likely to develop it in the other breast as well.

Only about five percent of breast cancer patients across all age groups have the inherited … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Gene mutation quadruples double breast cancer risk.

Cosmetics ‘disrupt timing of pubertal development in young girls’

WASHINGTON – Exposure to three common chemical classes-phenols, phthalates and phytoestrogens-in young girls may disrupt the timing of pubertal development, putting them at risk for health complications later in life, a new study has shown.

“Research has shown that early pubertal development in girls can have adverse social and medical effects, including cancer and diabetes later … Original article on : Cosmetics ‘disrupt timing of pubertal development in young girls’.

How a novel class of antibodies inhibits HIV infection

WASHINGTON – A set of naturally occurring antibodies that can block one of the key ways the AIDS virus gains entry into certain blood cells has been identified by scientists at Duke University Medical Center.

They say the discovery, published online in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, expands traditional notions about how the immune system fights … Read more : How a novel class of antibodies inhibits HIV infection.

Residues of medicines ‘threaten fish reproduction’

WASHINGTON – Traces of many medicines can be found in fish that have been swimming in treated waste water, scientists at Umea University and the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg have found.

One such medicine, the hormone levonorgestrel, was found in higher concentrations in the blood of fish than in women who take the … Original article on : Residues of medicines ‘threaten fish reproduction’.

The older we get, the more different we become

WASHINGTON – ‘Old people are usually thought of as a rather homogenous group – they are considered to be ill, lonely and unable to take care of themselves. But the truth is that the differences among people grow with age,’ says a researcher at the University of Gothenburg.

As part of his doctoral thesis, Bo G … Original source on Gaea Times at : The older we get, the more different we become.

Shimla records second hottest March since 1901

SHIMLA – Shimla, fondly known as the queen of hills, experienced its second hottest March since 1901 this year.

“Both the minimum and maximum temperatures were above normal this March,” said Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological office Tuesday.
He said the highest temperature (25.8 degrees Celsius) was recorded March 23, making it the warmest …. Original source  : Shimla records second hottest March since 1901.

Cracking the Oriental Yeti mystery

LONDON – An animal that looks like a bear, has a tail like a kangaroo and the voice of a cat has baffled scientists in China, a media report said Tuesday.

Called the Oriental Yeti, the creature is being examined by scientists after it came out from woodlands in central China, The Telegraph reported.
The beast, … Read more : Cracking the Oriental Yeti mystery.

Tooth decay detector could spell the end of drilling and fillings

LONDON – Drilling and fillings may soon be history, all thanks to a new device that helps dentists detect tooth decay early.

The device, called CarieScan PRO, clips onto the mouth and through the tooth passes a small electrical current.
Traffic light colours indicate the level of decay, which give health experts a correct status of the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Tooth decay detector could spell the end of drilling and fillings.

Why are some people 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 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Why are some people smarter than others.

Toyota’s Prius tops Japan’s March auto sales despite recall woes

Toyota Prius tops Japan’s March auto sales

TOKYO – Toyota’s Prius hybrid was Japan’s top-selling car in March for an 11th straight month despite global recall woes, an industry group said Tuesday.
Toyota Motor Corp., reeling after recalls over issues that included braking problems with the Prius, sold 35,546 units of the gas-electric vehicle in Japan last …. Original article  : Toyota’s Prius tops Japan’s March auto sales despite recall woes.

Utah regulator: Tenn. lab says SC radioactive waste meets Utah’s disposal requirements

Utah: SC waste won’t have to be shipped elsewhere

SALT LAKE CITY – About 3,500 tons of waste from a former nuclear weapons complex in South Carolina awaiting disposal near Salt Lake City meets Utah’s health and safety standards, state regulators said Monday.
Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality said test results from a Tennessee lab confirmed that …. Source article  : Utah regulator: Tenn. lab says SC radioactive waste meets Utah’s disposal requirements.

Raytheon awarded 1-year extension on National Science Foundation contract in the Antarctic

Raytheon gets extension on Antarctic contract

RESTON, Virgina – Raytheon Co. said Monday that it has been awarded a one-year extension on its contract to assist the National Science Foundation’s work in the Antarctic.
Raytheon’s Polar Services division provides science, operations and logistics support for the U.S. Antarctic Program. Raytheon Polar Services employs about 350 full-time staff …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Study: 1 hour daily exercise fights effect of ‘fatso’ gene in teenagers

1 hour daily exercise fights ‘fatso’ gene in teens

CHICAGO – One hour of moderate to vigorous exercise a day can help teens beat the effects of a common obesity-related gene with the nickname “fatso,” according to a new European study.
The message for adolescents is to get moving, said lead author Jonatan Ruiz of the Karolinska … Read more »».

Parasites, not grasses and weeds, cause seasonal allergies

WASHINGTON – Always thought grasses, weeds and trees caused those common seasonal allergy symptoms? Well, from now on blame parasites for those sinus woes.

The plants’ harmless pollen enzymes confuse the immune system into triggering the runny nose and watery eyes chain reaction, but humans might have … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Parasites, not grasses and weeds, cause seasonal allergies.

Stay at home mums tend to have overweight kids

LONDON – Stay at home mums are more likely to have overweight children, according to an Australian study.

The study also found that mums who work full time are more likely to have fatter children than those who work part time.
Children whose mothers worked part time watched less TV, ate less junk food and were … Read more »»».

Unconscious learning uses old parts of the brain

LONDON – Non-conscious learning systems use areas of the brain that are simpler and evolutionarily older, says new research.

The study involved an investigation into the limbic striatum, one of the evolutionarily oldest parts of the brain, and the ability to learn movements, consciously and unconsciously, through repetition.
“Our results strongly substantiate the theories …. Source article  : Unconscious learning uses old parts of the brain.

Older students less likely to take intellectual risks

WASHINGTON – As students get older they become less likely to take intellectual risks such as sharing their tentative ideas when learning science, a new study says.

The study on student willingness to take risks in the name of early scientific exploration has been done by Ronald A. Beghetto, University of Oregon professor of education studies. … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Older students less likely to take intellectual risks.

Why did early earth absorb more sunlight?

WASHINGTON – Four billion years ago, the sun radiated only 70 to 75 percent as much energy as it does today. Now, scientists are trying to explain what compensated for the reduced solar output and kept the earth’s water liquid.

A popular theory holds there must have been higher concentrations of greenhouse gases in the … Read more : Why did early earth absorb more sunlight?.

European Space Agency launching satellite to explore climate change’s effects on ice

European satellite to watch ice for climate change

BERLIN – Scientists’ hope of pinning down more precisely the effects of global warming on the globe’s ice packs are riding with a satellite that the European Space Agency will launch this week.
The CryoSat 2 mission is to start Thursday. It is designed to pinpoint details of changes …. Original source  : European Space Agency launching satellite to explore climate change’s effects on ice.

Gene boosts yield of hybrid tomatoes

WASHINGTON – Researchers have boosted yields and improved taste of hybrid tomato, thanks to a single gene.

The discovery was patented by Yissum, the technology transfer arm of the Hebrew University, which is seeking potential partners for further development and commercialisation.
“This discovery has tremendous potential to transform both the billion-dollar tomato industry as well …. Read the original article  : here.

Commercial fishing killed millions of sea turtles

WASHINGTON – The number of sea turtles inadvertently snared by commercial fishing gear over the past 20 years may run into millions, according to a latest finding.

It is first peer-reviewed study to compile sea turtle bycatch data from gillnet, trawl and longline fisheries worldwide.
The study analysed data compiled from peer-reviewed papers, government reports, technical … Original article on : Commercial fishing killed millions of sea turtles.

Shuttle Discovery arrives at space station, smooth docking despite antenna failure, no radar

Shuttle Discovery arrives at space station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery successfully docked at the International Space Station early Wednesday, its astronauts overcoming a rare antenna breakdown that knocked out radar tracking.
Shuttle commander Alan Poindexter and his crew relied on other navigation devices to approach the orbiting outpost.
“You guys are looking beautiful,” Japanese space …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Shuttle Discovery arrives at space station, smooth docking despite antenna failure, no radar.

Archaeologists discover prehistoric city in Syria

WASHINGTON – Archaeologists have uncovered new clues about a prehistoric society that formed the foundation of urban life in the Middle East prior to invention of the wheel.

The mound of Tell Zeidan in the Euphrates River Valley near Raqqa, Syria, which had not been built upon or excavated for 6,000 years, is revealing a society …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Archaeologists discover prehistoric city in Syria.

Doctor raises concerns about safety of St. John’s wort

WASHINGTON – There is no evidence supporting the use of so-called ‘natural’ treatments in combating the effects of anxiety, a Saint Louis University doctor has said.

Kimberly Zoberi, associate professor of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, said that St. John’s wort, kava extract and valerian, herbal remedies touted on the …. Original source  : Doctor raises concerns about safety of St. John’s wort.

Lizard with double penis found

LONDON – A species of a giant lizard with a double penis has been discovered in the Philippines, a media report said.

The brightly coloured lizard is a close cousin of Indonesia’s Komodo Dragon. But it is not a carnivore and only eats fruits, The Telegraph said Wednesday.
It measures 6 feet 5 inches in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Lizard with double penis found.

RNA ‘bandage’ can revive wasted muscle in boys

LONDON – For the first time, an RNA ‘bandage’, which shields genetic mutations, could trigger the production of a missing, muscle-strengthening protein in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), according to a study.

Around 1 in 3500 boys are born with DMD, the result of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Molecular targets for diabetes-related erectile dysfunction identified

WASHINGTON – Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine have identified some of the molecular changes linked with the onset of diabetes-induced Erectile Dysfunction (ED).

The discovery could lead to markers that will help identify ED …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Molecular targets for diabetes-related erectile dysfunction identified.

Antioxidant effects of almonds

WASHINGTON – A daily intake of almonds could significantly decrease levels of two biomarkers for oxidative stress in people with high cholesterol, according to a study by scientists at Tufts University in Boston, Mass.

Coauthor Jeffrey Blumberg and colleagues found … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Antioxidant effects of almonds.

Genetic link between low birth-weight and diabetes discovered

LONDON – A research team, including experts from the Edinburgh, has discovered a genetic link between low birth-weight and adulthood diabetes.

The researchers found two genetic regions that influence birth-weight, one of which is also associated with Type 2 diabetes.
It has been known for some time that small babies are more …. Original article  : Genetic link between low birth-weight and diabetes discovered.

Farmers go ‘organic plus’ with biodynamic approach that connects plants to earth’s rhythms

Biodynamic farmers connect to earth’s rhythms

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Calif. – When vintner Randall Grahm chose the softly sloping hillside and time to plant his new pinot noir vines, he weighed all the things farmers usually consider: drainage, soil quality and weather.
Then he considered less orthodox factors: the cosmic and seasonal rhythms at play and how … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Farmers go ‘organic plus’ with biodynamic approach that connects plants to earth’s rhythms.

Pleasant morning but warm day ahead in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhiites were greeted with a pleasant breeze Wednesday morning. Though the minimum temperature was recorded at a comfortable 19.6 degrees Celsius the met office has forecast a warm day ahead.

“The minimum temperature recorded this morning was a degree above average at 19.6 degrees Celsius. Yesterday’s daytime temperature touched a maximum of 37.2 … Read : Pleasant morning but warm day ahead in Delhi.

Rural job scheme revives Himachal’s traditional water sources

SHIMLA – To tackle acute water shortage in Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh hit upon a novel initiative — using the rural jobs scheme to engage villagers to restore traditional sources of drinking water.

The district administration managed to restore most of the traditional water sources with the help of local people, who in turn got dual …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Rural job scheme revives Himachal’s traditional water sources.

Russia raises price tag for giving US astronauts rides to space after shuttles get scuttled

Cost of US astronauts ride on Russia rockets soars

WASHINGTON – The price for American astronauts to hitch a ride on a Russian spaceship is going sky high.
NASA on Tuesday signed a contract to pay $55.8 million per astronaut for six Americans to fly into space on Russian Soyuz capsules in 2013 and 2014. NASA needs …. Original article  : Russia raises price tag for giving US astronauts rides to space after shuttles get scuttled.

Novel intranasal product highly effective in treating migraines

WASHINGTON – Norway-based nasal drug delivery company OptiNose has developed a novel intranasal sumatriptan product that has been found to be highly effective in treating migraines.

Sumatriptan powder in 10mg and 20mg doses administered intranasally … Read : Novel intranasal product highly effective in treating migraines.

Solar plane successfully makes first test flight

LONDON – A prototype solar-powered plane has made its maiden test voyage from a Swiss airfield.

Coming closer to the goal of using solar energy to fly around the world, the Solar Impulse is a plane with a wingspan similar to that of a super-jumbo jet but weighing the same as a saloon …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Solar plane successfully makes first test flight.

Diamond wafers to make meaner, greener electronics

LONDON – Japanese scientists have said that diamond chips could pave the way for a new generation of greener, more powerful electronics.

Pure diamond is a super-tough electrical insulator, but given the right impurities it becomes a semiconductor. Crucially, it is also the best thermal conductor on Earth.
All …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Egyptian King Tut ‘wore orthopaedic sandals to cope with clubbed foot’

WASHINGTON – A probe into King Tutankhamun’s footwear has made experts to suggest that the boy king might have worn some sort of orthopaedic shoes specially designed to cope with his club foot condition.

The research is the first detailed analysis of the 3,300-year-old footwear since Howard … Read more : Egyptian King Tut ‘wore orthopaedic sandals to cope with clubbed foot’.

New drug murders cancer cells

WASHINGTON – Scientists in the U.S. have come up with a powerful new strategy for treating cancer.

Cancer cells grow so fast that they can outstrip their blood supply, leaving them short of oxygen. The cells then produce energy in a way that needs …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : New drug murders cancer cells.

Here’s how birds of a feather ‘manage’ to flock together

LONDON – Pigeons rapidly shift direction during flight in response to cues from the leading members of their group, a new study has found.

Scientists made the discovery with the help of newly introduced Global Positioning System (GPS) devices that can collect data at a high … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Here’s how birds of a feather ‘manage’ to flock together.

Father’s engagement makes Lindsay sick

MELBOURNE – Lindsay Lohan has said that the reports of her father Michael planning to remarry make her sick.

The Mean Girls star admits that she was dismayed when she got to know that her dad is going to marry journalist Kate Major, reports …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Male hummingbirds well maintain their territories to attract mates

WASHINGTON – While observing the behaviour of hummingbirds, a group of researchers discovered that males defend and maintain a territory with a high density of nectar-producing flowers to attract females.

During the study, scientists observed the purple-throated carib, a hummingbird species native to the mountainous islands of the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Male hummingbirds well maintain their territories to attract mates.

Hepatitis C infection doubles kidney cancer risk

WASHINGTON – Infection with the hepatitis C virus increases the risk for developing kidney cancer, physicians at Henry Ford Hospital have found.

Using administrative data from more than 67,000 Henry Ford Health System patients, physicians found that over the period 1997-2008, 0.6 percent patients with hepatitis C infection developed kidney …. Source article  : Hepatitis C infection doubles kidney cancer risk.

Soon, urine test for kidney cancer

WASHINGTON – A simple urine test for kidney cancer is on the way, says a group of researchers.

While kidney cancer patients, the team of researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified [..] Read the original article: here.

Rheumatoid arthritis linked to vitamin D deficiency

WASHINGTON – A new study has established a link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and vitamin D deficiency.

Females living in the northeastern United States are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting a link between the autoimmune disease and vitamin D deficiency, the study led by a …. Original article  : Rheumatoid arthritis linked to vitamin D deficiency.

Even toddlers reward those with good intentions

WASHINGTON – Toddlers as young as 21 months appreciate good intentions, and will do their best to reward the efforts of people who try to help them, a Queen’s University study has found.

Psychology professor Valerie Kuhlmeier and PhD student … Read more »»».

Detergents, shampoos ‘form harmful substance in waste water’

WASHINGTON – Shampoo, detergents and other household cleaning agents contain ingredients that could form a cancer-causing contaminant in wastewater, scientists have reported.

The study sheds new light on possible environmental sources of this poorly understood water contaminant, called NDMA, which is of ongoing concern to health …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Detergents, shampoos ‘form harmful substance in waste water’.

Scientists discover animals that live without oxygen

WASHINGTON – Animals that live their entire lives without oxygen and surrounded by ‘poisonous’ sulphides have been discovered for the first time, deep under the Mediterranean Sea.

Roberto Danovaro, from the Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy, and his colleagues say that the existence …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Scientists discover animals that live without oxygen.

Annual Taurid meteors shower may have led to ice age mammals’ extinction

WASHINGTON – Thousands of Tunguska-sized cometary fragments struck the earth for over an hour 13,000 years ago, leading to a dramatic cooling of the planet and extinction of ice age mammals, according a new study.

The cooling, by as much as 8 degrees Celsius, interrupted the warming which was occurring at the end of the last … Read more »».

‘Start/stop switch’ for retroviruses found

LONDON – A previously unknown mechanism for silencing retroviruses, segments of genetic material that can lead to fatal mutations in a cell’s DNA, has been discovered by a University of British Columbia doctoral candidate.

Published in the journal Nature, the finding could lead to new cancer treatments that kill only tumour cells and leave healthy surrounding … Original article on : ‘Start/stop switch’ for retroviruses found.

Astronauts hoist 13-ton cargo carrier onto space station, holds new bedroom and freezer

Astronauts hoist cargo carrier onto space station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The International Space Station has a new walk-in closet.
Space shuttle Discovery’s astronauts lifted the 13-ton cargo carrier from the payload bay late Wednesday and attached it to the space station early Thursday. About half of that mass represents science experiments and supplies, as well as … Read : Astronauts hoist 13-ton cargo carrier onto space station, holds new bedroom and freezer.

Texas Trade Up appliance rebate program begins _ and ends

State appliance rebate an open-and-shut program

AUSTIN, Texas – A new state incentive for Texans to buy energy-efficient appliances didn’t last long – less than a day.
The state began accepting rebate reservations Wednesday for the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program for purchases of select Energy Star appliances.
But high public demand quickly overwhelmed the reservation system …. Original source  : Texas Trade Up appliance rebate program begins _ and ends.

Beached baby whale wallowing near death on NY shore as experts decide mammal too sick to save

Beached whale wallowing near death on NY shore

EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. – A young humpback whale that became stranded on a New York beach is wallowing near death on the shoreline after experts decided the mammal was too sick to save.
The 25-foot-long whale was discovered Tuesday morning on the eastern Long Island shore of East Hampton, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Beached baby whale wallowing near death on NY shore as experts decide mammal too sick to save.

Study says closing Chicago shipping locks to block Asian carp would cost area economy billions

Study: Closing Chicago locks would cost billions

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Closing shipping locks in Chicago waterways to prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes would cost the area economy about $4.7 billion over two decades, according to an analysis released Wednesday.
That report from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce envisions a far greater economic ripple …. Read the original article  : Study says closing Chicago shipping locks to block Asian carp would cost area economy billions.

US eager to begin formal beef talks with Japan “as soon as possible”

US wants quick start to beef talks with Japan
TOKYO – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pressed Japan on Friday for quick action in planned talks on easing access to its beef market, saying he would put together a negotiating team as soon as he gets home to Washington.
Vilsack agreed Thursday with this Japanese … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US eager to begin formal beef talks with Japan “as soon as possible”.

More divisive voices expected as UN climate talks resume in Bonn

BONN – More divisive voices are expected to surface during the first round of UN climate talks, which open here from Friday, almost four months after the failed Copenhagen Summit.

Developing countries are adamant that the UN climate convention is the right forum for negotiating a global deal and want it done …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : More divisive voices expected as UN climate talks resume in Bonn.

Mechanism underlying ‘broken-heart syndrome’

WASHINGTON – Scientists have identified the mechanism underlying the so-called ‘broken-heart syndrome’.

Called Tako-Tsubo syndrome, or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, it is a rare disease, which at first used to be confused with the far more common (and dangerous) cardiac infarction or heart …. Original source  : Mechanism underlying ‘broken-heart syndrome’.

Chemical compound effective in destroying antibiotic-resistant biofilms

WASHINGTON – A chemical compound that, when used in conjunction with conventional antibiotics, is effective in destroying biofilms produced by antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as the Staphylococcus strain MRSA and …. Source  : Chemical compound effective in destroying antibiotic-resistant biofilms.

Migraine sufferers process visual cues poorly in messy environments

WASHINGTON – Migraine sufferers may process visual cues badly in an environment with a lot of visual distractions, says a new study.

In the study, published in the April issue of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (”Visual Noise …. Source article  : Migraine sufferers process visual cues poorly in messy environments.

Intel unveils mind-reading brain scans

NEW YORK – Intel Corp. has unveiled a software that uses brain scans to determine what people are thinking.

The new technology is apparently 90 percent accurate, reports The New York Daily News.
Although the “human brain” project is still in development, it could help the severely physically disabled to communicate … Read more >>>.

Idaho man resumes active life, thanks to ventricular assist device

WASHINGTON – An Idaho man with heart failure is all set to begin a new active life, all thanks to an Utah-made ventricular assist (VAD) device he was fitted with in an operation on March 17.

It was only …. Original source  : Idaho man resumes active life, thanks to ventricular assist device.

Ancestral research can open a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of secrets leading to family rifts

WASHINGTON – While researching their ancestral history, people can open a “Pandora’s Box” of secrets that may cause conflict and widen rifts in the family, says new research.ost people derive pleasure and satisfaction from researching their ancestry, however, for others it brings to light …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ancestral research can open a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of secrets leading to family rifts.

Blood vessels made from stem cells to replace synthetic vascular bypass grafts

WASHINGTON – By using adult stem cells, scientists have created functional blood vessels that could one day replace synthetic grafts often required in various vascular bypass surgeries, new research has revealed.

Bypass surgery is used to open blocked arteries in one part of the … Read more »»».

Avatars with real eye movements can spot liars in the virtual world

LONDON – Don’t know if your friend in the virtual world is lying to you or not? Well, now avatars that can mimic our real-world eye movements can make it easier to spot if someone is telling the truth online.

Most virtual … Read more »».

Is 2-million-year-old African fossil the missing link in human evolution?

LONDON – Suggestions that the newly found hominin fossils in South Africa represent a transitional species in human evolution have created a furore among researchers.

A team from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg has revealed two remarkably well-preserved hominin fossils aged just under two million years old.
The fossils …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Scientists discover childhood deafness gene

LONDON – Dutch scientists have uncovered a gene associated with the type of deafness passed on through families – a finding which means treatments for inherited deafness are one step closer.

To come up with the finding, boffins looked at the genetics of families where several members were deaf and identified the PTPRQ gene as playing [..] Read the original article: here.

Brain-hormone circuit that helps police diabetes, female fertility unraveled

WASHINGTON – The hormones leptin and insulin work together in specific neurons in the hypothalamus region of the brain to affect both the regulation of blood sugar levels in the body and female fertility, say UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers.

“Many people, and even many physicians, think you develop diabetes that is solely secondary to obesity,” …. Original source  : Brain-hormone circuit that helps police diabetes, female fertility unraveled.

New hope for hepatitis C sufferers

LONDON – Telaprevir, a protease inhibitor, combined with standard hepatitis C treatment, cures a significantly higher number of difficult-to-treat patients than standard treatment alone, a new study has found.

The study has been published in the April issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
To reach the conclusion, a member of the international research team, Adrian …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : New hope for hepatitis C sufferers.

Astronauts take 1st spacewalk of Discovery mission, replacing space station’s old ammonia tank

Astronauts take 1st spacewalk of shuttle mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Two spacewalking astronauts disconnected an old empty ammonia tank outside the International Space Station on Friday and got a new one ready to put in its place.
It was the first of three spacewalks planned for Rick Mastracchio and Clayton Anderson, members of space shuttle Discovery’s …. Original article  : Astronauts take 1st spacewalk of Discovery mission, replacing space station’s old ammonia tank.

Researchers cure type 1 diabetes in mice

WASHINGTON – Scientists at University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, have successfully cured mice with type 1 diabetes using a sophisticated nanotechnology-based “vaccine”.

They have also slowed the onset of the disease in mice at risk for the disease.
The study, co-funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, provides new and important insights into understanding how to …. Read the original article  : Researchers cure type 1 diabetes in mice.

No link between dyslexia and lack of musical ability

WASHINGTON – Scientists in Belgium have found no link between dyslexia and a lack of musical ability.

What’s more, the scientists say, attempts to treat dyslexia with music therapy are unwarranted.
The boffins reported the finding in the current issue of the International Journal of Arts and Technology.
Cognitive neuroscientist Jose Morais of the Free University of Brussels … Read more »»».

Venus still geologically active

WASHINGTON – Venus is alive – geologically speaking, say researchers. t was ESA’s Venus Express that clearly indicated that Venus is geologically active.

Relatively young lava flows have been identified by the way they emit infrared radiation. The finding suggests the planet remains capable of volcanic eruptions.
“Now we have strong evidence right at the surface for …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Venus still geologically active.

Small asteroid to make harmless flyby past Earth

Small asteroid to zip harmlessly past Earth

PASADENA, Calif. – NASA scientists have updated information on the path of a newly discovered asteroid that is set to make a safe flyby past Earth.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena says the latest trajectory indicates that the closest approach for asteroid 2010 GA6 will be just slightly beyond …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Small asteroid to make harmless flyby past Earth.

BLM suspends 91K acres of oil, gas leases in Montana, Dakotas for greenhouse gas review

Oil and gas leases put on hold in Mont., Dakotas

BILLINGS, Mont. – Federal land managers are suspending an April 13 sale of 91,000 acres of oil and gas leases in Montana and the Dakotas until they can study how oil field activities contribute to climate change.
Thursday’s suspension comes three weeks after the Bureau of Land …. Read the original article  : BLM suspends 91K acres of oil, gas leases in Montana, Dakotas for greenhouse gas review.

Handling cash ‘brings pain relief’

WASHINGTON – Forget aspirin, hard cash can ease your aches and pains, that’s the conclusion of a new study.

In a series of tests, boffins found that participants who counted money felt less pain when their hands were dipped into scalding water. The soothing power of cash also helped them shrug off …. Original article  : Handling cash ‘brings pain relief’.

Boffins explore origins of “supervolcanoes”

WASHINGTON – Scientists have drilled into a large, 145 million-year-old volcanic mountain chain lying underwater off the coast of Japan to explore the origins of “supervolcanoes” who have been blamed for multiple mass extinctions in Earth’s history.

New data collected during a recent Integrated … Read : Boffins explore origins of “supervolcanoes”.

Scientists call for world social health insurance

LONDON – Scientists of the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp have urged that there’s a need of a social security fund on a global scale.

In a Viewpoint in the leading medical journal The Lancet, the boffins say such a ‘Global Fund for Health’ … Read more >>>.

Now, mobile phones that protect against deadly chemicals

WASHINGTON – A group of scientists has come up with new functions on cell phones that could protect us from toxic chemicals.

Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S and T)’s Cell-All aims to equip cell phones with a sensor capable of detecting … Read more : Now, mobile phones that protect against deadly chemicals.

Wireless nano sensors may save bridges, buildings

WASHINGTON – Inexpensive wireless sensors based on nanotechnology can be used to alert engineers to problematic cracks and damage to buildings, bridges, and other structures before they become critical, a feasibility study has suggested.

The study has been published in the International …. Original source  : Wireless nano sensors may save bridges, buildings.

Megaliths similar to Stonehenge found in UK

Washington, April 10(ANI): Nine new megaliths discovered in a remote part of Dartmoor, England, bears strong similarities with the famous Stonehenge.

Experts are of the opinion that the megaliths, which were recently carbon-dated to around 3500 B.C., could predate Stonehenge.
However, the stones at both sites seem to be aligned to mark the rising of the midsummer … Read more : Megaliths similar to Stonehenge found in UK.

In the brain, empathy and violence have similar circuits

WASHINGTON – Empathy and violence have similar circuits in the brain, concludes a new study.
“Just as our species could be considered the most violent, since we are capable of serial killings, genocide and other atrocities, we are also the most empathetic species, which would seem to be the other side of the coin”, Luis Moya … Read : In the brain, empathy and violence have similar circuits.

Simple test detects signs of suicidal thoughts in people on antidepressants

WASHINGTON – UCLA researchers have developed a non-invasive biomarker, or indicator, that can detect signs of suicidal thoughts in people taking antidepressants.

Antidepressant medications have proven to be beneficial in helping people overcome major depression, however, it has long been known that a small subset of individuals taking these drugs can actually experience a worsening of [..] Read the original article: here.

‘Stress makes old people cranky’

London, Apr 10 (ANI): Elderly humans’ brains react differently to chronic stress – a finding which may explain why older adults are always in a bad mood, according to a new study.

Elderly humans are more vulnerable to stress than their youthful counterparts. “There is more low-level anxiety and depression,” says Nancy Pachana of the University … Read : ‘Stress makes old people cranky’.

Ancient lost city in Mexico discovered

WASHINGTON – Ruins of an ancient urban center in the heart of the Puripecha Empire in Lake Patzcuaro Basin, located in the central Mexican state of Michoacan, have been discovered by a Colorado State University archaeologist and his team.

At … Original article on : Ancient lost city in Mexico discovered.

World needs a “barometer of natural life”, say scientists

LONDON – A group of well-known scientists has warned that the world needs a “barometer of life” for the prevention of ecosystems and species being lost forever.

In the journal Science, the boffins said that the existing schemes … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : World needs a “barometer of natural life”, say scientists.

Alaska Legislature rejects appointment for Board of Game

Legislature rejects game board pick
JUNEAU, Alaska – The Alaska Legislature has rejected the appointment to the state Board of Game of a man seen in an Internet video skinning a wolf and citing the Bible to explain man’s dominion over animals.

Gov. Sean Parnell in February appointed 44-year-old Al Barrette to the seven-member board that regulates … Read more »»».

Thousands of devout Jews enter Palestinian village in nighttime pilgrimage to disputed tombs

Thousands of Jews visit disputed West Bank tombs

KIFL HARES, West Bank – Thousands of devout Jews descended on a Palestinian village Friday in a rare pilgrimage to three disputed tombs, praying and dancing at a site they claim holds the remains of biblical ancestors.
The visit, made under the guard of soldiers enforcing a curfew on … Read more : Thousands of devout Jews enter Palestinian village in nighttime pilgrimage to disputed tombs.

Countries launch new round of climate talks, disagree on future course after Copenhagen

Post-Copenhagen climate talks begin amid discord
BONN, Germany – The United States gave a spirited defense Friday of the threadbare agreement reached in Copenhagen against a barrage of criticism that the deal was struck by “a select few” that cast doubt on its legitimacy.
Differences were striking as countries began the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Countries differ on how to continue climate talks after disappointing Copenhagen summit

Climate talks
BONN, Germany – Differences have emerged at the outset of the first U.N. climate conference since the disappointing Copenhagen climate summit, as delegates from 175 countries begin afresh on a new global warming agreement.
The delegates hope to have the main elements of a deal in place by the end of this year.
But … Read more »».

Young humpback whale that had been stranded 3 days on NY beach is euthanized

Young whale stranded at NY beach euthanized

EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. – A young whale stranded for three days at a New York beach has been euthanized.
The president of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation said Friday that the whale died overnight. Charles Bowman says a necropsy will be done in an effort to determine …. Source article  : Young humpback whale that had been stranded 3 days on NY beach is euthanized.

New system tells how hazardous are air pollutants

WASHINGTON – Fraunhofer scientists are set to present a new test system that can reveal the extent to which air pollutants are hazardous.

The researchers will make the presentation at this year’s BIO Convention in Chicago from May 3-6.
Through this system, it will be possible for the first time …. Source article  : New system tells how hazardous are air pollutants.

Facebook eyes Chinese market

NEW DELHI – Social networking website Facebook is planning to enter China’s web market.
According to Sina.com, Larry Yu, spokesman for Facebook said that Palo Alto based social networking website is “interested in China, just as we are many other countries, and while we …. Original article  : Facebook eyes Chinese market.

‘Robocop’ suit created

LONDON – A power-assisted suit which could make users as strong as Robocop or Iron Man has been created by Japanese scientists.

The power-enhancing suit boasts eight electric motors that amplify the strength of the wearer’s arms and …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Robocop’ suit created.

Wild fox kills 15 flamingoes in overnight raid at Helsinki Zoo

Wild fox kills 15 flamingoes at Helsinki Zoo

HELSINKI – An ambitious fox swapped the hen house for a flamingo coop when it sneaked into a menagerie and killed 15 pink flamingoes at Helsinki Zoo, its director Jukka Salo said Friday.
Salo said the fox wandered across the frozen sea to reach the island zoo, near the …. Original article  : Wild fox kills 15 flamingoes in overnight raid at Helsinki Zoo.

New discovery may make secret nuclear tests history

LONDON – Covert nuclear tests may soon become a thing of the past, thanks to pure samples of a telltale gas that could help nuke sniffers.

A global network of monitoring stations continually samples the air for signs of underground nuclear tests.
One thing these stations look for is the radioactive gas …. Original article  : New discovery may make secret nuclear tests history.

During economic crisis, mature-looking women look more attractive

WASHINGTON – During tough economic times, mature-looking women appear more attractive.
That is the conclusion of two studies, one of which used American movie actresses, and the other Playboy Playmates of the Year.

The research found that in unsure times beauty icons tend to be slightly more “mature” looking women …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Skin cancer ‘cure’ found

LONDON – A group of researchers has claimed to have found a cure for skin cancer.
A vaccine, which attacks tumour cells, leaving healthy cells undamaged and carries agents that boost the body’s response to skin cancer, is being tested in the UK. And up till now, it has apparently helped some patients fully recover from …. Original article  : Skin cancer ‘cure’ found.

How the brains of introverts 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 manifest itself as inhibitedness, or even neuroticism. The trait can be seen in some children who are “slow to … Original article on : How the brains of introverts process the world around them.

Lightning-like electricity makes mushrooms multiply

WASHINGTON – When exposed to lightning-like electricity, mushrooms start multiplying, according to an ongoing research.

For decades, farmers in Japan have welcomed storms over their fields, as they believe that lightning strikes provoke plentiful harvests of mushrooms, which are staples of Japanese cuisine, reports National Geographic News.
Now, in four-year study, boffins in northern Japan bombarded a … Read : Lightning-like electricity makes mushrooms multiply.

PANDAS are not a big fan of stress

WASHINGTON – Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections, or PANDAS, do not like stress.

The diagnosis, PANDAS, was created when clinicians observed that following streptococcal infections, which include strep throat, scarlet fever, and impetigo, children developed tics and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
In a new study, which appears in Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : PANDAS are not a big fan of stress.

Astronauts take 2nd spacewalk to replace space station tank, 40 years after Apollo 13 launch

Astronauts take 2nd spacewalk to replace tank

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Astronauts ventured back outside the International Space Station on Sunday, making their second spacewalk in three days to replace an old storage tank.
The 215-mile-high action unfolded on the 40th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 13.
Heading out nearly an hour early, Rick Mastracchio and Clayton …. Read the original article  : Astronauts take 2nd spacewalk to replace space station tank, 40 years after Apollo 13 launch.

Rampant academic misconduct hampers China’s efforts to lead global research

Rampant cheating hurts China’s research ambitions

LIUZHOU, China – When professors in China need to author research papers to get promoted, many turn to people like Lu Keqian.
Working on his laptop in a cramped spare bedroom, the former schoolteacher ghostwrites for professors, students, government offices – anyone willing to pay his fee, typically about 300 yuan … Read more »».

LA utility at center of city’s financial meltdown is no stranger to political controversy

LA utility at center of city’s financial meltdown

LOS ANGELES – When the city’s Department of Water and Power spent $50,000 on lactation consultants two years ago to assist breast-feeding employees, the utility said it was a humanitarian move aimed at cutting absenteeism.
Critics, however, saw the move as another over-the-top expenditure of a behemoth bureaucracy that … Read : LA utility at center of city’s financial meltdown is no stranger to political controversy.

Bolivia protests halt of US climate aid after it refused to support Copenhagen accord

Bolivia protests US suspension of climate aid

BONN, Germany – Bolivia has protested the suspension of U.S. climate aid as “a very bad practice,” but says it won’t change its policies on global warming.
Bolivian delegate Pablo Solon confirms that the U.S. reduced aid after it opposed the adoption of the Copenhagen Accord brokered at the U.N. …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Metabolic fingerprints offer fresh clues toward personalized treatment

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found further evidence to reaffirm that the way our bodies digest and process nutrients in the food we eat is different for every person.

Nutrition scientists and food chemists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen have joined forces with outside experts to … Read : Metabolic fingerprints offer fresh clues toward personalized treatment.

Astronauts rest up for spacewalk 2, ‘ready to rock ‘n’ roll’ for manhandling of big tanks

Astronauts ‘ready to rock ‘n’ roll’ on spacewalk 2
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Two of the astronauts aboard the orbiting shuttle-station complex rested up Saturday for a second spacewalk involving hefty storage tanks, while their colleagues unloaded much smaller supplies.
Spacemen Clayton Anderson and Rick Mastracchio will head back outside early Sunday to …. Original source  : Astronauts rest up for spacewalk 2, ‘ready to rock ‘n’ roll’ for manhandling of big tanks.

Fermented milk has therapeutic effect on chronic gastritis

WASHINGTON – Fermented milk is effective in the therapeutic treatment of chronic gastritis, according to a study.

Gastritis produced by acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA) consumption is a common disorder worldwide.
The use of probiotics has been proposed to ameliorate different gastrointestinal tract diseases such as inflammatory …. Read the original article  : Fermented milk has therapeutic effect on chronic gastritis.

Now a new, better way to detect explosives

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found a new way to detect expolosives- the Optical Dynamic Detection (ODD) solution.

Currently, spectroscopy has been used for the purpose.
“Spectroscopy is good, but it only gets you so far,” said Eric Houser, a program manager in the Explosives Division of …. Source  : Now a new, better way to detect explosives.

Obese kids sleep less

MELBOURNE – Overweight or obese children tend to sleep less, a study has found.
The study claimed “sleep deficit” among school-going kids would hinder their performance at school right through the week.

Professor Tim Olds, who studied the sleep patterns of more than 4000 children from across the country, said poor sleep was known to lead to …. Original source  : Obese kids sleep less.

New high-speed integrated circuit for Large Hedron Collider is fastest of its kind

WASHINGTON – A new high-speed integrated circuit that can reliably transmit data for the world’s largest physics experiment is the fastest of its kind, say experts.

The new “link-on-chip” – or LOC serializer circuit – was designed by physicists at Southern Methodist University in Dallas as a component for use in a key experiment of the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : New high-speed integrated circuit for Large Hedron Collider is fastest of its kind.

Archaeologists discover Old Testament-era tablet

WASHINGTON – Archaeologists at University of Toronto have unearthed a cache of cuneiform tablets that contain a largely intact Assyrian treaty from the early 7th century BCE.

The 43 by 28 centimetre tablet – known as the Vassal Treaties of Esarhaddon – contains about 650 lines and is in a very fragile state.
“The tablet is quite … Original article on : Archaeologists discover Old Testament-era tablet.

Facebook ‘ignores users’ panic button demand

LONDON – UK’s top child abuse investigator has revealed that social networking site Facebook is ignoring users’ complaints about paedophile threats.

According to Jim Gamble, head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), more than 250 Facebook users have this …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Launch of CryoSat-2 ice satellite successful

WASHINGTON – CryoSat-2 ice satellite, Europe’s first mission aimed at studying the Earth’s ice, has been successfully launched from Kazakhstan.

From its polar orbit, CryoSat-2 will send back data leading to new insights into how ice is responding to climate change and the …. Source article  : Launch of CryoSat-2 ice satellite successful.

Peptide to enhance cancer drug effectiveness

WASHINGTON – A peptide helps co-injected drugs to penetrate deep into tumour tissue enhancing cancer drug effectiveness, a new American research has demonstrated.

The peptide (a chain of amino acids) called iRGD has been shown to substantially increase treatment … Read more >>>.

Kidney disease genes discovered

LONDON – An international team of experts has identified 20 genes that could help explain the causes of kidney disease.

The team, including Edinburgh University researchers, found that the genes help to control vital kidney functions, such as filtering waste substances from the blood.
The …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

World’s tiniest force recorded

MELBOURNE – Using a bowl of trapped ions, scientists have measured the smallest forces ever recorded.

The discovery could pave the way for solving unanswered questions in materials science areas such as computing and nanotechnology.
Professor Michael Biercuk of the University of Sydney … Read more : World’s tiniest force recorded.

Energy saving light bulbs can cause interference with TV sets

LONDON – Energy saving light bulbs can interfere with televisions, making them randomly change channel and switch on and off, confessed a leading manufacturer.

Philips Electronics have confirmed that the problem could be to do with an early type of energy saving light bulb, which can … Read : Energy saving light bulbs can cause interference with TV sets.

Key protein behind DNA repair identified

LONDON – DNA damage over our lifetimes is the key reason behind the development of cancer and other age-related diseases. But not everyone gets these diseases, because the body has multiple mechanisms for repairing the damage caused to DNA by aging, the environment and other human behaviors. Now, scientists have …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Key protein behind DNA repair identified.

California loses dairy farms as Iowa, Texas, other states lure farmers with less regulation

States woo Calif. dairymen with less regulation

DES MOINES, Iowa – The number of dairies in California has plummeted by more than 500 in the past decade, with many moving to other states enticing them with promises of lower costs and simpler regulations.
Eight states, ranging from Idaho to Iowa, have been courting dairies from California, the … Read : California loses dairy farms as Iowa, Texas, other states lure farmers with less regulation.

Oldest sanctuary in Arabia discovered

DUBAI – The oldest sanctuary in Arabia, as well as the oldest known ceremonial site dedicated to the dugong, a very particular marine mammal, have been discovered by the French archaeological mission to the UAE and the museum of the Umm Al Quwain Emirate.

Very …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Oldest sanctuary in Arabia discovered.

A little stress may be good for foetal brain

LONDON – It is well known that high stress during pregnancy is not good for mother as well as for the baby. But a new study suggests that moderate stress can boost foetal brain development.

Previous studies in rodents have shown that stress …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : A little stress may be good for foetal brain.

Novel way to turn water into hydrogen fuel found

LONDON – A team of MIT researchers has genetically modified a virus that can exploit sunlight to split water into oxygen and hydrogen.

Splitting water is one way to solve the basic problem of solar energy: It’s only available when the sun shines.
By …. Original article  : Novel way to turn water into hydrogen fuel found.

Musical tunes do go in tune with your heart

MELBOURNE – Listening to music you love or hate can have a physical impact on your heart, conclude researchers.

According to a study, conducted by Dr Mike Miller, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Centre in the US, playing your favourite songs can increase your blood circulation.
In fact, it gives you …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Musical tunes do go in tune with your heart.

Biological link between stress, anxiety and depression discovered

LONDON – A team of researchers at The University of Western Ontario has identified the biological link between stress, anxiety and depression.

By identifying the connecting mechanism in the brain, this new research shows exactly how stress and anxiety could lead to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

California gray whale-watchers fear dip in population, yet panel may allow more hunting

Calif. gray whale-watchers fear dip in population

LOS ANGELES – Gazing past the rolling whitecaps in the middle of San Diego’s whale-watching season, boat captain Bill Reese was dismayed by what he wasn’t seeing.
“Where are the whales?” said Reese. “Where are the whales?”
Long held as an environmental success story after being taken off the endangered list … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : California gray whale-watchers fear dip in population, yet panel may allow more hunting.

Skirmishes in climate debate resume at first conference after contentious Copenhagen summit

Skirmishes renewed at UN climate conference
BONN, Germany – Climate talks nearly ground to a halt before they began in earnest Sunday, with delegates squabbling over how to conduct negotiations for the rest of the year on a new agreement to control global warming.
Talks about talks appeared at times …. Original source  : Skirmishes in climate debate resume at first conference after contentious Copenhagen summit.

Lack of money stalls Obama’s jobs agenda; GOP objects, as does leading Senate Democrat

Obama election-year jobs agenda stalls in Congress
WASHINGTON – The election-year jobs agenda promised by President Barack Obama and Democrats has stalled seven months before voters determine control of Congress.
Democrats have no money to pay for the program. That’s because both Republicans and the Democratic chairman of the Senate Budget Committee objected to taking … Read : Lack of money stalls Obama’s jobs agenda; GOP objects, as does leading Senate Democrat.

UN climate official says binding deal unlikely in 2010 despite intensive _ and costly _ talks

UN official: Climate deal unlikely this year

BONN, Germany – The top U.N. climate official says negotiators are likely to hold at least four conferences this year, but without much expectation of concluding a binding agreement on global warming.
Yvo de Boer says the main elements of a deal should be in place by the yearend conference … Original article on : UN climate official says binding deal unlikely in 2010 despite intensive _ and costly _ talks.

Astronauts take 2nd spacewalk to replace space station cooling tank, overcome stiff bolt

Astronauts take 2nd spacewalk, overcome stiff bolt

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Spacewalking astronauts had to pull out a hammer and pry bar while attaching a big, new tank full of ammonia coolant to the International Space Station on Sunday, successfully driving in a stiff bolt after two frustrating hours.
The 215-mile-high action unfolded on the 40th anniversary … Read more >>>.

Boffins turn ‘worm in the apple’ gay to save crops

LONDON – Fruit experts have developed a novel technique to save millions of pounds worth of crops each year – the codling moth that tunnels through apples and pears will now be turned gay.

The grey insect with copper striped wings lays its eggs on fruit trees.
Once the yellow and black larvae hatch, they dig into … Read : Boffins turn ‘worm in the apple’ gay to save crops.

Over half of abused women see male partners as dependable

TORONTO – Why do many women still remain in abusive relationships with their male partners? A new study says they see their partners as dependable and affectionate.

The study by researchers in Toronto and New York suggests that many who live with chronic psychological abuse still see certain positive traits in their abusers – such as …. Original source  : Over half of abused women see male partners as dependable.

Omega-3 fatty acid in diet can make men fertile

WASHINGTON – The introduction of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet may help in restoring fertility in males, a new study says.

The three most nutritionally important omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
“In our experiment, we used ‘knockout’ mice that lacked the gene responsible for an … Read more >>.

Facebook urged to add “panic buttons”

LONDON – Social networking site Facebook has at a meeting in Washington DC been urged by the head of British Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) centre to add “panic buttons” to its pages.

The site was criticised for not having “panic buttons” on every page, and its director Jim Gamble has said the matter was … Read more : Facebook urged to add “panic buttons”.

Russia launches social networking site for IT experts

Moscow, April 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia has launched a special social networking site to encourage interaction among Information and Technology (IT) professionals.

The project is part of the Russian government’s efforts to create an electronic public service system, intended to help fight corruption and red tape.
The regionalochka.ru website, designed for “employees of Russia’s regional administrations, …. Original source  : Russia launches social networking site for IT experts.

Terahertz imaging – ultimate tool against terrorism

WASHINGON – Terahertz imaging can be the futuristic new tool against terrorism, says a new study.

“Scientists favour terahertz radiation because it can transmit through most non-metallic and non-polar mediums,” said study leader John Federici, physics professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
“When a terahertz system is used correctly, people can see through … Read more »».

Bokaro bats succumb to the heat

BOKARO – It’s not just humans but animals too are affected by the soaring temperature — and in the steel city of Bokaro, flying bats are most adversely impacted by the heat.

In Bokaro zoo, animals such as tigers are being given glucose and are being protected from the heat with their cages equipped with water …. Source  : Bokaro bats succumb to the heat.

Music reduces stress in heart disease patients

WASHINGTON – Listening to music may benefit patients who suffer severe stress and anxiety associated with having and undergoing treatment for coronary heart disease (CHD).

A study found that listening to music could decrease blood pressure, heart rate and levels of anxiety in heart patients.
Living with heart disease is extremely stressful. The uncertainties and anxieties …. Original source  : Music reduces stress in heart disease patients.

Emotions linger despite memory loss

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that emotions may persist long after the actual memory of an experience dies.

In the study, neuroscientist Justin Feinstein at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and colleagues found that people with impaired memory felt sad even …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

How to heal a broken heart

WASHINGTON – An innovative treatment using stem cells could soon help patients with heart muscles seriously affected by coronary heart disease, say researchers.

Scientists at the Research Centre of the Centre hospitalier de l’Universite de Montreal (CRCHUM), in collaboration with …. Source article  : How to heal a broken heart.

Antidepressants could help treat stroke victims

WASHINGTON – Drugs that promote neurogenesis in rodents- which include antidepressants and mood stabilizers such as lithium-could benefit human stroke victims, according to a study at Buck Institute for Age Research.

Research in rodents shows the growth of new neurons, also known as neurogenesis, lessens the severity … Original article on : Antidepressants could help treat stroke victims.

Shrunken brain found in ancient human ancestor

WASHINGTON – A remnant of the male individual’s brain may be present in the remains of a well preserved 1.9-million-year-old human ancestor, say the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, France.

The remains were recently examined, and the discovery opens up the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Shrunken brain found in ancient human ancestor.

Compound that kills lymphoma cells discovered

WASHINGTON – A compound that kills specific lymphoma cells has been discovered by an international research team co-led by the Ontario Cancer Institute (OCI).

The discovery will accelerate developing targeted drugs to fight the most common form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
The research finding, published in Cancer Cell, …. Source article  : Compound that kills lymphoma cells discovered.

Like humans, chimps too can spot unfairness

LONDON – Like humans, chimps too can recognise unfairness, even when individuals other than themselves are in the picture, say scientists.

To reach the conclusion, Sarah Brosnan, a primate behaviourist at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and her colleagues trained captive chimps to exchange tokens for a food … Original source on Gaea Times at : Like humans, chimps too can spot unfairness.

Women facing gynaecologic surgery don’t worry about sex

WASHINGTON – Most women facing gynaecologic surgery don’t worry about its effects on their sex lives, a new study says.

However, only 37 percent of women planning to be sterilised did voice concern that they might have less sexual desire after the operation – even though that surgery does not affect hormone levels.
Among those in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Women facing gynaecologic surgery don’t worry about sex.

Millions suffer in power-starved Bihar

PATNA – Electricity has become a luxury for people in most parts of urban Bihar.

As the mercury soars above 43 degrees Celsius in Patna and many other places, people are opting for traditional cooling tools like hand fans to beat the heat.
“We are forced to live in the lantern age. Even a running fan … Read : Millions suffer in power-starved Bihar.

Honda to jumping into green rivalry with zero-emission electric scooters due in December

Honda to lease electric scooters from December

WAKO, Japan – The green fad in Japan is expanding from cars to bikes with Honda’s zero-emission super-quiet electric EV-neo scooter.
The EV-neo, shown Tuesday at Honda Motor Co.’s research facility in this Tokyo suburb, zipped around emitting just a calm whirring sound, with none of a motorcycle’s gritty growl.
Honda …. Original source  : Honda to jumping into green rivalry with zero-emission electric scooters due in December.

Astronauts take 3rd, final spacewalk to finish installing space station storage tank

Astronauts take 3rd, final spacewalk of mission
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A pair of astronauts finished installing a fresh storage tank outside the International Space Station on Tuesday, accomplishing a main mission objective that required three spacewalks.
Rick Mastracchio hooked up the fluid lines for the ammonia tank as soon as he and Clayton Anderson …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Astronauts take 3rd, final spacewalk to finish installing space station storage tank.

Arctic ice cap ‘thinning and shrinking’

WASHINGTON – The Devon Island ice cap, one of the largest ice masses in the Canadian High Arctic, is thinning and shrinking, shows data.

According to a paper published in the March edition of Arctic, the journal of the University of Calgary’s Arctic Institute of North …. Read the original article  : Arctic ice cap ‘thinning and shrinking’.

Novel genes influencing kidney disease risk discovered

LONDON – More than a dozen genes that may play a role in the etiology of common forms of kidney disease have been discovered by a group of boffins from the United States and Europe.

The team, known as the CKDGen …. Source article  : Novel genes influencing kidney disease risk discovered.

Mystery of fragile stem cells solved

WASHINGTON – The decade-old mystery of why human embryonic stem cells are so difficult to culture in the laboratory has been solved by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute.

The groundbreaking new finding will provide scientists with …. Read the original article  : Mystery of fragile stem cells solved.

Fear of getting fat shows up in women’s brain scans

WASHINGTON – Brain scan show that many women who are not seemingly concerned about how they look actually fear getting fat, researchers say.

Brigham Young University (BYU) researchers in the US used MRI technology to observe what happened in the brain as these women viewed images of complete strangers.
If the stranger happened to be overweight … Original source on Gaea Times at : Fear of getting fat shows up in women’s brain scans.

Facebook refuses to add safety buttons

LONDON – Social networking site Facebook has refused to add safety buttons on each user’s profile page saying that the buttons will only ‘intimidate’ and ‘confuse’ people.

A meeting was held between Facebook’s chief security officer, Joe Sullivan, and Jim Gamble, the chief executive of the … Read more : Facebook refuses to add safety buttons.

Discovery of 9 new planets challenges planetary formation theory

WASHINGTON – Astronomers have discovered nine new planets-a feat that challenges the reigning theory of the formation of planets.

Two of the astronomers involved in the discoveries are based at the UC Santa Barbara-affiliated Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGT), based … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Discovery of 9 new planets challenges planetary formation theory.

Postage-stamp size water purifier could save millions of lives

WASHINGTON – A new water purifier inspired by computer chip technology could save millions of lives.

Developed by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the new water purifier uses magnetic fields to separate harmful contaminants and produce …. Original article  : Postage-stamp size water purifier could save millions of lives.

Astronomers measure ‘biggest’ comet

WASHINGTON – Astronomers have measured Comet McNaught, which is believed to be the biggest comet to date.

In January 2007, people around the world watched comet McNaught streak across the sky.
It was the brightest comet seen since 1965 and, in some places, was visible to the naked eye …. Source  : Astronomers measure ‘biggest’ comet.

Plastic heat shield to protect Indian space rocket

CHENNAI – After a gap of several decades, the Indian space agency has reverted to fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) heat shield for its geosynchronous launch vehicle – development 3 (GSLV-D3) rocket expected to blast off Thursday evening.

The GSLV-D3 rocket has a bigger heat shield – four metre diameter – as compared to the earlier rocket … Read more >>.

Countdown begins for rocket launch with Indian cryo engine

BANGALORE – The countdown to launch a heavy rocket with an Indian cryogenic engine to inject an advanced communication satellite in the geo-synchronous orbit began Wednesday at the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, a space agency official said.

“The countdown began at 11.27 a.m. at our Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. All preparations for launching …. Original source  : Countdown begins for rocket launch with Indian cryo engine.

‘Vicious circle’ may offer novel acute leukemia treatment target

WASHINGTON – A self-feeding “vicious circle” of molecules that keeps acute leukemia cells alive and growing and that drives the disease forward has been identified by researchers.

The finding suggests a new strategy for treating acute myeloid …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

It’s official: Women, healthy or not, are concerned about their body shape

WASHINGTON – Women who have a healthy body image still have underlying concerns about their weight, at least that’s what their responses on a tried-and-true psychological screening showed.

A Brigham Young University study showed that thin women who were shown a …. Original article  : It’s official: Women, healthy or not, are concerned about their body shape.

Jealousy really is “blinding”

WASHINGTON – Jealousy can truly blind a person, concludes a new study.
In the study, two University of Delaware psychology professors found that women who were made to feel jealous were so distracted by unpleasant emotional images they became unable to spot targets they were trying to find.

The researchers … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Jealousy really is “blinding”.

‘Love handles’ repurposed for breast reconstruction in slim women

WASHINGTON – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers claim that a technique which uses tissue from those below-the-waist “love handles” improves cosmetic breast reconstruction in slim, athletic cancer patients without adequate fat sources elsewhere.

The method also turns …. Source  : ‘Love handles’ repurposed for breast reconstruction in slim women.

Boffins identify gene for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

WASHINGTON – People with epilepsy who are otherwise healthy are more than 10 times more likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than the general population. Now, scientists claim that a mutation in a brain protein gene may trigger irregular heart beat and sudden death in individuals …. Read the original article  : here.

Coming soon: Female Viagra

WASHINGTON – A female equivalent of Viagra could soon be available to help women achieve the Big O, claim scientists.

A team working for Pfizer, the pharmaceutical firm behind Viagra, in Sandwich, Kent, has uncovered a substance that boosts female sexual arousal, increasing … Original article on : Coming soon: Female Viagra.

Communication in caterpillars evolved from walking

LONDON – Scientists from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, have found that communication in caterpillars evolved from the simple act of walking.

The researchers have found that hair-like structures that the creatures use to make sound evolved from legs.
Study’s lead author Dr Jayne Yack and … Original source on Gaea Times at : Communication in caterpillars evolved from walking.

Tiny Tokelau declares South Pacific ocean zone as region’s 11th whale sancutary

Tiny Tokelau declares 11th Pacific whale sanctuary

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – The three-island territory of Tokelau declared itself a whale sanctuary Wednesday, adding a huge patch of sea to the total protected area of more than 7 million square miles that is off limits to hunting in the Pacific Ocean.
The isolated group of coral atolls with … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Tiny Tokelau declares South Pacific ocean zone as region’s 11th whale sancutary.

Energy conservation? Melbourne exhibition shows how

MELBOURNE – Energy saving and environmentalism may be phrases in regular use these days, but Australia’s Melbourne city has shown how to go about it through simple methods.

More than 1,000 environmental and energy-efficient products were on display at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre here that attracted thousands of visitors last week, Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday. …. Source article  : Energy conservation? Melbourne exhibition shows how.

Pleasant morning greets Delhi, but hot day in store

NEW DELHI – A cool breeze greeted Delhiites Wednesday morning with the minimum temperature dipping to a comfortable 24.1 degrees Celsius, but the met office forecast a hot and dry day ahead.

The met department said the maximum temperature is likely to touch 39 degrees.
“The minimum temperature recorded today (Wednesday) morning was 24.1 …. Source  : Pleasant morning greets Delhi, but hot day in store.

NASA begins science flights with robotic jet originally designed for Air Force reconnaissance

NASA begins science flights with robotic jet

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – One of NASA’s newest research jets soared high over the Pacific Ocean Tuesday on a 24-hour mission to study Earth’s atmosphere.
Its pilot remained seated in an office chair in a windowless room in the Mojave Desert, monitoring the autonomous flight of the Global … Read more >>.

Obama adds meat, jobs to space plan with revived crew capsule, massive rocket

Obama revives capsule from canceled moon program
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is reviving the NASA crew capsule concept that he had canceled with the rest of the moon program earlier this year, in a move that will mean more jobs and less reliance on the Russians, officials said Tuesday.
The space capsule, … Read more »»».

Neil Armstrong ‘giant leap’ inscription from Apollo 11 moon landing sells for $152,000 in NYC

1st moon landing page sells for $152,000 in NYC

NEW YORK – A sheet from the flight plan of the first moon landing signed by astronaut Neil Armstrong and inscribed with the words “One small step for a man – one giant leap for mankind” sold for $152,000 at auction Tuesday.
The page from the Apollo 11 …. Read the original article  : Neil Armstrong ‘giant leap’ inscription from Apollo 11 moon landing sells for $152,000 in NYC.

Investing in material possessions makes us less happy

WASHINGTON – People who pursue happiness through material possessions are liked less by their peers than people who pursue happiness through life experiences, a new study says.

Leaf Van Boven, University of Colorado-Boulder (UC-B) psychology professor, spent a decade studying the social costs and benefits of pursuing happiness through the acquisition of life experiences such … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Investing in material possessions makes us less happy.

Cat brain inspires model for superfast bio-computer

WASHINGTON – A cat can recognise a face faster and more efficiently than a supercomputer. That’s one reason a feline brain is the model for a biologically-inspired superfast computer project.

University of Michigan (U-M) computer engineer Wei Lu has taken a step toward developing this revolutionary type of machine that could be capable of learning and …. Read the original article  : Cat brain inspires model for superfast bio-computer.

Robotic hand to allow people to hold hands over internet

LONDON – Specially-designed robotic hands would soon allow friends and family to hold hands over the internet and help them experience the sensation of touch.

It plugs into a computer and communicates with an electronic wristband to allow people talking over the internet to experience the sensation of touch.
Not only can it grip and shake, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Robotic hand to allow people to hold hands over internet.

Lazy label aggravates kids’ problems

SYDNEY – Children labelled as lazy by teachers and parents may have numerous learning difficulties that could underlie their apparent lack of motivation, a new study says.

Linda Gilmore, educational psychologist from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), studied children aged seven to 10 years who were regarded as lazy by their parents and teachers.
They also … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Lazy label aggravates kids’ problems.

NASA decides shuttle crew won’t need to make extra spacewalk to fix valve at space station

NASA: Extra spacewalk to fix valve won’t be needed

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery’s astronaut won’t need to make an extra spacewalk after all.
NASA had been considering a fourth spacewalk to fix a stuck valve at the International Space Station. But Mission Control told the crew early Thursday the repairs could wait.
Discovery remains on … Original source on Gaea Times at : NASA decides shuttle crew won’t need to make extra spacewalk to fix valve at space station.

DNA advancement may halt transmission of inherited diseases

LONDON – It may soon be possible to prevent mitochondrial diseases, caused by mutations in the DNA of mitochondria, the energy-producing structures of the cell, from being passed on from a mother to the offspring.

British researchers have been … Read more »»».

On home turf of his astronaut critics, Obama to make pitch for changes in direction of NASA

Obama: America’s still got adventures in space
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Near the launch pads where U.S. space voyages begin, President Barack Obama will try to reassure workers that America’s space adventures sail on despite the coming end of space shuttle flights.
And Obama on Thursday will also try to explain why he aborted … Read more »».

New gene linked to increased Alzheimer’s risk identified

WASHINGTON – A gene that appears to increase a person’s risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease has been identified by researchers.

The research will be presented as part of the late-breaking science program at the American Academy of Neurology’s … Read this article on Gaea Times at : New gene linked to increased Alzheimer’s risk identified.

Scientists identify new gene in hair loss

LONDON – A new gene involved in hair growth has been identified by a team of investigators from Columbia, Rockefeller and Stanford Universities.

The finding has been reported in a paper in the April 15 issue of Nature.
In the study, researchers found that the …. Source  : Scientists identify new gene in hair loss.

Here’s why we believe that better things come to those who wait

WASHINGTON – Our belief in the motto ‘good things come to those who wait’ stems from a brain circuit that tells us to refuse instant gratification, say researchers.

The study by the Department of Systems Neuroscience at the University Medical Center, Hamburg-Eppendorf, is published in the journal [..] Read the original article: here.

Cat can recognize a face faster than supercomputer

WASHINGTON – A cat can recognize a face faster than a supercomputer. And that’s one of the reasons why a feline brain is the model for a biologically inspired computer project involving the University of Michigan.

U-M computer engineer Wei Lu has taken a step toward …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Cat can recognize a face faster than supercomputer.

People value experiences more than material things

WASHINGTON – People value pleasant experiences more than worldly possessions, a new study has found.

According to the new study led by University of Colorado at Boulder psychology Professor Leaf Van Boven, individuals who pursue happiness through material possessions are liked less by their peers than people who pursue happiness through life experiences.
“We have found that …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : People value experiences more than material things.

Potential target for treatment of obesity-related diseases identified

WASHINGTON – Scientists have identified a specific gene as a potential new target for treating obesity-related diseases.

Two research studies funded by grants from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) examined the role of a gene called STAT4 in the development of Type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related …. Source  : Potential target for treatment of obesity-related diseases identified.

Boffins design new class of drug that kills lymphoma cells

WASHINGTON – A new class of drugs that targets BCL6, a master regulatory protein responsible for causing the most common type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, has been designed by researchers from the Sackler Center at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Published in issue of Cancer Cell, the study shows that an experimental compound designed by a team of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Boffins design new class of drug that kills lymphoma cells.

Novel software to help plan astronaut, shift worker schedules

WASHINGTON – A software that uses mathematical models to help astronauts and ground support personnel better adjust to shifting work and sleep schedules has been developed by researchers.

Shifting work schedules, if not planned out properly, can wreak havoc on a person’s ability to get enough sleep, resulting in poor performance on the job.
Now, boffins funded … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Novel software to help plan astronaut, shift worker schedules.

‘Avatar’ director lauds decision to delay bids on huge Amazon dam, but warns fight not over

‘Avatar’ director lauds ruling on Brazilian dam

BRASILIA, Brazil – Director James Cameron is applauding a Brazilian judge’s decision to temporarily halt bidding on a huge hydroelectric dam, yet he warns the fight is not over in what he calls a “real-life Avatar” battle in the Amazon.
A federal judge in Para state on Wednesday delayed the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Avatar’ director lauds decision to delay bids on huge Amazon dam, but warns fight not over.

Mixed race people more successful, hotter

WASHINGTON – Individuals of mixed race are perceived as more attractive than non-mixed race counterparts, according to a new study.

To reach the conclusion, Dr Michael Lewis of Cardiff University’s School of Psychology collected a random sample of 1205 black, white, and mixed-race faces.
Each face was then rated for their perceived attractiveness to others – with …. Read the original article  : Mixed race people more successful, hotter.

Filling fuel for cryogenic engine to start

SRIHARIKOTA – Scientists were Thursday getting ready to launch an Indian-designed and built cryogenic engine to inject an advanced communication satellite into space. The filling of liquid fuel that will power the third stage of the 50-metre tall, 416-tonne Indian rocket to inject the satellite in geo-synchronous orbit is expected to start around 11.30 … Read : Filling fuel for cryogenic engine to start.

Delhi in for another scorching day

NEW DELHI – The national capital woke up to yet another hot day Thursday with the mercury hovering well above the average for this time of the year.

The minimum temperature recorded early Thursday was four degrees above the average, at 23.6 degrees Celsius.
“The maximum temperature today is expected to hover around 39 degrees Celsius, … Read more : Delhi in for another scorching day.

Cape Cod wind project’s fate to be decided this month; other offshore projects years away

Decision on Cape Cod wind project due this month
BOSTON – The Obama administration decides this month after a nine-year review whether the nation’s first wind farm should be built off Cape Cod. If it says no, the industry faces another question with no easy answer: “What’s next?”
Not one of the country’s …. Read the original article  : Cape Cod wind project’s fate to be decided this month; other offshore projects years away.

Magnet used to grow leg of 9-year-old cancer patient

WASHINGTON – A groundbreaking procedure has for the first time magnetically lengthened a nine-year-old cancer patient’s leg.

The feat could rule out the possibility of up to 10 future surgeries for Morgan LaRue, as her body grows.
On March 29, 2010, Morgan … Original article on : Magnet used to grow leg of 9-year-old cancer patient.

Portion of virus that causes pink eye isolated

WASHINGTON – Researchers have been able to determine the part of viral keratoconjunctivitis which causes pink eye, making it possible to come up with a remedy for the problem in future.

Experts have been unsuccessful in finding out …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Our brains can’t handle too much love interest

WASHINGTON – When it comes to choosing romantic partners, the more potential mates a person meets, the more his or her decision is influenced, concludes a new study.

In particular, when people have a large number of potential dating partners to select among, they respond by … Original source on Gaea Times at : Our brains can’t handle too much love interest.

Gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be repaired

WASHINGTON – It is possible to repair the defective gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, claim researchers from Universite Laval’s Faculty of Medicine and the CHUQ Research Center.

The team, led by Professor Jacques P. Tremblay, is presenting its new therapeutic approach in an article published in the online version of the scientific journal Gene Therapy.
Duchenne …. Original source  : Gene responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be repaired.

Electronic ‘nose’ that can predict pleasantness of novel odors created

WASHINGTON – An electronic system has been ‘trained’ by Weizmann Institute scientists to be able to predict the pleasantness of novel odors, just like a human would perceive them.

The breakthrough turns the popular notion that smell is completely personal and culture-specific on its head.
In research published in PLoS Computational Biology, the scientists argue that the …. Original article  : Electronic ‘nose’ that can predict pleasantness of novel odors created.

Astronauts place cargo carrier back aboard space shuttle, delayed by earlier latch trouble

Astronauts put cargo carrier back on space shuttle

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A cargo carrier is back aboard space shuttle Discovery.
The astronauts began their work day Friday by installing the carrier in Discovery’s payload bay. The job was supposed to be completed Thursday. But problems with the latching system delayed its removal from the International Space … Read more : Astronauts place cargo carrier back aboard space shuttle, delayed by earlier latch trouble.

Religious rituals banned at Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake

CHANDIGARH – In a bid to maintain ecological balance in and around the the famous Sukhna Lake, the administration Friday banned religious ceremonies and rituals in the area that has been declared a silence zone.

“There is noise and water pollution when people perform religious ceremonies at Sukhna. Therefore, the district magistrate has prohibited these …. Read the original article  : here.

Migration in China may propel gas emission to 13.9 bn tonnes

BEIJING – Around 350 million people in China would migrate to urban areas over the next two decades, which would lead to the emission of more than 13.9 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases, a UN report has said.

China will be under mounting pressure to maintain environment friendly and sustainable development in urban areas because a …. Read the original article  : here.

Amazon defenders put big dam project on hold, but backers _ including president _ undeterred

Ruling stalls Amazon dam, but construction likely

SAO PAULO – As environmentalists cheer a judge’s roadblock to a controversial Amazon dam, its supporters, including Brazil’s president, insist the hydroelectric project is needed and will be built.
Foes of the dam, who were joined this week by “Avatar” director James Cameron and actress Sigourney Weaver, celebrated Thursday over … Read more >>.

Another hot day in store for Delhi

NEW DELHI – A day after the national capital witnessed the hottest day of the season, the met office Friday forecast that the mercury would soar further and cross 43 degrees Celsius.

Delhi Friday recorded a minimum of 23.5 degrees Celsius, four notches above average for this time of the season.
“There … Read more : Another hot day in store for Delhi.

Venture-capital investments rise in 1st quarter, suggesting optimism that economy is improving

Venture-cap investments rise in 1Q, as optimism up

SAN FRANCISCO – Venture capitalists invested more money in U.S. startups during the first three months of 2010 compared with a year earlier, a sign of increasing optimism that the economy is improving.
Last year, the sluggish economy made it harder for startups to find buyers or complete initial …. Source article  : Venture-capital investments rise in 1st quarter, suggesting optimism that economy is improving.

In California, German leader reaffirms commitment to war in Afghanistan, stresses cooperation

In Calif., Merkel addresses Afghanistan, security

PALO ALTO, Calif. – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that she remains committed to the war in Afghanistan but recognizes many people in her country doubt whether the military mission is necessary or right.
Her remarks came after news that four German soldiers were killed in a rocket attack in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : In California, German leader reaffirms commitment to war in Afghanistan, stresses cooperation.

Obama outlines new US space exploration plan

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama has outlined his administration\’s new space exploration plan, vowing to increase NASA\’s budget by $6 billion over the next five years.

Speaking at the Kennedy Space Centre Thursday, where America\’s moon missions originated decades ago, Obama said he was “100 percent committed to the mission of NASA and its future\”.
… Read : Obama outlines new US space exploration plan.

Astronauts remove cargo container from space station after struggling with troublesome latch

Astronauts remove troublesome cargo container

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – After struggling for hours with a balky latching system, shuttle Discovery’s astronauts successfully removed a cargo carrier from the International Space Station on Thursday.
They used a giant robot arm to move the compartment close to Discovery’s payload bay. Because it was so late in the crew’s day, … Read more »»».

Obama predicts Americans will soar to Mars in his lifetime, vows support for space exploration

On to Mars: Obama declares, ‘I expect to see it’
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – President Barack Obama boldly predicted Thursday his new plans for space exploration would lead American astronauts on historic, almost fantastic journeys to an asteroid and then to Mars – and in his lifetime … Read more »»».

Brazil Amazon defenders win big victory to halt bidding for construction of massive dam

Amazon defenders win bid to stall huge dam project

SAO PAULO – Environmentalists aided by “Avatar” director James Cameron celebrated a big win Thursday after a judge suspended bidding on construction and operation of an Amazon dam that would be the planet’s third-largest.
The ruling also resulted in the suspension of the hydroelectric project’s environmental license. It …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Obama predicts Americans will soar to Mars in his lifetime, pledges support for NASA

Obama: Americans to Mars within his lifetime
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – President Barack Obama predicted Thursday his new space exploration plans would lead American astronauts to Mars and back in his lifetime, a bold forecast relying on rockets and propulsion still to be imagined and built.
“I expect to be … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Obama predicts Americans will soar to Mars in his lifetime, pledges support for NASA.

Obama pitches changes in NASA direction, pledges ‘100 percent’ support for space program

Obama says he’s committed to NASA and its future
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – President Barack Obama declared Thursday he was “100 percent committed to the mission of NASA and its future” as he outlined plans for federal spending to bring more private companies into space exploration following the soon-to-end space shuttle program.
“We want to … Original article on : Obama pitches changes in NASA direction, pledges ‘100 percent’ support for space program.

Obama pitches changes in direction of NASA, pledges ‘100 percent’ support for space program

Obama: Space program is not a luxury
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – President Barack Obama declared Thursday he was “100 percent committed to the mission of NASA and its future” as he outlined plans for federal spending to bring more private companies into space exploration following the soon-to-end space shuttle program.
“We want to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Pa. regulators suspend Cabot Oil & Gas drilling over contamination of wells in Pa.

Contamination suspends Cabot’s Pa. gas drilling

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Pennsylvania environmental regulators on Thursday banned an energy company from drilling in the state until it plugs three natural gas wells believed to have contaminated the drinking water supplies of 14 homes.
The Department of Environmental Protection said Houston-based Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. has failed to abide … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pa. regulators suspend Cabot Oil & Gas drilling over contamination of wells in Pa..

New iPhone app lets you peek into the depths of universe

WASHINGTON – With a new iPhone application, you can see pictures of a supernova exploding in Orion, a star moving through Cassiopeia, or a cloud of interstellar dust flaring up while being gobbled by a black hole.

Called Transient Events, the application …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : New iPhone app lets you peek into the depths of universe.

New discovery to help diabetics with slow-to-heal wounds

WASHINGTON – With a new discovery about wound-healing process, scientists could offer better treatments to diabetics and other patients who have wounds that take time to heal.

Loyola University Health System researchers found that certain immune system cells slow the wound-healing process.
Thus, … Read more »»».

New stem cell therapy to help women regrow breasts after cancer surgery

MELBOURNE – A new stem cell therapy developed by Melbourne scientists could help women regrow their breasts after cancer surgery.

Doctors at the Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery will start the trial for new technique called Neopec in coming months.
The new method uses a woman’s own regenerative capacity …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : New stem cell therapy to help women regrow breasts after cancer surgery.

Facebook ‘has healing power once harnessed by ancient Greek philosophers’

MELBOURNE – Facebook and Twitter have a self-healing power which was once harnessed by ancient Greek philosophers, according to a new study.

PhD student Theresa Sauter, from the Queensland University of Technology, is examining how social-networking … Original source on Gaea Times at : Facebook ‘has healing power once harnessed by ancient Greek philosophers’.

Marker indicating developmental potential of stem cells discovered

WASHINGTON – Chinese scientists claim to have found a way to determine which somatic cells, or differentiated body cells, that have been reprogrammed into a primordial, embryonic-like state are the most viable for therapeutic applications.

In a paper published online last week by the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Ecstasy could help ease trauma long term

LONDON – Ecstasy pills may offer treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), say experts.

According to clinical-trial results presented at a conference in San Jose, California, the effect of the party drug seems to continue for years after the initial treatment, reports Nature.
People can …. Source article  : Ecstasy could help ease trauma long term.

Simplified test for early breast cancer detection on the anvil

WASHINGTON – A library of synthetically produced antibodies that can detect and rapidly validate proteins secreted by breast cancer cells is being built by University of Arkansas researchers.

The researchers’ work will accelerate the process of developing a simple blood test for early detection of breast cancer.
“We want to implement a rapid … Read : Simplified test for early breast cancer detection on the anvil.

No relief from blazing heat in Uttar Pradesh expected

LUCKNOW – There will be no immediate relief from the blazing heat in Uttar Pradesh, the state Met department said Saturday.

Owing to dry hot winds, the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature would continue to remain 4-6 degrees Celsius above average in almost all parts of the state, it said.
Banda remained the hottest in …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : No relief from blazing heat in Uttar Pradesh expected.

Rats use whiskers like human fingers

SYDNEY – Rats use their whiskers much like humans use their fingertips to feel objects as both of them process these sensations in the same part of the brain and in the same way, a new study says.

The finding may shed new light on how many animals use their vital sense of touch to make …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Rats use whiskers like human fingers.

Women run marathons to keep weight down, men sign up for competition

LONDON – Men and women participate in marathons for very different reasons, a study suggests. hile it’s the thrill of competition that attracts many men to taking up marathon running, in case of women, it is for shedding pounds or improving mood.

To reach the conclusion, Elizabeth Loughren, of the University of … Read : Women run marathons to keep weight down, men sign up for competition.

Delhi to sizzle over the weekend

NEW DELHI – Delhiites continued to reel under the scorching heat with the maximum temperature likely to hover around 44 degrees Celsius Saturday, weather officials said.

The minimum temperature recorded Saturday morning was 26.5 degrees Celsius, a good six notches above the normal. The weatherman has forecast a further rise in temperature during the weekend. … Read : Delhi to sizzle over the weekend.

SW Wis. man finds rock scientists believe is part of meteor that lit up Midwestern skies

Wis. man finds rock believed to be meteor fragment

MILWAUKEE – Scientists say an apparent fragment from a meteor that lit up Midwestern skies this week has been recovered in southwestern Wisconsin.
The fragment weighs 0.3 pounds and is about the size of an unshelled peanut. The meteor had streaked across the sky about 10 p.m. Wednesday …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : SW Wis. man finds rock scientists believe is part of meteor that lit up Midwestern skies.

Cameron-backed Amazon dam delay overturned by Brazilian judge, allowing bidding to proceed

Cameron-backed Amazon dam delay nixed by judge

BRASILIA, Brazil – A judge on Friday overturned a decision that could have delayed construction of a huge Amazon dam opposed by environmentalists, Indians and the director of “Avatar.”
The judge in the capital of Brasilia reversed a decision to suspend contract bidding scheduled for next week and also overturned … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Cameron-backed Amazon dam delay overturned by Brazilian judge, allowing bidding to proceed.

It’s not easy being green, but Mo. legislation could make it cheaper for homeowners to try

Mo. homeowners could get help going green
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri homeowners could get help going green through a proposed financing program that would pay the upfront costs for energy efficiency improvements.

The program, called Property Assessed Clean Energy, would allow cities and counties to issue bonds so homeowners can make energy saving improvements to their …. Original source  : It’s not easy being green, but Mo. legislation could make it cheaper for homeowners to try.

Wisconsin Senate leader says no agreement among Democrats on sweeping clean energy bill

Senate leader says no agreement on clean energy

MADISON, Wis. – A massive bill laying out sweeping renewable energy goals for Wisconsin could be in serious trouble as the legislative session winds down.
Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, said Friday he doesn’t support the measure because he thinks it will raise utility rates. He said Senate …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Wisconsin Senate leader says no agreement among Democrats on sweeping clean energy bill.

Wyoming environmental agency proceeds with uranium permits despite EPA groundwater concerns

Wyo. OK’ing uranium permits despite EPA concerns

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality is proceeding with permits to allow uranium developers to inject wastewater underground despite federal regulators’ concerns.
The department recently issued a draft permit to allow Ur Energy Inc. to operate five underground injection wells at the company’s proposed Lost Creek uranium … Original article on : Wyoming environmental agency proceeds with uranium permits despite EPA groundwater concerns.

Arthritis hurts African Americans and Hispanics more than whites

Washington, April 16 (ANI): A new report has revealed that arthritis causes more problems for African Americans and Hispanics than for whites.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report finds that the prevalence of activity limitation, work limitation … Read more >>>.

Landing on an asteroid is sure to be risky; then again, the mission could save Earth

Obama’s asteroid goal: tougher, riskier than moon
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Landing a man on the moon was a towering achievement. Now the president has given NASA an even harder job, one with a certain Hollywood quality: sending astronauts to an asteroid, a giant speeding rock, just 15 years from now.
Space experts say such … Read more >>.

Now, iPhone app that helps autistic kids communicate

Sydney, April 16(ANI): An iPhone application has been found to be useful in the treatment of children with autism.

Lisa Domican created picture-based application called Grace app, to help her 10-year-old son Grace, who was unable to speak due to autism, communicate.
Grace found his voice for the … Read more >>>.

Multitasking splits the brain into two parts

London, Apr 16 (ANI): People who think they can juggle more than a few tasks at once with ease, here’s a research: “multi-tasking” skills are limited by the physical division of the brain into two hemispheres.

In a new study, boffins found that when individuals carry out two tasks simultaneously their brains divide each job up …. Read the original article  : Multitasking splits the brain into two parts.

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.

Just like humans, apes suffer from self-doubt too

LONDON – Just like humans, apes are sufficiently self-aware to doubt their own knowledge, says a new study.

As part of the research, Josep Call of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, put food in one of two opaque plastic pipes …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Rain threatens to delay shuttle Discovery’s return from space station after 2-week flight

Rain threatens to delay space shuttle’s return

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery and its crew may end up getting some extra time in orbit.
Rain at the Florida landing site is threatening to delay Discovery’s homecoming. Landing is scheduled for 8:48 a.m. Monday.
Long before dawn, Mission Control informed shuttle commander Alan Poindexter that the weather … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Rain threatens to delay shuttle Discovery’s return from space station after 2-week flight.

Molecular switch helps cell instantly recognise sex partner

TORONTO – A molecular switch, triggered by a signal, helps an organism instantly recognise a healthy and potential sex mate.

“This mating decision is controlled by a simple chemical switch that converts an incoming pheromone signal into a cellular response,” says study author Stephen Michnick, University of Montreal biochemistry professor.
“As pheromone signal increases, two enzymes …. Source article  : Molecular switch helps cell instantly recognise sex partner.

Iceland volcano ash unlikely to cool planet, says Australian climatologist

MELBOURNE – An Australian climatologist has said that the volcanic ash cloud that exploded from an Icelandic volcano is unlikely to have an impact on global temperatures.

The volcano, which is located under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, had erupted on April 15, producing a 10-kilometre high plume of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Iceland volcano ash unlikely to cool planet, says Australian climatologist.

Remains unearthed in Southwell ‘could be Roman temple’

LONDON – Archaeologists have unearthed what they say could be the remains of an unknown Roman temple in Nottinghamshire.

Walls, ditches and ornate stones were revealed after excavations on the Minster C of E School site in Southwell between September 2008 and …. Source article  : Remains unearthed in Southwell ‘could be Roman temple’.

Mich. woman among winners of $150,000 prize for efforts to protect environment from megafarms

Michigan farmer honored for guarding environment

DETROIT – Lynn Henning’s southern Michigan farm is within 10 miles of a dozen large livestock farms, and for years she’s gathered water samples and used aerial photography to help hold them accountable to environmental laws.
With the growth of factory farming over the past decade around the small, rural communities … Read more »»».

List of recipients of the 2010 Goldman Environmental Prize, an award for grass-roots activism

Recipients of the 2010 Goldman Environmental Prize

Here is a list of recipients of the 2010 Goldman Environmental Prize announced Monday by the Goldman Environmental Foundation in San Francisco. Each winner gets $150,000.
AFRICA: Thuli Brilliance Makama, of Swaziland. An environmental attorney, she won a three-year legal battle that reinforced the public’s right to participate in environmental …. Source  : List of recipients of the 2010 Goldman Environmental Prize, an award for grass-roots activism.

Worm study reveals how brain performs under stress

LONDON – Using a worm for their experiments, scientists discovered how one can perform complex tasks, even under stress-by activating latent neuronal circuits.

Roger Pocock, a newly arrived Group Leader at the research centre BRIC, University of Copenhagen, has claimed that …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mechanism for mate selection revealed

LONDON – Solving the mystery about the mechanism behind sexual mate selection, scientists at Universite de Montreal have discovered a molecular switch that becomes activated in response to a potential mate’s signal.

This means that an organism …. Original article  : Mechanism for mate selection revealed.

After scorching Sunday, thundershowers likely in Delhi

NEW DELHI – There may be some respite from the searing heat for Delhiites with the met office predicting a dust storm and thundershowers for Monday.

“The minimum temperature was recorded at 29.5 degrees Celsius. There will be a partly cloudy sky in the day and we also expect a dust storm and thundershowers later … Original source on Gaea Times at : After scorching Sunday, thundershowers likely in Delhi.

Soaring heat dries up ponds, waterfalls in Jharkhand

RANCHI – The soaring mercury and accompanying heat wave in Jharkhand is drying up the water sources, including waterfalls, in many parts of the state. Not only humans but animals too are withering under the sun’s intense heat.

The mercury touched 47 degrees Celsius in Deoghar and Palamau districts, while in Bokaro, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur and in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Soaring heat dries up ponds, waterfalls in Jharkhand.

Behavioural rewards may mimic effects of medication for ADHD

WASHINGTON – With medication and behavioural interventions, children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could better maintain attention and self-control by normalising activity in the same brain systems, according to a study.
esearchers from the University of Nottingham have shown that medication …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Dust, vanishing greenery threaten Taj

AGRA – The Taj Mahal and other heritage monuments in and around Agra are facing a major threat from dust-laden air. Unabated construction is making the city’s green cover disappear and drying up water bodies, adding to the dust levels.

“The collision (of the dust with the marble) results in micro-scratches that retain moisture which attracts …. Source article  : Dust, vanishing greenery threaten Taj.

Pristine Delaware River watershed and water for 15M people are at issue in gas drilling clash

Gas drilling debate rages in Del. River watershed

PLEASANT MOUNT, Pa. – A few hundred yards from Louis Matoushek’s farmhouse is a well that could soon produce not only natural gas, but a drilling boom in the wild and scenic Delaware River watershed.
Energy companies have leased thousands of acres of land in Pennsylvania’s unspoiled northeastern tip, [..] Read the original article: here.

Whales and sharks and lobsters, oh my. But in the oceans little things can be giant, too

Counting sea life, sometimes little things are big

WASHINGTON – If the Census Bureau thinks it has its hands full counting Americans, imagine what scientists are up against in trying to tally every living thing in the ocean, including microbes so small they seem invisible.
And just try to get them to mail back a form.
The worldwide …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Eco-villas can save 70 percent power in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, April 18 (IANS/WAM) Buildings constructed with environment-friendly Precast Aerated Concrete (PAC) can save up to 70 percent of electricity consumption in Abu Dhabi, a construction company has claimed.

PAC has more than ten times thermal insulation than conventional concrete of equal thickness. With the use of PAC technology, electricity consumption can be reduced by … Original article on : Eco-villas can save 70 percent power in Abu Dhabi.

Delhi suffers another hot day

NEW DELHI – Delhi suffered another hot day Sunday with the maximum temperature at 43.0 degrees Celsius, the weatherman said.

“The maximum temperature today (Sunday) is 43.0 degrees Celsius which is 0.7 degrees lower than yesterday’s (Saturday) maximum temperature,” an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official told IANS.
According to IMD officials, heat wave conditions are expected …. Read the original article  : Delhi suffers another hot day.

NASA tells astronauts to expect rain delays for Monday morning’s landing back on Earth

NASA to astronauts: Rain delays likely for return
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA warned space shuttle Discovery’s astronauts Sunday to expect rain delays as they wrapped up their two-week mission and got ready to come home.
Discovery and its crew of seven were scheduled to land Monday morning at NASA’s Florida spaceport.
Shuttle …. Read the original article  : NASA tells astronauts to expect rain delays for Monday morning’s landing back on Earth.

Cobra hood mechanism discovered

LONDON – The mechanism behind the menacing ‘hood flare’ which cobras use as a defensive display has been discovered by scientists.

By measuring the electrical activity from the snakes’ muscles, researchers discovered the precise group of muscles cobras use to raise their …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Cobra hood mechanism discovered.

GSLV mission: Scientists say cryogenic engine had ignited

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – A team of Indian space scientists has established that the indigenously built cryogenic engine had ignited for a second during the failed GSLV mission Thursday.

“This took place for a second and then the fuel supply to power turbo got blocked. The (Indian Space Research Organisation) chairman and we knew this on Thursday but …. Original article  : GSLV mission: Scientists say cryogenic engine had ignited.

New technology to revolutionize internet ads

TORONTO – Placing internet ads on websites will be easier and more profitable in the future, thanks to new technology that allows ads to be resized to fit any available website space.

Internet ads are currently only available in three or four specific sizes, meaning websites must be designed around the ads.
The size restrictions …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : New technology to revolutionize internet ads.

Bees see world five times faster than humans

LONDON – Bees see the world almost five times faster than humans, says new research.

This gives bumblebees the fastest colour vision of all animals, allowing them to easily navigate shady bushes to find food, says Peter Skorupski and Lars Chittka from the University of London.
The ability to see at high speed is …. Source  : Bees see world five times faster than humans.

Act naughty or nice for more willpower, endurance

WASHINGTON – Moral actions may increase our capacity for willpower and physical endurance, says a new study.

Participants who did good deeds — or even just imagined themselves helping others — were better able to perform a subsequent task of physical endurance. However, the research shows a similar or even greater boost in physical strength following …. Source  : Act naughty or nice for more willpower, endurance.

Breast milk may help beat cancer

Washington, Apr 20 (ANI): Researchers at Lund University and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden claim that a substance found in breast milk can kill cancer cells.

Although the special substance, known as HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumour cells), was discovered in breast milk several years ago, it is only now that it has been … Read more : Breast milk may help beat cancer.

Paleontologists discover new bony-skulled dinosaur species

Washington, Apr 20 (ANI): A new species of dinosaur with a softball-sized lump of solid bone on top of its skull has been discovered by paleontologists.

The paper has been published in the April issue of the journal Cretaceous Research.
The species was a plant-eating dinosaur about as big as a medium-sized dog that lived 70 to … Read more >>>.

How volcanic ash plumes end up in the jet stream

WASHINGTON – The area in the atmosphere that pilots prefer to fly in, known as jet stream, is most likely to be impacted by plumes from volcanic ash, according to an expert.

Marcus I. Bursik, professor of geology in the UB College of Arts and Sciences, explained the reason behind the problem.
He said: “That’s a problem …. Original article  : How volcanic ash plumes end up in the jet stream.

Obesity gene can shrink the brain

WASHINGTON – The obesity gene, which is carried by over half of all people in the US with European ancestry, is also associated with a loss of brain tissue, say researchers.

The discovery by senior study author Paul Thompson, a UCLA professor of neurology, and his team puts more than a third of the U.S. population …. Source  : Obesity gene can shrink the brain.

Ancient hominids developed humanlike grip much before toolmaking practice

WASHINGTON – A tiny fossil thumb bone has indicated that hominids had a humanlike grip at least 6 million years ago, say researchers.

Sergio Almecija of the Autonomous University of Barcelona has said that earliest hominids apparently evolved an upright gait and a relatively sophisticated ability to manipulate objects much before they figured out how to …. Original article  : Ancient hominids developed humanlike grip much before toolmaking practice.

Two key brain regions work in tandem like integrated network

WASHINGTON – Two important areas in the central nervous system- basal ganglia and the cerebellum-are linked together to form an integrated functional network, say researchers at the University of Pittsburgh.

Each subcortical structure houses a unique learning mechanism.
It is believed that the basal ganglia circuits are involved in reward-driven learning and the gradual formation of habits.
On … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Two key brain regions work in tandem like integrated network.

Chicken antibodies may help prevent H5N1 pandemic

WASHINGTON – A new research has shown that antibodies in common eggs laid by hens vaccinated against the H5N1 virus can potentially prevent a possible H5N1 pandemic.

According to researchers, their finding raises the possibility that the same principle could be applied to the current H1N1 influenza pandemic.
The research team, led by Dr. Huan Huu Nguyen …. Original source  : Chicken antibodies may help prevent H5N1 pandemic.

Beetles use ‘Avatar’ technology to locate each other

WASHINGTON – Jewel scarab beetles use the same technology that created the 3D effects for the blockbuster movie Avatar to find each other-and hide from their enemies, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Texas, the jewel scarab species Chrysina gloriosa can distinguish between circularly polarized and unpolarized light.
The ability could provide the …. Original source  : Beetles use ‘Avatar’ technology to locate each other.

Indoor tanning ‘can be addictive’

WASHINGTON – Indoor tanning may be an addictive behaviour, and people who are hooked on tanning beds may also be prone to anxiety and substance abuse problems, says a new study.

“Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public about the health risks associated with natural and non-solar UV radiation, recreational tanning continues to increase among young …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Indoor tanning ‘can be addictive’.

Space shuttle Discovery aims for Florida landing, re-entry will cut across nation’s Midwest

Space shuttle Discovery aims for Florida landing

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery and its astronauts looked to end their 15-day, 6 million-mile journey Tuesday with an early morning re-entry over the Midwest, after a one-day weather delay.
This time, the weather looked as though it would cooperate.
Discovery and its crew of seven were scheduled to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Space shuttle Discovery aims for Florida landing, re-entry will cut across nation’s Midwest.

Simple blood test identifies people at heart attack risk

WASHINGTON – Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University claim that Gamma-prime fibrinogen test can identify people who are at risk for a heart attack, including thousands who don’t have high cholesterol.

The new simple blood test measures gamma-prime fibrinogen, a component of … Read more : Simple blood test identifies people at heart attack risk.

Diabetes drug could help prevent lung cancer

WASHINGTON – Metformin, a mainstay of treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes, is believed to be useful in preventing lung cancer.

However, researchers are waiting for its confirmation in clinical trials.
Apart from reducing levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and circulating insulin, which is important in patients …. Source article  : Diabetes drug could help prevent lung cancer.

Infliximab treatment effective for cystic fibrosis and Crohn’s disease

WASHINGTON – Researchers have been successful in treating cystic fibrosis and Crohn’s disease with infliximab.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common autosomal recessive disease that inflicts Caucasian children.
CF involves an anomalous function of the exocrine glands, caused by a mutation of a gene (cystic fibrosis …. Read the original article  : Infliximab treatment effective for cystic fibrosis and Crohn’s disease.

Rain fails to bring down mercury in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Traces of rainfall in some parts of Delhi Monday evening failed to bring down the mercury level. The minimum temperature recorded early Tuesday was eight degrees above average for this time of the year.

“The rain has hardly affected the temperature. In any case it was just in traces. The minimum temperature this …. Source article  : Rain fails to bring down mercury in Delhi.

Invasive weeds threatening India’s biodiversity

BHUBANESWAR – Toxic weeds, which came along with wheat that India imported over the last few years, now pose a serious threat to its crops, people and livestock, says a scientist associated with the National Invasive Weeds Surveillance Programme.

“A large amount of toxic weeds landed in our country during wheat import in 2006-07. They were … Read more : Invasive weeds threatening India’s biodiversity.

Judge suspends bidding on Amazon dam project opposed by environmentalists, ‘Avatar’ director

Bidding on huge Amazon dam project halted again

BRASILIA, Brazil – A Brazilian judge on Monday suspended for a second time bidding on a massive hydroelectric dam project opposed by environmentalists, Indians and “Avatar” director James Cameron.
The ruling can be appealed by Brazil’s government and a spokesman for the National Electrical Energy Association said the auction … Original source on Gaea Times at : Judge suspends bidding on Amazon dam project opposed by environmentalists, ‘Avatar’ director.

NM to provide $1.6M in rebates for residents who buy energy-efficient appliances

NM offers rebates for energy-efficient appliances

SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexicans who buy certain energy-efficient appliances can qualify for $200 rebates starting Thursday.
Rebates will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for New Mexico residents who buy Energy Star qualified clothes washers, refrigerators or natural gas furnaces from a retailer in the state.
Gov. Bill Richardson …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : NM to provide $1.6M in rebates for residents who buy energy-efficient appliances.

States asked to phase out tourism from tiger habitats

NEW DELHI – The central government has sent advisories to states asking them to phase out tourism in and around tiger reserves, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday.

“Advisories have been issued to tiger range states for regulating tourist visitation in tiger reserves. Further, guidelines have also been issued to phase out tourism activities from the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : States asked to phase out tourism from tiger habitats.

Global temperatures make March the warmest on record

WASHINGTON – The world’s combined land and ocean surface temperature made last month the warmest March on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Indian capital New Delhi also had its second warmest March since records began in 1901, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Taken separately, average ocean temperatures were the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Global temperatures make March the warmest on record.

Faster smart sensors in the offing

WASHINGTON – An Indian researcher with the North Carolina State University (NCSU) has developed new “smart sensors” to allow for faster response times as in military and security situations a split second can make the difference between life and death.

Equally important is new research from NCSU that will help ensure those sensors will operate under … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Faster smart sensors in the offing.

30-million-years-old worms munched on whale bones

WASHINGTON – Palaeontologists have discovered the first fossil boreholes of the worm Osedax that consumes whale bones on the deep-sea floor.

The international team of scientists led by the paleontologist Steffen Kiel at the University of Kiel, Germany, concludes that ‘boneworms’ are at least 30 million years …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Galaxy merger dilemma solved

WASHINGTON – A long-standing dilemma about the mass of infrared bright merging galaxies has finally been solved by scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).

Dr. Barry Rothberg along with Dr. Jacqueline Fischer used new data from the 8-meter Gemini-South telescope in Chile along with earlier results from … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Galaxy merger dilemma solved.

Coming soon: System that warns driver of an impending accident

WASHINGTON – Scientists are working to develop a system that can warn a driver of an impending accident.

With just a half second’s notice, a driver can swerve to avoid a fatal accident or slam on the brakes to miss hitting a child running after a ball. However first, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Coming soon: System that warns driver of an impending accident.

Source of ‘noise’ in HIV identified

WASHINGTON – Scientists in the U.S. have discovered a molecular mechanism that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seems to utilize for generating random fluctuations called ‘noise’ in its gene expression.

The research has identified the likely source of HIV gene-expression …. Original source  : Source of ‘noise’ in HIV identified.

Decreased breast density over time means decreased breast cancer risk

WASHINGTON – A decrease in breast density, depicted via the proportion of fibroglandular tissue on the mammogram image, over time indicates a decreased risk of breast cancer, according to a study.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic campus in Minnesota found a 28 percent reduced …. Original source  : Decreased breast density over time means decreased breast cancer risk.

Scientists stumble on fossils of whale bone-eating worms

LONDON – Scientists have stumbled on the first fossil boreholes of the worm Osedax that consumes whale bones on the ocean floor.

A team led by Steffen Kiel of Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel in Germany has concluded that “boneworms” are at least 30 million-years-old.
Six years ago Osedax was first described based on specimens …. Source  : Scientists stumble on fossils of whale bone-eating worms.

Fresh snow, rains in Himachal bring cheer

SHIMLA – Fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh have ended weeks of dry spell, pushing mercury down by several notches across the hill state.

“The high hills in Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Kullu districts saw mild spell of snow early this (Wednesday) morning. These districts have been experiencing snowfall for the …. Source article  : Fresh snow, rains in Himachal bring cheer.

Incessant rains raise water levels in Kashmir rivers

SRINAGAR – Incessant rainfall for the past three nights has raised the water levels in all major rivers and lakes in the Kashmir Valley while landslides and fresh snowfall have blocked the Srinagar-Leh highway Wednesday.

The water level in Jhelum, running through the middle of the summer capital Srinagar, rose due to heavy nightlong rains in …. Source article  : Incessant rains raise water levels in Kashmir rivers.

Texas researcher having trouble finding effective birth control for 400-pound feral hogs

No success yet with birth control for feral hogs

LUBBOCK, Texas – There’s a saying that when a feral hog has six piglets, only eight are expected to survive.
That’s no joke in Texas, however, where the 400-pound beasts do an estimated $50 million in damage to crops and property each year. Texas has half the nation’s … Read : Texas researcher having trouble finding effective birth control for 400-pound feral hogs.

Facebook’s Lite site closed down just after seven months

LONDON – Social networking site Facebook has shut down its Lite site after running for just seven months.

Facebook posted a note on its own fan page thanking those who used Lite, which had been aimed at users with slow or poor Internet connections, and …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Facebook’s Lite site closed down just after seven months.

Crows are innovative problem solvers

LONDON – Kiwi scientists have found that crows may be more innovative than was previously thought.

In the study, researchers from New Zealand’s University of Auckland found that the birds were able to use three tools in succession to reach some food.
For … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Crows are innovative problem solvers.

Brain training games ‘don’t improve IQ’

WASHINGTON – People who use brain-training software to boost their mental skills are likely to be disappointed, for a new study has shown that computerized cognitive training does not make people smarter.

Adrian … Read more >>.

How specific odours alter an organism’s lifespan

WASHINGTON – Specific odours that represent food or indicate danger trigger a small number of highly specialized sensory neurons that can alter an animal’s lifespan and physiological profile, according to researchers at the University of Michigan, University …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : How specific odours alter an organism’s lifespan.

Neanderthals might have interbred with modern humans

LONDON – Archaic humans such as Neanderthals interbred with the ancestors of modern humans twice, leaving their genes within the DNA of people today, according to a genetic analysis of nearly 2,000 people from around the world.

The discovery …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Babe in the woods? Rare _ and possibly pregnant _ rhino photographed in Borneo forest

Rare Borneo rhino maybe has baby
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysian conservationists caught on film a Sumatran rhinoceros thought to be pregnant, raising hopes that the critically endangered species on Borneo island was breeding in the wild, an official said Wednesday.

A remotely controlled camera set up in a forest in Sabah state on Borneo captured a …. Original article  : Babe in the woods? Rare _ and possibly pregnant _ rhino photographed in Borneo forest.

Uruguay, Argentina agree to cooperate on river after UN court backs Uruguayan pulp mill

Uruguay, Argentina agree to cooperate on river

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentina and Uruguay both professed neighborly affection, if not brotherly love, after a U.N. court delivered a long-awaited ruling that rejects Argentina’s claim that an Uruguayan pulp mill pollutes their shared river.
Both sides said Tuesday’s decision by the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands … Original article on : Uruguay, Argentina agree to cooperate on river after UN court backs Uruguayan pulp mill.

Declare Earth Day meat-free day, PETA tells PM

BHUBANESWAR – Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to declare Earth Day, on Thursday, a meat-free day to reduce India’s carbon footprint.

The organisation has written to the prime minister urging him to declare the day meat-free not not only this year but for every …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

On Earth day, city of Taj spreads threat-awareness

AGRA – Hundreds of students holding placards and banners marched through the streets in the trans-Yamuna area here Thursday to spread awareness about the threats posed to planet earth by “man’s uncontrollable greed” and rampant exploitation of resources.

On the occasion of Earth Day, the students, led by environmental activist Ram Avtar Sharma, raised slogans to … Read : On Earth day, city of Taj spreads threat-awareness.

Vitiligo sufferers ‘may have natural skin cancer protection’

LONDON – People suffering from skin disease vitiligo may have natural resistance against skin cancer, according to a new study.

Vitiligo is a condition that leads to pale skin patches that lack pigment and burn easily – leading to an assumed increased risk of skin … Read more : Vitiligo sufferers ‘may have natural skin cancer protection’.

Holding babies helps male monkeys make friends

WASHINGTON – Male Barbary macaques have a better chance of bonding with each other when at least one is hauling around an infant, a new research has found.

The study is among the first to show that infants likely serve as social tools for at least some primates.
Like a human …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Holding babies helps male monkeys make friends.

After rains, Kashmir Valley can expect sunshine

SRINAGAR – After being lashed by incessant rains for some days, raising water levels in rivers and lakes, the Kashmir Valley can expect pleasant sunshine in the coming days, the weatherman said Thursday.

“Weather will continue to improve from today (Thursday). There would be no rain or snow in the plains during the next two …. Source article  : After rains, Kashmir Valley can expect sunshine.

Delhi celebrates Earth Day in varied hues (April 22 is Earth Day)

NEW DELHI – From taking a pledge to save water to taking part in a fun-filled event of creating something out of waste, the Indian capital Thursday celebrated Earth Day with great fervour.

Keeping in tune with the green games the upcoming Commonwealth Games promises to be, the Organising Committee put together a ‘Waste to Craft’ … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Delhi celebrates Earth Day in varied hues (April 22 is Earth Day).

Body lice originated around 190,000 years ago

WASHINGTON – In a genetic analysis of head and body lice, researchers have concluded that body lice first came on the scene approximately 190,000 years ago.

This indicated that people might have begun making and wearing clothing around this period itself.
The new estimate, sheds light on a poorly understood …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Spitzer telescope finds distant planet that lacks methane

WASHINGTON – Using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists have made a rather strange finding about a distant planet- it lacks methane, an ingredient common to many of the planets in our solar system.

The discovery brings astronomers one-step closer to probing the atmospheres of distant …. Original source  : Spitzer telescope finds distant planet that lacks methane.

Why statins work for some people, but not for all

WASHINGTON – Scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center have found why statins- popular drugs that lower cholesterol and appear to protect against colorectal cancer development- work for some people, but not for all.

Based on their study, the researchers said that … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Why statins work for some people, but not for all.

Suicidal parents make for suicidal kids

WASHINGTON – Children who lose a parent to suicide are more likely to die the same way, a new study has found.

The study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center also showed that losing a parent to suicide increases kids’ risk of … Read more »».

Martial arts training beneficial for elderly people

WASHINGTON – Scientists have suggested that training older people in martial arts could cut their chances of suffering broken bones or fractures when they fall.

Teaching the elderly how to fall properly to minimize damage could yield significant benefits, they believe.
The training could be particularly useful to …. Source article  : Martial arts training beneficial for elderly people.

Age dramatically delays taste buds’ recovery

WASHINGTON – Medical College of Georgia researchers have discovered that age dramatically delays the time it takes to recover the sense of taste following a significant nerve injury.

In the study, Dr. Lynnette McCluskey, neuroscientist in the MCG Schools of Graduate Studies and …. Read the original article  : Age dramatically delays taste buds’ recovery.

New breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene identified

LONDON – Scientists have identified a new gene that increases risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

The new discovery was made by the research group of Prof. Alfons Meindl (Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technische Universitaet Muenchen), in collaboration with other groups from Germany, the U.K., and the …. Source article  : New breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene identified.

All Haryana water bodies to be full this summer

CHANDIGARH – The Haryana government has directed irrigation officials to fill up ponds and other water bodies in the state on a priority basis to avoid problems in the sweltering summer.

“We have directed the officials concerned that water bodies in the state should be filled up on a priority basis. Regular monitoring will be done …. Read the original article  : All Haryana water bodies to be full this summer.

Finally a law to tackle mounting e-waste in India

NEW DELHI – India is finally set to have a law which can tackle head on the mounting problem of electronic waste dumped in the country.

“The provisions of the new law could be such as could effectively monitor the trade in electronic waste and reduce illegal imports,” Ravi Agarwal, director of Toxics Link, said in …. Original source  : Finally a law to tackle mounting e-waste in India.

Japan dolphin-hunt film director says military base ban, harassment can’t silence message

‘Cove’ director defiant of base ban, harassment

TOKYO – The director of “The Cove” said Thursday that a decision by a U.S. military base in Japan to ban the Oscar-winning film on dolphin killings and protests at the local distributor’s office won’t silence the film’s message on saving dolphins.
“The Cove” documents the bloody bludgeoning of dolphins …. Read the original article  : here.

Fish oil supplements ‘don’t boost brain power’

WASHINGTON – Fish oil supplements offer no benefits for cognitive function in older people, according to a new study.

The OPAL study investigated the effects of taking omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements over a two-year period on the cognitive function of participants aged … Read more : Fish oil supplements ‘don’t boost brain power’.

Sperm gang up with kin to gain Lance Armstrong-style speed in pursuit of egg

WASHINGTON – In mouse, sperm tend to gang up with their closest kin to get an edge in the race for the egg, according to a new study.

Once inside a female, sperm cells can discern and-via structures on their heads-literally hook up with … Read more »»».

Google disregarding privacy, say officials from 10 nations

LONDON – Google has violated the principle that “individuals should be able to control the use of their personal information”, say officials from 10 major nations. They have demanded to know how the internet giant will meet concerns about its use of public data in future.

Britain’s Information Commissioner Christopher Graham along with officials from Canada, … Read more >>.

Dust haze engulfs capital, temperature soars

NEW DELHI – The national capital Thursday woke up to a dust haze and an uncomfortably high minimum temperature that settled a good five notches above average for this time of the year.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature recorded early Thursday was 27.4 degrees Celsius. Though lower than Wednesday’s minimum of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Dust haze engulfs capital, temperature soars.

Lyrid Meteor Shower 2010: Details

San Francisco (GaeaTimes.com) The Lyrid Meteor Shower 2010 has started and today April 22 is going to be the peak date of that shower. The Lyrid Meteor Shower started from about April 16 and is expected to last till April 25th. But near the beginning and the end dates only a few meteors can …. Source article  : Lyrid Meteor Shower 2010: Details.

Ground-breaking inflight health monitor on the anvil

MELBOURNE – Scientists are developing a system by which passengers will be able to monitor their risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), by using a new do-it-yourself test.

According to the research, the new system will assess travellers’ risk by using just a drop of blood, and it will be especially …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ground-breaking inflight health monitor on the anvil.

700 years of Asian monsoons mapped via tree rings

LONDON – By analysing tree-ring data from more than 300 sites in Asia, researchers could piece together a year-by-year history of the region’s monsoon rains as far back as 1300 AD.

The new database, called the Monsoon Asia Drought Atlas, is important because … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 700 years of Asian monsoons mapped via tree rings.

Bangladesh’s landmass increased due to sedimentation in rivers

DHAKA – Bangladesh’s landmass has increased in recent years, thanks to sedimentation in its southern rivers, a study has revealed.

The study shows that the country has actually grown in landmass equal to five times the size of Dhaka city. The new land has emerged in the Meghna estuary.
The 8.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Assam in … Read more >>>.

World’s tiniest, lightest microscope designed

WASHINGTON – A miniature lensless microscope, the world’s smallest and lightest – weighing only 46 grams – was created by an engineer for telemedicine applications.

The microscope builds on imaging technology known as LUCAS (Lensless Ultra-wide-field Cell monitoring Array platform based on Shadow imaging), which was developed by Aydogan Ozcan, assistant professor of electrical engineering at … Read more >>.

Antidepressants, birth control pills blamed for low libido in women

NEW YORK – Many young women are reporting that they have a low sexual desire, with a new research blaming antidepressants and birth control pills for the problem.

Many young women have distress piled on top of the guilt about their lagging … Read more : Antidepressants, birth control pills blamed for low libido in women.

Task force on elephants to meet April 30

THRISSUR – A task force formed to protect elephants and their habitats across the country is to meet here April 30, an official said.

The task force of Project Elephant, a government scheme, was formed in February and the meeting in Kochi would be its first sitting. Project Elephant, which is being implemented in 13 states, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Task force on elephants to meet April 30.

Iran’s President Ahmadinejad says war games in the Persian Gulf are routine

Iran’s President Ahmadinejad: war games ordinary
HARARE, Zimbabwe – Iranian war games being staged at a time of heightened tension with the U.S. are routine, the Iranian president told reporters during a state visit to Zimbabwe.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was speaking at a news conference late Thursday, hours after his elite Revolutionary Guard began …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Iran’s President Ahmadinejad says war games in the Persian Gulf are routine.

Study to examine mobile phone cancer risk

LONDON – A study on thousands of people is to be carried out over the course of 20 or 30 years to determine if there is an increased risk of developing brain tumours and other medical disorders with long-term use of mobile phones.

The multi-million-pound Cohort Study on …. Read the original article  : here.

Now, microfluidic integrated circuit to enable home diagnostic tests

LONDON – In a bid to simplify lab-on-a-chip devices for quicker, cheaper and more portable medical tests, University of Michigan researchers have created microfluidic integrated circuits.

Just as electronic circuits intelligently route the flow of electricity on computer chips without external controls, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Specific gene regulates intelligence in patients with Williams Syndrome

WASHINGTON – The brain gene STX1A plays a significant role in the level of intelligence displayed by patients with Williams Syndrome (WS), a team led by a University of Utah (U of U) USTAR researcher has found.

The study …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Specific gene regulates intelligence in patients with Williams Syndrome.

Exercise good for men’s sexual health

MELBOURNE – Exercise is not only good for a man’s heart, but his sexual health as well, says an Australian study.

While other studies have shown links between erectile dysfunction and depression, this study shows for the first time links with other male reproductive health disorders.
The new study shows strong [..] Read the original article: here.

Dreaming is the brain’s way of learning

WASHINGTON – A new research has offered more evidence for some long-held notions that sleep and dreams boost learning.

According to researchers of the study, people who take a nap and dream about a task they’ve just learned perform it better upon waking than either …. Read the original article  : Dreaming is the brain’s way of learning.

Once a leader in manufacturing, the Motor City looks to urban farming to provide jobs, food

Motor City may provide model for urban agriculture

DETROIT – Detroit, which revolutionized manufacturing with its auto assembly lines, could once again be a model for the world as residents transform vacant, often-blighted land into a source of fresh food.
With growing interest in locally raised food, cities including New York, Los Angeles and Seattle are looking …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Once a leader in manufacturing, the Motor City looks to urban farming to provide jobs, food.

Brains, worms and chips have a lot in common

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered striking similarities between the human brain, worm’s nervous system and a chip.

“Brains are often compared to computers, but apart from the trivial fact that both process information using a complex pattern of connections in a physical space, it has been unclear whether this is more than just a metaphor,” said … Original article on : Brains, worms and chips have a lot in common.

Wisconsin has special affection for sturgeon, helping them thrive despite population decline

Endangered sturgeon fish flourishing in Wisconsin

SHAWANO, Wis. – It’s been a tough fight for the whisker-snouted sturgeon.
The fish survived whatever killed the dinosaurs millions of years ago and has struggled against the destruction of its habitat as well as overfishing. Now there’s a small pocket of the sturgeon in Wisconsin that has managed to make … Read : Wisconsin has special affection for sturgeon, helping them thrive despite population decline.

Chinese auto maker Chery signs football star Messi as international ambassador in global push

Chinese auto maker Chery signs Messi
BEIJING – China’s biggest domestic auto brand signaled its ambition Friday to become a global player by signing Argentine football star Lionel Messi as an international ambassador to promote its brands.

Chery Automobile Co. made the announcement at the Beijing auto show, where it plans to show 29 vehicles including four … Read more >>>.

Key step for regulating embryonic development discovered

WASHINGTON – Researchers have identified a mechanism that turns developmental genes off and on as an embryo matures.

Dr. Edward T.H. Yeh at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center could make the above discovery after he deleted a gene in … Read more »»».

Deceived Russian real-estate investors set up social network site

Moscow, April 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A group of Russians deceived by real estate developers have created a social-networking site in an attempt to bring together some of what they say are thousands of defrauded investors.

The Odnodolshiki.ru website – whose name mirrors the popular Russian Facebook equivalent Odnoklassniki.ru – says there are some 500,000 people in …. Source article  : Deceived Russian real-estate investors set up social network site.

Elephant calf dies of heat stroke in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – With the mercury sizzling at more than 45 degrees Celsius in the state, a baby elephant died of heat stroke in Orissa’s Balasore district, an official said Friday.

The elephant calf was found dead inside the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Balasore district, about 210 km from here. After a post-mortem examination it was found …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Elephant calf dies of heat stroke in Orissa.

Chinese auto maker Chery says signs football star Messi as international ambassador

Chinese auto maker Chery says signs Messi
BEIJING – China’s biggest domestic auto brand signaled its ambition Friday to become a global player by signing Argentine football star Lionel Messi as an international ambassador to promote its brands.

Chery Automobile Co. made the announcement at the Beijing auto show, where it plans to show 29 vehicles including …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Chinese auto maker Chery says signs football star Messi as international ambassador.

Worms may harbour human limb regeneration secrets

WASHINGTON – Regeneration of old or damaged human organs and tissues may soon be a reality, as scientists have discovered the gene that enables an extraordinary worm to regenerate its own body parts after amputation.

The team of researchers, led …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Extremely preterm kids 3 times as likely to have psychiatric disorder

WASHINGTON – With significant advances in the neonatal intensive care, there has been a 3 times increase in the survival rates of children who are born at less than 26 weeks of gestation-”extremely preterm children”, reveals a study.

However, improved survival rates have been accompanied by … Original source on Gaea Times at : Extremely preterm kids 3 times as likely to have psychiatric disorder.

Decaf coffee, nicotine-free tobacco may offer Parkinson’s protection

LONDON – In a new study, researchers found that coffee and cigarettes could protect the brain of flies with a form of Parkinson’s disease, but the benefit was not because of caffeine and nicotine.

Leo Pallanck, a neuroscientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, whose …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Decaf coffee, nicotine-free tobacco may offer Parkinson’s protection.

Autism effects may be reversible

WASHINGTON – In a new study, researchers have highlighted a mechanism for significant disruption of gene activity in autism that may be reversible.

The research by scientists at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health …. Read the original article  : here.

Hubble celebrates 20 years of launch

WASHINGTON – The starry-eyed Hubble Space Telescope is today celebrating 20 years of awe and discovery – after it was launched on April 24, 1990.

Exactly two decades ago the Space Shuttle and crew of STS-31 were launched to deploy the NASA/ESA’s now famous space …. Source article  : Hubble celebrates 20 years of launch.

How we can sense temperatures

LONDON – A group of experts has shed new light on the molecular mechanism that enables us to sense temperature, such as the heat from a sizzling stove.

The finding by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) could …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : How we can sense temperatures.

Highest yielding salt tolerant wheat developed

WASHINGTON – A group of researchers has developed a salt tolerant durum wheat that yields 25 per cent more grain than the parent variety in saline soils.

The breakthrough will enable wheat farmers to achieve higher yields of durum wheat in saline soils. Although durum wheat is less …. Read the original article  : Highest yielding salt tolerant wheat developed.

Boffins develop computational method to uncover gene regulation

WASHINGTON – A new computational model to uncover gene regulation, the key to how our body develops – and how it can go wrong, has been developed by researchers.

The researchers, from The University of Manchester (UK), Aalto University (Finland) and the European …. Original source  : Boffins develop computational method to uncover gene regulation.

Why is Facebook so popular?

WASHINGTON – The popularity of social networking websites like Facebook is based on the phenomenon of social searching where people are keen to get information about a person, group or event.

Facebook.com boasts of more than 350 million users worldwide. With so many people interacting with one another online daily, a Missouri University researcher was interested [..] Read the original article: here.

New method identifies musical notes at any venue

WASHINGTON – University of Jaen (UJA) engineers have developed a new method that detects and identifies the musical notes in an audio file and generate sheet music.he system identifies the notes even when the type of instrument, musician, type of music or recording studio conditions vary.

“We propose … Read : New method identifies musical notes at any venue.

Snowfall over Himalayas may spur drought in India

WASHINGTON – Scientists have helped to explain why heavy snowfall over the Himalayas in winter and spring can lead to drought over India, especially in the early part of the summer monsoon.

As far back as the 1880s scientists have known that increased snow over the Himalayas can be linked with weaker summer monsoon rains …. Source  : Snowfall over Himalayas may spur drought in India.

Respite for Delhi as mercury dips

NEW DELHI – The national capital saw a slight dip in mercury levels Saturday with the minimum temperature at 23.7 degrees Celsius. Weather officials said Delhiites could look forward to a relatively pleasant weekend.

The minimum temperature is two degrees above average and the maximum will be around 38 degrees Celsius, an official of the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Respite for Delhi as mercury dips.

Federal judge accepts chemical company’s $103M settlement with EPA for Kalamazoo River cleanup

Judge OKs $103M Kalamazoo River cleanup settlement

A federal bankruptcy judge approved a deal with the government on Friday that requires Lyondell Chemical Co. to pay $103 million toward the cleanup of a polluted 80-mile section of the Kalamazoo River in southwest Michigan. That’s far less than officials had sought.
The settlement is part of a broader …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Federal judge accepts chemical company’s $103M settlement with EPA for Kalamazoo River cleanup.

Natural gas drilling in NYC, Syracuse watersheds now unlikely as NY regulators toughen rules

NY toughens rules on gas drilling in watersheds

ALBANY, N.Y. – New regulations announced Friday for natural gas drilling in the New York City and Syracuse watersheds will create a bureaucratic hurdle that effectively prevents drilling there, defusing concerns about possible drinking-water contamination.
Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis said the watersheds will be removed from drilling regulations … Read more : Natural gas drilling in NYC, Syracuse watersheds now unlikely as NY regulators toughen rules.

Companies getting greener, and telling about it

Summary Box: Businesses seeing green
GOING FOR THE GREEN: U.S. companies are increasingly seeing the benefits of getting greener, not just because of consumer interest but to cut their own costs in energy, transportation, waste and other areas.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS ENCOURAGED: Many environmental activists see positive trends for corporate America, although they say most big companies still could …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Companies getting greener, and telling about it.

Bolivian president proposes ‘Mother Earth Ministry,’ int’l court to punish emissions violators

Bolivian president creates ‘Mother Earth Ministry’

TIQUIPAYA, Bolivia – Bolivia’s president says he is creating a “Mother Earth Ministry” to promote the planet’s rights and says that he would like to establish an international court with the power to punish nations that fail to obey emissions-reduction agreements.
The court of “climate justice” would be located in Cochabama, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Bolivian president proposes ‘Mother Earth Ministry,’ int’l court to punish emissions violators.

Companies tout green innovations in marketing pitches but also see bottom line benefits

‘Green’ becomes more than just a marketing pitch

CINCINNATI – Going green has become good business.
Just look at store shelves: Sales of “green” products, such as organic foods and natural personal care items, have jumped 15 percent since 2006, according to research firm Mintel International.
A wave of promotion is hitting consumers during this week’s 40th anniversary … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Companies tout green innovations in marketing pitches but also see bottom line benefits.

Chinese automakers push to raise global profile at Beijing auto show, debut ‘green’ cars

Chinese automakers push to raise global profile

BEIJING – Chinese automakers announced ambitious plans Friday to expand abroad as global producers unveiled new models at the Beijing auto show aimed at boosting sales in China’s fast-growing market.
The country’s biggest domestic brand, Chery Automobile Co., signaled its global intentions by announcing it signed Argentine football star Lionel …. Source  : Chinese automakers push to raise global profile at Beijing auto show, debut ‘green’ cars.

Iran’s President Ahmadinejad in Africa to build ties with new partners, evade UN sanctions

Iran’s Ahmadinejad seeks new partners in Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda – Iran’s president is in Africa this week to build alliances to evade stronger U.N. sanctions for his country’s nuclear program, ease its international isolation and strengthen its economy.
Both Zimbabwe and Uganda, the two countries President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is visiting, have something to offer.
Iran has been under …. Read the original article  : Iran’s President Ahmadinejad in Africa to build ties with new partners, evade UN sanctions.

Heat wave kills three more in Orissa, toll now 14

BHUBANESWAR – Three more people died of sunstroke in Orissa, taking the toll to 14 in the state, an official said Friday.

“We have confirmed three more deaths due to sunstroke. The deaths occurred in the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bolangir on March 30, April 13 and April 18, but were confirmed by the local …. Source article  : Heat wave kills three more in Orissa, toll now 14.

Reports on toxic waste dumping, US military contractors win Daniel Pearl journalism award

Story on toxic waste wins Pearl reporting award

GENEVA – A joint report by European journalists on the dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast has won the Daniel Pearl Award for international investigative reporting.
The Washington-based Center for Public Integrity says the “gutsy” series by Norwegian Broadcasting Corp., The Guardian, BBC and de Volkskrant newspaper “exposed [..] Read the original article: here.

Tiger census in Jharkhand stalled due to Maoists

RANCHI – A tiger census has been stalled midway in Jharkhand’s Palamau Tiger Reserve due to presence of Maoists in forests, an official said Sunday.

“We are unable to monitor tigers due to strong presence of the Maoists. The work has been stalled and we are seeking help from local people for the tiger census,” Manoj … Original source on Gaea Times at : Tiger census in Jharkhand stalled due to Maoists.

Aliens exist, but don’t talk to them, says Stephen Hawking

LONDON – According to Stephen Hawking, one of the world’s leading scientists, aliens are out there – but instead of seeking them out, humanity should avoid any contact with them.

Hawkin’s suggestions come in a new documentary series in which he reveals his latest thinking on some of the universe’s greatest mysteries, …. Read the original article  : Aliens exist, but don’t talk to them, says Stephen Hawking.

Thirsty bears venturing into Rajasthan villages

JALORE – With water becoming scarce in the forest areas of Rajasthan due to soaring temperatures, thirsty bears are increasingly beginning to stray into populated areas in this district.

In order to prevent bears from entering villages, the forest department has started constructing an 800-meter long wall in the foothills of Lohiyanagarh.
This area, which falls …. Read the original article  : here.

Endangered sea turtles begin nesting on Abu Dhabi beach

Abu Dhabi, April 25 (IANS/WAM) The Hawksbill turtles, a critically endangered species, have begun assembling in the coastal area of Abu Dhabi for nesting.

A group of sea turtles have begun nesting on Bu Tinah Island. Last week, 5 nests were seen and the number is expected to increase over the coming months, said the researchers …. Original article  : Endangered sea turtles begin nesting on Abu Dhabi beach.

Mercury to dip in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhiites can expect some respite from the heat as the weatherman Sunday forecast a dip in temperature over the next couple of days.

“The temperature rose to 44 degrees Celsius last week, comparatively it was not that harsh this week. With mainly clear skies and no rains, the temperature is likely to drop … Read more »».

Recycling: The latest buzzword in the Philippines

MANILA – Designing fashion accessories with waste items is fast catching up in the Philippines – a field which, besides providing employment to local artisans, is also solving the garbage issue.

Unemployed local youth are making custom jewellery and bags using materials which are often considered waste and thrown away like old glossy magazines, used tarpaulins …. Source article  : Recycling: The latest buzzword in the Philippines.

Climate bill placed on hold after Senate dispute over immigration politics

Climate bill placed on hold over Senate dispute
WASHINGTON – Long-awaited climate change legislation was put on hold by its authors Saturday when a dispute over immigration politics and Senate priorities threatened to unravel a bipartisan effort that took months of work.
Voicing regrets, Sen. John …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

GOP Sen. Graham blasts Democratic leader for moving immigration bill ahead of climate change

Graham blasts Reid’s ‘cynical ploy’ on immigration
WASHINGTON – Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham threatened Saturday to withdraw his support for energy and climate legislation if Democratic leaders move first on immigration reform in what he dismissed as “a cynical political ploy.”
The South Carolina senator is one of three co-sponsors of a comprehensive energy and … Original article on : GOP Sen. Graham blasts Democratic leader for moving immigration bill ahead of climate change.

Hubble Telescope Details

San Francisco (GaeaTimes.com) – The Hubble Telescope or Hubble Space Telescope has now completed two decades in space today. In these twenty years, it has served us with stunning images which had deep effect on our understanding of the universe. We knew how the stars are formed but before Hubble, there was no way to …. Read the original article  : Hubble Telescope Details.

Congo volcano symbolizes death, rebirth in resilient city

Congo volcano symbolizes death, rebirth
MOUNT NYIRAGONGO, Congo – I was startled to see it perched at the lip of the volcano’s rocky summit: a small cross marking the spot where one visitor tragically slipped from the crater’s edge and plummeted to her death.

Below, the mesmerizing lava lake that drew her here several years ago – …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Congo volcano symbolizes death, rebirth in resilient city.

Relief from heat wave in Orissa, toll rises to 15

BHUBANESWAR – One more death due to sunstroke was reported in Orissa, taking the toll to 15, although the maximum temperature witnessed a slight dip Saturday, an official said.

Ramesh Sethi, 32, died of sunstroke April 14 at Domadiha village in Sundergarh district, 407 km from here, an official of the state revenue control room told …. Source article  : Relief from heat wave in Orissa, toll rises to 15.

Temperature down in Himachal after rain

SHIMLA – Rain in Himachal Pradesh Saturday brought down the temperature by four to five notches, with the weatherman forecasting thundershowers in the state Sunday.

Shimla and nearby areas saw moderate rain Saturday afternoon. “Most of the towns saw a good spell of rain, bringing the temperatures considerable down,” Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological office … Read more >>>.

Hubble Images: Nasa Hubble Telescope on 20th Anniversary

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope. To mark this special occasion Nasa has released a breath taking image of Carina Nebula taken by Hubble, the telescope that was repaired recently.
The image is a stunning one, which shows us the massive gas pillars of nebula. There is a starry region, separated …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Hubble Images: Nasa Hubble Telescope on 20th Anniversary.

Russia launches US satellite

Moscow, April 24 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia Saturday launched a Proton-M rocket to put a US telecommunications satellite into space, the defence ministry said.
The rocket blasted off from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan at 11.19 GMT. The satellite was due to separate from the carrier rocket at around 20.19 GMT.
The 2.6-tonne satellite has … Read more »».

South Africa, Brazil, India, China emerging as important voices on climate change

SAfrica hosts developing countries on climate talk

JOHANNESBURG – As the world struggles to break a deadlock in climate change negotiations, South Africa and three other influential developing nations are gathering for a strategy session to ensure poor countries are heard.
Brazil, South Africa, India and China began to coalesce as a bloc at U.N. climate talks …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Coming soon: House with edible walls, runs on sun, wind, rain and wastes!

WASHINGTON – A US university team is constructing a house that will be powered by the sun, wind, rain and waste, and which will also have edible walls.

The house, which is being built by a team of University of Maryland students, faculty and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Coming soon: House with edible walls, runs on sun, wind, rain and wastes!.

Immobile biometrics don’t show promise when it comes to security

WASHINGTON – With the advent of mobile devices, such as netbooks, PDAs and smart phones, biometric logins would be impossible when one is on the move, say researchers from the US and Germany.

The researchers said that biometric logins, being immobile in nature might … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Immobile biometrics don’t show promise when it comes to security.

Shock wave from bomb blasts can generate electric fields in skulls

WASHINGTON – Shock waves produced due to a bomb blast may electrify the brain and damage it, according to a new study.

“It’s always exciting to look at a phenomenon that may have been missed in the past,” Live Science quoted Steven Johnson, a theoretical … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Shock wave from bomb blasts can generate electric fields in skulls.

Charging your iPod by running

WASHINGTON – If you’ve forgotten to charge your iPod and a power plug is nowhere in sight, a simple run could help you get out of the trouble – if new technology being developed is successful.

Every step you take can generate …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Scientists steer car with eyes

LONDON – Believe it or not, it’s now possible to steer a car through your eyes using a new software. So say scientists.

At the former Berlin Tempelhof Airport, project head Raul Rojas and his team from the Artificial Intelligence Group of the Freie Universitat (FU) recently demonstrated how they can steer a vehicle … Read : Scientists steer car with eyes.

Chokeberry extract regulates weight gain

WASHINGTON – The chokeberry (Aronia) extract is a powerful antioxidant and helps regulate weight gain and blood glucose, a new study says.

Native Americans have traditionally eaten dried chokeberries and prepared tea from parts of the plant.
However, the chokeberry is enjoying a new claim-to-fame as a potentially powerful antioxidant, and can now be found … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Chokeberry extract regulates weight gain.

New breakthrough in stem cell research offers hope to heart patients

LONDON – Veins left over from lifesaving bypass surgery could yield “master” cells to help treat future heart problems, according to scientists at University of Bristol.

The researchers extracted stem cells from the veins, then used them to stimulate new blood vessel growth in mice, according … Read : New breakthrough in stem cell research offers hope to heart patients.

IBM creates world’s smallest 3D map

WASHINGTON – IBM scientists have created a 3D map of the earth so small that 1,000 of them could fit on a single grain of salt.

They accomplished this through a new, breakthrough technique that uses a tiny, silicon tip with a sharp apex — 100,000 times smaller than a sharpened pencil point — to create … Read : IBM creates world’s smallest 3D map.

Proper intake of vitamin D improves quality of life for seniors

WASHINGTON – A new study suggests that proper intake of vitamin D (the ’sunshine’ vitamin) is related to better physical function in seniors.

Dr. Denise Houston from the Sticht Center on Aging at Wake Forest University and her colleagues studied the relationship between vitamin D status and physical function in … Read more : Proper intake of vitamin D improves quality of life for seniors.

Smoking may be in your genes

LONDON – For some smokers, quitting the habit could be especially difficult because their dependence may be explained in part by genetics, says a new study.

Scientists have identified genetic variants associated with key smoking behaviors that have a significant impact on health.
Helena Furberg, and Patrick Sullivan, …. Read the original article  : Smoking may be in your genes.

Purdue researcher develops peaceful chickens to reduce ‘cannibalism’ in factory farm pens

Big pens breed chicken ‘cannibalism’ on egg farms

MONTMORENCI, Ind. – As more states move to ban restrictive livestock cages, the campaign to free egg-laying hens from cramped cages and shift them to pens animal rights advocates call more humane could be poised to unintentionally boost deaths among those birds.
Researchers say decades of breeding to make …. Source article  : Purdue researcher develops peaceful chickens to reduce ‘cannibalism’ in factory farm pens.

Intelligent, creative computers come closer to reality

LONDON – Taking a leap towards intelligent and creative computers, researchers have now created a brain-like process of circuit evolution in an organic molecular layer that can solve complex problems.

The advance by the international research team from Japan and Michigan Technological University …. Source article  : Intelligent, creative computers come closer to reality.

Follicle-stimulating hormone decreases bone mineral density during menopause

WASHINGTON – Other than estrogen, another hormone-follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) may also be involved in decreasing bone mineral density during menopause, according to new research at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA.

Diminished bone density is common among menopausal women …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

No to R-rated movies stops kids from early drinking

WASHINGTON – Middle-school children, whose parents restrict access to R-rated movies, are substantially less likely to start drinking early than their peers who are allowed to see such films, a new study suggests.

In a study of nearly 3,600 New England middle school students, researchers found that few among kids who said their parents never …. Original article  : No to R-rated movies stops kids from early drinking.

Sex wonder pill set to make premature ejaculation history hits UK shelves

LONDON – The first pill proven to prevent premature ejaculation is about to launch in the UK.

The drug, taken one to three hours before sex, works by altering seratonin levels in the brain, which helps a man to have more control over his moment of …. Source  : Sex wonder pill set to make premature ejaculation history hits UK shelves.

A horse that is just 14 inches tall

LONDON – A pint-sized stallion born in Britain weighs just 2.7 kg and is barely 14 inches tall.

The three-day old stallion, called Einstein, weighed 6lbs (2.7 kg) when it was born Friday in Barnstead, New Hampshire, Daily Mail reported Monday.
Born at Tiz Miniature Horse Farm, the diminutive stallion’s proportion are tiny for a horse. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : A horse that is just 14 inches tall.

Collecting waste to break Guinness record

Abu Dhabi, April 26 (IANS/WAM) Students from the Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) collected 394 kg of plastic waste in an attempt to break the previous Guinness World Record of 298 kg for the most plastic bottles collected for recycling in eight hours.

Student Council President Mariam Omran Al Hallami said: “After the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Collecting waste to break Guinness record.

China begins construction of new nuclear power plant

BEIJING – China has begun constructing a large nuclear power plant in southern Hainan province.

The construction of the plant started Sunday in Changjiang County of Hainan province with an estimated investment of 19 billion Yuan ($2.78 billion), Xinhua news agency reported.
The new plant will consist of two water reactors, with a capacity of 650,000 … Original source on Gaea Times at : China begins construction of new nuclear power plant.

Montana officials predict tourism growth, hope visitors more inclined to spend money

Montana officials predict tourism growth
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Institute for Tourism and Recreational Research at the University of Montana predicts the state will see a 2 percent increase in nonresident visitors this year.

Director Norma Nickerson said this year will get the state back to normal tourism growth following a 6.4 percent decline in 2008 …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Montana officials predict tourism growth, hope visitors more inclined to spend money.

Conservationists criticize California’s costly efforts to help endangered steelhead recover

Calif.’s costly trout recovery effort criticized

MALIBU, Calif. – In hopes of luring the endangered steelhead trout into the Santa Monica Mountains, California’s transportation agency is planning to spend $935,000 to pave over part of a popular beach with cement and boulders to build a freeway of sorts for fish.
The project is the latest, yet far … Original article on : Conservationists criticize California’s costly efforts to help endangered steelhead recover.

NJ Democrat says Senate can handle both immigration and energy issues this year

Senator says immigration and energy can be handled

WASHINGTON – Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey says he thinks the Senate can deal with immigration as well as climate change and energy legislation this year.
The Senate’s Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, says he thinks time would be better spent on other issues, such as border security …. Source article  : NJ Democrat says Senate can handle both immigration and energy issues this year.

Brazil, South Africa, India, China call for strong, binding climate change treaty this year

Developing nations: Climate change treaty in 2010

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Four influential developing nations say the world must work for a strong climate change agreement this year.
Summing up strategy talks in South Africa on Sunday, South African Environment Minister Buyelwa Sonjica and her counterparts from Brazil, China and India said they want year-end talks …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Brazil, South Africa, India, China call for strong, binding climate change treaty this year.

UAE launches campaign to conserve fish stocks

Abu Dhabi, April 25 (IANS/WAM) A campaign was launched to conserve fish stocks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Conservation groups say rising demand for seafood has resulted in 80 percent decline of fish stocks in the UAE over the last three decades.

The Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) … Read : UAE launches campaign to conserve fish stocks.

After a respite, Delhi to get hotter again

NEW DELHI – Delhi Sunday recorded a maximum temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above average. However, hotter days are set to return with Monday’s temperature forecast to touch the 41 degree mark.

“The maximum today (Sunday) was 39.7 degrees Celsius, two degrees above average. Monday could be hotter as we are expecting that the …. Read the original article  : here.

Drinking 100 percent fruit juice linked with improved diet quality

WASHINGTON – Children and teens who drink 100 percent fruit juice have higher intakes of key nutrients compared to non-consumers, says a new study.

Two new studies from researchers at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Centre (LSUAC) and Baylor College of Medicine clearly highlight the benefits of drinking 100 percent fruit juice.
Researchers used …. Read the original article  : here.

Myth ‘debunked’: The blind have more acute sense of smell

WASHINGTON – An ongoing study has debunked the myth that the blind have a more acute sense of smell than the sighted.

According to the study by Mathilde Beaulieu-Lefebvre, a graduate student from the Universiti de Montrial Department of Psychology, vision loss simply makes blind people pay more attention to how they perceive …. Original source  : Myth ‘debunked’: The blind have more acute sense of smell.

Human brain reacts differently to different races

WASHINGTON – When dealing with people outside of one’s own race, the human brain fires differently, a new study has found.

The research out of the University of Toronto Scarborough explored the sensitivity of the “mirror-neuron-system” to race and ethnicity.
The … Read : Human brain reacts differently to different races.

Do the blind have more acute sense of smell?

TORONTO – Vision loss simply makes blind people pay more attention to how they perceive smells, a new research said, debunking the myth that the blind have a more acute sense of smell than the sighted.

“If you enter a room in which coffee is brewing, you will quickly look for the coffee machine. The blind …. Read the original article  : here.

Giant vegetarian dinos evolved all-terrain bodies to support mountain living

WASHINGTON – Some of the world’s largest dinosaurs moved to the hills and developed all-terrain bodies to support mountain living, concludes a new study.

The study has been published in the journal Paleobiology.
These dinosaurs were plant-eating titanosaurs.
According to Discovery News, palaeontologists Philip Mannion and Paul Upchurch at University … Read more : Giant vegetarian dinos evolved all-terrain bodies to support mountain living.

Chimps deal with death just like humans

WASHINGTON – Chimpanzees react to the death of a group member just like humans do when a close relative dies, say researchers.

“The findings we’ve described, along with other observations of how chimpanzees respond to dead and dying companions, indicate that their awareness of death is probably more … Read more : Chimps deal with death just like humans.

New species of monitor lizard discovered in Indonesia

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered a new species of monitor lizard, a close relative of the Komodo dragon.

Sam Sweet, a professor in the department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology at UCSB, and Valter Weijola, a graduate student at Abo Akademi University in [..] Read the original article: here.

Images from Planck space observatory reveal star formation processes

WASHINGTON – Star formation takes place hidden behind veils of gas and dust, but ESA’s Planck space observatory with its microwave eyes – can peer beneath that shroud to provide new insights into star-forming process.

The latest images released by the Planck team bring to light two …. Read the original article  : Images from Planck space observatory reveal star formation processes.

Australian prime minister announces 2-year delay of carbon pollution reduction laws

Australia postpones carbon pollution curbs

CANBERRA, Australia – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced Tuesday a two-year delay in government plans to tax Australia’s worst industrial polluters – a move that puts legislative efforts to curb gases blamed for climate change on hold until after national elections.
The government had proposed annual limits on the amount of carbon …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Australian prime minister announces 2-year delay of carbon pollution reduction laws.

Dogs really can understand human emotions

MELBOURNE – Dogs can tell the difference between a happy and an angry person and a laugh from a cry, a New Zealand study claims.

To reach the conclusion, researchers at the University of Otago, in the South Island, put 90 Dunedin dogs through their paces – showing some recorded images of babies laughing, crying and …. Read the original article  : here.

Our bodies make their own morphine

WASHINGTON – Human bodies may possess the biochemical machinery to produce a small but steady amount of natural morphine, according to a new study.

In the study, it was shown that mice produce the “incredible painkiller”, and that humans and other mammals possess the same chemical road map for making it, said study co-author Meinhart Zenk, …. Original source  : Our bodies make their own morphine.

Technique to visualize ‘your brain on drugs’ developed

WASHINGTON – An imaging protocol that allows scientists to visualize the activity of the brain’s reward circuitry in both normal individuals and those addicted to drugs has been developed.

The technique by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory …. Original article  : Technique to visualize ‘your brain on drugs’ developed.

New program helps keep track of physical activity levels via mobile

WASHINGTON – A new program has been developed that helps people monitor their normal day-to-day physical activity using an everyday device like a cell phone or mp3 player.

Chinmay Manohar in the Department Endocrinology, Nutrition and Diabetes of the Mayo Clinic is the brain behind the device …. Source article  : New program helps keep track of physical activity levels via mobile.

How folic acid may help heal brain, spinal cord injuries

WASHINGTON – In a new study, researchers have explained how folic acid may help heal brain and spinal cord injuries.

Infants born to women who do not consume enough folic acid are at an increased risk of developing neural tube defects … Original article on : How folic acid may help heal brain, spinal cord injuries.

Depressed people ‘eat more chocolate’

WASHINGTON – The more clinically depressed you are, the more likely you’re to eat chocolate, concludes a new study.

The study has been published in the April 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
“A rich cultural tradition links chocolate consumption with putative mood … Read more >>>.

Heat wave toll rises to 17 in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Two middle-aged men have died of sunstroke in Orissa, taking the toll from heat wave to 17, an official said Tuesday.

The Kendrapada district administration confirmed two deaths Tuesday, the state revenue control room said.
A control room official said that Laxmidhar Nayak, 45, of Patkura village died April 13 and Natabara Mahalik, …. Source  : Heat wave toll rises to 17 in Orissa.

Nuclear safety needed to avoid Chernobyl like tragedy: UN

NEW YORK – The explosion of the nuclear reactor in Chernobyl, Ukraine, 24 years ago showed graphically the need to strengthen the safety and security of nuclear material and power plants, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday.

Ukraine, Belarus and Russia are organising a conference in April 2011, the 25th anniversary of the accident, to … Read more »»».

China to bring stricter law to prevent data leaks

BEIJING – A new law seeking to empower Chinese authority to prevent leaks of secret government data through internet has reached its final stage.

The proposed amendment to the Law on Guarding State Secrets was submitted for its third and final reading at the four-day session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, or … Read more »».

Supreme Court turns down Michigan’s plea to get involved in dispute over Asian carp

Supreme Court stays out of Asian carp dispute
LANSING, Mich. – After striking out with the U.S. Supreme Court, the state of Michigan and others favoring separation of the Lake Michigan and Mississippi River watersheds to prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes must devise a new strategy.
The court on Monday refused to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Supreme Court turns down Michigan’s plea to get involved in dispute over Asian carp.

Study: Chimpanzees’ reaction to death of a group member similar to humans

Researchers: Chimps deal with death like humans

LONDON – Rare video footage taken at a wildlife park has showed that chimpanzees react to the death of a group member just like humans do when a close relative dies, researchers said Monday.
Videos of a group of four chimpanzees at Scotland’s Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park showed … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Study: Chimpanzees’ reaction to death of a group member similar to humans.

Chimps have highly developed awareness of deaths

LONDON – Chimpanzees have a highly developed awareness about deaths, two new studies say.

In one study, researchers describe the final hours and moment of death of an older female chimp living in a small group at a British safari park as captured on video.
In the other, researchers observed as two chimpanzee mothers in …. Original article  : Chimps have highly developed awareness of deaths.

Heat wave claims crocodiles in Chhattisgarh zoo

RAIPUR – A pair of crocodiles were victims of a heat wave at a zoo in Chhattisgarh where the maximum temperature has touched 45 degrees Celsius, officials said Wednesday.

A post-mortem report Wednesday said that male and one female crocodile, both aged about six years who were found dead at Nandan Van zoo on the outskirts … Original article on : Heat wave claims crocodiles in Chhattisgarh zoo.

‘HPV testing should be the primary screening method for cervical cancer’

LONDON – Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London, say that cervical cancer screening intervals could be extended to five years for women aged 30 and over if the primary screening method was human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.

A study showed that HPV tests are very accurate in … Original source on Gaea Times at : ‘HPV testing should be the primary screening method for cervical cancer’.

The real culprit behind Alzheimer’s disease

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that the real culprit behind Alzheimer’s disease is the Amyloid-Beta (Abeta) oligomers in the brain, and not the Amyloid-Beta plaques as many believed.

“The buildup of amyloid plaques was described over … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : The real culprit behind Alzheimer’s disease.

Now, virtual muscle machine to treat kids with disabilities

WASHINGTON – A retired dancer turned occupational therapist is pioneering a new “virtual” method to analyse movement patterns in children ? and more effectively treat those with debilitating motor disorders.

Dr. Dido Green of Tel Aviv University’s … Read more »».

Blinding disease drug shows promise for diabetic retinopathy patients

WASHINGTON – A drug that was developed to combat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) could be beneficial for people with a common form of diabetic retinopathy, according to a study.

According to the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research (DRCR) Network study, treating diabetic macular … Original source on Gaea Times at : Blinding disease drug shows promise for diabetic retinopathy patients.

Ports unable to deal with hazardous waste import: Ramesh

NEW DELHI – Indian ports weren’t capable of dealing with hazardous waste, Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday while stressing that the government needed to exercise “greater control” on the import of such material.

When asked if Indian ports were capable of handling the import of hazardous waste, Ramesh bluntly answered: “To be honest … Read more : Ports unable to deal with hazardous waste import: Ramesh.

It’s not what politicians say but what we like to hear

LONDON – There is increasing evidence that individuals interpret the same election message in different ways, according to their personal political perceptions, say experts.

Martin McKee from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and David Stuckler from the University of Oxford argue that “it is possible for two well-informed groups of people faced with …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : It’s not what politicians say but what we like to hear.

Now, SMS that self-destructs after one reading

LONDON – A lot of celebrities who have landed in trouble due to an SMS they have sent out would wish they had this new service – an SMS that self-destructs after it has been read once.

The new service, called Safe Text, sends messages to mobile phones that self-destruct as soon as they have been …. Source article  : Now, SMS that self-destructs after one reading.

I am not in favour of blanket ban on plastics: Ramesh

NEW DELHI – Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday that it was not possible to put a blanket ban on plastics in the country as it would affect the massive employment provided by the industry.

“I am not in favour of blanket ban on plastics as the industry provides massive employment to people. The …. Read the original article  : I am not in favour of blanket ban on plastics: Ramesh.

Steroid use may increase heart failure risk

WASHINGTON – Long-term use of steroids may weaken the heart and increase the risk of heart failure, a new study says.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids mimic the naturally occurring testosterone, a muscle-building hormone that promotes male sexual characteristics.
“Anabolic steroids, in addition to being illegal, have important health consequences,” said Aaron L. Baggish, study author and instructor in … Original source on Gaea Times at : Steroid use may increase heart failure risk.

USDA proposes cutting billions from crop insurance subsidies after industry posts high profits

USDA to cut subsidies as insurers post big profits

MINNEAPOLIS – The federal government wants to save taxpayers billions of dollars by reducing spending on crop insurance after years of big profits by insurers, but the industry claims the reductions could hurt rural areas.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is negotiating a new deal with crop insurance … Read more >>>.

Drugs for influenza treatment safe for pregnant women, babies

WASHINGTON – Tamiflu and two other drugs, which are used to treat influenza, are apparently safe for pregnant women and their babies, according to a new study.

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center conducted a retrospective study of 239 cases of women …. Original source  : Drugs for influenza treatment safe for pregnant women, babies.

Tart cherries reduce inflammation, risk for heart disease

WASHINGTON – Tart cherries do have powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, claims a new study by Michigan researchers.

The researchers used a “whole food” approach to find that a cherry-enriched diet not only reduced overall body inflammation, but …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Tart cherries reduce inflammation, risk for heart disease.

Underdeveloped brain makes young drivers more prone to car crashes

MELBOURNE – A new study claims to have found the reason as to why young drivers are involved in so many car crashes: underdeveloped brains.

According to Dr Lisa Wundersitz, from the Centre for Automotive Research, the underdeveloped brains make young …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Underdeveloped brain makes young drivers more prone to car crashes.

Cloudy sky in Delhi with chance of duststorm

NEW DELHI – Holding out some respite from the unrelenting sun, the weather office said Wednesday that Delhiites were likely to witness a cloudy day with the possibility of duststorm and rain.

“There is a possibility of dust and thunder storm. The national capital can expect partly cloudy sky,” an official of the India Meteorological [..] Read the original article: here.

Dinosaur fossils found in Argentina

Buenos Aires, April 28 (IANS/EFE) Scientists have found the fossilised remains of a carnivorous dinosaur in Argentina, officials said.

Argentinean scientists from Las Lajas town museum and researchers from Canada’s University of Alberta found fossilised bones of “saurischian” (lizard-hipped) dinosaurs in the southern province of Neuquen, 1,300 km south of Buenos Aires, they said Tuesday.
The … Original source on Gaea Times at : Dinosaur fossils found in Argentina.

Agriculture Department says it may ban additives DHA and ARA from organic infant formula

USDA may ban additives from organic formula

WASHINGTON – The Agriculture Department says it may ban two synthetic additives from organic baby formula, overturning a Bush administration decision to allow them.
The USDA said Tuesday that the department incorrectly interpreted Food and Drug Administration guidelines that appeared to allow the additives, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids also … Read more : Agriculture Department says it may ban additives DHA and ARA from organic infant formula.

15 Whales stranded on Chile beach rescued

Santiago, April 28 (IANS/EFE) Fifteen whales washed up on a beach in the northern Chilean city of Iquique were rescued by some 300 volunteers, police and navy personnel.

However, three of the cetaceans died hours later.
Experts say these whales are a deep-sea species that live 100 miles from the coast and could have come to … Read more >>.

Obama criticizes Senate GOP for continuing to block debate on financial overhaul bill

Obama says US deserves debate on Wall St. bill
OTTUMWA, Iowa – President Barack Obama is criticizing Senate Republicans for continuing to block debate on a bill to impose greater financial controls on the financial industry.
Obama spoke at a town hall meeting in Ottumwa, Iowa, after Republicans refused Tuesday for the second straight day …. Source article  : Obama criticizes Senate GOP for continuing to block debate on financial overhaul bill.

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.

Amateur astronomers and Cassini spacecraft capture Saturn storm

WASHINGTON – For the first time, amateur astronomers used the composite infrared spectrometer instrument aboard NASA’s Cassini spacecraft to look at a massive blizzard in Saturn’s atmosphere.

The instrument collected the most detailed data to date of … Original article on : Amateur astronomers and Cassini spacecraft capture Saturn storm.

First discovery of animals making their own carotene

WASHINGTON – In what could be called as the first among animals, insects, known as aphids, can make their own essential nutrients called carotenoids, say University of Arizona researchers.

To date, no other animals are known to make the …. Original article  : First discovery of animals making their own carotene.

Virgin birth may be sharks’ secret survival strategy

London, April 30 (ANI): Parthenogenesis – a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occurs without fertilization by a male – may be part of an extreme survival strategy for sharks, say researchers.

In parthenogenesis, females’ eggs start dividing …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

New finding paves way for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis before it strikes

Washington, April 30 (ANI): A breakthrough finding may lead to earlier diagnosis, more effective intervention, and perhaps even a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease.

Prof. Anat Achiron of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and vice-dean of research at Sheba Medical Center has … Read : New finding paves way for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis before it strikes.

Novel way to fight ‘kissing bugs’

Washington, April 30 (ANI): Scientists at the University of Toronto Mississauga are working to find a novel way to stop the transmission of the illness, known as Chagas’ disease.

“This is a disease of the poor. The bugs are found in makeshift homes with mud walls and …. Original article  : Novel way to fight ‘kissing bugs’.

Migratory birds have smaller brains

Washington, April 30 (ANI): Scientists have shed new light on the evolution of brain size in birds.

It has been known for some time that migratory birds have smaller brains than their resident relatives. Now, a new study by tesearchers at Centre … Original article on : Migratory birds have smaller brains.

Humans and frogs share the ‘kissing cousin’ bond

Washington, April 30 (ANI): An international team of researchers has cracked the genetic code of an amphibian, the African clawed frog Xenopus tropicali – the latest research aimed at understanding how genes work for potential applications in human health.

The genome … Read more : Humans and frogs share the ‘kissing cousin’ bond.

Large number of endangered sea turtles wash up dead on Texas Gulf Coast as nesting begins

Many endangered turtles dying on Texas Gulf Coast

HIGH ISLAND, Texas – More than 30 dead turtles have been found stranded on beaches south of Houston since the beginning of April.
The deaths are puzzling researchers because the turtles are so decomposed it is difficult to determine the cause of death.
Marine biologist Lyndsey Howell says 35 turtles …. Original article  : Large number of endangered sea turtles wash up dead on Texas Gulf Coast as nesting begins.

Activists cry foul over Ganges dolphin poaching

PATNA – A day after four Ganges River Dolphins were killed by suspected poachers on the banks of the Ganga river, wildlife experts and conservationists Friday stressed the need to save the endangered species.

“It is an alarming situation that poachers continue to kill dolphins for their flesh and oil. It is high time they … Read : Activists cry foul over Ganges dolphin poaching.

Germany, Mexico hosting meeting of 45 nations in Bonn to push talks on climate deal ahead

Germany, Mexico trying to push climate talks ahead

BERLIN – Five months after the troubled United Nations conference in Copenhagen, Germany and Mexico are teaming up in an effort to break the deadlock in negotiations on a global climate deal.
They will co-host a three-day meeting in Bonn starting Sunday of representatives from a selected 45 countries … Original article on : Germany, Mexico hosting meeting of 45 nations in Bonn to push talks on climate deal ahead.

Dispute over limited water resources adds to India-Pakistan tensions

Water dispute fuels India-Pakistan tensions

GUJRAT, Pakistan – A bitter dispute over limited water resources is fueling India-Pakistan tensions at a time when the South Asian neighbors are trying to rebuild trust and resume peace talks.
It’s a long-running feud that has worsened in recent months as a dry spell focuses attention on Pakistan’s growing water shortage. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Dispute over limited water resources adds to India-Pakistan tensions.

Antarctica was once a warm “greenhouse” world

Washington, Apr 30 (ANI): Antarctica, the ice-covered mass of land on the earth was once a warm “greenhouse” or “hothouse” world, according to results of a research expedition in Antarctic waters.

The findings revealed that some 53 million years ago, Antarctica was a warm, sub-tropical environment and during this period-called the known as the “greenhouse” or …. Original source  : Antarctica was once a warm “greenhouse” world.

Cause of mirror movements identified

Washington, Apr 30 (ANI): The genetic cause of mirror movements-where affected people are unable to move one side of the body without moving the other-has been identified, says a collaborative study.

While mirror movements can be observed in fingers, hands, forearms, toes and feet of young children, persistence beyond the age of 10 is unusual.

The …. Read the original article  : Cause of mirror movements identified.

All mammalian genes can be set on pause

Washington, Apr 30 (ANI): All mammalian genes apparently have a layer of control that acts just like the pause button on your DVR, according to new evidence in embryonic stem cells.

The researchers have said that the results show that the pausing phenomenon, previously thought to be a peculiarity of particular genes, is actually a much …. Read the original article  : here.

Gut bacteria offer new insights for people with celiac disease

Washington, Apr 30 (ANI): Striking a balance of intestinal microbiota could play a role in early stages of celiac disease-related immune responses, according to a new study.

The research has been published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.

Dietary changes that include probiotics …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Gut bacteria offer new insights for people with celiac disease.

Hand washing may limit pandemic flu transmission

Washington, Apr 30 (ANI): Hand washing and mouth covering may help limit the transmission of the pandemic flu, suggests a new research.

However, more research on these measures is critical, according to the new study appearing in the May issue of AJIC: American Journal … Read more »»».

Plants effective way of tackling global warming

Washington, Apr 30 (ANI): Plant leaves account for less than one per cent of the Earth’s emissions of methane -which is considered to be about 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at global warming, suggests a research led by the University of Edinburgh.

The results contrast with a previous scientific study which had … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Plants effective way of tackling global warming.

Scientists unveil largest atlas of nuclear galactic rings

Washington, Apr 30 (ANI): The most complete atlas of nuclear rings, enormous star-forming ring-shaped regions that circle certain galactic nuclei, has been unveiled by an international team of astrophysicists.

The catalogue, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Scientists unveil largest atlas of nuclear galactic rings.

A little motivation can improve eyesight

WASHINGTON – Eyesight markedly improved when people were experimentally induced to believe that they could see especially well, a new study found.

Harvard University psychologist Ellen Langer and her colleagues reported the finding in the April Psychological Science.

The boffins emphasize that such expectations actually …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Pokeberries hold secret to low cost solar power

WASHINGTON – Pokeberries – weeds that children smash to stain their cheeks purple-red – could be the key to spreading solar power across the globe, according to researchers.

Scientists from Wake Forest University’s (WFU) Centre for Nanotechnology used the red dye made from pokeberries to coat their efficient and inexpensive fibre-based solar cells. The dye acts … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pokeberries hold secret to low cost solar power.