China won’t allow anonymous online comments

BEIJING – China will bring to an end anonymous online comments and “harmful information” on the Internet would be monitored, an official said.

Wang Chen, director of the State Council Information Office, said China would strengthen its monitoring on “harmful information” on the Internet in an attempt to prevent “overseas hostile forces from infiltrating through the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : China won’t allow anonymous online comments.

Blackberry ‘was first predicted 100 years ago’

LONDON – Blackberry, the leading smartphone device, had been predicted a century ago by an American physicist, it has been claimed.

Nikola Tesla made the prediction about the portable messaging service way back in 1909 in the Popular Mechanics magazine.

In the mag, he wrote that one day …. Source article  : Blackberry ‘was first predicted 100 years ago’.

Backers of bill that would have banned smoking at California state parks disappointed by veto

Veto disappoints backers of Calif. smoking ban

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Advocates of a bill that would have banned smoking at all California state parks and beaches say they’re disappointed in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s decision to veto the measure.
“We’re very dismayed to see the governor has not prioritized clean and healthy beaches, especially since our coast lines …. Source article  : Backers of bill that would have banned smoking at California state parks disappointed by veto.

Mothers can pass disease caused by insect bites to babies

WASHINGTON – Bacteria transmitted by fleas-and potentially ticks-can be passed to human babies by the mother, causing chronic infections and raising the possibility of bacterially induced birth defects, a scientist has discovered.

Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt, professor of internal … Read more >>.

Purple periwinkles may help fight inflammatory diseases

WASHINGTON – Vinpocetine, a natural product derived from the periwinkle plant, can act as a novel anti-inflammatory agent that may one day be used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, as well as …. Original article  : Purple periwinkles may help fight inflammatory diseases.

Low-maintenance strawberry may be good space crop

WASHINGTON – A strawberry that requires little maintenance and energy seems to meet NASA guidelines for foods that could be grown in space, say scientists.

Cary Mitchell, professor of horticulture at Purdue University, and Gioia Massa, a horticulture research scientist, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Low-maintenance strawberry may be good space crop.

Now, nano-based technology that can make PCs, net hundreds of times faster

WASHINGTON – Communication devices will soon turn smaller, more flexible and more powerful, thanks to a nano-based technology that can make computers and the Internet hundreds of times faster.

Currently being created by Dr. Koby Scheuer of Tel Aviv University’s School … Read more : Now, nano-based technology that can make PCs, net hundreds of times faster.

Teen smokers fail to recognize early signs of nicotine dependence

WASHINGTON – Teens, who have just started smoking occasionally, do not recognize the early symptoms of dependence, according to a new study.

Led by Dr. Chyke Doubeni, of the University of Massachusetts, the study found that among kids who have started smoking, “an urge to smoke or being irritable because they are … Read : Teen smokers fail to recognize early signs of nicotine dependence.

Childhood cancer survivors 4 times more prone to post-traumatic stress disorder

WASHINGTON – Young adult survivors of childhood cancers are four times more likely to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) than their control group siblings, revealed a study.

The Childhood Cancer Survivors Study focused on 6,542 childhood cancer … Original article on : Childhood cancer survivors 4 times more prone to post-traumatic stress disorder.

First transgenic mouse created to mimic Parkinson’s earliest symptoms

WASHINGTON – Researchers have created the first transgenic mouse to display the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease using the genetic mutation that is characteristic of human forms of the disease.

The mouse model, which expresses the same mutant proteins … Read more >>>.

Exercise early for stronger bones in old age

LONDON – Exercises early on increase bone density and size, which may spell a reduced risk of osteoporosis later, says a study.

Around 3,200 men had their bones examined and their exercise habits mapped. Of these, just over 2,300 18-year-olds were selected at random to have their heel bone studied by the researchers.
The heel bone …. Original article  : Exercise early for stronger bones in old age.

Scientists find way to boost nutritional levels of corn

WASHINGTON – An international team of agricultural scientists has found a way to boost the nutritional value of corn and prevent blindness among children.

In Africa and other developing regions, corn is a major staple and hundreds of thousands of children become blind, develop weakened immune systems and die because of diets based largely on … Read more »».

Genes associated with osteoporosis identified

LONDON – Researchers at Jewish General Hospital in Montreal have identified 20 genes associated with osteoporosis and bone weakness, including 13 genes never previously associated with the disease.

Osteoporosis is a highly heritable trait, but this marks the largest international effort to conclusively identify genes linked to the often-devastating bone disorder.

The study’s co-first author is Dr. … Read more >>.

Children’s copycat behavior is universal

WASHINGTON – A particular kind of imitation – overimitation, in which a child copies everything an adult shows them – appears to be a universal human activity, rather than something the children of middle-class parents pick up, claims a new study.

Scientists “have been finding this odd effect where children will copy everything that they see … Read more >>>.

Blame your genes for credit card debt

LONDON – A gene linked with impulsive and addictive behaviour makes people up to 16 per cent more likely to have credit card debt, a study has found.

The study was conducted by researchers from the London School of Economics and the University of California, reports The Independent.

Gene MAOA is associated with neurotransmitters which affect mood, … Original article on : Blame your genes for credit card debt.

Physicist made Blackberry prediction 100 years ago

LONDON – Blackberry, the leading smartphone device, had been predicted more than 100 years ago by an American physicist who said such a hand-held device would be simple to use and everyone would communicate to friends using it.

Nikola Tesla made the prediction about the portable messaging service way back in 1909 in the Popular … Original source on Gaea Times at : Physicist made Blackberry prediction 100 years ago.

Environmentalists warn Jordan River drying up, filled with sewage

Environmentalists warn Jordan River drying up

QASR AL-YAHUD, West Bank – Christian pilgrims who flock to the Jordan River to immerse themselves in the water where Jesus was baptized may have nothing left to dunk in next year.
A team of Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian environmental scientists says large stretches of the biblical river could dry up … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Environmentalists warn Jordan River drying up, filled with sewage.

Male obesity tied to low testosterone levels

WASHINGTON – Obese men are more likely than others to have low levels of sex hormone testosterone, claims a new study.

Published in the journal Diabetes Care, the study conducted by University at Buffalo endocrinologists showed that 40 percent of obese participants involved in the Hypogonadism in Males (HIM) study had lower-than-normal testosterone readings.

The percentage rose …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Male obesity tied to low testosterone levels.

May won’t be as hot as April: met office

NEW DELHI – There is good news for Delhiites. The weather office has predicted that the heat in May will be less severe than what the capital experienced in April.

“The heat in the capital will be less severe in May than in April,” an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
“The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : May won’t be as hot as April: met office.

Iran to launch two satellites with Russia in 2010

TEHRAN – Iran is working on a plan to launch two communication satellites with Russia by the end of this year.

During the Moscow visit of Iran’s Minister of Telecommunication Reza Taqipour in April, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Taqipour and his Russian counterpart Igor Shchegolev for broader cooperation in the field of telecommunication. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Iran to launch two satellites with Russia in 2010.