Trials begin on potent new Hepatitis C drug

LONDON – Clinical trials have begun on a potent new drug which is being developed to treat infections caused by the Hepatitis C virus.

Approximately 170 million people worldwide are affected with Hepatitis C, which can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis and death. It is the leading cause of liver transplantation in western countries. …. Original source  : Trials begin on potent new Hepatitis C drug.

Astronomical wonder: Star Regulus joins Moon and Mars on May 19-22

WASHINGTON – The world is set to witness a spectacular planetary wonder between May 19 and 22nd, when the bright star Regulus joins the Moon and the planet Mars to form a beautiful line-up high in the southern sky.

According to the editors of StarDate … Original source on Gaea Times at : Astronomical wonder: Star Regulus joins Moon and Mars on May 19-22.

Protein that makes local bladder cancer invasive found

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson have identified a protein, which, according to them, is involved in pushing tumours to become invasive – and deadly.

It is known that bladder cancer often becomes aggressive and spreads in patients despite treatment.

“We have found that IGF-IR is a critical regulator of motility and invasion … Read more »»».

Trials start on potent new hepatitis C drug

WASHINGTON – Scientists have launched the first clinical trials on a new investigational drug, discovered by researchers at Cardiff University, which is being developed to treat infections caused by Hepatitis C virus.

Approximately 170 million people worldwide are affected with Hepatitis C, which can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis and death. It is the leading cause … Original article on : Trials start on potent new hepatitis C drug.

Now, impact sensor to generate electricity, reveal impact forces for athletes

WASHINGTON – A new type of wearable impact sensor, developed by New Zealand researchers, could soon provide much needed information about the stresses and strains on limbs for rugby players, high jumpers, and runners.

The new sensor could help athletes striving for perfection.

Kean Aw and colleagues in the department of Mechanical Engineering, at The University of …. Source article  : Now, impact sensor to generate electricity, reveal impact forces for athletes.

Baby corals use sound cues to reach home

WASHINGTON – Coral larvae, just like their older counterparts, can use sound as a cue to find coral reefs, found researchers.

Many years ago, Dr Steve Simpson, Senior Researcher in the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences discovered this behaviour in baby reef fish.

However, their Dutch collaborators in Curacao started finding that coral larvae – …. Source  : Baby corals use sound cues to reach home.

Doc develops ’skin’ helmet that protects brain

LONDON – A type of helmet that, in the event of an accident, can reduce the damaging effect of head rotation that often leads to brain injury has been developed by a British doctor.

Dr Ken Phillips decided to design a helmet that replicated the head’s natural defenses. The skin’s ability to slip slightly over the …. Original source  : Doc develops ’skin’ helmet that protects brain.

Fat lipped fish evolving at record speed

LONDON – In what could be called one of the fastest evolutionary change in an organism, fish in a remote crater lake in Nicaragua are developing a new physical feature- very fat lips.

It has taken the lake cichlids just 100 generations and as many years to evolve … Original source on Gaea Times at : Fat lipped fish evolving at record speed.

‘Experienced’ female lizards more likely to be courted by males

WASHINGTON – Female sagebrush lizards with greater courtship experience tend to attract greater attention from their male counterparts, according to a recent study.

For the study, Mayte Ruiz, Zachary M. Beals, and Emilia P. Martins, collected 13 male and 26 female sagebrush lizards from the …. Read the original article  : ‘Experienced’ female lizards more likely to be courted by males.

Spaceflight compromises immune system of astronauts

WASHINGTON – Spaceflight takes a toll on the genes controlling immune and stress response, which apparently leads to more sickness among astronauts, according to a new study.

Astronauts are known to have a higher risk of getting sick compared to their Earth-bound peers.

The stresses that go with … Read more »».

Innate oral bacteria’s unhealthy patterns ‘behind bad breath’

WASHINGTON – According to researchers in Japan, bad breath can be due to unhealthy patterns of bacterial populations inherent to the mouth, apart from poor oral hygiene.

Poor oral hygiene resulting in bacterial overgrowth is a known cause of bad breath and while treatment with antibacterials … Read more »»».

Chaos at Wikipedia in wake of porn purging activity

WASHINGTON – A massive re-organization appears to be taking place at Wikipedia, as co-founder Jimmy Wales has relinquished his top-level control over the encyclopaedia’s content, as well as all of its parent company’s projects.

The shake-up followed the … Read more : Chaos at Wikipedia in wake of porn purging activity.

A warm sensor maintains skin barrier to prevent dehydration

WASHINGTON – The TRPV4 ion channel in skin keratinocytes is important for formation and maintenance of barrier function to prevent dehydration, a new research has said.

Japanese research group led by Prof. Makoto Tominaga and Dr. akaaki Sokabe …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : A warm sensor maintains skin barrier to prevent dehydration.

How to boost cancer-preventive phytochemicals in broccoli, tomatoes

WASHINGTON – Agronomic practices can substantially increase the cancer-preventive phytochemicals in broccoli and tomatoes, as per a new study.

A University of Illinois study has suggested that improvements in agronomic methods can be instrumental in boosting benefits of tomatoes and broccoli.

“We enriched preharvest …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Shuttle Atlantis races to space station on last trip; NASA keeps cautious eye on orbiting junk

Shuttle Atlantis races to space station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Atlantis is speeding after the International Space Station for a Sunday morning hookup.

NASA says the docking will not be delayed, even if the space station needs to dodge space junk. Flight controllers have been monitoring an unidentified piece of debris for at least a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Shuttle Atlantis races to space station on last trip; NASA keeps cautious eye on orbiting junk.

Atlantis takes off for final flight to space station

WASHINGTON – NASA’s space shuttle Atlantis took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying six astronauts, for its final voyage to the International Space Station on Friday.

The mission will deliver cargo, critical …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Atlantis takes off for final flight to space station.

Yeast owes its brewing capacity to chromosome duplication

WASHINGTON – Yeast cells’ ability to convert sugar to alcohol, the key process in the production of beer and wine, can be attributed to a remarkable evolutionary process- called chromosome duplication.

The genes that allow yeast to digest sugars in fruits and grains have been duplicated several …. Original source  : Yeast owes its brewing capacity to chromosome duplication.

Google confesses collecting private data from unprotected wi-fi networks

LONDON – Google has confessed that it has wrongly collected people’s data sent via unencrypted wi-fi networks in the past three years.

Google’s privacy breach came to the fore after German authorities asked to audit the data the company’s Street View cars gathered as they took photos viewed on Google … Read : Google confesses collecting private data from unprotected wi-fi networks.

Boffins create artificial skin graft that promises to make you sweat

LONDON – Scientists have produced artificial skin containing sweat glands.

The researchers, who tested it in mice, hope that, unlike conventional skin substitutes, the new skin will allow patients with large grafts to sweat to keep their bodies cool, reports New Scientist.

“This system promises to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Boffins create artificial skin graft that promises to make you sweat.

Bonding hormone-based nasal spray helps men recognise emotions

LONDON – A nasal spray made of the hormone vasopressin can help boost men’s ability to recognise the emotions of both happy and angry, say scientists.

However, the spray doesn’t improve males’ ability to detect emotions …. Source article  : Bonding hormone-based nasal spray helps men recognise emotions.