Transforming waste plastic into an alternative fuel

WASHINGTON – Northeastern University student researchers have come up with an apparatus to convert plastic waste into clean energy without releasing harmful emissions.

Under the leadership of Yiannis Levendis, distinguished professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, a team of undergraduate and graduate engineering students developed a waste combustor, which breaks down non-biodegradable plastics to create an …. Source article  : Transforming waste plastic into an alternative fuel.

New method paints clearer picture of brain’s language areas

WASHINGTON – MIT neuroscientists have reported on a new method to analyze brain imaging data – one that may paint a clearer picture of how our brain produces and understands language.

The boffins explained their finding in the Journal of Neurophysiology.

Research with patients who developed specific language deficits (such as the inability to comprehend passive sentences) …. Original source  : New method paints clearer picture of brain’s language areas.

Telescope to watch ‘dancing’ stars

WASHINGTON – After spending billion of years twinkling and shining, some stars in the heavens appear to “dance” as they wind down.

Now, for the next 14 days, the Whole Earth Telescope, an international network of cooperating astronomical observatories led by the University of Delaware, will be continuously monitoring three of these stars to try …. Original article  : Telescope to watch ‘dancing’ stars.

Dementia ‘can take away meaning of flavors’

WASHINGTON – Dementia sufferers can lose their capacity to understand sights, sounds and words. And in some cases, researchers say, they have a harder time identifying flavors and determining whether a certain flavor combination would generally … Read : Dementia ‘can take away meaning of flavors’.

Homeopathy is witchcraft, according to Brit docs

LONDON – The British Medical Association has likened homoeopathy to “witchcraft”, and declared that the National Health Service should not pay for it.

Denouncing the use of the alternative medicine, hundreds of members of the BMA said taxpayers … Original article on : Homeopathy is witchcraft, according to Brit docs.

New fire-fighter system to prevent tunnel fire

LONDON – Experts are set to test a system that picks out cars and trucks at risk of catching fire before they enter a tunnel.

Engineers at Siemens in Germany will install their experimental system at Aubinger road tunnel near Munich this month.

Tunnel fires, in most cases, …. Source article  : New fire-fighter system to prevent tunnel fire.

Space shuttle Atlantis closing in for space station docking, astronauts may try to fix cable

Space shuttle closing in for space station docking

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Atlantis is catching up to the International Space Station.
Atlantis and its six astronauts are due at the space station Sunday morning. They will spend a week at the orbiting complex, installing a new Russian compartment and six fresh batteries. They also will …. Original source  : Space shuttle Atlantis closing in for space station docking, astronauts may try to fix cable.

US, Europe look to China for clean energy sales, but Beijing wants to create own competitors

US, Europe look to China for clean energy sales
BEIJING – U.S. leaders want China’s clean energy boom to drive technology exports and are sending a sales mission to Beijing this week. But Beijing wants to create its own suppliers of wind, solar and other equipment and is limiting access to its market, setting … Read more »»».

The ‘garbage girl’ of the mountains (Feature with image)

DHARAMSALA – Every morning, along with a handful of volunteers, including some foreigners, British national Jodie Underhill sets out to collect non-biodegradable waste dumped carelessly in the mountains surrounding McLeodganj, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Himachal Pradesh.

She is a follower of Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama and also a believer in Gandhian … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : The ‘garbage girl’ of the mountains (Feature with image).

Genes that let you live to 100 discovered

LONDON – The secret to longevity probably lies in having the right ’suite’ of genes, according to new studies of centenarians and their families.

Scientists have identified the ‘Methuselah’ genes whose carriers have a much-improved chance of living to 100 despite indulging in an unhealthy lifestyle.

The so-called Methuselah genes- named after the biblical patriarch who … Original source on Gaea Times at : Genes that let you live to 100 discovered.

Telling fibs a sign of future success in children

LONDON – There is no need to worry if a child is lying, claim experts, as it proves the kid has reached an important step in his or her mental development.

What’s more, it’s a sign of future success.fter studying 1,200 children, researchers from the Institute of Child Study at Toronto University, who carried out … Read : Telling fibs a sign of future success in children.

Hollywood film to portray Facebook boss as ‘ruthless, untrustworthy sex maniac’

LONDON – Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg is to be portrayed in a Hollywood film as a ruthless and untrustworthy sex maniac, it has emerged.

Adapted from The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, with a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing, the 40m-pound black comedy is called The Social Network.

The film is a highly …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Scientific breakthrough could offer melanoma cure

LONDON – A long-awaited jab, being hailed as a scientific breakthrough which could offer a cure for cancer, is to be tested on the first British patients within weeks.

According to researchers, it can reverse and even cure melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of the disease, most commonly associated with skin cancer, reports The Daily … Original source on Gaea Times at : Scientific breakthrough could offer melanoma cure.

Experts visit radiation hotspots in Delhi’s Mayapuri

NEW DELHI – A team of experts from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has visited Mayapuri here following reports that radiation exposure was still high in the area, an official said Sunday.

The experts held a meeting late Saturday with the scrap dealers of Mayapuri where the … Original article on : Experts visit radiation hotspots in Delhi’s Mayapuri.

Delhi to swelter at 44 degrees

NEW DELHI – Delhi is set to witness another hot day Sunday with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 44 degrees Celsius. However, there is a possibility of thunderstorm towards the night, an official said.

The capital recorded a minimum of 25.6 degrees, a notch below the average for this time of the season. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Delhi to swelter at 44 degrees.

Astronauts forced into shorter safety survey due to pinched cord; NASA keeps eye on space junk

Astronauts forced into shorter shuttle survey

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A snagged cable forced Atlantis’ astronauts to resort to a more inconvenient and less comprehensive method of inspecting their space shuttle Saturday as they sped toward a weekend rendezvous with the International Space Station.
Mission Control, meanwhile, decided there was no need to move the space station …. Read the original article  : Astronauts forced into shorter safety survey due to pinched cord; NASA keeps eye on space junk.

Puerto Rico struggles to address its premature birth rate, one of the highest in the world

Puerto Rico struggles with high preterm birth rate

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The first thing Dr. Marta Valcarcel notices on a walk through a nursery full of tiny, heavily bandaged babies is the empty incubator in the corner.
She calls out to a nurse who only shakes her head. The infant who came in days earlier …. Source article  : Puerto Rico struggles to address its premature birth rate, one of the highest in the world.

Another hot day in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhi residents experienced yet another hot and humid day Saturday as the day temperature hovered two notches above average at 43.3 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature was five degrees above average at 31.3 degrees.
“Saturday was a hot day and the maximum temperature remained around 43.3 degrees,” said an official of … Original article on : Another hot day in Delhi.

Space shuttle survey stalled by camera troubles; NASA keeps eye on dangerous orbiting junk

Shuttle survey stalled as NASA watches space junk

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Atlantis’ astronauts ran into trouble with a camera system Saturday and had to temporarily put off a safety survey of their ship as they sped toward a weekend rendezvous with the International Space Station.
Flight controllers, meanwhile, were monitoring some space junk that was threatening …. Source article  : Space shuttle survey stalled by camera troubles; NASA keeps eye on dangerous orbiting junk.

Hackers can attack car control systems, warn experts

LONDON – A technological hazard is looming over auto industry. Scientists have warned that, in the future, hackers could be able to take over the control systems of car, disable the brakes and turn off the engine while the vehicle is … Original article on : Hackers can attack car control systems, warn experts.