Was Ardi, the oldest hominid skeleton, a human or an ape?

LONDON – A debate has erupted over the classification of Ardipithecus ramidus – popularly called Ardi – as to whether it was more human or an ape.

Researchers are questioning the classification of the oldest hominid skeleton – dated … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Was Ardi, the oldest hominid skeleton, a human or an ape?.

Srinagar-Leh highway closed after snowfall

SRINAGAR – The Srinagar-Leh highway was closed Saturday following heavy rains and fresh snowfall in the Zojilla Pass area of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The 475-km long highway connects the cold desert Ladakh region with the rest of India, an official from the north Kashmir Ganderbal district told IANS.
According to reports reaching here, two …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Srinagar-Leh highway closed after snowfall.

Rivers swell in Kashmir Valley after rains

SRINAGAR – Incessant rains have left the Kashmir Valley’s rivers and streams swollen, prompting authorities to issue a flood alert for Friday.

“There will be rain and thundershowers across the valley in the next 12 hours. The weather will only show signs of improvement by tomorrow (Saturday) evening,” said an official of the weather office here. …. Read the original article  : here.

Successful bionic eye implants Down Under by 2014

MELBOURNE – By 2014, see the emergence of a successful bionic eye in Australia, say scientists.

Experts from Australia’s ICT Research Centre of Excellence, National ICT Australia (NICTA) have showcased a prototype of the 98 electrode eye’s processing system at the CeBit Exhibition.

Senior Research … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Successful bionic eye implants Down Under by 2014.

Two new frog species discovered in Panama

PANAMA CITY – Scientists have discovered two new frog species in Panama’s rainforests at a time when many of the amphibians are threatened by a fungal disease driving them toward extinction.

Pristimantis educatoris was discovered in the Omar Torrijos nature reserve in Cocle province, scientists from the US Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute said Thursday.
The …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Two new frog species discovered in Panama.

Facebook in discussions to install ‘panic button’ link

LONDON – Social networking site Facebook has confirmed that it is in discussion to install a “panic button” on its pages that would link users directly to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

Richard Allan, Facebook’s director of … Read more : Facebook in discussions to install ‘panic button’ link.

Rain in Himachal brings cheer to tourists

SHIMLA – Widespread rain in Himachal Pradesh Friday brought cheer to tourists who have thronged the hill stations to escape the heat wave in the northern plains.

Most of the prominent tourist places in mid and high hills saw a good spell of showers early morning Friday, giving a relief from unusually high temperatures.
“Shimla and … Read more : Rain in Himachal brings cheer to tourists.

It’s official: Indoor tanning linked to melanoma risk

WASHINGTON – Using indoor tanning devices certainly increases a person’s risk of developing melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, say researchers at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and Masonic Cancer Center.

The study, involving 2,268 Minnesotans, is the largest of … Read more : It’s official: Indoor tanning linked to melanoma risk.

Ultrasound could improve tissue implant success

Washington, May 28 (ANI): Ultrasound could help tissue grafts to survive and thrive following surgery, according to a new study.

While it is known that ultrasound imaging typically requires frequencies that are 50 to 2500 times higher than those human ear can detect, recent increasing evidence indicates that ultrasound at … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Ultrasound could improve tissue implant success.

Corkscrew shape key to gut bug’s survival

Washington, May 28 (ANI): The shape of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which lives in the human stomach and is associated with ulcers and gastric cancer, is critical in its ability to colonise the stomach.

For …. Source  : Corkscrew shape key to gut bug’s survival.

Bursting ‘bubbles’ behind the origin of ‘halo’ gas clouds in our Galaxy

Washington, May 28 (ANI): By using CSIRO’s Parkes telescope, scientists have observed that just like bubbles burst on the surface of a glass of champagne, ‘bubbles’ in our Galaxy burst and leave flecks of material in the form of clouds of … Original article on : Bursting ‘bubbles’ behind the origin of ‘halo’ gas clouds in our Galaxy.

Racial bias kills natural tendency to pity

Washington, May 28 (ANI): Witnessing the suffering and pain of another person makes people’s nervous system respond in the same way it would if they were feeling that pain themselves. Now, researchers claim that this kind of empathy is diminished when people (black …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Next generation HazMat boots to be more comfy

Washington, May 28 (ANI): When responding to situations where hazardous materials (HazMat) are present, the rubber boots that emergency personnel wear may be functional, but they’re not very comfortable, Now, a new study from North Carolina State University …. Read the original article  : here.

New discovery may explain how certain cancers develop

Washington, May 28 (ANI): A new discovery made by a Florida State University College of Medicine researcher may help explain how certain cancers develop.

Yoichi Kato, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and his lab team …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : New discovery may explain how certain cancers develop.

Novel sperm stem-cell technique helps produce genetically modified rats

London, May 28 (ANI): Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have used a novel sperm stem-cell technique to produce genetically modified rats.

For 20 years, the laboratory mouse has been the workhorse of biomedical studies and the only mammal whose … Read : Novel sperm stem-cell technique helps produce genetically modified rats.

Why winds on Venus blow faster than the planet’s rotation

Melbourne, May 28 (ANI): Scientists may have found the answer to the long time puzzle – why do winds on the planet Venus blow faster than the planet’s rotation.

Venus rotates once every 243 Earth days, but it takes just 4 Earth days for clouds … Read more »»».

Duststorm brings down mercury level in Delhi

NEW DELHI – A dust haze since early Friday spelt good news for the capital’s residents as it brought down the mercury and paved way for a relatively pleasant day ahead compared to the sweltering heat of the past few weeks.

According to an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature recorded early … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Duststorm brings down mercury level in Delhi.

Marine bacteria pitch in to help clean Deepwater Horizon spill

London, May 28 (ANI): Researchers have found that dozens of different kinds of marine bacteria are hard at work to help clean the oil spill in Gulf of Mexico.

Jay Grimes of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg reported …. Read the original article  : Marine bacteria pitch in to help clean Deepwater Horizon spill.

Early humans lived in Savannas, not forests

Washington, May 28 (ANI): Pre-humans living in East Africa 4.4 million years ago inhabited savannas, grassy plains dotted with trees and shrubs, according to a team of researchers.

This theory opposes another theory – that of Berkeley researcher Tim D. White – who said that early humans occupied … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Early humans lived in Savannas, not forests.

Increasing urine BPA level tied to worsening male sexual function

Washington, May 28 (ANI): Raising Bisphenol-A levels in urine is linked to worsening male sexual function, according to a study.

The Kaiser Permanente research has been published online in the Journal of Andrology.

Increasing urine BPA level is tied to decreased sexual desire, more difficulty having an erection, lower ejaculation strength and lower level of overall satisfaction … Original source on Gaea Times at : Increasing urine BPA level tied to worsening male sexual function.