Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Science News – Newsletter for June 30, 2010

Wednesday, June 30, 2010


Age doesn’t always affect decision-making

WASHINGTON – When it comes to making intuitive decisions, older adults fare as well as their juniors, a new study shows.

Researchers from North Carolina State University (NCSU) tested groups of young adults (aged 17-28) and community-dwelling older adults (aged 60-86) to see how they fared when making decisions based on intuitive evaluation.
Participants were …. Source  : Age doesn’t always affect decision-making.

Excess oxygen could slow formation of wrinkles

WASHINGTON – An overdose of oxygen could help reduce wrinkle formation by lessening tissue damage due to UVB rays, according to a Japanese study.

In the study, mice that were placed in an oxygen chamber after exposure to UVB radiation developed fewer wrinkles and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Excess oxygen could slow formation of wrinkles.

Ten millennia old hunting weapon discovered in melting ice patch

WASHINGTON – A University of Colorado at Boulder researcher has discovered a 10,000-year-old wooden hunting weapon in a melting ice patch in the Rocky Mountains close to Yellowstone National Park, US.

According to Craig Lee, a research associate with CU-Boulder’s Institute …. Read the original article  : Ten millennia old hunting weapon discovered in melting ice patch.

One side of your brain can be more motivated than the other

WASHINGTON – When it comes to rewards, one side of your brain can be motivated more than the other, according to a study.

Psychologists used to think that motivation was a conscious process-You know you want something, so you try to get it.

But in a previous … Original source on Gaea Times at : One side of your brain can be more motivated than the other.

Advance made towards identifying organic molecules on Titan

WASHINGTON – An experiment, conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona, is helping scientists identify the organic molecules that might exist on Saturn’s moon Titan.

Earth and Titan are the only known planetary-sized bodies that have thick, predominantly nitrogen atmospheres, … Original article on : Advance made towards identifying organic molecules on Titan.

Dental patterns as accurate as DNA

LONDON – A person’s dental patterns can identify a person as accurately as DNA testing in forensics.

Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) in Spain came to this conclusion after analysing the dental patterns of more than 3,000 people.
“There is sufficient dental diversity between people to enable a scientifically-based human identification method to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Dental patterns as accurate as DNA.

A frog’s vibes attracts mates

SYDNEY – Unlike his peers, the red-eyed tree frog does not croak the loudest or make pretty sounds to attract mates but generates vibes to improve its romantic prospects.

The discovery has been made by Flinders University (Australia) senior lecturer and conservation biologist Gregory Johnston and colleagues from Boston University in the US.
They discovered …. Original source  : A frog’s vibes attracts mates.

Why we can’t resist a sinful, dark chocolate cake

WASHINGTON – Scientists have revealed why is it that despite being on a strict diet, some of us can’t help taking a bite of that sinful, dark chocolate cake.

Professor Ray Dolan and his colleagues have shown that increased levels of dopamine – a chemical in the brain involved in mediating reward, motivation, and learning through … Read more : Why we can’t resist a sinful, dark chocolate cake.

In i-Pad era, typewriters still go clickety clack

NEW DELHI – Ravi Robinson has been in love with his rusty but dependable typewriter for 40 long years and the bonds still go strong. In the era of the futuristic i-Pad and compact and high-speed laptop computers, Robinson has no intention of letting go the rickety machine that is his sole source of … Read more »»».

Textaphrenia, textiety, are just a few disorders text addicts suffer

MELBOURNE – A study has revealed that Australian teenagers who are “text addicts” are suffering from a range of serious mental and physical disorders.

The study into youth communication habits identified the risks teens face from texting excessively every day, and the symptoms included anxiety, insecurity, depression, low self-esteem and “repetitive thumb syndrome”.

According to figures …. Original source  : Textaphrenia, textiety, are just a few disorders text addicts suffer.

Soon, a Hawaii-sized eco island made entirely from plastic bottles

LONDON – A team of Dutch scientists are planning to make an island the size of Hawaii entirely from 44million kg of plastic waste.

Recycled island, which is part of an environmental vision for the future, will be made from plastic waste currently bobbing around in the Pacific Ocean.

Solar and wave energy will be used to … Read more >>>.

Did small size prompt the theft of King Tut’s penis?

NEW YORK – Tutankhamun’s penis could have been stolen because the Egyptian boy king was allegedly less-than-endowed.

According to Time magazine, a report in The New Scientist presents the possibility of an anatomical conspiracy.

However, what happened to Tut’s member isn’t the only mystery enshrouding the 19-year-old royal.

Scientists are still debating the cause of his death, …. Source article  : Did small size prompt the theft of King Tut’s penis?.

What helps plants go green?

WASHINGTON – Researchers have found a central part in the machinery that turns plants green when they sense light.

Plants, according to Meng Chen, an assistant professor of biology at Duke, have two different systems to take advantage of light.

The first one is chloroplasts that turn sunlight into fuel via photosynthesis.

The other is a system …. Read the original article  : here.

High doses of caffeine boost performance: Study

WASHINGTON – Scientists have shown that high doses of caffeine directly increase muscle power and endurance during relatively low-intensity activities.

Scientists from Coventry University believe that the findings may lead to the use of caffeine in sport to improve performance.

Currently, caffeine is not considered as a banned substance at any concentration in blood or urine samples.

A … Original article on : High doses of caffeine boost performance: Study.

Genetically defective mice to help understand human depression

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that the strain of genetically defective mice is a useful animal model for laboratory studies that could be useful for understanding human depression.

A unique strain of laboratory mice could have behavioural, hormonal, and neurochemical characteristics that are similar to those of human patients with drug-resistant forms of depression. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Genetically defective mice to help understand human depression.

Why some plants flower in spring while others in summer

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found out that why some plants flower in spring/autumn and some in summer.

A team of researchers from Warwick have isolated a gene responsible for regulating the expression of ‘Constans’, an important inducer of flowering, in Arabidopsis.

‘Being able to understand and ultimately control seasonal flowering will enable more predictable flowering, better …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Why some plants flower in spring while others in summer.

Study shows utility of floating wind turbines

WASHINGTON – The scientists have invented floating ocean-based wind turbines, which could be the next big thing in the renewable energy solutions.

While offshore turbines already have been constructed, they’ve traditionally been situated in shallow waters, where the tower extends directly into the seabed.

This restricts the turbines to near-shore waters with depths no greater than … Original article on : Study shows utility of floating wind turbines.

Canada geese that forced plane’s Hudson River landing still flying near NY airport runways

Geese behind plane’s NY river landing still around

NEW YORK – Canada geese are still free to take off around New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport more than a year after they collided with an airliner and forced it to land in the nearby Hudson River. They’re at the center of a government vs. government … Read more : Canada geese that forced plane’s Hudson River landing still flying near NY airport runways.

Original HIV infection holds its sway despite numerous changes

WASHINGTON – Viruses like the HIV undergo several changes in a bid to evade the body’s immune system but even months later the original version that caused the infection still maintains a presence in the host’s body, new research reveals.

The study, conducted by scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center, is based on … Read : Original HIV infection holds its sway despite numerous changes.

Drizzle expected in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Drizzle is expected Wednesday, but Delhiites will have to wait for another two to three days for the monsoon rains, the weatherman said.

“Duststorm is expected. Even drizzle can occur towards the end of the day. Pre-monsoon showers can come, but monsoon rains will arrive after two to three days,” said an official …. Source article  : Drizzle expected in Delhi.

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