Why killer whales and human females stop breeding early?

LONDON – The evolutionary mystery of menopause is a step closer to being solved, thanks to new research on killer whales.

A study by the Universities of Exeter and Cambridge has found a link between killer whales, pilot whales and humans – the only three known species where females stop breeding relatively early in their lifespan. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Why killer whales and human females stop breeding early?.

How do we recognise people at first glance?

LONDON – Scientists have tried to explain how human beings recognise faces of their own kind at first glance — be it a nice waitress in the coffee shop around the corner, the bus driver or colleagues at the office — but not those of other species.

Monkeys also possess the remarkable ability to differentiate faces …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : How do we recognise people at first glance?.

Anti-aging pill shows hope in female infertility

WASHINGTON – Taking anti-aging pills could improve the chances of conception in infertile women, says a study.

Adrian Shulman, professor of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine, has found a connection between the vitamin supplement DHEA, used to counter the effects of aging, and successful pregnancy rates in women.
DHEA is a naturally-occurring steroid found [..] Read the original article: here.

Tibetans underwent ‘fastest genetic change’ in human history to thrive at high altitude

WASHINGTON – Tibetans split off from the Han Chinese some 3,000 years ago and since then rapidly developed a unique ability to thrive at high altitudes and low oxygen levels, researchers have ascertained after comparing the genomes of 50 Tibetans and 40 Han Chinese.

The genome-wide comparison, carried out by evolutionary biologists at the University of …. Original article  : Tibetans underwent ‘fastest genetic change’ in human history to thrive at high altitude.

IPads, TVs could soon be rolled up like newspapers

MELBOURNE – New-age gadgets like Apple’s iPads and televisions could soon be rolled up like newspapers, thanks to a new technology being developed by researchers in Australia and Italy.

Researchers at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Melbourne University and Italy’s University of Padua were using laser technology to make products – including televisions, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Having BFFs helps female baboons live longer

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that female baboons that maintain closer ties with other members of their troop live substantially longer than do those whose social bonds are less stable.

The researchers say that the findings add to evidence in animals from mice to humans that social bonds have real adaptive value.

“Our results suggest … Original source on Gaea Times at : Having BFFs helps female baboons live longer.

Man in the moon has ‘graphite whiskers’

WASHINGTON – Scientists have established the presence of graphite, a form of carbon, in a lunar sample collected by Apollo 17. The new analysis also revealed that graphite has existed on the Moon from around 3.8 billion years ago, when the lunar surface came under heavy bombarded by meteorites.

The research appears in the journal Science.

Until …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Man in the moon has ‘graphite whiskers’.

Scientists identify gene regulating human brain development

WASHINGTON – Scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have identified a single gene that seems to be a master regulator of human brain development, guiding undifferentiated stem cells down tightly defined pathways to becoming all of the many types of cells that make up the brain.

The new finding is important because it reveals the main [..] Read the original article: here.

Essence Music Fest, educators and cleanup crews fill New Orleans over the 4th of July holiday

Essence Fest helps sustain New Orleans amid spill

NEW ORLEANS – For all the talk of the BP oil spill scaring tourists away from Louisiana and the beaches of Mississippi, Alabama and western Florida, one city in the region has stayed full of visitors since the crisis began.
New Orleans has seen steady convention traffic and a …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Anaesthetic agent major contributor to global warming: Study

WASHINGTON – Inhaled anaesthetics widely used for surgery-particularly the anaesthetic desflurane – are a major contributor to global warming, according to a new study.

Dr. Susan M. Ryan of University of California and computer scientist Claus J. Nielsen of University of Oslo said that sevoflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane are recognized greenhouse gases.

Using desflurane for one hour …. Original article  : Anaesthetic agent major contributor to global warming: Study.

Killer whales shed new light on human menopause

WASHINGTON – A new research on killer whales could help solve the evolutionary mystery of menopause.

Scientists at the Universities of Exeter and Cambridge have found that killer whales, pilot whales and humans are the only three known species where females experience menopause.

The study cites the reason as increasing genetic relations with those they live, in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Killer whales shed new light on human menopause.

Acupuncture boosts exercise tolerance in heart patients

WASHINGTON – A new study indicates that acupuncture can improve exercise tolerance in patients suffering from chronic heart failure.

Dr. Johannes Backs, physician and study director at the Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology – Medical Director: Professor Dr. Hugo Katus) of Heidelberg University Hospital conducted the clinical pilot study.

Patients with this disease … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Acupuncture boosts exercise tolerance in heart patients.

Russia builds world’s largest telescope in Antarctica

Moscow, July 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The construction of the world’s largest telescope, worth $271 million, will be completed in 2011, Russian space agency Roscosmos said.

“The telescope’s size exceeds the overall height of the Empire State Building, the Sears Tower in Chicago and the Shanghai World Financial Centre,” Roscosmos said.
The IceCube telescope designed by researchers … Original source on Gaea Times at : Russia builds world’s largest telescope in Antarctica.

Hepatitis C-related virus in Asian bats could cut human infections

WASHINGTON – A virus related to hepatitis C, found in Asian bats, could offer insights into the origins of the hepatitis C virus and into the mechanisms by which infectious diseases move from other species to humans, according to researchers.

Transmitted by blood transfusion or sexual intercourse, hepatitis C is a common cause of liver failure. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Hepatitis C-related virus in Asian bats could cut human infections.

Genes behind whether you’ll live till 100 discovered

LONDON – A mix of around 150 variations in DNA sequence could act as an effective predictor of whether a person has the genetic artillery to live up to 100 years, researchers have found.

The finding is the result of a trawl through the genomes of more than 1,000 centenarians, scouring about 300,000 sequence variations for … Read more »».

Anti-aging supplement a fountain of hope for wannabe mums

WASHINGTON – An over-the-counter anti-aging supplement could be a fountain of hope for women who want to become mothers, revealed a Tel Aviv University study.

Prof. Adrian Shulman of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Meir Medical Center has found a statistical connection between the over-the-counter vitamin supplement DHEA, used to counter the … Original article on : Anti-aging supplement a fountain of hope for wannabe mums.

Highways, roads to go green in Himachal

SHIMLA – Highways in Himachal Pradesh are all set to go green with the government planning to start a massive plantation drive this month along the major roads, an official said here Friday.

“To make the roads in the state commuter’s delight, we are going to introduce the concept of blooming highways,” a government spokesperson told …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Marijuana derivative may ease neuropathic pain sans side effects

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that a new compound similar to the active component of marijuana (cannabis) can provide effective pain relief without the mental and physical side effects of cannabis.

The synthetic cannabinoid (cannabis-related) compound, called MDA19, seems to avoid the side effects by acting mainly on one specific subtype of the cannabinoid receptor.

“MDA19 … Read more »».

Genetic discovery could lead to baldness cure

WASHINGTON – Baldness, a trauma for men and women alike, could finally be cured – thanks to a new discovery by researchers.

Researchers have linked alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes hair thinning and hair loss, to eight genes, which are also related to other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and typ-1 diabetes, Health Day …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Wait for monsoon continues in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhiites will have to wait a few more days to enjoy monsoon showers. The capital is expected to receive light showers Friday but the day temperature will remain high, a weather official said.

The city Friday recorded a minimum of 27.7 degrees Celsius – normal for this time of the season. …. Source article  : Wait for monsoon continues in Delhi.