Keeping busy is the key to happiness

WASHINGTON – People who constantly have something to do, even something pointless, are happier than people who sit idly, says a new study.

Christopher K. Hsee and Adelle X. Yang, of the University of Chicago and and Liangyan Wang, of Shanghai Jiaotong University conducted the study.

The obvious reasons are to make a living, earn money or …. Original source  : Keeping busy is the key to happiness.

Creating power from pee may end the world of its energy woes!

NEW YORK – Portable urinals could one day create power from pee, for researchers at the Bristol Robotics Lab are testing urine as potential energy source.

If researchers are successful, urinals could offer a solution to the world’s energy crisis.

Dr. Loannis Leropoulos, who is heading up the research, says that although the research on urine …. Read the original article  : Creating power from pee may end the world of its energy woes!.

Trojan asteroids around Neptune could turn into comets that might hit Earth

LONDON – Material from the Trojan asteroids that exist around the orbit of Neptune could go on to become comets that could strike our planet, according to a new study.

Many comets swing into the inner solar system every 200 to 300 years.

The origin of such so-called “short-period comets” is unknown but the immediate source …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Trojan asteroids around Neptune could turn into comets that might hit Earth.

‘Crippled’ NASA Spirit Mars Rover may never call home ever again

WASHINGTON – Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has not contacted NASA mission controllers since March 22, and the rover is facing its toughest challenge yet – trying to survive the harsh Martian winter.

The rover team anticipated Spirit would go into a low-power “hibernation” mode since the rover was not able to get to a favourable slope … Read : ‘Crippled’ NASA Spirit Mars Rover may never call home ever again.

Reading terrorists’ minds about imminent attack may soon be possible

WASHINGTON – Ever thought about a technology that allows you to get inside the mind of a terrorist to know how, when and where the next attack will occur? Well, this is not nearly as far-fetched as it seems, says a new Northwestern University study.

The researchers claim that if the test conducted in the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Reading terrorists’ minds about imminent attack may soon be possible.

Sea squirt study offers insight into early development of human embryos

WASHINGTON – In a study on model organism Ciona intestinalis, commonly known as the sea squirt, researchers have uncovered the origin of the heart-jaw connection in vertebrates – a discovery that could provide insight into the early development of human embryos.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered the origins of second heart field …. Original article  : Sea squirt study offers insight into early development of human embryos.

NASA’s Spirit Mars Rover may not call home

WASHINGTON – Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has not contacted NASA mission controllers since March 22, and the rover is facing its toughest challenge yet – trying to survive the harsh Martian winter.

The rover team anticipated Spirit would go into a low-power “hibernation” mode since the rover was not able to get to a favourable slope … Read : NASA’s Spirit Mars Rover may not call home.

Sex is good for your brain

WASHINGTON – A study on rats has suggested that sex apparently can help the brain grow.

The research also showed that sexually active rodents were less anxious than virgins.

The study by Princeton scientists was conducted to see if pleasant but stressful experiences could have an opposite effect, Live Science reported.

Scientists played matchmaker by giving adult … Original source on Gaea Times at : Sex is good for your brain.

Post-traumatic stress disorder lingers even 20 yrs after war

WASHINGTON – In a study focusing on a region of Liberia, researchers found that the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) remains high nearly two decades after the principal conflict there and five years after war in Liberia ended entirely.

Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health assessed the geographical distribution of the long-term …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Post-traumatic stress disorder lingers even 20 yrs after war.

US troops to get translation devices to break language barrier on foreign shores

WASHINGTON – US soldiers working on foreign lands would soon not face any problems in communicating with locals, thanks to new language translation devices being tested by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

For the past four years, scientists at NIST have been conducting detailed performance evaluations of speech translation systems for the [..] Read the original article: here.

Genetic changes linked to diet, alcohol could predict breast cancer severity

WASHINGTON – Epigenetic changes to DNA in breast cancers are directly linked with diet, alcohol, and tumour size, and could hence give a glimpse of the severity of the disease, according to researchers from Brown University and the University of California San Francisco.

The findings point to the emergence of new biomarkers that researchers hope will … Original source on Gaea Times at : Genetic changes linked to diet, alcohol could predict breast cancer severity.

Babies raised by working mums don’t necessarily suffer cognitive setbacks

WASHINGTON – Working mothers are not necessarily harmful to child development, according to a new study.

Researchers at Columbia University say they are among the first to measure the full effect of maternal employment on child development.

In a 113-page monograph, released this week, the authors conclude “that the overall effect of 1st-year maternal employment on child …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Texting may increase medication compliance in teen diabetics

WASHINGTON – Scientists have tapped into teen texting habits to increase medication compliance in adolescent diabetes patients.

Jennifer Dyer, MD, MPH, an endocrinologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, has developed and completed a pilot study that uses weekly, customized text messages to remind adolescent diabetes patients about their personal treatment activities.

At the conclusion of the study, … Original article on : Texting may increase medication compliance in teen diabetics.

Heavy rains lash Delhi, bring back traffic woes

NEW DELHI – Heavy rains lashed Delhi Saturday morning, bringing with it flooded streets and traffic snarls. Commuters had a harrowing time reaching their destinations with long jams reported on most city roads.

Water-logging was reported in Model Town, Lajpat Nagar, Janpat Crossing, Ashram, Mahipalpur Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, Rajpath, Greater Kailash, Mehrauli Badarpur Road and August … Read : Heavy rains lash Delhi, bring back traffic woes.

Maths lays bare sperms’ swimming secrets

MELBOURNE – Why do sperm cells move like tiny, surface-seeking missiles? Well, scientists in the UK may have now found a solution to this long time mystery of human fertility.

The answer may have implications in resolving fertility issues.

UK mathematicians Dr David Smith and Professor John Blake at the University of Birmingham said that multiple …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Orion Nebula provides clues to origin of life on Earth

WASHINGTON – An international team of astronomers investigated the Orion Nebula and found a process that may have played a role in the development of life on Earth.

Fukue and Tamura of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan conducted the research on the properties of light in a massive star-forming region (BN/KL nebula) of the Orion …. Original source  : Orion Nebula provides clues to origin of life on Earth.

Reforestation captures more carbon than industrial plantations: Study

WASHINGTON – Reforestation of damaged forests captures more carbon than controversial softwood monoculture plantations, says new research.

The new find by Australian scientists challenges traditional views on the efficiency of industrial monoculture plantations.

Dr John Kanowski from the Australian Wildlife Conservancy said that reforestation could drive biodiversity unlike single species monoculture plantations.

“We found that restoration planting stored … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Reforestation captures more carbon than industrial plantations: Study.

Increasing number of teens going under the knife – thanks to reality TV

WASHINGTON – It’s not unusual for teenagers to follow fads they see on TV, but a new trend is taking this phenomenon a bit too far, says a new study.

Some reality TV shows tout happiness as just a nip/tuck away – and teens fond of these kinds of programs are more likely to join the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Increasing number of teens going under the knife – thanks to reality TV.

Now, an ‘armour’ to avoid infection from AIDS virus

WASHINGTON – Scientists have developed a new method that creates ‘armour’ in the body – a system that may help fight AIDS infection in its initial stages.

A study by the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient???ficas (CSIC) and led by Mr F???lix Go???i, director of the Biophysics Unit at the CSIC-University of the Basque Country Mixed …. Source  : Now, an ‘armour’ to avoid infection from AIDS virus.

Heavy rains in Delhi, traffic woes again

NEW DELHI – Heavy rains lashed Delhi Saturday morning, bringing much-needed relief to residents from the high humidity. But commuters had a tough time as waterlogging in many areas led to traffic snarls.

“We have received reports of rains in various parts of the capital. There are heavy clouds in the sky. We expect 90 percent … Read more : Heavy rains in Delhi, traffic woes again.