How gain and loss affect optimistic and pessimistic brains

WASHINGTON – Our belief in whether we would succeed or fail at a given task-and the consequences of winning or losing-directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, said neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Richard A. Andersen, the James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience … Read this article on Gaea Times at : How gain and loss affect optimistic and pessimistic brains.

John the Baptist’s remains may be in 5th century Black Sea monastery

WASHINGTON – The remains of John the Baptist, the biblical prophet famous for baptizing Jesus, may be present in a 5th century monastery in the Black Sea.

Bulgarian archaeologists excavating under an ancient basilica last week unearthed a reliquary, or a container full of human relics.

Bone fragments of a human skull, hand and tooth were found …. Source article  : John the Baptist’s remains may be in 5th century Black Sea monastery.

Man who died 4,000 years ago gets face and voice

WELLINGTON – The Bronze Age Gristhorpe Man, who died about 4,000 years ago, now has a face and voice, thanks to academics in Yorkshire.

Using state-of-the-art computer programme and forensic techniques, scientists have reconstructed the face of the Gristhorpe Man.

The skeleton of the Bronze Age man, thought to be a warrior chief, was discovered in … Read : Man who died 4,000 years ago gets face and voice.

Deep brain stimulation may help Alzheimer’s patients

WASHINGTON – Doctors in Toronto, Canada have proved that the use of Deep Brain Stimulation on patients with early signs of Alzheimer’s is safe and it may help in improving their memory.

Dr. Andres M. Lozano and his team at Toronto Western Hospital carried out the phase one safety trial of six Ontario patients that took … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Deep brain stimulation may help Alzheimer’s patients.

India, Nepal join hands to protect wildlife

NEW DELHI – India and Nepal have signed an agreement to jointly protect wildlife in the Himalayan region along the border, an wildlife conservation society official said.

Besides jointly guarding forests, the two neighbours will coordinate the implementation of their national action plans to protect tigers, rhinos and elephants, said Samir Sinha, head of TRAFFIC India, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : India, Nepal join hands to protect wildlife.

Prayer really is capable of healing the sick

LONDON – The power of prayer really can help cure the sick, according to a new study.

A US team from Indiana University, led by religious studies professor Candy Gunther Brown, examined the effects of prayer in Mozambique and Brazil where spiritual healing for the blind and deaf is common.

In the African country, a woman named … Read more »»».

Regrowing lost limbs may soon be a reality

WASHINGTON – Here’s some hope for those who lose limbs due to war, accident, or disease – a research on salamanders that may help turn the long-standing dream of human limb regeneration into reality.

An article in the current issue of Chemical and Engineering News (C and EN), ACS’ weekly newsmagazine, says that this …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Regrowing lost limbs may soon be a reality.

Tiny fish evolved to survive colder temperatures in 3yrs: Study

WASHINGTON – University of British Columbia researchers have observed that in just three years, stickleback fish developed tolerance for water temperature 2.5 degrees Celsius lower than their ancestors.

This find proves that evolution may help populations survive effects of climate change.

“This made sense from an evolutionary perspective because their ancestors were able to adapt to freshwater …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tiny fish evolved to survive colder temperatures in 3yrs: Study.

Astronomers obtain 3D view of stellar explosion for the first-time

WASHINGTON – Astronomers have obtained a three-dimensional view of the distribution of the innermost material expelled by a recently exploded star.

The Very Large Telescope showed that the blast more concentrated in one particular direction – indicating that the supernova must have been very turbulent.

Supernova 1987A was the first naked-eye supernova to be observed for 383 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Astronomers obtain 3D view of stellar explosion for the first-time.

425m-year-old blob-like ocean creature revealed in a 3-D model

WASHINGTON – Scientists have revealed a 3-D computer model of a unique blob-like creature that lived in the ocean approximately 425 million years ago.

The model is helping researchers to understand what primitive species on early Earth looked like and how they might have evolved.

The scientists from Imperial College London found the creature named Drakozoon 6 …. Source  : 425m-year-old blob-like ocean creature revealed in a 3-D model.

Oz sponge may help shed light on life’s origin

LONDON – Rice University’s researchers have established a draft genome sequence for Amphimedon queenslandica, a sponge found off the coast of Australia – that can help them understand life’s origin on Earth.

Sponges date back at least 650 million years, and are thought to be the first group of animals to branch from all the others.

Therefore, … Original article on : Oz sponge may help shed light on life’s origin.

100mn-year-old cat-like croc fossil found in East Africa

LONDON – Ohio University researchers have uncovered the skeleton of an ancient crocodile with mammal-like teeth in the Rukwa Rift Basin of Tanzania.

“If you only looked at the teeth, you wouldn’t think this was a crocodile. You would wonder what kind of strange mammal or mammal-like reptile it is,” said study lead author Patrick O’Connor.

Its …. Original source  : 100mn-year-old cat-like croc fossil found in East Africa.

Traveling by car ‘contributes to global warming much more than by plane’

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that driving a car increases global temperatures in the long run more than making the same long-distance journey by air.

However, in the short run traveling by air has a larger adverse climate impact because airplanes strongly affect short-lived warming processes at high altitudes.

In the study, Jens Borken-Kleefeld … Read : Traveling by car ‘contributes to global warming much more than by plane’.

Personality traits in childhood are strong predictor of adult behavior

WASHINGTON – A new research has found that personality traits observed in childhood are a strong predictor of adult behaviour.

Using data from a 1960s study of approximately 2,400 ethnically diverse elementary schoolchildren in Hawaii, researchers at the University of California, Riverside, the Oregon Research Institute and University of Oregon compared teacher personality ratings of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Experts warn against iPhone security flaw

LONDON – A hole in Apple’s iOS for iPhone, iPad and iPod could make the devices vulnerable to remote attackers, warned security firms.

Symantec said that it could be exploited by remote attackers to take complete control of a vulnerable device.

Experts said that the threat, at present, only exists on paper but Apple should issue a … Read more >>>.

Japanese robot to allow long distance chats by mimicking speakers’ movements

NEW YORK – The newly designed Japanese robot- Telenoid R1- has no legs, stumps instead of arms, and is only as tall as a young child, but its forte is that it can allow people to “chat” from long distances by mimicking the movements of the speaker.

Designed by Japanese robotocist Hiroshi Ishiguro, the device is …. Source  : Japanese robot to allow long distance chats by mimicking speakers’ movements.

Getting rid of basic obstacle brings invisibility cloak closer to reality

LONDON – By overcoming a fundamental obstacle in using new “metamaterials”, researchers have come closer to optical technologies, including ultra-powerful microscopes and computers and a possible invisibility cloak.

The metamaterials have been plagued by a major limitation-too much light is “lost,” or absorbed by metals such as silver and gold contained in the metamaterials, making them … Original article on : Getting rid of basic obstacle brings invisibility cloak closer to reality.

Britain secret file says massive UFO spotted

LONDON – A spaceship that was “20 times the size of a football field” was spotted hovering over Britain’s Manchester airport nearly 15 years back, says a secret defence ministry file that was released Thursday.

The huge spacecraft was seen by a UFO expert in 1995 and its sketch was sent to the defence ministry, The … Read more : Britain secret file says massive UFO spotted.

95 genetic variants linked to heart disease identified

LONDON – An international team of researchers co-led by the University of Michigan School of Public Health has found 95 regions of the human genome where genetic variants are associated with blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which are major indicators of heart disease risk.

Of the total, 59 variants were associated with cholesterol and triglyceride … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 95 genetic variants linked to heart disease identified.

New forensic test to match suspects’ DNA with crime samples in 4hrs

WASHINGTON – A newly developed forensic test could help police to check on whether a person’s DNA matches that found at past crime scenes while suspects are still being processed and before a decision on whether to release them on bail.

The test could make checking DNA from people arrested for crimes with DNA samples from …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : New forensic test to match suspects’ DNA with crime samples in 4hrs.