Wildfires in Russia, Canada create poisonous ring around planet

Moscow, Aug 12 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Raging forest fires in central Russia, Siberia and western Canada have created an enormous cloud of pollutants covering the northern hemisphere, according to NASA.

Carbon monoxide, one of the most poisonous gases released into the atmosphere from forest fires, has been detected well outside the territories of Russia and Canada.
NASA’s … Read more : Wildfires in Russia, Canada create poisonous ring around planet.

Delhi’s overcast sky may obscure meteor shower

NEW DELHI – The capital’s cloudy sky may act as a spoilsport for those looking forward to gaze at the night sky streaked with light in a celestial spectacle of the Perseid meteor shower Thursday.

If the cloud cover remains, skygazers will miss out on the spectacle of over 100 sparkling meteors, supposed to occur … Original source on Gaea Times at : Delhi’s overcast sky may obscure meteor shower.

Oldest Earth mantle reservoir discovered on Baffin Island

LONDON – Scientists have discovered evidence for the oldest Earth mantle reservoir on Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic.

The Earth’s mantle is a rocky, solid shell that is between the Earth’s crust and the outer core, and makes up about 84 percent of the Earth’s volume. The mantle is made up of many distinct portions …. Source  : Oldest Earth mantle reservoir discovered on Baffin Island.

Students who learn more in kindergarten earn more as adults: Study

WASHINGTON – A new research has revealed that students who learn more in kindergarten earn more as adults and are also more successful overall.

Harvard University economist John Friedman says he and a group of colleagues found that students who progress during their kindergarten year from attaining an average score on the Stanford Achievement Test to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Students who learn more in kindergarten earn more as adults: Study.

Park Service recruits students to guard historic sites, diversify force on fast-track to jobs

Park Service has students guard historic sites

BALTIMORE – Growing up in the city, Tia Solomon’s friends from her hometown of Philadelphia didn’t really know what park rangers do, so there were more than a few snickers when the 20-year-old sophomore said she had become one.
Her assignment: keeping watch over the front gate of Baltimore’s historic …. Source  : Park Service recruits students to guard historic sites, diversify force on fast-track to jobs.

High stress may delay pregnancy

LONDON – High stress levels can delay pregnancy, a scientific study has found.

Researchers at Oxford University measured stress hormones in women planning a baby naturally and found the most stressed had a reduced chance of becoming pregnant.

The study followed 274 healthy women aged 18-40 planning a pregnancy.

Age, smoking, obesity and alcohol are known to affect …. Original article  : High stress may delay pregnancy.

Harry Potter-style invisibility cloak can now be made from silk

WASHINGTON – Always worn silk with golden embroidery to stand out in a crowd? Well, now you can wear the shimmering garment to become invisible in a crowd, just like Harry Potter in the wizard films.or the first time ever, scientists have created an invisibility cloak made from silk, and coated in gold.

The new … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Harry Potter-style invisibility cloak can now be made from silk.

Humans hunted for meat with stone tools a million years earlier than believed

WASHINGTON – The Swiss Army Knife and the Big Mac is not as recent as it was thought, for scientists have found evidence that human ancestors were using stone tools and consuming meat from large mammals nearly a million years earlier than previously documented.

While working in the Afar Region of Ethiopia, an international team of …. Read the original article  : Humans hunted for meat with stone tools a million years earlier than believed.

Why chimps attack humans

WASHINGTON – Increasing encroachment of natural habitat is the reason for conflicts between man and his closest relative, the chimpanzee – says a new study.

Scientists from Kyoto University, Japan have said that chimpanzees in Guinea are attacking humans as wild habitat is increasingly converted for agriculture.

The village of Bossou in southeastern Guinea has been … Original article on : Why chimps attack humans.

Now, ‘needle-free’ natural vaccine against malaria

WASHINGTON – Preventative treatment antibiotics in people living in areas with intense malaria transmission has the potential to act as a ‘needle-free’ natural vaccine against malaria, says a new study.

Researchers from the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (LSHTM), Heidelberg University School of Medicine, the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Germany, and the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Now, ‘needle-free’ natural vaccine against malaria.

New brain study may help predict anxiety, depression in young

LONDON – A new study has pinpointed the brain regions that are relevant to developing childhood anxiety.

The findings may lead to new strategies for early detection and treatment of at-risk children.

“Children with anxious temperaments suffer from extreme shyness, persistent worry and increased bodily responses to stress,” says Ned H. Kalin, chair of psychiatry … Original source on Gaea Times at : New brain study may help predict anxiety, depression in young.

‘Deathstalker’ scorpion venom could improve anti-brain cancer gene therapy

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that an ingredient in the venom of the ‘deathstalker’ scorpion could help gene therapy become an effective treatment for brain cancer.

The substance allows therapeutic genes – genes that treat disease – to reach more brain cancer cells than current approaches, according to the study.

Miqin Zhang and colleagues note that gene …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

You don’t have to lift heavy weights to build muscle, suggests study

WASHINGTON – It is widely believed that lifting heavy weights is the key to build muscle size. However, a new study has shown that a similar degree of muscle building can be achieved by using lighter weights.

The secret, researchers at McMaster University say, is to pump iron until you reach muscle fatigue.

“Rather than …. Read the original article  : You don’t have to lift heavy weights to build muscle, suggests study.

Anger makes people want to seek rewards: Study

WASHINGTON – People who are angry pay more attention to rewards than to threats, according to a new study.

Previous research has shown that emotion affects what someone pays attention to. If a fearful or anxious person is given a choice of a rewarding picture, like a sexy couple, or a threatening picture, like a person … Read more : Anger makes people want to seek rewards: Study.

Fasting during pregnancy may harm your unborn baby

LONDON – Pregnant women could be putting their unborn babies at risk by fasting during Ramadan, says a new study.

As part of the research, Nick Ashton at the University of Southampton, UK, and colleagues at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia analysed records of 7000 babies born in a Saudi hospital over a four-year …. Read the original article  : Fasting during pregnancy may harm your unborn baby.

Rubik’s cube can be solved in just 20 moves

LONDON – A team of experts has finally found the answer to a long-standing question: How many moves does it take to solve a Rubik Cube?

A maximum of 20 moves is all it takes, according to a new study.

With the help of Google to check all 43 quintillion possible jumbled positions the cube can take, …. Original source  : Rubik’s cube can be solved in just 20 moves.

‘Angled, down-the-side’ is the best way to pour champagne

WASHINGTON – Scientists in France have reported that pouring bubbly in an angled, down-the-side way is best for preserving the taste and fizz of the champagne.

The study also reports the first scientific evidence confirming the importance of chilling champagne before serving to enhance its taste, the scientists say.

G???rard Liger-Belair and colleagues note that … Read more »»».

Facebook vows new measures against bullying

LONDON – Social networking website Facebook will develop new security measures to combat a surge in bullying of strangers with offensive messages, termed “trolling” in internet parlance.

Officials at Facebook are working on new systems to fight “trolling”, where anonymous online users bombard victims with offensive messages or abuse, the Daily Telegraph reported.
A growing number …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Facebook vows new measures against bullying.

Salmonella is the new weapon against cancer

LONDON – Salmonella bacteria could be used in the war against cancer after it was found to trigger the body’s own defence system against the disease.

Scientists have discovered that treating tumours with the Salmonella can induce an immune response that effectively kills cancer cells – and also vaccinates against further growth, reports the Telegraph. [..] Read the original article: here.

DNA fingerprinting not exactly reliable in forensics

LONDON – DNA evidence is not exactly reliable in criminal investigation as interpretation of samples can be highly subjective and prone to error, says a new study.

The incredibly small amount of DNA in samples and pressure to gain a conviction can lead to bias, according to an investigation by New Scientist, reports the Daily … Read more »».