Federal cleanup of former toxic mine site in Idaho draws local opposition

Superfund cleanup in Idaho draws local opposition

KELLOGG, Idaho – People who live around a toxic former silver mining complex in Idaho have a message for federal environmental officials who want to expand a lengthy cleanup effort: Go home, your help is no longer wanted.
Despite the government’s best intentions, some locals think a prolonged federal presence … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Federal cleanup of former toxic mine site in Idaho draws local opposition.

New species of monkey with red, bushy beard found in Amazon rainforest

WASHINGTON – A new species of monkey with a red, bushy beard has been discovered in the Colombian section of the Amazon rain forest, say conservationists.

A scientist first glimpsed Callicebus caquetensis-a type of titi monkey-in the 1960s.

But political strife in the southern Caquet??? Province kept scientists away until 2008, when an expedition finally confirmed … Read this article on Gaea Times at : New species of monkey with red, bushy beard found in Amazon rainforest.

Rs.8,000 fine for stray cattle in Gurgaon

CHANDIGARH – Stray cattle are clearly not helping Gurgaon, a satellite town of the national capital, to project itself as a Millennium City. So, town authorities have now decided to come down heavily on the owners of stray cattle.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) said the owner would have to shell out Rs.8,000 in … Original source on Gaea Times at : Rs.8,000 fine for stray cattle in Gurgaon.

Calif. raw almond producers fight federal regulations, say rules aimed at safety aren’t needed

Raw almond producers fight fed rules
FRESNO, Calif. – Glenn Anderson decided to make a change when he followed in his father’s footsteps by growing almonds near the Central Valley town of Hilmar – he stopped using pesticides and pasteurizing the nuts.

He said it’s paid off in happy customers and sold-out harvests, but Anderson, 76, said …. Read the original article  : here.

Protein that controls liver stem cells, prevents tumor development found

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that a protein known to be involved in a rare hereditary cancer syndrome may have a role in the regulation of liver stem cells and the development of liver cancer.

A research team from the Massachusetts General Hospital said that the protein called merlin, encoded by the NF2 gene, controls the … Read more »»».

Depression ‘dampens sense of smell’

LONDON – Can’t smell the roses? Well, maybe you’re depressed, says a new study, which has found that the part of depressed people’s brain responsible for the sense of smell is smaller than normal.

The new finding could explain why many psychological disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and seasonal affective disorder seem to suppress the sense …. Read the original article  : Depression ‘dampens sense of smell’.

Launch of Facebook ‘panic button’ prompts surge in abuse reports

LONDON – Ever since the launch of the Facebook ‘panic button’ last month, more than 200 users of the social networking site have reported suspicious behaviour.

According to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), which created the application, the figures represent a seven-fold increase in reports.

Facebook, which had resisted the idea at first, welcomed … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Launch of Facebook ‘panic button’ prompts surge in abuse reports.

First Trojan asteroid found in gravitational ‘dead zone’

WASHINGTON – The first Trojan asteroid, 2008 LC18, has been found in a difficult-to-detect stability region at Neptune, called the Lagrangian L5 point.

There are places in space where the gravitational tug between a planet and the Sun balance out, allowing other smaller bodies to remain stable. These places are called Lagrangian points.

So-called Trojan …. Original source  : First Trojan asteroid found in gravitational ‘dead zone’.

Nano-hairpin probe successfully measures electrical activity of cells

LONDON – Scientists have succeeded in using a nanometre-scale probe disguised as part of a biological membrane to infiltrate and monitor a living cell.

And researchers hope that the lipid-coated device will reveal more about the inner workings of cells.

The most common device currently used to record electrical signals within neurons and other cells is …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Nano-hairpin probe successfully measures electrical activity of cells.

Going, going … but still here: Vt. landscape auction selling conservation, with a twist

Auction offers pieces of country for conservation

ROYALTON, Vt. – For $275, you can bid to adopt a purebred ram from Fat Rooster Farm and help its owners for a day during lambing season.
For $1,375, you can bid on helping create habitat for the chestnut-sided warbler and spend a day birdwatching with an expert at Fred …. Original article  : Going, going … but still here: Vt. landscape auction selling conservation, with a twist.

Watch Meteor Shower Tonight

LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com) — Be prepared to watch the sky raining meteors tonight from 10pm till 3am on Friday. The sky will witness an amazing Meteor Shower which you can watch in naked eye.

The Perseid Meteor Shower 2010, which usually occurs during the month of August will be special this year. The falling of the …. Read the original article  : Watch Meteor Shower Tonight.

Video quality doesn’t matter when you’re enjoying what you’re watching

WASHINGTON – Video quality is not that important when you’re enjoying what you’re watching, a new research has revealed.

Researchers from Rice University’s Department of Psychology found that if you like what you’re watching, you’re less likely to notice the difference in video quality of the TV show, Internet video or mobile movie clip.

Philip Kortum, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Video quality doesn’t matter when you’re enjoying what you’re watching.

Father-son relationship may play role in later-life stress

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that boys who recall happy times with their father grow up more emotionally stable and resistant to stress.

“Most studies on parenting focus on the relationship with the mother. But, as our study shows, fathers do play a unique and important role in the mental health of their children …. Read the original article  : here.

Novel genetic pathway for alcoholism found

WASHINGTON – Scientists have pinpointed a novel mutation in a mouse gene, which could provide new insights into the genetic roots of alcoholism in humans.

The mutation, which the researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center and the University of California, San Francisco, have named Lightweight, is in the mouse version of a gene …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Cloudy morning, rains expected in Delhi

NEW DELHI – It was cloudy and humid in Delhi Friday morning and the weatherman said parts of the city could see some rains as the day progresses.

“Rains are expected later in the day in some pockets of the city,” an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Delhi reported a minimum temperature of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Cloudy morning, rains expected in Delhi.

Kill a puma, get $126

Buenos Aires, Aug 13 (IANS/EFE) A provincial government in Argentina is offering a 500-peso ($126) reward for killing every puma, the mountain lions that have been preying on the region’s livestock.

The government of Rio Negro, however, allows only those people who have permits to hunt down the pumas, officials said.
A recent drought in Rio … Read more : Kill a puma, get $126.

BLM ends meetings in Colorado on artist Christo’s proposal to drape fabric over Arkansas River

BLM ends Colo. meetings on artist Christo’s plan

DENVER – Eighteen years after Christo and his late wife envisioned hanging huge fabric panels over the Arkansas River, the artist said Thursday he’s not going to think about his next step if federal regulators don’t support the idea.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude first sketched an early version of “Over …. Source article  : BLM ends meetings in Colorado on artist Christo’s proposal to drape fabric over Arkansas River.

New monkey species discovered in Colombia’s Amazon; researchers say it’s threatened by logging

New Amazon monkey species discovered in Colombia

BOGOTA, Colombia – A new Amazon monkey species has been discovered in Colombia, and researchers said Thursday they believe the small, isolated population is at risk due to the cutting of forests that are its home.
The find was announced by Conservation International, a group that helped finance the research … Read : New monkey species discovered in Colombia’s Amazon; researchers say it’s threatened by logging.

Energy Department official once led company that’s now reworking FutureGen

DOE official once led firm now redoing FutureGen

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A top official in the Department of Energy office who oversees the FutureGen clean-coal project is a past president of a company newly chosen to retrofit a western Illinois power plant instead of finishing the original project in Mattoon.
Critics of the decision to change FutureGen … Read more : Energy Department official once led company that’s now reworking FutureGen.

BLM wraps up public meetings on artist’s proposal to drape fabric over Arkansas River in Colo.

BLM wraps up meetings on Colo. river art proposal

DENVER – Artist Christo says he’s not going to speculate about his next step if federal regulators don’t support his proposal to suspend huge fabric panels over the Arkansas River in Colorado.
Christo and his late wife, Jeanne-Claude, proposed temporarily hanging a total of nearly six miles of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.