More Bhakra dam water released, no flood threat in Punjab

CHANDIGARH – The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) Sunday released more water from the Bhakra Dam into the Satluj river, but officials said there was no threat of floods in Punjab.

“BBMB had released 50,000 cusecs of water in the Satluj river yesterday (Saturday) and have again released 6,000 cusecs this (Sunday) morning. But, there is … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : More Bhakra dam water released, no flood threat in Punjab.

Australian prime minister negotiates with independent lawmakers to hang on to power

Australian PM asks independents to save government

CANBERRA, Australia – Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she started negotiating with independent lawmakers Sunday in a bid to cling to power because no major party won a majority of parliamentary seats in Australia’s general elections.
Gillard said she hoped to enlist support for her center-left Labor Party and has …. Source article  : Australian prime minister negotiates with independent lawmakers to hang on to power.

Online millionaires on the rise, says eBay

LONDON – Thinking of opening an online business? Then hurry up, for it is one of the most successful ways of making money, according to new figures.

Seven online businesses will make over 1 million pounds despite only starting last year, says Internet auction site …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Online millionaires on the rise, says eBay.

Yamuna flows above danger mark, people evacuated

NEW DELHI – People were evacuated from low-lying areas along the Yamuna in the capital Sunday as the river continued to flow above the danger mark, an official said.

The water level of the Yamuna stood 22 cm above the danger level at 205.05 metres Sunday, after the release of water from the Hathnikund barrage …. Source article  : Yamuna flows above danger mark, people evacuated.

China launches exclusive internet cafe for teens

BEIJING – China has launched a first-of-its-kind internet cafe exclusively for teenagers with internet filtering software.

The cafe in Beijing promises a maximum online time of two hours so that teenagers’ productive time is not wasted, the People’s Daily reported.
The internet cafe claims to be a “learning fairyland” and has set up computers in pairs … Read : China launches exclusive internet cafe for teens.

New Zealand rescuers save 9 pilot whales that survived beach stranding, 49 mammals are buried

NZ rescuers save 9 whales stranded on beach

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Crews with bulldozers buried 49 pilot whales in sand dunes on an isolated northern New Zealand beach Sunday after rescuers managed to save only nine from a group that was stranded on the beach for two days.
Indigenous Maori elders chanted prayers over the carcasses … Read more : New Zealand rescuers save 9 pilot whales that survived beach stranding, 49 mammals are buried.

Cloudy day, heavy rains likely

NEW DELHI – It was a cool and cloudy Sunday morning in Delhi and the weatherman said parts of the city could see heavy rainfall during the day.

“The skies will remain cloudy and some parts of the city are expected to get one or two spells of heavy rainfall or thundershowers,” said an official of …. Source article  : Cloudy day, heavy rains likely.

Jack Horkheimer, host of ‘Star Gazer’ who popularized naked-eye astronomy, dies at 72

‘Star Gazer’ host Jack Horkheimer dies at 72

MIAMI – Jack Horkheimer, the creator and host of the PBS show “Star Gazer” who helped popularize naked-eye astronomy, has died. He was 72.
The Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium, where Horkheimer was director emeritus, said in a news release that the astronomer died Friday afternoon …. Source  : Jack Horkheimer, host of ‘Star Gazer’ who popularized naked-eye astronomy, dies at 72.

The search for jaguars: Tracking and filming elusive cats a passion for Venezuelan biologist

On a mission to track and save the elusive jaguar

GUATOPO NATIONAL PARK, Venezuela – The search begins where a dirt road ends, in a forest festooned with vines and filled with the chatter of trilling birds. This is the realm of jaguars, and a young biologist has made it her mission to find them.
Emiliana Isasi-Catala …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : The search for jaguars: Tracking and filming elusive cats a passion for Venezuelan biologist.

Over the hump: Dubai camel dairy pushes Camelicious milk toward world markets

Dubai camel dairy hopes to milk health food market

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The camels know the drill by heart.
Just after dawn, they file on their own – always in groups of 12 – into metal stalls for milking. Workers attach automated pumps. The milk flows into a system of chilled pipes that empty into … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Over the hump: Dubai camel dairy pushes Camelicious milk toward world markets.

Water level in Yamuna starts receding

NEW DELHI – The water level in Yamuna river, which crossed the danger mark of 204.8 metre Friday night and reached a high of 205.02 metre Saturday, has started receding, an official said.

The water level is expected to come below the danger mark by Sunday evening, a statement issued by the chief minister’s office said, … Read more : Water level in Yamuna starts receding.

Greenpeace seeks Sonia’s intervention for redrafting bill

NEW DELHI – Environmental NGO Greenpeace Saturday sought National Advisory Council (NAC) chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s intervention for redrafting a proposed legislation that will act as a single window clearance mechanism for GM crops in the country.

According to the organisation, the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill, cleared by the cabinet early this week, proposes …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Rains continue to lash Delhi, more to come (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – Rains continued to lash the Indian capital for the third consecutive day Saturday, hitting life hard with flooding of roads and traffic jams. Heavy to very heavy rains are expected in some areas Sunday.

At many traffic junctions, harried traffic policemen drenched in rain guided motorists struggling to move through slushy water. …. Source article  : Rains continue to lash Delhi, more to come (Second Lead).

You can’t fool a wasp with a false show of bravado

LONDON – Wasps hate cheating rivals – rivals that either ‘look’ strong but can’t fight or the ones that really are tough but don’t look the part.

According to New Scientist, Elizabeth Tibbetts of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and colleagues used paint to make weaker wasps look more fearsome, …. Read the original article  : You can’t fool a wasp with a false show of bravado.

DNA can predict which Chernobyl species are at risk of radioactive damage

LONDON – DNA could be the key to predict which species In Chernobyl are likely to be most severely damaged by radioactive contamination, according to scientists.

The secret to a species’ vulnerability, they say, lies in its DNA.

The discovery could reveal which …. Read the original article  : here.

New mechanism to pave way for methods to screen Alzheimer’s drugs

WASHINGTON – Researchers at UC Davis have found a mechanism by which the amyloid protein damages the brain- a finding that could lead to new ways to screen drugs for Alzheimer’s and similar diseases.

The researchers found that … Read : New mechanism to pave way for methods to screen Alzheimer’s drugs.

Virus may act as ‘late-life-acting’ biopesticide against malaria

WASHINGTON – A naturally occurring virus in mosquitoes could act as a “late-life-acting” insecticide by killing older adult mosquitoes that are responsible for the bulk of malaria transmission, found researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the Johns …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Virus may act as ‘late-life-acting’ biopesticide against malaria.

Female birds cheat ‘to have healthy offspring’

MELBOURNE – Cheating maximizes female birds’ chances of having healthy offspring, according to Australian researchers.

For the study, Associate Professor Simon Griffith and Dr Sarah Pryke of Sydney’s Macquarie University separated a fertile female Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae), and her social partner, by removing the male from the cage for 30 minutes.

They then introduced a virgin … Original article on : Female birds cheat ‘to have healthy offspring’.

Full-body MRI may help detect suspected child abuse

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can easily detect soft-tissue abnormalities, could be used in detecting suspected child abuse in infants.

The study, performed at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, included 21 infants …. Original article  : Full-body MRI may help detect suspected child abuse.

New technique cuts radiation dose associated with abdominal CT scans

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that a new low-dose abdominal computed tomography (CT) technique can reduce the radiation dose associated with abdominal CT scans by 23-66 percent.

The new technique called adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) allows radiologists … Read more >>>.