Second-hand smoke ‘triggers inflammatory response in lungs’

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the University of Colorado-Denver have found that second-hand smoke triggers a complex inflammatory response in rat lungs.

The team found that two months of exposure to second-hand smoke were enough to cause significant changes in the rats’ lung tissue, and the results were even more profound in rats exposed for four months.

The …. Source  : Second-hand smoke ‘triggers inflammatory response in lungs’.

Decoding wheat genome key to tackling global food shortage

WASHINGTON – Scientists at Liverpool, University of Bristol and the John Innes Centre, have sequenced the entire wheat genome that will help crop breeders select key agricultural traits for breeding – a move that could be the answer to global food shortage.

Scientists have analysed the wheat genome, which is five times larger than the human …. Original source  : Decoding wheat genome key to tackling global food shortage.

Macho men’s unique smell attracts women like magnets!

LONDON – A new research by German psychologists has revealed that macho men have a different type of body odour to others.

It is believed that the phenomenon helps women sniff out alpha males, in the belief they will provide them with healthy kids.

The scented signal may also provide wimps with a subtle warning that there … Read : Macho men’s unique smell attracts women like magnets!.

World’s first known cannibals ate each other for extra nutrition

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that the world’s first known cannibals ate each other to satisfy their nutritional needs.

The humans-as-food determination negates other possibilities, such as cannibalism for ritual’s sake, or cannibalism due to starvation.

In this oldest known case of humans eating humans, other food was available to the diners, but human … Read : World’s first known cannibals ate each other for extra nutrition.

Frog skin may offer ‘kiss of death’ for antibiotic-resistant germs

WASHINGTON – Kissing a frog won’t turn it into a prince – except in fairy tales – but frog’s skin can actually provide a ‘kiss of death’ for antibiotic-resistant germs.

Scientists have claimed that frog skin contains natural substances that could be the basis for a powerful new genre of antibiotics.

In a new study, the team … Read : Frog skin may offer ‘kiss of death’ for antibiotic-resistant germs.

Urine-powered fuel cells to offer pee power to people

WASHINGTON – This could literally be called pee power to the people-researchers have figured out a way to make the world’s first urine-powered fuel cells.

Chemistry postdocs Shanwen Tao and Rong Lan at Heriot-Watt University’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences in Edinburgh are turning pee into electricity and clean water with a prototype fuel cell … Read : Urine-powered fuel cells to offer pee power to people.

Distant star’s sound waves have cycle similar to the Sun’s

WASHINGTON – In an effort to unravel the mysteries of the Sun, including the impacts on Earth of its 11-year cycle, an international team of scientists has successfully probed a distant star and on monitoring the star’s sound waves, they have observed a magnetic cycle analogous to the Sun’s solar cycle.

In the study, scientists at …. Source  : Distant star’s sound waves have cycle similar to the Sun’s.

Walking ‘boosts brain function’

WASHINGTON – Even moderate exercise – like walking – can enhance the connectivity of important brain circuits, combat declines in brain function associated with aging and increase performance on cognitive tasks, say researchers.

In the study, researchers found that moderate walking three times per week for a year increased brain connectivity and brain function in older … Read : Walking ‘boosts brain function’.

Two heads ‘may be better than one’

WASHINGTON – Two heads are better than one, but only when your partner is competent and communicative, according to a new study.

Chris Frith of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at UCL (University College London) and Niels Bohr, Professor in the University of Aarhus, conducted the study to find if two people can combine their … Original source on Gaea Times at : Two heads ‘may be better than one’.

Average-looking female sparrows find good-looking males ‘out of their league’

WASHINGTON – Female house sparrows that are mediocre in the looks department prefer choosing average looking male sparrows for mating, rather than the attractive ones, says a new study.

Researchers from the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology in Vienna, Matteo Griggio and Herbert Hoi have found that unattractive females dare not dream of mating with males …. Source  : Average-looking female sparrows find good-looking males ‘out of their league’.

Mars hoax: ‘No two moons’ on Friday night

WASHINGTON – Scientists are continuously trying to debunk the Mars hoax email that spreads like wildfire every year, an email that says ‘Mars will appear to be as big as the moon on August 27.’

“The possibility of seeing Mars as large as the moon strikes the imagination,” National Geographic News quoted Marc Jobin, staff astronomer … Original source on Gaea Times at : Mars hoax: ‘No two moons’ on Friday night.

Victimized kids exposed to disasters ‘face mental health issues’

WASHINGTON – A new research has found that children who had experienced maltreatment, domestic abuse or peer violence on top of exposure to disaster had more anxiety, depression, and aggression than children who only experienced a disaster.

This study makes it clear that, for some children, those problems may also be related to other stress events … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Victimized kids exposed to disasters ‘face mental health issues’.

Like humans, bacteria make thrift a habit

WASHINGTON – Just as humans sometimes prefer to spend on recyclable materials over use-and-throw items, bacteria too ’spend’ more on proteins that will be used and recycled internally than on proteins that are secreted from the cell and lost to the environment, says a new study.

The bacterium Escherichia coli prefers recyclable proteins over those that …. Read the original article  : Like humans, bacteria make thrift a habit.

Now, excess water dispute between India and Pakistan

FEROZEPUR – They have fought three wars and have been involved in bitter disputes over water sharing. But India and Pakistan are now fighting a battle on a different turf – to get rid of excess water.

With heavy rainfall in the last few weeks in both the countries leading to flooding of several areas – …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Now, excess water dispute between India and Pakistan.

China acquires deep-diving technology

BEIJING – A homemade submersible has reached a depth of 3,759 metres, making China the fifth country to acquire deep-diving technology, a media report said Friday.

The Jiaolong, which is 8.2 metres long and weighs nearly 22 tonnes, was designed to reach a depth of 7,000 metrse and operate in most of the world’s oceans, China …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Antibiotics from frog skin may help fight superbugs

LONDON – Powerful new antibiotics developed from the skin of frogs could take the fight against superbugs to a higher level.

Frog skin is known to have plenty of potent germ-fighting compounds because of the hostile surroundings they inhabit. But these substances are often poisonous to humans.
Now a team at the United Arab …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Antibiotics from frog skin may help fight superbugs.

Bangladesh census to be digitised

DHAKA – Bangladesh, one of the world’s most densely populated nations, will conduct its census next March and the process will be implemented using digital methods for more accuracy.

Planning Minister A.K. Khandker Thursday said the population and housing census, an exercise undertaken every 10 years, will be held across the country in March.
It will … Read more >>.

‘Dry water’ that soaks up carbon faster

LONDON – Scientists have created ‘dry water’ that soaks carbon three times better than water, and hence help combat global warming.

Each particle of dry water, a substance that looks like powdered sugar, contains a water droplet surrounded by a sandy silica coating.
Ben Carter from the University of Liverpool who presented his research at …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Dry water’ that soaks up carbon faster.

Federal judge: Port of Los Angeles’ clean trucks program can proceed

Judge: LA Port’s clean trucks program can proceed

LOS ANGELES – A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Port of Los Angeles can regulate trucks that haul goods in and out of its property to reduce air pollution around the country’s busiest port complex.
U.S. District Court Judge Christina Snyder ruled that the port’s Clean Trucks Program …. Read the original article  : Federal judge: Port of Los Angeles’ clean trucks program can proceed.

Thunderstorm, light rain likely in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhi was cloudy Friday morning and the weatherman said parts of the city could experience a thunderstorm and light rains.

“The skies will be partly cloudy and some parts of the national capital will experience a thunder storm and light showers later in the day,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
The …. Source  : Thunderstorm, light rain likely in Delhi.