Chubby chaps ‘better in bed’

LONDON – Chubby chaps can actually make love for longer, says a new study.

Their sex sessions last an average 7.3 minutes, according to researchers from Erciyes University in Turkey, reports the Daily Express.

The reason is that they are much less likely to suffer from premature ejaculation.

Meanwhile, the slim lovers who are likely to leave women … Read more »».

NASA eyes unprecedented mission to unlock Sun’s biggest mysteries

WASHINGTON – NASA is developing an unprecedented mission to study the Sun closer than ever before.

The project, named Solar Probe Plus, is scheduled to launch no later than 2018.

The small car-sized spacecraft will plunge directly into the Sun’s atmosphere approximately four million miles from our star’s surface.

It will explore a region no other spacecraft ever … Read more »»».

Corals, big mammals to go extinct in future catastrophic event?

WASHINGTON – Corals, big mammals and many tropical species could all go extinct in what could be a major extinction event in the not too distant future, predict scientists who are attempting to forecast the fate of today’s animals by studying what happened to those in the distant past.

The Earth is in the middle of …. Original article  : Corals, big mammals to go extinct in future catastrophic event?.

Discovery of cerebral cortex in marine worm offers insights into evolution

WASHINGTON – Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have discovered a true counterpart of the cerebral cortex in an invertebrate, a marine worm.

Our cerebral cortex, or pallium, is a big part of what makes us human: art, literature and science would not exist had this most fascinating part of our …. Read the original article  : Discovery of cerebral cortex in marine worm offers insights into evolution.

Implantable artificial kidney set to make dialysis history

WASHINGTON – UCSF team led by an Indian-origin scientist has unveiled a prototype model of the first implantable artificial kidney-a feat that one day could eliminate the need for dialysis

The device, which would include thousands of microscopic filters as well as a bioreactor to mimic the metabolic and water-balancing roles of a real kidney, is …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Implantable artificial kidney set to make dialysis history.

Novel anti-malarial drug candidate discovered

WASHINGTON – Researchers discovered a novel compound that shows promise as a next generation treatment for drug resistant malaria.

Scientists at the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD), achieved the above feat in collaboration with researchers from the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF), the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and The Scripps [..] Read the original article: here.

Ultraviolet starlight key to making water in space

WASHINGTON – ESA’s Herschel infrared space observatory has discovered the key ingredient for making water in space- ultraviolet starlight.

And the finding is the only explanation for why a dying star is surrounded by a gigantic cloud of hot water vapour.

When astronomers discovered an unexpected cloud of water vapour around the old star IRC+10216 in 2001, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ultraviolet starlight key to making water in space.

Canadian honour for M.S. Swaminathan

VANCOUVER – M.S. Swaminathan, one of the pioneers of the Green Revolution in India, will receive an honorary doctorate from Canada’s University of Alberta for his contribution to food security in the world.

The Edmonton-based university, which has forged strong relationship with India thanks to its Sri Lankan-born president Indira Samarasekera, said the world-renowned Indian agriculture …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Academic performance in adolescence linked to gene variants

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that the academic performance of adolescents will suffer in at least one of four key subjects-English, math, science, history-if their DNA contains one or more of three specific dopamine gene variations.

Kevin M. Beaver of The Florida State University sheds new light on the genetic components of academic performance …. Original source  : Academic performance in adolescence linked to gene variants.

Former egg farm workers say complaints ignored by USDA employees working at the site

Former egg farm workers say complaints ignored

DES MOINES, Iowa – U.S. Agriculture Department employees worked full-time at two Iowa egg farms at the center of a salmonella outbreak and massive recall, but two former workers said they ignored complaints about conditions at one site.
The USDA employees worked next to areas where roughly 7.7 million caged … Read more »».

Ants really do scare elephants

WASHINGTON – They may be tiny, but ants can bring giant elephants down to their knees, according to a new study that reveals that elephants in the savannah have good reason to be scared of the tiny insects.

Columns of angered ants will crawl up into elephant trunks to repel the hungry beasts from devouring tree …. Original source  : Ants really do scare elephants.

‘Magical’ process turns one kiwifruit into 100 bioplastic utensils!

WELLINGTON – New Zealand researchers have performed a feat nothing less than magic, by converting one kiwifruit into 100 plastic spoons and sewage into electricity.

Scion, a Crown research institute in Rotorua, has developed technology to turn organic materials and waste into compostable bioplastics such as spoons and knifes, called “spifes”.

“We do a ‘reactive transformation’ – … Read : ‘Magical’ process turns one kiwifruit into 100 bioplastic utensils!.

Why older women are less likely to produce children

LONDON – Scientists may soon discover why older women are more likely to produce abnormal eggs.

The Newcastle University team saw a fall in levels of proteins called cohesins, essential for chromosomes to divide properly for fertilisation.

Abnormal eggs are linked to infertility, miscarriage and conditions including Down’s Syndrome.

It was already known that pregnancy problems in older … Original article on : Why older women are less likely to produce children.

2001 Indian ‘red rain’ showered earth with ‘alien life’, claim theorists

MELBOURNE – After nine years of research, panspermia theorists have said that the ‘red’ rains that occurred in India in July 2001 contained bugs that were unlike anything ever found on the Earth, suggesting that it may be an alien form of life.

Panspermia is the idea that all life on Earth was seeded from comets, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Cigarette smoke may cause inflammation through a new chemical pathway

WASHINGTON – Cigarette smoke causes a key enzyme that regulates the body’s response to inflammation, to shut off, according to a new study.esearchers at University of Alabama at Birmingham found that smoke causes the enzyme to shut down white blood cells following a successful response to inflammation.

The study also found a previously unknown substrate …. Read the original article  : Cigarette smoke may cause inflammation through a new chemical pathway.

Naughty monkey on prowl for spectacles

SHIMLA – A naughty monkey is not seeing eye to eye with residents of the Himachal Pradesh capital. He is focusing instead on their spectacles and running away with them!

The ‘farsighted’ monkey even enters an office and decamps with a pair of glasses.
In the past week, it has taken away five spectacles from … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Naughty monkey on prowl for spectacles.

Laser-based missile defense for helicopters on the anvil

WASHINGTON – A new laser technology being developed at the University of Michigan and Omni Sciences, Inc. will protect helicopters in combat from enemy missiles.

“Our lasers give off a signal that’s like throwing sand in the eyes of the missile,” said Mohammed Islam.

These sturdy and portable “mid-infrared supercontinuum lasers” are being made using economical and … Original article on : Laser-based missile defense for helicopters on the anvil.

Superstitious people let go of all their beliefs when faced with death

WASHINGTON – People who believe in fate are more superstitious, but the same people, when faced with death, abandon all their beliefs – says a new study.

Kansas State University researcher Scott Fluke and his colleagues focused on personality traits that lead to superstition.

They defined superstition as the belief in a casual relationship between an action, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Superstitious people let go of all their beliefs when faced with death.

How fish oils work against diabetes

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered why eating fish may be a great idea to ward off chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.

Jerrold Olefsky and colleagues identified a key receptor on macrophages abundantly found in obese body fat. Obesity and diabetes are closely correlated. The scientists say … Read more »».

Panda still endangered despite baby boom

BEIJING – China’s giant pandas remain still an endangered species despite the birth of 23 cubs in zoos across the country in the past two months, panda researchers have said.

“The baby boom began in early July, with 23 cubs born in captivity – 14 at the Wolong research centre, eight in Chengdu and one …. Original article  : Panda still endangered despite baby boom.