Flood threat recedes as Yamuna’s water level goes down

NEW DELHI – Flood threat in Delhi receded as water level in the Yamuna river started going down Saturday, days after many homes were inundated in the national capital, an official here said.

“The water level is expected to recede further during the day,” said an official of the flood department.
This has come …. Source article  : Flood threat recedes as Yamuna’s water level goes down.

New Zealand rescuers save 14 whales of pod of 74 stranded on remote beach

NZealand rescuers save 14 whales from stranded pod

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Rescuers who battled exhaustion and darkness succeeded in saving 14 pilot whales from a pod of 74 that stranded on a remote New Zealand beach.
Late Friday, a total of 24 whales were trucked 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Spirits Bay, where they beached on … Read more »».

Three astronauts return to Earth after fixing undocking glitch

WASHINGTON – A Russian Soyuz capsule landed Saturday in Kazakhstan, returning three residents of the International Space Station to Earth a day later than planned because of an undocking malfunction.

Parachutes braked the descent of the Soyuz re-entry craft as it landed on the steppe of southern Kazakhstan near Arkalyk, with Russians Alexander Skvortsov and Mikhail …. Original source  : Three astronauts return to Earth after fixing undocking glitch.

Water-gel-based ‘artificial leaves’ that produce electricity

WASHINGTON – North Carolina State University researchers have shown that water-gel-based “artificial leaves” can act like solar cells to produce electricity.

They also have the potential to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than the current silicon-based solar cells.

The researchers used plant chlorophyll in one of the experiments – coupled with electrodes coated by [..] Read the original article: here.

Cassini craft gets first snapshots from within Saturn’s radio aurora

WASHINGTON – The Cassini spacecraft has made the first observations from within the radio aurora of another planet than Earth.

“Whereas the source region of Earth’s radio aurora has been studied by many missions, this is our first opportunity to observe the equivalent region at Saturn from the inside.This gives us a fascinating insight into the … Read more >>.

New pathway used by malaria parasite to infect human cells identified

WASHINGTON – A researcher has identified a new pathway used by the malaria parasite to infect human cells.

The discovery, by researchers at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, provides a new vaccine target through which infection with the deadly disease could be prevented.

The most lethal form of malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : New pathway used by malaria parasite to infect human cells identified.

Sea-snot blizzard ’caused by Gulf spill’

WASHINGTON – Researchers say that ’sea snot’-sticky clumps of phytoplankton – have been caused by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The spill sparked an explosion of sticky clumps of organic matter, which may have temporarily wiped out the base of the food chain …. Original source  : Sea-snot blizzard ’caused by Gulf spill’.

Viagra ‘doesn’t work for men with low testosterone’

LONDON – Viagra may not work for men with low testosterone levels, says an expert.

Geoffrey Hackett, a consultant urologist, said men with erectile dysfunction could be “wasting hundreds of pounds on tablets” when their real issue is low testosterone.

He was speaking at the launch of new guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders.

Hackett, … Read more >>.

African-Americans bikers 1.5 times more likely to die in crashes: Study

WASHINGTON – African-American victims of motorcycle crashes were 1.5 times more likely to die in crashes, even if they wore helmets, says a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers.

“For reasons that we are still trying to figure out, one size of injury [..] Read the original article: here.

Kids swear as soon as they learn to speak

WASHINGTON – Kids start using profanities and expletive language as soon as they learn to speak, found a new study.

Researchers also found that children are swearing more often than children did just a few decades ago.

Timothy Jay, a psychology professor at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, suggested … Original source on Gaea Times at : Kids swear as soon as they learn to speak.

First molecule that blocks key component of cancer genes’ on-off switch created

LONDON – Researchers have created the first molecule that can prevent cancer genes from “hearing” their internal instructions, which in turn stifles the cancer process at its root.

The study, led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists, …. Read the original article  : here.

Video games may prepare your kids’ brains for bigger tasks

WASHINGTON – The next time you see your son hooked on to a video game, tell him to spend an hour extra with the joystick, for it might just turn him into a laparoscopic surgeon some day, says a new study.

Reorganisation of the brain’s cortical network in young … Original article on : Video games may prepare your kids’ brains for bigger tasks.

Biometric identification technology ‘inherently fallible’

WASHINGTON – Biometric identification systems are inherently prone to fault, says a new study.

A National Research Council report said that systems that are designed to automatically recognize individuals based on biological and behavioural traits such as fingerprints, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Biometric identification technology ‘inherently fallible’.

Now, a blood test to detect organ transplant rejection

LONDON – A simple blood test can now help doctors in identifying the clues of transplant rejection-a feat that could pave the way for a non-invasive alternative for diagnosing organ rejection before damage occurs, says a new study.

The technique could help the 40 per cent … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Now, a blood test to detect organ transplant rejection.

Women find it difficult to focus ‘during that time of the month’

WASHINGTON – A new research from Concordia University has stated that high oestrogen levels are associated with an inability to pay attention and learn.

“Our findings, using a well-established model of learning called latent inhibition, shows conclusively that high oestrogen levels inhibit the cognitive ability …. Original source  : Women find it difficult to focus ‘during that time of the month’.

Stress can ‘control the activity of our genes’

WASHINGTON – Stress that affects your entire body and mind can also arise at the cellular level after exposure to pollution, tobacco smoke, bacterial toxins, possibly causing cellular diseases.

Researchers from Dr.Klaus Hansen’s group at BRIC, University of Copenhagen, have just shown that external factors can …. Original article  : Stress can ‘control the activity of our genes’.

Air Force rebuts government report, says Global Positioning System will remain reliable

Air Force rebuts gov’t auditor concerns about GPS

DENVER – A government report raising questions about the future reliability of the Global Positioning System satellite network is “overly pessimistic,” Air Force commanders said Friday.
A report from the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, said the latest GPS satellite was launched almost 3?? years behind … Read more : Air Force rebuts government report, says Global Positioning System will remain reliable.

Soyuz capsule successfully undocks from space station after glitches prevented departure

Soyuz capsule undocks from space station
ALMATY, Kazakhstan – A manned Soyuz capsule with two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut onboard has successfully undocked from the International Space Station after crew resolved glitches that had prevented departure a day earlier.

Undocking had been thwarted by signaling errors in the onboard computer system and a malfunction with … Read more >>>.

EPA says 5 states must fortify their Chesapeake Bay restoration plans or face federal action

EPA: 5 states must toughen Chesapeake Bay plans

BALTIMORE – Five of six states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed must strengthen their restoration plans or face tighter federal regulation, the EPA announced Friday.
Plans filed by the District of Columbia and Maryland represent a strong start but those of five other bay watershed states have gaps the … Original source on Gaea Times at : EPA says 5 states must fortify their Chesapeake Bay restoration plans or face federal action.

Senegal’s scientists hope black-eyed peas used in recipes will help reduce cost of bread

Black-eyed peas ‘crop of the future’ for Senegal

DAKAR, Senegal – At a pilot bakery inside the Food Technology Institute in Senegal’s capital Friday, cooks in white smocks tried to make bread out of a novel ingredient – peas.
Wheat is still a crucial ingredient in bread because of its gluten content, necessary for the dough to …. Source article  : Senegal’s scientists hope black-eyed peas used in recipes will help reduce cost of bread.