Assam villagers poisoning elephants to prevent attacks

GUWAHATI – Human-elephant conflict has reached alarming proportions in Assam with at least four wild Asiatic elephants being poisoned by the villagers in the past one week, wildlife authorities said.

An enquiry by the chief wildlife warden is on and strict action will be taken against the culprits, Assam forest minister Rockybul Hussain told IANS.
…. Read the original article  : Assam villagers poisoning elephants to prevent attacks.

Bombing Earth-bound asteroids may be a viable last resort, experts say

WASHINGTON – Researchers have said that bombing Earth-bound asteroids may be a viable option to avoid a collision.

And other scientists are suggesting that, despite previous assumptions, we wouldn’t need an impossibly powerful …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Bombing Earth-bound asteroids may be a viable last resort, experts say.

Variety ‘may be the catalyst behind sexual evolution’

LONDON – Variety may well be the spice of sexual evolution that encourages a move away from asexual reproduction, according to a study from the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada.

The study shows that a species of rotifer that reproduces both sexually and asexually, Brachionus calyciflorus, opts …. Source  : Variety ‘may be the catalyst behind sexual evolution’.

West lifestyle ‘plundering natural resources from tropics at record levels’

LONDON – A WWF report has revealed the extent to which modern Western lifestyles are plundering natural resources from the tropics at record levels.

The latest Living Planet report also showed that Earth’s population is using the equivalent of 1.5 …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

How young galaxies can grow gently

WASHINGTON – Galaxies often collide and then merge to form larger systems and this process is certainly an important growth mechanism. However, an additional way has been proposed so that they grow in a gentler manner.

A European team of astronomers has used ESO’s Very Large …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : How young galaxies can grow gently.

Eyetracker software to prevent drivers from nodding off at the wheel

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT in Ilmenau, Germany, have developed an assistant system that tracks a driver’s eye movements and issues a warning before the driver has an …. Read the original article  : here.

Soft drink could boost effects of anti-cancer drug

WASHINGTON – A popular lemon-lime soft drink could play an unexpected role in improving the effectiveness of an oral anticancer drug, experiments with an artificial stomach suggest.
The experiments produced evidence that patients will absorb more of the unnamed drug, tested in Phase I in clinical trials, when taken with … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Soft drink could boost effects of anti-cancer drug.

Bad jobs worse for mental health than joblessness

MELBOURNE – Having a bad job is worse for your mental health than not having one at all, new research suggests.

In the study, Australian National University (ANU), researchers found that people who remained unemployed were likely to be happier than those who gained …. Source  : Bad jobs worse for mental health than joblessness.

Nice guys actually get the girl in the end

LONDON – New research suggests that nice guys really do finish first when it comes to getting the girl.

According to psychologists, traits such as selflessness and altruism have become part of our genetic make-up because they were attractive to mates.

They [..] Read the original article: here.

Pine bark effective in relieving tinnitus symptoms

WASHINGTON – Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, is effective in relieving tinnitus symptoms by improving blood flow in the inner ear, says a new study.

Tinnitus is a hearing condition that causes … Read : Pine bark effective in relieving tinnitus symptoms.

Compound in carrots, peppers boosts brain health

WASHINGTON – A plant compound found in carrots, peppers, celery, olive oil, peppermint, rosemary and chamomile helps reduce age-related inflammation in the brain and memory deficits, according to a new study conducted in mice.

The compound luteolin reduces age-related inflammation in the brain … Original source on Gaea Times at : Compound in carrots, peppers boosts brain health.

New ‘control app’ to stop users from “Sexting” on their iPhones

LONDON – Consumer electronics company Apple has been awarded a patent to stop users from “Sexting”, or sending inappropriate message from their phones.

The “control application” works by ensuring that those who use it will not be able to send anything that uses suggestive …. Source article  : New ‘control app’ to stop users from “Sexting” on their iPhones.

Walking at least 6 miles per week ‘can reduce Alzheimer’s risk’

WASHINGTON – Want to keep your brain sharp in old age? Well, go for a stroll then, for a new study suggests that walking at least six miles per week may protect brain size and in turn, preserve your memory later in life.

“Brain size shrinks in late adulthood, which …. Original source  : Walking at least 6 miles per week ‘can reduce Alzheimer’s risk’.

Technophobia ’sprouts up while we are still in the womb’

LONDON – Scientists have revealed that the fear of technology or technophobia could be determined before a person is even born, when they are still in the womb.

University of Bath researchers said that the hormones we are exposed to in the womb can determine …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Technophobia ’sprouts up while we are still in the womb’.

Nicotine could play role in Alzheimer’s disease therapy

WASHINGTON – A team of neuroscientists has discovered that they may be able to eliminate debilitating side effects caused by a promising Alzheimer’s drug by stimulating the brain’s nicotine receptors.

Hey-Kyoung Lee, associate professor in the University of Maryland Department of Biology and her team, …. Read the original article  : Nicotine could play role in Alzheimer’s disease therapy.

Silicon ‘can radically increase capacity of lithium-ion batteries’

WASHINGTON – Rice University and Lockheed Martin scientists have found that silicon can radically increase the capacity of lithium-ion batteries.

“The anode, or negative, side of today’s batteries is made of graphite, which works. It’s everywhere. But it’s maxed out. You can’t stuff …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Silicon ‘can radically increase capacity of lithium-ion batteries’.

Enzyme in saliva influences how we sense food texture

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that individuals’ perception of starch texture is shaped by variability in the activity of an oral enzyme known as salivary amylase.

“Differences in starch perception likely … Read more »».

Facebook keeps ‘deleted’ user photos for up to 30 months

SYDNEY – Social networking giant Facebook has been slammed for keeping deleted pictures of a profile up to 30 months after removing them.

It has admitted it had been keeping deleted photos for a ‘limited’ amount of time.

However, users who have kept the direct link to …. Original article  : Facebook keeps ‘deleted’ user photos for up to 30 months.

Brain imaging reveals how we learn from failure and success

WASHINGTON – In a new study, scientists have used brain imaging to reveal how people and animals learn from failure and success.

The team from Bristol University scanned the brains of players as they battled against an artificial opponent in a computer game.

In the game, each player took turns with the computer to … Read : Brain imaging reveals how we learn from failure and success.

Now, 3D body scanner to tell you if you’re overweight

LONDON – Tape measures and scales may soon become a thing of the past, as they would be replaced with a 3D body scanner.

The body volume index (BVI) takes a ‘photocopy’ of a patient’s body in just six seconds.

The seven-foot booth has 16 sensors and 32 …. Source article  : Now, 3D body scanner to tell you if you’re overweight.