Lucid dreams becoming frequent, shows study

LONDON – It is the stuff of a Hollywood movie: a dreamworld that can be manipulated at will. But for more and more of us, lucid dreams are now becoming frequent, and a reality.

In ‘Inception,’ Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page stroll through a dream world where they are able to bend streets into the … Read more : Lucid dreams becoming frequent, shows study.

Jealous of someone? You’ll end up paying more to be like them

WASHINGTON – People tend to pay more for products that evokes their envy-but that’s only when a positive, benign form of envy motivates them, a new study has suggested.

“Our studies showed that people who had been made envious of someone who owned an iPhone were willing to pay 80 Euros more on average,” wrote authors …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Jealous of someone? You’ll end up paying more to be like them.

Unicorn footage ‘a hoax’

LONDON – Video of a unicorn running though a wood has been exposed as an elaborate hoax to promote an upcoming exhibition on mythical creatures.

In an official statement, the Ontario Science Centre, in Toronto, Canada, claimed it had been sent the footage by a member of the public for analysis, reports the Sun.

But …. Source article  : Unicorn footage ‘a hoax’.

New graphene study could lead to improvements in bluetooth headsets

WASHINGTON – Scientists have successfully built and tested an amplifier made from graphene that could lead to more efficient circuits in electronic chips, such as those used in Bluetooth headsets and toll collection devices in cars.

Graphene, a single-atom thick carbon crystal, was first isolated in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov.

The demonstration at UC … Read this article on Gaea Times at : New graphene study could lead to improvements in bluetooth headsets.

Vigilance against skin cancer may lead to vitamin D deficiency

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that vigilance against skin cancer can cause vitamin D deficiency.

Patients with basal cell nevus syndrome-which might lead to non-melanoma skin cancers-are at a higher risk for vitamin D deficiency if they take steps to protect themselves from sunlight.

“There is increasing concern that sun protection, recommended by dermatologists to …. Read the original article  : Vigilance against skin cancer may lead to vitamin D deficiency.

How seas and lakes may have once developed on Mars

WASHINGTON – Planetary Science Institute researchers have discovered a new explanation for how seas and lakes may have once developed on Mars.

J. Alexis Palmero Rodriguez, research scientist at PSI, has been studying the Martian northern lowlands region, which contains extensive sedimentary deposits that resemble the abyssal plains of Earth’s ocean floors. It is also like … Read more : How seas and lakes may have once developed on Mars.

Flour residues on stone tools suggest early humans ate a balanced diet

LONDON – Early humans, who were initially thought of as near total carnivores, ate ground flour 20,000 years before the dawn of agriculture, it has been found.

Flour residues recovered from 30,000-year-old grinding stones found in Italy, Russia and the Czech Republic point to widespread processing and consumption of plant grain.

“It’s another nail in the coffin … Original source on Gaea Times at : Flour residues on stone tools suggest early humans ate a balanced diet.

Handheld fertility device ‘as effective as IVF’

LONDON – A handheld fertility device, developed by former students of Cambridge University, is as effective as IVF for couples struggling to conceive, it has been claimed.

The DuoFertility system measures variations in body temperature to identify when a woman is most fertile.

The 495-pound device, dubbed the ’sat-nav of the fertility world’, is claimed to be … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Handheld fertility device ‘as effective as IVF’.

Eczema cream meant to soothe ‘makes the condition worse’

LONDON – A cheap emollient cream meant to soothe the irritated skin of eczema sufferers may actually worsen their condition.

According to tests, a detergent contained in the aqueous cream BP thins the skin and actually causes irritation.

Although aqueous cream has been prescribed for millions of sufferers from childhood, it is the first time research … Read more >>.

Loss of interest in sex driving 50-plus to divorce

LONDON – Many aged over 50 years ending their marriages blame a lack of love and intimacy in their relationship.

Figures show that 28 percent said they divorced because their partner was emotionally cold and distant, while a quarter cited a loss of interest in sex.
The research also found that 27 percent said they …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Singapore scientists first to discover important genes in human stem cells

LONDON – A team of scientists from Singapore has discovered the most important genes in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), a crucial breakthrough in discovering how human stem cells work.

The research, led by the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and the Institute of … Read more : Singapore scientists first to discover important genes in human stem cells.

Violent TV or video games ‘promote aggressive behavior in teens’

WASHINGTON – A new research has shown that watching violent films, TV programmes or video games desensitises teenagers, blunts their emotional responses to aggression and potentially promotes aggressive attitudes and behaviour.

Lead author Dr Jordan Grafman, senior … Read : Violent TV or video games ‘promote aggressive behavior in teens’.

Clenching muscles ‘increases willpower’

WASHINGTON – Unable to quit smoking due to lack of willpower? Well, a new research suggests that firming muscles can shore up self-control.

Authors Iris W. Hung from National University of Singapore and Aparna A. Labroo from University of Chicago studied participants from range of self-control dilemmas …. Read the original article  : Clenching muscles ‘increases willpower’.

Lack of vitamin D ‘puts IBD patients at greater risk of osteoporosis’

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that vitamin D deficiency in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) makes them prone to osteoporosis, osteopenia and increases the rate of abnormal bone density.

The study conducted on 161 IBD patients suggested that, reduction in bone density with a diagnosis …. Source  : Lack of vitamin D ‘puts IBD patients at greater risk of osteoporosis’.

Personal information from Facebook passed on to ad firms

LONDON – Facebook was hit by another privacy row after it emerged that millions of pieces of personal information from the site were being shared without users’ consent.

Vast quantities of data, including the names of individual members and their online ‘friends’, were passed to internet ad firms, with tens of millions of people … Original source on Gaea Times at : Personal information from Facebook passed on to ad firms.

Rubbish on Facebook may be more worthwhile than we think

WASHINGTON – Superficial contacts on Facebook, seemingly needless comments, and boring status updates may be more valuable than we think.

A new report from the National IT User Centre has predicted that social media will ultimately lead to more individual entrepreneurs.

Many people are critical of those who collect hundreds of so-called friends on Facebook. Often the … Read : Rubbish on Facebook may be more worthwhile than we think.

Western diet makes sepsis worse

WASHINGTON – An experimental study in mice has shown has shown that high fat diets cause a dramatic immune system overreaction to sepsis-a condition of systemic bacterial infection.

The study has shown that a diet high in saturated fat, sugars and cholesterol greatly exaggerates the inflammatory response to sepsis.

“Mortality due to sepsis in morbidly obese subjects … Read more »»».

Soy intake lowers breast cancer recurrence in hormone-sensitive cancers

WASHINGTON – A new research found that post-menopausal breast cancer patients with hormone-sensitive cancers who consumed high amounts of soy isoflavones had a lower risk of recurrence.

Soy isoflavones are similar to estrogen in chemical structure and may stimulate or inhibit estrogen-like action in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Soy intake lowers breast cancer recurrence in hormone-sensitive cancers.

Why cocaine is so addictive

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found how cocaine corrupts the brain and becomes addictive.

These findings are the first to connect activation of specific neurons to alterations in cocaine reward.

The results may help researchers in developing new ways of treating those addicted to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Why men are more vulnerable to alcoholism

WASHINGTON – It is well known that men are up to twice as likely to develop alcoholism as women. However, the reason behind this difference in susceptibility has remained unclear.

Now, a new study has revealed that dopamine may be an … Read more >>>.