All-electric spintronic semiconductor devices created

LONDON – A team of physicists has come closer to making electron spin the universal language of computation – they are the first to develop a simple, all-electric method to both generate and detect spin currents within a standard semiconductor.

Spintronics devices could use electron spin to perform both operations, promising to speed up a computer’s … Read this article on Gaea Times at : All-electric spintronic semiconductor devices created.

Sparrows eavesdrop to distinguish good neighbours from bad

LONDON – Scientists have found that sparrows can identify troublemakers by eavesdropping on them.

A study has shown that the birds can tell, “who started it” in a neighbouring squabble over territory, even if they are not directly involved and also respond aggressively to the songs of the intruders but not to those of the “victims”.

The … Read more >>>.

Synthetic DNA spray tracks burglars

LONDON – A novel device that sprays burglars with synthetic DNA, which allows police to track them down, is being deployed in restaurants and offices.

The spray is activated whenever a robbery takes places, and covers the suspects with the synthetic DNA as they are making their getaway.
It can only be seen under ultra …. Read the original article  : Synthetic DNA spray tracks burglars.

Protein that may fight against inflammatory disease identified

LONDON – A protein that may be a key therapy for many inflammatory diseases, including those affecting premature babies, has been identified by a husband and wife research team from Melbourne, Australia.

Drs Marcel and Claudia Nold from the Monash Institute of Medical Research, describe how a protein interleukin 37 (IL-37) reacts when an inflammatory response …. Original source  : Protein that may fight against inflammatory disease identified.

Women 14pc more likely to survive trauma than men

WASHINGTON – A new Johns Hopkins study has suggested that women who have been severely injured are 14 percent more likely to survive than similarly injured men.

According to the researchers, the difference may be due to the negative impact of male sex hormones on a traumatized immune system.

Both men and women have androgens (male sex … Original article on : Women 14pc more likely to survive trauma than men.

Potential therapeutic target across a range of cancer types found

LONDON – Researchers have found a common link among several malignant tumor types in all grades of cancer.

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in collaboration with investigators of the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) of France led by Nicolae Ghinea, conducted the study.

This breakthrough may ultimately provide a new diagnostic or … Read : Potential therapeutic target across a range of cancer types found.

World’s smallest on-chip low-pass filter to revolutionize wireless communication

WASHINGTON – Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have designed the world’s smallest on-chip low-pass filter which is 1,000 times smaller than existing off-chip filters.

A low-pass filter is a circuit that allows low-frequency signals to pass through while reducing unwanted high-frequency signals from passing through.

The new filters occupy a small area on integrated circuit chips, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Daughters of obese fathers ‘more likely to develop diabetes-like disease’

LONDON – A new study has revealed that obese fathers may be putting their daughters at risk for diabetes-like diseases.

‘Epigenetic’ chemical tweaks to the genes alter how they are expressed in the offspring, according to the study at University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

Margaret Morris, a researcher in obesity and diabetes, and her … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Daughters of obese fathers ‘more likely to develop diabetes-like disease’.

Asia ‘most vulnerable to climate change’

LONDON – A new study states that the teeming plains of Asia are at highest risk from climate change.

Maplecroft, a British risk analysis firm, produced the Climate Change Vulnerability Index, noted that though Africa is often regarded as the most vulnerable continent, Asia has taken the top spot more recently.

The firm sourced data from more …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Asia ‘most vulnerable to climate change’.

Dopamine model could aid treatment of schizophrenia, drug addiction

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have succeeded in creating a model of the way the brain releases dopamine – the model could be used to understand drug addiction and in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Dopamine is involved in a number of processes that control the way we behave. If the action results in …. Original source  : Dopamine model could aid treatment of schizophrenia, drug addiction.

Climate change may result in tipping point for populations, not just species

LONDON – Researchers have indicated that as the Earth’s climate gets warmer, species are expected to shift their geographical ranges away from the equator or to higher elevations.

“This study illustrates the critical need for long-term research to address our most pressing ecological challenges,” Nature quoted Saran Twombly, program director in the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s …. Read the original article  : Climate change may result in tipping point for populations, not just species.

Why some people excel at riding bikes or tying a tie

WASHINGTON – A researcher has explained as to why some people may excel at riding a bike, tying a tie, or playing the piano, but the same people may find it difficult to explain or teach those skills to someone else.

These motor skills are learned in one part of the brain, whereas classroom instruction and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Why some people excel at riding bikes or tying a tie.

Gene therapy to brain may treat major depression

WASHINGTON – Researchers at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center have said that animal and human data suggest gene therapy to the brain may be able to treat patients with major depression who do not respond to traditional drug treatment.

The Science Translational Medicine study demonstrated that a brain protein known as p11 in a single, …. Original source  : Gene therapy to brain may treat major depression.

Penguins too ‘have gay flings’

LONDON – A new study has revealed that king penguins do not form long-term homosexual pairs despite same-sex “flirting”.

Researchers found that over a quarter of the birds in one colony displayed in same-sex pairs, yet only two pairs bonded by …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Penguins too ‘have gay flings’.

Autistic people ‘more likely to be taken in by magic tricks, illusions’

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that people with autism spectrum disorder are actually more likely to be taken in by the vanishing ball trick, where a magician pretends to throw a ball in the air but actually hides it in his hand.

In the trick, the magician looks up while the ball remains concealed …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

A hormone to help you live longer, but only if you are rich!

LONDON – If a new study is to be believed, a hormone called DHEAS makes you live longer – but only if you are wealthy enough.

In the meantime, leading a more fulfilling life could have a similar effect, says Professor Sir Michael Marmot, who led the research.

Higher levels of this hormone, secreted by the … Original article on : A hormone to help you live longer, but only if you are rich!.

In 20 yrs, ‘human brain and memory backup might be stored on hard disk!’

LONDON – A top scientist has claimed that in the next two decades, people will be able to back up the human brain including all of the memories.

Award-winning Raymond Kurzweil, 62, told 500 guests at a sponsored ‘future talk’ event in Vienna, Austria, that the human brain backup was now already technically possible.

“I believe that … Original source on Gaea Times at : In 20 yrs, ‘human brain and memory backup might be stored on hard disk!’.

Black rice may relieve inflammation caused by allergies, asthma

WASHINGTON – Scientists have reported that black rice – a little-known variety of the grain – may help soothe the inflammation involved in allergies, asthma, and other diseases.

Bran is the outer husk of the grain, which is removed during the processing of brown rice to produce the familiar white rice. Those experiments, which were done … Read more »».

Harm reduction ciggies ‘more harmful than conventional brands’

WASHINGTON – A new research has revealed that ‘harm reduction cigarettes’, marketed by tobacco companies as safer than conventional brands, could in fact, be more harmful.

Harm reduction cigarettes are made using complex filters or by genetically altering tobacco plants to reduce nicotine concentration.

Stem cell scientists at the University of California, Riverside have found that even …. Original source  : Harm reduction ciggies ‘more harmful than conventional brands’.

Car-travel in longer run hikes global temperatures more than air travel

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that driving a car increases global temperatures in the long run more than making the same long-distance journey by air.

However, in the short run travelling by air has a larger adverse climate impact because airplanes strongly affect short-lived warming processes at high altitudes.

Jens Borken-Kleefeld and colleagues used a … Read more >>>.