Wild dolphins perform as well as captive cousins

LONDON – Wild dolphins can perform as well as captive cousins.
These remarkable creatures are not doing it for human audience but themselves.

In an incredible discovery, a group of six wild bottlenose dolphins have taught themselves to ‘walk’ backwards on the water using their tails.
Marine biologists say the craze is spreading through the … Read more »»».

Switching personality sometimes may be good for your mental health

WASHINGTON – Want to feel good about yourself? Try switching your personality, suggests a new study.

Wake Forest University psychologist William Fleeson found the idea of ‘being true to yourself’ often means acting counter to your personality traits.

Because authenticity predicts a variety of positive psychological outcomes, Fleeson says his research can help people see they … Read more >>>.

Compound used to treat nicotine addiction may also fight alcoholism

WASHINGTON – A new study has demonstrated that a plant-derived compound that is used to treat nicotine addiction also has significant effects against alcohol addiction.

Scientists from South Dakota State University are now investigating whether the compound may offer lasting treatment against alcohol relapse, craving, and perhaps alcohol-nicotine co-addiction as well.

“Alcohol and tobacco smoking are the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

New software adds realistic changes in animated characters’ skin colour

LONDON – Even the animated faces would now look more real, thanks to a new software that adds realistic changes in skin colouring to animated characters.

The colour of our faces depends on the concentration of melanin in the skin, but it also alters with our expressions and emotions because of changes in blood flow.

Drinking, … Read more : New software adds realistic changes in animated characters’ skin colour.

Evidence of giant asteroid impact that occurred 300mn yrs ago in Australia

MELBOURNE – An Aussie scientist has discovered evidence of a major asteroid impact that occurred near the Queensland-South Australia border more than 300 million years ago.

The asteroid, which produced a shock zone at least 80km wide, could be the second-largest asteroid ever found in Australia.

University of Queensland researcher Dr Tongu Uysal discovered the asteroid impact … Read : Evidence of giant asteroid impact that occurred 300mn yrs ago in Australia.

Using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube ‘refreshes deskbound employees’

MELBOURNE – A new Melbourne University research has concluded that Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, as well as music and online video sites like YouTube, are the most productive ways employees can relax at work.

Searching for information about hobbies, reading online news, playing online games and checking personal email was also likely to …. Source  : Using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube ‘refreshes deskbound employees’.

Difficult-to-read fonts ‘can boost learning’

WASHINGTON – Researchers at Princeton University suggest that difficult-to-read fonts make for better learning.

They employed volunteers to learn made-up information about different types of aliens – and found that those reading harder fonts recalled more when tested 15 minutes later.

They argue that schools could boost results by simply changing the font used in their basic …. Read the original article  : Difficult-to-read fonts ‘can boost learning’.

Rohtang Pass to reopen Tuesday

SHIMLA – The Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, closed due to heavy snowfall accumulated since Friday, is likely to reopen by Tuesday, an official said Sunday.

The Pass is located at 13,050 feet above sea level in Kullu district.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner B.M. Nanta told IANS that road connectivity to Keylong, the district headquarters of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Rats cope with the cold just like humans

WASHINGTON – When winter arrives, Australian bush rats behave much the same as their larger, human counterparts, according to a new study.

The study revealed that rats grow a thicker fur coat and can actually lower their body temperature to compensate for a colder environment, reports Wired.com.

The University of Sydney study was conducted to determine whether …. Read the original article  : here.

Wolf nannies shorten male pups’ sex lives: Study

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that non-breeding wolves that help raise pups ultimately shorten the sex lives of the male pups when they grow up.

“The negative impact to males was certainly not what we expected to find,” Wired.com quoted Amanda Sparkman of the Trent University, as saying.

The work could help conservationists maintain reintroduced … Original source on Gaea Times at : Wolf nannies shorten male pups’ sex lives: Study.

Putting holiday plans on Facebook, an open invitation to burglars

LONDON – If you advertised your holiday plans on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter about your exact location and your home gets burgled while you were away-you may face a crackdown from the insurance agency.

Insurance companies have decided to take information being put social networking sites into account when analysing claims.

Research into …. Read the original article  : Putting holiday plans on Facebook, an open invitation to burglars.

IVF breakthrough offers fresh hope to childless couples

MELBOURNE – With the launch of a new technique, scientists are set to revolutionise IVF treatment in Australia and offer fresh hope to childless couples.

In a month’s time, patients will be able to access technology that screens every chromosome in their embryos for defects that could prevent pregnancy or result in miscarriage.

Only eight to 10 …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

New discovery offers hope to sufferers of osteoarthritis

WASHINGTON – Lubricin, a synovial fluid glycoprotein, reduces wear to bone cartilage, a team of researchers in North Carolina has discovered.

This result has implications for the treatment of sufferers of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the [..] Read the original article: here.

Better explosive detectors on the anvil

WASHINGTON – Christine Mahoney and a team of scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Maryland have been working on designing explosive detectors that can stop the threat of terrorist-based attacks in the form of explosives or explosive-based devices.

“Our … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Better explosive detectors on the anvil.

‘Near human’ bots to ‘perform surgeries, harvest crops’

WASHINGTON – The military’s blue-sky research arm, Darpa, is working to launch a major push that’d revolutionize robotic capabilities and put bots pretty much everywhere, from hospitals to dude ranches to “explosive atmospheres.”

Working along with four other agencies, including the National Institutes …. Original article  : ‘Near human’ bots to ‘perform surgeries, harvest crops’.

Sunny morning in Delhi

NEW DELHI – The national capital saw a sunny morning Sunday and the weatherman said there would be a nip in the air towards the evening.

According to the met office, the city would see mist in the morning in the coming days though it would be relatively warm in the daytime.
“Days ahead will … Read more >>.

Mercury below freezing point in Himachal after snowfall

SHIMLA – Widespread rain and snowfall in Himachal Pradesh brought down the mercury Saturday with Kalpa village in Kinnaur district recording a minimum temperature below freezing point, a weather department official said.

“Kalpa recorded a low of minus 0.5 degrees Celsius. It was the coldest place in the state,” meteorological office Director Manmohan Singh told …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mercury below freezing point in Himachal after snowfall.

How H1N1 is different from other viruses as a respiratory illness

WASHINGTON – A new study has found distinguishing characteristics of the H1N1 virus in how it affects respiratory illness.

Phil Chan, of the Rhode Island Hospital, studied the signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings of 668 adult and paediatric patients who …. Original article  : How H1N1 is different from other viruses as a respiratory illness.

Proteins regulating water retention in salt-sensitive hypertension identified

WASHINGTON – A new research has found that two proteins in the brain act as valves to turn the hormone that regulates water retention in the body.

These findings by the LSU Health Sciences Centre New Orleans may lead to advances in treatment for … Read more : Proteins regulating water retention in salt-sensitive hypertension identified.

Factor boosting leukemia’s aggressiveness identified

WASHINGTON – An international team of researchers has identified particular relationship that can promote aggressive leukemias and lymphomas.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells survive and thrive not just by their own innate wiles, but by also acquiring aid and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.