Chandigarh to set up ‘energy park’

CHANDIGARH – Chandigarh will soon get a ‘energy park’ where swings meant for children will generate power.

This has been envisaged by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, Mayor Anu Chatrath told IANS.
The idea came from a similar park in Gangtok “where power is generated by swings installed there. This power is used to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Chandigarh to set up ‘energy park’.

People more likely to lie on Twitter, Facebook

LONDON – People are more comfortable with being dishonest on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook than they are when speaking to someone face-to-face, a survey shows.

A survey of about 2,000 people in Britain by Optimum Research, on behalf of Direct Line insurance firm, found that just 20 percent of people … Read this article on Gaea Times at : People more likely to lie on Twitter, Facebook.

Scientists fear another round of mass extinction

LONDON – One in five of the world’s mammals, birds and fish are now endangered, indicating a possible sixth round of mass extinction in the Earth’s history, scientists say.

The researchers found that the a growing number of vertebrates (animals with backbones) are being added to the endangered species list, with humans largely to blame.
…. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Scientists fear another round of mass extinction.

Security flaw found in Apple’s latest iPhone

LONDON – It seems Apple’s latest iPhone is not that safe, for a security flaw has been found that allows strangers to bypass the handset’s passcode-protected lock screen with a few button presses.

Most users set up a password to prevent others from accessing the phone’s contents, but a Brazilian man posted a video of himself …. Source article  : Security flaw found in Apple’s latest iPhone.

Accurate facial-recognition goes mobile, courtesy new software

WASHINGTON – Scientists in the UK have come up with new software for mobile phones that can track your facial features in real-time.

Eventually it will be able to tell who the user is, where they are looking and even how they are feeling, say researchers at The University of Manchester.

The method is believed to …. Source article  : Accurate facial-recognition goes mobile, courtesy new software.

High-altitude Himachal lakes begin to freeze

SHIMLA – Most of the high-altitude lakes in Himachal Pradesh have started to freeze as the recent snowfall has sharply brought down the temperature, the weather department said here Wednesday.

In the high-altitude areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba and Kullu districts, the night temperature has been below the freezing point, said meteorological office … Read more >>.

Scientists fear mass extinction has begun

LONDON – One in five of the world’s mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians are under threat of extinction, a study says.

The research found that the a growing number of vertebrates (animals with backbones) are being added to the endangered species list, with humans largely to blame.
One of the world’s leading ecologists, Edward … Read more >>>.

‘Gender-bending’ chemicals affect reproduction: Study

WASHINGTON – A new study has offered the first evidence that ‘gender bending’ chemicals which find their way from human products into rivers and oceans can have a significant impact on the ability of fish to breed.

The findings from the four-year study, led by the universities of Exeter and Brunel, has important implications for understanding … Original article on : ‘Gender-bending’ chemicals affect reproduction: Study.

NASA’s first ever human-like robot ready for space launch

WASHINGTON – NASA is preparing to launch Robonaut 2, the first human-like robot designed for use in space.

The humanoid robot, which resembles the torso, head and shoulders of a person, was designed by NASA and General Motors to work alongside astronauts to complete chores and repairs aboard the International Space Station.

Once aboard the space station …. Original source  : NASA’s first ever human-like robot ready for space launch.

Now, device that lets parents ’see the world through child’s eyes’

LONDON – University of Tsukuba researchers have created a device that will let parents see what their child is viewing, even when they are not together.

The technology builds on existing devices that can track the location of a child, but this gadget also monitors what the child is seeing, and even their pulse. If a …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Now, device that lets parents ’see the world through child’s eyes’.

Birds in the dino era pecked just like their modern counterparts

WASHINGTON – 110 million-year-old rock fossils discovered recently by palaeontologists from the University of Kansas in Lawrence indicate that shorebirds from the dinosaur era shuffled and foraged just like today’s birds.

Today’s shorebirds shuffle along muddy flats pecking and probing for invertebrates to eat. The marks they leave behind are the same as those found in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Birds in the dino era pecked just like their modern counterparts.

Traditional delivery for breech babies safer than C-section for mums

WASHINGTON – Researchers at Tel Aviv University have said that in certain circumstances, traditional vaginal delivery for breech babies is not only safe for baby, but for mothers too.

For breech babies – those born with buttocks or feet first rather than head first – doctors usually use caesarean but Prof. Marek Glezerman and colleagues believe … Original source on Gaea Times at : Traditional delivery for breech babies safer than C-section for mums.

A fifth of world’s life at extinction risk: Report

WASHINGTON – A new report has suggested that an increasing numbers of birds, mammals and amphibians have moved closer to extinction in the last several decades-but not as far as they would have if no conservation measures at all had been enacted.

To assess the status of the world’s vertebrates, an international team of research lead …. Original article  : A fifth of world’s life at extinction risk: Report.

Eggshells could help combat climate change, say Indian scientists

WASHINGTON – Indian researchers say that the food industry generates a lot of waste products, but one of these, eggshells, could help combat climate change.

Basab Chaudhuri of the University of Calcutta and colleagues have shown that the membrane that lines an eggshell can absorb almost seven times its own weight of the greenhouse gas carbon …. Source article  : Eggshells could help combat climate change, say Indian scientists.

People who are blind perceive touch faster than those with normal vision

WASHINGTON – A new study suggests that people who are blind from birth are able to detect tactile information faster than people with normal vision.

A group of researchers led by Daniel Goldreich, PhD, of McMaster University explored whether people who have a special reliance on a particular sense – in the way blind people rely … Read more >>.

Mornings, evenings to get chilly in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhiites will feel the chill during early morning and late evening hours as the night temperature has been “dipping every day” in the city, the weather office said here Wednesday.

“There will be more misty mornings as the minimum temperature is dipping every day. The early mornings and evenings will get chilly,” …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Mornings, evenings to get chilly in Delhi.

Leopard kills boy in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – A leopard killed a 12-year-old boy in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district after straying out of a forest reserve, an official said Wednesday.

Hariram of Navtod village was mauled to death by the leopard in the Nishangadha range of the Katarniaghat forest reserve.
“The adult leopard Monday attacked Hariram in the village and dragged … Read : Leopard kills boy in Uttar Pradesh.

Women stay away from math out of their own free choice

WASHINGTON – Ever wondered why there are such few women in math-intensive fields? Two psychological scientists at Cornell University believe women aren’t innately poor at math; instead they choose to stay away from the subject.

Stephen Ceci and Wendy Williams reviewed all of the evidence and concluded that the main factor is women’s choices-both freely made, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Women stay away from math out of their own free choice.

Yahoo Mail gets makeover after 5 yrs to catch up with Microsoft, Google

LONDON – Yahoo has finally decided to revamp its email service in a bid to catch up with rivals Microsoft and Google – the company has decided to give its mail service a makeover after five years.

Users can now post updates to Facebook and Twitter as well as view photos and videos from Flickr, Picasa … Original source on Gaea Times at : Yahoo Mail gets makeover after 5 yrs to catch up with Microsoft, Google.

3-D egg protein structure could pave way for new contraceptives

LONDON – Scientists have determined the three dimensional structure of the egg protein that helps the sperm stick during fertilisation.

The structure could not only help determine why infertility occurs, but also lead to a completely new type of contraceptive.

Luca Jovine of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues studied the chicken version of the …. Original source  : 3-D egg protein structure could pave way for new contraceptives.