New advance may change modern electronics

WASHINGTON – Researchers at Oregon State University have made a new discovery that could form the basis of a new approach to electronics.

They have solved a quest in fundamental material science that has eluded scientists since the 1960s.

The discovery outlines the creation for the first time of a high-performance “metal-insulator-metal” diode.

“This is a fundamental change … Original article on : New advance may change modern electronics.

Dragonflies grow bigger with more oxygen: Study

WASHINGTON – New experiments have confirmed that dragonflies grow bigger with more oxygen, or hyperoxia.

The giant dragonflies of ancient Earth with wingspans of up to 70 centimetres are generally attributed to higher oxygen atmospheric levels in the atmosphere in the past.

However, not all insects were larger when oxygen was higher in the past.

The secrets … Original source on Gaea Times at : Dragonflies grow bigger with more oxygen: Study.

Heavy drinkers cut intake over time, but still drink more than average adult

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that heavy drinkers may reduce the amount of alcohol they consume over a period of years but are not likely to go down to the level of the average adult.

Given that heavy drinkers often don’t become “normal” drinkers on their own, the takeaway message for clinicians and family …. Original article  : Heavy drinkers cut intake over time, but still drink more than average adult.

Even Stone Age homes were painted

LONDON – Our ancestors 5,000 years ago brightened up their Stone Age homes by painting the insides, according to new archaeological evidence.

They used red, yellow and orange pigments from ground-up minerals and bound it with animal fat and eggs to make their paint.
It is the earliest ever example of man using paint to … Read : Even Stone Age homes were painted.

Deodorant made from nanoparticles to eliminate unpleasant odours

WASHINGTON – Scientists have come with a new approach for dealing with offensive household and other odours.

The new method does not mask odours like today’s room fresheners, but eliminates them at the source.

Their research found that a deodorant made from nanoparticles – hundreds of times smaller than peach fuzz – eliminates odours up to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Deodorant made from nanoparticles to eliminate unpleasant odours.

Climate a major factor in lizard’s sex

LONDON – A new study has revealed that the sex of snow skink lizards is influenced by climate.

As part of the research, Ido Pen of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and colleagues studied two clans of snow skinks, Niveoscincus greeni, living at low or high altitude in the mountains of Tasmania, Australia. …. Source article  : Climate a major factor in lizard’s sex.

Why some people get sicker than others when exposed to same illness

WASHINGTON – A new study conducted on a population of wild sheep located on a remote island off the coast of Scotland that gauged the animals’ susceptibility to infection may shed new light on why some people get sicker than others when exposed to the same illness.

The answer to this medical puzzle may lie in [..] Read the original article: here.

Sundarbans faces threat from charcoal smugglers

DHAKA – The endangered ecology of the Sundarbans that straddle Bangladesh and India is facing a new challenge from poachers who chop down and burn the trees to sell charcoal to brick fields, a media report said here Sunday.

A report from the southern Bagerhat district said the Coast Guard, in charge of security in …. Read the original article  : Sundarbans faces threat from charcoal smugglers.

Software to fight hacking technique bags award

WASHINGTON – Scientists have come up with new software to combat hacking technique.

One of the serious threats to a user’s computer is a software program that might cause unwanted keystroke sequences to occur in order to hack someone’s identity.

This form of an attack is increasing, infecting enterprise and personal computers, and caused by “organized … Read : Software to fight hacking technique bags award.

Now, CCTV that can ’sense’ aggression from sound

LONDON – A UK company has developed a CCTV technology, which can assert if you’re being aggressive or calling for help.

What’s more, it will alert security guards straight away.

The Cambridge firm Audio Analytic has produced software, which can analyse the pitch, tone and intonation of noises and work out if they pose a threat.

“Our system … Original article on : Now, CCTV that can ’sense’ aggression from sound.

Fat dads may lower chances of pregnancy

WASHINGTON – The chances of success in assisted reproductive technology drops if the father is overweight, according to a new study.

Experts have revealed that for couples using IVF, an overweight dad may lower the chances of pregnancy, reports ABC News.

According to the study, conducted by Dr Zaher Merhi of Albert Einstein College of Medicine …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Fat dads may lower chances of pregnancy.

Behavioral feedback enhances online weight program

WASHINGTON – Internet might offer communities a low-cost way to motivate their overweight residents to lose pounds, a new study has suggested.

The new study evaluated a community weight loss campaign in Rhode Island called Shape Up RI-an annual campaign to help Rhode Islanders lose weight and increase physical activity through an online competition held …. Source  : Behavioral feedback enhances online weight program.

Male spiders prefer virginity to size

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that male spiders that get to have sex only once or twice in their lives are far more interested in a female spider’s virginity than in her size.

Most male wasp spiders have only a single shot at love because their female partners eat them right after copulation.

Even those … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Male spiders prefer virginity to size.

Coming soon: Captcha adverts you just can’t ignore

WASHINGTON – Here’s some good news for advertisers: It would now be difficult to take eyes off your work.

Some ads on the websites you visit could soon be impossible to ignore, as they will be integrated into the ‘captchas’ used to check whether site visitors are human, reports New Scientist.

With many web users using tools …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Coming soon: Captcha adverts you just can’t ignore.

Similar racial backgrounds ‘don’t forge friendships on Facebook’

WASHINGTON – A study has revealed that race is no longer the strongest predictor of friendship between two people, at least not on Facebook.

“Sociologists have long maintained that race is the strongest predictor of whether two Americans will socialize,” said Andreas Wimmer, a sociologist at UCLA.

“But we’ve found that birds of a feather don’t always …. Source article  : Similar racial backgrounds ‘don’t forge friendships on Facebook’.

Flamingos use preening oil to brighten up, attract mates

LONDON – A preening oil which flamingos use to waterproof their feathers also brightens them up, says a new study. Applied most frequently and vigorously just ahead of the breeding season, it seems the birds, like humans, use make-up to attract a mate!

Rubbed onto the neck, breast and back, the pigments in the waxy …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Flamingos use preening oil to brighten up, attract mates.

Sunny Sunday, but Delhi expects cloudy evening

NEW DELHI – The sun shone through a misty morning, making for a bright day in Delhi Sunday. The weather office, however, predicted cloudy skies in the evening.

“It will be a partly cloudy sky in the evening, though rains are not expected,” an official of the India Meteorological Department.
The minimum temperature was a … Read more : Sunny Sunday, but Delhi expects cloudy evening.

Adultery sites reveal secrets of human nature

WASHINGTON – For all those who think the adultery website AshleyMadison.com is good only for two-timers, think again – it can reveal our true nature too, according to a new study.

To study infidelity, researchers scanned publicly accessible ads from 200 men and 200 women chosen at random from the site.

“The study of adultery is important …. Original source  : Adultery sites reveal secrets of human nature.

Talking with others in a friendly way improves mental function

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that talking with other people in a friendly way can make it easier to solve common problems.

However, the new University of Michigan study also states that conversations, which are competitive in tone, rather than cooperative, have no cognitive benefits.

“This study shows that simply talking to other people, the … Read : Talking with others in a friendly way improves mental function.

How the brain forms habits

WASHINGTON – A new study from MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research has shown that brain’s habit formation appears to be an innate ability that is fine-tuned by experience- specifically, the costs and rewards of certain choices.

Neuroscientists led by Institute Professor Ann Graybiel found that untrained monkeys performing a simple visual scanning task gradually developed … Read more : How the brain forms habits.