Science News – Newsletter for November 6, 2010

How chefs can help combat obesity by creating reduced-calorie meals

WASHINGTON – According to Penn State researchers, restaurants can help tackle the obesity epidemic by creating reduced-calorie meals.

In the survey, 72 percent of the 432 respondents said they could trim off 10 percent of the calories in meals without customers noticing differences in taste, and 21 percent said they could trim off at least 25 … Read this article on Gaea Times at : How chefs can help combat obesity by creating reduced-calorie meals.

Soon, a ‘nano drug’ jab that hits brain tumour’s bullseye

WASHINGTON – The scientists have developed a unique technology, which can inject anti-tumor drugs directly into brain tumor cells, unlike other drugs of its kind.

The research team at Cedars-Sinai’s Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute has created a ‘nanobioconjugate’ drug that may be given by intravenous injection and carried in the blood to target the brain tumor.

It … Read more »».

Knowing genetic makeup can make you more receptive to lifestyle changes

LONDON – A small dose of your genetic information is likely to make you more sensitive towards weight loss and exercise, reveals a new study.

David Kaufman of the Genetics and Public Policy Centre quizzed 1048 customers who had ordered genome scans.

As many as 34 per cent of respondents said they were being more careful about … Original article on : Knowing genetic makeup can make you more receptive to lifestyle changes.

Bedtime stories ‘improve children’s vocabulary, spelling abilities’

MELBOURNE – Reading bedtime stories such as Narnia or Lord of the Rings to your children at a young age can significantly improve their vocabulary as well as their spelling abilities, according to a new study.

Jean Gross – the government’s adviser on youth speech, language and communication problems – said that children can be taught … Original source on Gaea Times at : Bedtime stories ‘improve children’s vocabulary, spelling abilities’.

Beer ‘may have led to the rise of civilization’

WASHINGTON – Some archaeologists have said that there is a possibility that beer may have helped lead to the rise of civilization.

Their argument is that Stone Age farmers were domesticating cereals not so much to fill their stomachs but to lighten their heads, by turning the grains into beer.

Signs that people went to great … Read more »».

Human evolution occurred ‘3mn yrs earlier than previously thought’

WASHINGTON – A new statistical model has suggested that evolutionary divergence of humans from chimpanzees likely occurred some 8 million years ago rather than the 5 million year estimate widely accepted by scientists.

The revised estimate of when the human species parted ways from its closest primate relatives should enable scientists to better interpret the history … Read more >>>.

Study finds hemodynamic responses for infant’s facial expressions

WASHINGTON – Japanese research group have found hemispheric differences in the temporal area overlying superior temporal sulcus (STS) when processing positive (happy) and negative (angry) facial expressions in infants.

The research group was led by Prof. Ryusuke Kakigi and Dr. Emi Nakato (National Institute for Physiological Sciences: NIPS) and Prof. Masami K Yamaguchi (Chuo … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Study finds hemodynamic responses for infant’s facial expressions.

Earth may have had water ‘from the day it was born’

LONDON – A new study claims that Earth may have had water on its surface right since the day the planet came into being.

The study suggests that Earth’s life-sustaining liquid came from the dust from which the planet was born and not simply from collisions with objects that later crashed into the planet from space.

Simulations … Original source on Gaea Times at : Earth may have had water ‘from the day it was born’.

Launch of space shuttle Discovery postponed

WASHINGTON – NASA has postponed the launch of space shuttle Discovery to no earlier than 4:05 a.m. EST on Nov. 30.

The reason behind the delay is a hydrogen gas leak detected while filling the external tank Friday morning. Engineers and technicians will also assess a foam crack on the external fuel tank’s liquid oxygen intertank … Original article on : Launch of space shuttle Discovery postponed.

Why watching a sunrise takes our breath away

LONDON – Ever wondered why watching a sunrise or a sunset is so breathtaking? Scientists have revealed in a new study how humans perceive colours, an ability that lets us see all the glorious hues of a sunrise.

Scientists have mapped the neural system involved in how cells in our eyes communicate and pass on signals …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Why watching a sunrise takes our breath away.

‘Google killer’ search engine to ‘clean up web searches’

LONDON – A new Internet search engine called Blekko, which relies on recommendations from other users, has been launched and hailed as a ‘Google killer’.

It filters out poor quality and irrelevant websites, which its founders claim have overrun the web and dominate search engine results, reports the Daily Mail.

It works by using humans to pre-select …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Massive deep-sea coral die-off discovered near Gulf of Mexico

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered a massive deep-sea coral die-off this week about 7 miles (11 kilometers) southwest of the source of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Large communities of several types of bottom-dwelling coral were found covered with a dark substance at depths of about 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) near the damaged Deepwater Horizon …. Read the original article  : Massive deep-sea coral die-off discovered near Gulf of Mexico.

Smoggy morning in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhi’s skyline was enveloped by a layer of smog Saturday, a day after Diwali as smoke from the firecrackers burnt overnight mixed with the early morning mist.

The smog will cover the city sky the whole day and it will clear up only by tomorrow (Sunday), said an official of the India … Read more : Smoggy morning in Delhi.

Annual $100 bn funding for climate change possible: UN

NEW YORK – A UN advisory group headed by leaders of Norway and Ethiopia said Friday that it would be possible to raise as much as $100 billion a year to fight climate change by 2020.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and his counterpart from Ethiopia Meles Zenawi said in a study that the goal …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Annual $100 bn funding for climate change possible: UN.

NASA scraps Discovery launch until end of month

WASHINGTON – Technical problems have forced NASA to delay the launch of the space shuttle Discovery until at least the end of this month, officials said.

Discovery’s launch has been delayed several times, initially due to technical problems and later complicated by poor weather. But more technical problems resurfaced ahead of a scheduled take-off Friday … Read this article on Gaea Times at : NASA scraps Discovery launch until end of month.

Now play ‘Star Wars’ on iPhone

LONDON – It is the dream application for anyone harbouring fantasies of being Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars”.

A new game for iPhone lets users take the controls of the Millennium Falcon and battle enemy spaceships using the phone’s built-in camera to create the backdrop.
The game recreates the famous scene from the first “Star … Read : Now play ‘Star Wars’ on iPhone.

The mind uses syntax to interpret actions

WASHINGTON – Most people are familiar with the concept that sentences have syntax or structure. A verb, a subject, and an object come together in predictable patterns. But apparently actions have syntax too!

When we watch someone else do something, we assemble their actions to mean something, say researchers.
“There are oceans and oceans [..] Read the original article: here.

Ice-baths can do more harm than good, say scientists

LONDON – A new study has suggested that ice-baths can actually do more harm than good.

The agonisingly cold dips are a popular way for athletes to finish their training as they help the body to return to normal after a workout.

The theory is that the …. Source article  : Ice-baths can do more harm than good, say scientists.

Space Shuttle Launch Further Delayed

CAPE CANAVERAL (GaeaTimes.com)- The final launch of the space shuttle Discovery, who is gearing up to provide essentials to the International Space Station suffered another major setback on Thursday after unfavorable weather conditions further delayed its launch. This is the fourth time within a week that the much-awaited launch of Discovery had to be … Original source on Gaea Times at : Space Shuttle Launch Further Delayed.

NASA EPOXI flyby offers new insights into comet features

WASHINGTON – Scientists say that initial images from NASA’s EPOXI mission spacecraft that successfully flew past Comet Hartley 2 at 10 a.m. EDT Thursday, provide new information about the comet’s volume and material spewing from its surface.

“Early observations of the comet show that, for the first time, we may be able to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : NASA EPOXI flyby offers new insights into comet features.