Science News – Newsletter for November 13, 2010

Almonds can boost men’s sex lives

KUALA LUMPUR – Here’s a piece of advice for men who want a healthy sex life – start taking more almonds.

Sin Chew Daily reported that a study showed that almonds have a high quantity of a type of amino acid called arginine, which helps to relax blood vessels and improve blood circulation.

However, the study added …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘Ice-free’ surfaces to repel freezing water

WASHINGTON – Scientists have designed and demonstrated ice-free nanostructured materials that literally repel water droplets before they even have the chance to freeze.

The finding, by engineers from Harvard University, could lead to a new way to keep airplane wings, buildings, powerlines, and even entire … Read : ‘Ice-free’ surfaces to repel freezing water.

Mathematical model of red blood cells’ life cycle may predict anemia risk

WASHINGTON – Scientists have developed a mathematical model reflecting how red blood cells change in size and hemoglobin content during their four-month lifespan.

The study is collaboration between a physician-researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and a mathematician from Harvard …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mathematical model of red blood cells’ life cycle may predict anemia risk.

Scientists explore 1510 influenza pandemic and lessons learned

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, have explored the 1510 pandemic and what we have learned since then about preventing, controlling and treating influenza.

Prior …. Read the original article  : Scientists explore 1510 influenza pandemic and lessons learned.

Fruit fly study sheds light on brain development and diseases

WASHINGTON – Scientists have identified a new genetic marker that makes fruit fly a better model for brain development and diseases.

The human brain is composed of 100 billion individual nerve cells which communicate with each other via a complex network of connections. Errors in communications of these cells are often at the basis of brain … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Fruit fly study sheds light on brain development and diseases.

Satellites produce up-to-date information on global snow cover

WASHINGTON – Gathering fresh information on the snow situation right after a snowfall was not possible before when only land-based observations were available.

Now, a new European Space Agency???s (ESA) GlobSnow project, led by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, uses satellites to produce up-to-date information on global snow cover.

The project can map the extent and …. Source  : Satellites produce up-to-date information on global snow cover.

Rock-burning, sea-zapping geoengineering may help fight climate change

LONDON – Rocks that suck carbon dioxide out of the air could be key in the fight against climate change, say scientists.

While addressing a conference at the Royal Society in London this week, Tim Kruger of Oxford Geoengineering, a networking organisation in the UK, said that “enhanced weathering” could in theory remove as much CO2 [..] Read the original article: here.

Sleep reorganizes memories to help produce new and creative ideas

WASHINGTON – It is already known that sleep helps consolidate memories, fixing them in the brain so we can retrieve them later. Now, a new study has shown that sleep also reorganizes memories, picking out the emotional details and reconfiguring the memories to help produce new and creative ideas.

“Sleep is making memories stronger. It … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sleep reorganizes memories to help produce new and creative ideas.

Obstructive sleep apnea may shrink brain’s gray matter

WASHINGTON – A new research suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may cause structural defects in the brain’s gray matter, resulting in problems with cognitive functions such as attention and memory.

These brain changes are likely caused by the intermittent oxygen deprivation that occurs in people with OSA, who temporarily stop breathing many times each night.

To … Read more »»».

Scientists move one step closer to vaccine for urinary tract infections

WASHINGTON – A vaccine to prevent urinary tract infections caused by E. coli may one day become a reality, thanks to a new research.

Using a genetic technique rarely used to look at infections in human hosts, scientists from the University of Michigan studied how the E. coli bacteria operate and discovered key differences between how …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Leonid meteor shower to brighten November sky next week

WASHINGTON – Astronomy enthusiasts will be treated with best viewing of the Leonid meteor shower in the two to three hours before dawn on November 17 and 18, says the StarDate magazine.

There is always some uncertainty in the number of meteors the Leonid shower will produce, but viewers could expect to see at least 20 …. Source article  : Leonid meteor shower to brighten November sky next week.

Pulses of light might one day keep diseased hearts beating

LONDON – Heart muscles genetically engineered to respond to optical stimulation could improve models of heart attacks, and may also increase the understanding of how the embryonic heart develops, say scientists.

The works are among the earliest applications outside the nervous system of a technique called optogenetics. This approach switches cells on and off using proteins … Read more »»».

Sugar cube-sized supercomputer in 10 to 15 years: IBM

LONDON – IBM scientists have said that a pioneering research effort could shrink the world’s most powerful supercomputer processors to the size of a sugar cube.

The approach will see many computer processors stacked on top of one another, cooling them with water flowing between each one.

The plan is to reduce computers’ energy use, rather than …. Source  : Sugar cube-sized supercomputer in 10 to 15 years: IBM.

Light rains in Delhi, more forecast

NEW DELHI – The national capital saw light rains Saturday morning and the weatherman has forecast more showers and a cloudy day ahead.

“The skies will remain partly cloudy and there will be light drizzle and thundery developments throughout the day in some parts of the city,” an official of the India Meteorological Department … Read : Light rains in Delhi, more forecast.

Now, a cocktail vending machine that dishes out Mojitos every 30 seconds

LONDON – Long waits before you get your cocktails ready and served may become a thing of the past, thanks to a new machine that dispenses icy cocktails at speed from a bar tap.

Mixing the cocktails, which includes laboriously crushing and blending the ice for each sweet and slushy drink, means it can take ages … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Now, a cocktail vending machine that dishes out Mojitos every 30 seconds.

Can’t remember faces? Blame your superior reading skills

LONDON – Do you have bad memory for faces? Well, your superior reading skills may be to blame, according to a new brain-scan study.

Previously, Stanislas Dehaene at the INSERM-CEA Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit in Saclay, France, proposed a “neuronal recycling” theory, which suggests that new skills are handled by existing brain-cell circuits with older but related …. Original article  : Can’t remember faces? Blame your superior reading skills.

Scientists solve the ‘annoying wet dog shake’ mystery

WASHINGTON – Seeing a dog shake and shimmy after a bath is a common sight – and now scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have figured how fast a sopping wet pooch must shimmy to dry himself off.

They discovered that the smaller the animals, the faster they must generally shake to dry themselves off.

The … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Scientists solve the ‘annoying wet dog shake’ mystery.

India to slash transport emissions

UNITED NATIONS – India, the world’s fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter, has launched a new United Nations-backed project to reduce emissions and develop a low-carbon transport system.

New Delhi will work with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the German non-governmental organization International Climate Initiative on a $2.5 million, three-year project to bring the country’s … Read more >>.

Cloudy day ahead in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Saturday began on a misty note for Delhi and the weatherman predicted a cloudy day ahead.

“The skies will remain partly cloudy and thundery developments may occur towards the afternoon or evening in some parts of the city,” an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The minimum temperature was …. Source  : Cloudy day ahead in Delhi.

Facebook readying challenge to Gmail: Report

SAN FRANCISCO – Facebook is set to announce a new email feature Monday that could challenge Gmail, Yahoo mail and Hotmail as the most popular online email services, according to news reports.

The service by the popular social networking company will for the first time allow the site’s 500 million members to use “@facebook.com” addresses … Read : Facebook readying challenge to Gmail: Report.