Science News – Newsletter for November 24, 2010

Madhya Pradesh tops in forest rights

BHOPAL – The central government has awarded Madhya Pradesh for the best implementation of Forest Rights Act, which safeguards land ownership of tribals and other traditional forest dwellers, it was officially announced Tuesday.

Under the 2005 law, land certificates are given to forest dwellers, which legitimises their ownership and prevents harassment by officials.
So far, …. Read the original article  : Madhya Pradesh tops in forest rights.

Chatrooms, social networking sites “behind generation that can’t spell”

LONDON – A study has suggested that Internet chatrooms and social networking sites are to be blamed for children spelling words incorrectly.

The study says as people type at speed online, there is now a “general attitude” that there is no need to correct mistakes or conform to regular spelling rules.

And this means that children who … Original source on Gaea Times at : Chatrooms, social networking sites “behind generation that can’t spell”.

Why babies digest milk more effectively than adults

WASHINGTON – A new study has pointed out that infants are more efficient at digesting milk than adults due to a difference in the strains of bacteria that dominate their digestive tracts.

Researchers from the University of California, Davis, and Utah State University have identified the genes that are most likely responsible for this difference.

“Human …. Source article  : Why babies digest milk more effectively than adults.

Scientists revive ancient bacteria

WASHINGTON – Scientists at Binghamton University have revived ancient bacteria trapped for thousands of years in water droplets embedded in salt crystals.or years, geologists have looked at these water droplets – called fluid inclusions – and wondered whether microbes could be extracted from them.

Fluid inclusions have been found inside salt crystals ranging in age … Original source on Gaea Times at : Scientists revive ancient bacteria.

Archaeologists uncover 1,800-yr-old Roman bathhouse in Jerusalem

WASHINGTON – A 1,800-year-old bathhouse was discovered prior to the construction of a men’s mikveh (ritual bath) in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem.

The Israel Antiquities Authority announced that the bathhouse was probably used by the Tenth Legion, the Roman soldiers who destroyed the Second Temple, reports CNN.com.

The surprise discovery also included the paw print of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Archaeologists uncover 1,800-yr-old Roman bathhouse in Jerusalem.

Late-preterm babies ‘at greater risk for cognitive, emotional problems’

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that late-preterm babies, those born between 34 and 36 weeks, face an increased risk of cognitive and emotional problems.

The findings held up even when the researchers accounted for the mother’s IQ and other demographic measures known to affect the risk of these problems.

While late-preterm births (full-term pregnancies … Read more >>.

Targeted breast ultrasound effective for women under 30

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that targeted breast ultrasound should be the primary imaging technique used to evaluate focal breast signs and symptoms of disease in women younger than 30.

Researchers at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle reviewed all ultrasound examinations performed for focal breast signs or symptoms in women younger than 30 …. Original source  : Targeted breast ultrasound effective for women under 30.

Imaging breakthrough to help docs see microscopic details inside our bodies

WASHINGTON – Scientists say that a new breakthrough in imaging technology using a combination of light and sound will allow health care providers to see microscopic details inside the body.

Access to this level of detail potentially eliminates the need for some invasive biopsies, but it also has the potential to help health care providers make …. Original source  : Imaging breakthrough to help docs see microscopic details inside our bodies.

Scientists develop new salmonella test that makes food safer

WASHINGTON – Researchers from University of Missouri have developed a new test for salmonella in poultry and eggs that will produce faster and more accurate results than most currently available tests.

Earlier this year, an outbreak of salmonella caused by infected eggs resulted in thousands of illnesses before a costly recall could be implemented.

The new test, …. Original source  : Scientists develop new salmonella test that makes food safer.

Tiger shot dead in Assam

GUWAHATI – A Royal Bengal tiger was shot dead by forest rangers after the big cat mauled two people to death and critically injured two more in Assam Tuesday, wildlife officials said.

The incident took place at village Habiborongabari in Morigaon district, about 60 km east of Assams main city of Guwahati.
The adult tiger … Original source on Gaea Times at : Tiger shot dead in Assam.

Tehran declares holiday for pollution

TEHRAN – Tehran will observe a public holiday Wednesday due to “alarming” rise of air pollution in the city, the official media reports.

The Tehran City Air Pollution Committee announced that offices, banks and schools will remain closed Wednesday, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
The decision was taken Monday at an emergency … Read more : Tehran declares holiday for pollution.

New method to trick cancer cells to self-destruct shows promise

WASHINGTON – A new method that causes cancer cells to self-destruct while sparing surrounding healthy cells is showing promise as a fighter against the disease.

Tulane University researcher W T. Godbey has developed the treatment.

While clinical trials with human patients are two to three years in the future, the treatment has been successful in animal models.

Tulane … Read : New method to trick cancer cells to self-destruct shows promise.

Indian-origin boffins introduce thermotherapy as a chemotherapy alternative

WASHINGTON – A research team, including Indian-origin scientists, has introduced a new method to target and destroy cancerous cells.he cancer treatment uses hyperthermia to elevate the temperature of tumor cells, while keeping the surrounding healthy tissue at a lower degree of body heat.

The investigators used both in vitro and in vivo experiments to confirm …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Indian-origin boffins introduce thermotherapy as a chemotherapy alternative.

Solitary fish may be first model for human depression

LONDON – Zebrafish that stop swimming when left alone could be the first fish model of a human mood disorder.

In 2005, when Herwig Baier of the University of California, was screening thousands of zebrafish for vision problems, he found one that seemed a bit ‘off’.

If alone, especially after repeated periods of isolation, the fish would …. Source  : Solitary fish may be first model for human depression.

Bigger brains make dogs friendlier than cats

LONDON – Domestication by humans helped dogs evolve bigger brains making them more friendly than their feline counterparts and other solitary species, say scientists.

The reason, they suggest, is that dogs evolved bigger brains because friendly, social mammals need more grey matter than solitary, aloof ones.
The findings come from a study into the …. Original source  : Bigger brains make dogs friendlier than cats.

Adding face shields to helmets could prevent blast-induced brain injuries

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that adding a face shield to the helmet worn by military personnel could help prevent blast induced head injuries.

Raul Radovitzky, of MIT, and colleagues reported that adding a face shield to the standard-issue helmet worn by the vast majority of ground troops could significantly reduce traumatic brain injury, … Read : Adding face shields to helmets could prevent blast-induced brain injuries.

Mind’s ability to predict makes us less attentive

WASHINGTON – The human brain has the ability to store millions of sounds and sights, which get recorded into a database that the mind refers to the next time it encounters any of them.

Collections of neurons in brain have their own … Read more >>.

High tech clothes peg can withstand sun for longer

MELBOURNE – Scientists have designed a clothes peg using supercomputers and quantum chemistry – the high tech peg can withstand the sun for longer.

Researchers at the Australian National University in Canberra modelled polymer degradation to ensure that the plastic was …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : High tech clothes peg can withstand sun for longer.

Biological basis of brain’s ability for rapid adaptation revealed

LONDON – When you detect an object flying at your head, you first move out of the way and then you try to determine what the object is. Your brain’s ability to rapidly switch from detecting an object moving in your direction to finding out what the object is through a phenomenon called adaptation.

Now, a …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Biological basis of brain’s ability for rapid adaptation revealed.

New spinal implant to help people exercise paralysed limbs

WASHINGTON – People with paraplegia would now be able to exercise their paralysed leg muscles, thanks to a new type of microchip muscle stimulator implant.

For the first time ever, researchers have developed a device of this kind that is small enough to be implanted into the spinal canal and incorporates the electrodes and muscle … Original article on : New spinal implant to help people exercise paralysed limbs.