Science News – Newsletter for December 11, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Lowering the drinking age won’t curb binge drinking: Study
WASHINGTON – A new study has challenged the theory that lowering the minimum legal drinking age would help curb binge drinking on campuses.
Richard A. Scribner, of the Louisiana State University School of Public Health, one of the researchers on the new study, and colleagues used a mathematical model to estimate the effects that a lower …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Lowering the drinking age won’t curb binge drinking: Study.
Schiaparelli impact basin on Mars was carved by wind, water
WASHINGTON – New images from ESA’s Mars Express have indicated that the Schiaparelli impact basin has been shaped significantly by wind and water on the Red planet.
Schiaparelli is a large impact basin about 460 km (285 miles) in diameter located in the eastern Terra Meridiani region of the equator of Mars.
Named after the Italian astronomer …. Original article : Schiaparelli impact basin on Mars was carved by wind, water.
Lightening could help monitor volcanic ash cloud
WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that lightening could be a new way of monitoring volcanic ash cloud, such as in the case of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull.
UK Met Office’s long-range lightning location network (ATDnet) had measured lightning generated during the volcanic activity.
The measurements suggest a general correlation between lightning frequency and plume height [..] Read the original article: here.
Circulating tumour cells in blood up death risk in early-stage breast cancer patients
WASHINGTON – A new study has shown that the presence of one to four circulating tumour cells in the blood of patients, who are in the early stages of breast cancer, can double the risk of cancer relapse and death.
Additionally, five or more CTCs increased recurrence by 400 percent and death by 300 percent, according …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Circulating tumour cells in blood up death risk in early-stage breast cancer patients.
New studies claim no evidence of time before Big Bang
LONDON – A recent study had claimed that concentric rings within the cosmic microwave background could provide evidence of black holes that collided in the past, before our Universe existed but three new independent studies have challenged that claim.
Vahe Gurzadyan of Yerevan Physics Institute in Armenia theoretical physicist Roger Penrose of the University of Oxford, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : New studies claim no evidence of time before Big Bang.
Over 100mn people joined Twitter in 2010
LONDON – It seems microblogging site Twitter is here to stay.
According to a statement released by the company, more than 100 million people have joined Twitter this year, bringing the total to 200 million twitterers worldwide.
And some of the famous joiners this year include Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Kanye West and Cher, reports …. Source article : Over 100mn people joined Twitter in 2010.
Boxing may be injurious to brain
WASHINGTON – Scientists at the Technical University Munich are questioning if boxing can cause severe damage to a player’s brain.
20 percent of professional boxers develop neuropsychiatric sequelae. The study, which evaluated boxers’ health in the past 10 years yielded the following results:
The most relevant acute consequence is the knock-out, which is related to cerebral concussion.
They … Read : Boxing may be injurious to brain.
Simple fingertip test may identify breast cancer patients at CTS risk
WASHINGTON – A simple test that measures a breast cancer patient’s ability to feel two metal points pressed against her fingertips may help evaluate the risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a new study by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers has shown.
CTS, most often associated with computer keyboard typing, is caused by bone …. Read the original article : here.
Haiti’s cholera strain came from South Asia: Study
LONDON – Scientists, who did a rapid genetic analysis of bacteria collected from Haitian patients, have concluded that the strain of cholera currently sweeping through post-earthquake Haiti originated in South Asia.
The finding supports the notion that the cholera bacteria fueling the outbreak arrived on the island via recent visitors.
“The mostly likely explanation for the sudden … Read : Haiti’s cholera strain came from South Asia: Study.
Weapon hits target 100 miles away within minutes in record-setting test
WASHINGTON – U.S. Navy engineers at the Office of Naval Research have successfully test-fired a weapon that can hit a target 100 miles or more away within minutes.
Rather than relying on an explosion to fire a projectile, the technology uses an electromagnetic current to accelerate a non-explosive bullet at several times the speed of sound.
Scientists grow human brain stem cells in rats
LONDON – Scientists in the US have made a major breakthrough that has the potential for people with brain damage, caused by epilepsy or Parkinson’s for example, to use their own brain stem cells as a treatment.
Steven Roper of the University of Florida discovered that stem cells from the human brain that were transplanted into …. Original article : Scientists grow human brain stem cells in rats.
Financially independent women ’seek older, more attractive male partners’
LONDON – As women become more financially independent, they seek older, more attractive male partners, according to a new study.
Previous work has found that women place greater emphasis on whether a man can provide for them when they are choosing a new partner.
The latest study, conducted by University of Abertay Dundee researchers, has revealed that …. Original source : Financially independent women ’seek older, more attractive male partners’.
Groundbreaking research opens door to new HIV treatments
WASHINGTON – A new University of Victoria study has significantly advanced the understanding of HIV and how to treat it.
Stephanie Willerth and her team studied approximately 15,000 different versions of the virus and it has allowed them to locate the specific genes of the virus that were resistant to the drugs.
“The virus mutates at a … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Groundbreaking research opens door to new HIV treatments.
At 6.2 degrees, Delhi’s minimum temperature plunges
NEW DELHI – It was a foggy morning in Delhi Saturday with the minimum temperature of 6.2 degrees Celsius being the lowest so far this season. The weather office, however, forecast a bright day ahead.
“The minimum temperature was 6.2 degrees Celsius, three notches below average. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 22 …. Original source : At 6.2 degrees, Delhi’s minimum temperature plunges.
Cycling just for 5 hrs a week ‘could affect a man’s fertility’
LONDON – If you are a regular cyclist, this may be important for you – a new study has found that cycling for at least five hours a week can affect a man’s fertility.
Researchers at Boston University surveyed 2,200 men attending fertility clinics and found that men who cycle at least five hours a week …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Cycling just for 5 hrs a week ‘could affect a man’s fertility’.
LHC to be run for an extra yr to find the Higgs particle
LONDON – Scientists at CERN are planning to run the Large Hadron Collider for an extra year in order to find the Higgs particle – part of the mechanism that is thought to endow other particles with mass.
Preparations for the extended run, which would see the 27-kilometre circular collider operating over three continuous years, are … Read this article on Gaea Times at : LHC to be run for an extra yr to find the Higgs particle.
8,000-year-old human bones found in Argentina
Buenos Aires, Dec 11 (IANS/EFE) Human skeletal remains dating back to around 8,270 years have been found near a lake in Argentina, scientists have said.
The remains were found together with the bones of guanacos from 7,000 years ago and ceramics between 1,500 and 2,300 years old on a lakeside beach in Venado Tuerto town …. Original article : 8,000-year-old human bones found in Argentina.
Dikshit asks kids to be environment ambassadors
NEW DELHI – Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Friday asked children to be ambassadors for conserving and improving environment here.
She also appreciated the children’s voluntary support during the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, after she inaugurated the 10th Annual Eco Meet organised by the city’s environment department.
The green cover in Delhi has expanded …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Dikshit asks kids to be environment ambassadors.
Praising Zuckerberg, Zed urges India’s billionaires to donate majority wealth
NEVADA – Applauding Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg for the reported pledge to give majority of his wealth to philanthropy, well known Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has called upon India’s billionaires/millionaires to make similar pledges.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged India’s large business houses to …. Original article on Gaea Times at : Praising Zuckerberg, Zed urges India’s billionaires to donate majority wealth.
Depression in mums ups stress hormones in babies
WASHINGTON – A University of Michigan-led study has found that babies born to depressed mums have higher levels of stress hormones, as well as with other neurological and behavioural differences.
“The two possibilities are that they are either more sensitive to stress and respond more vigorously to it, or that they are less able to shut … Read more >>>.