Science News – Newsletter for December 13, 2010

Monday, December 13, 2010

Britain’s oldest cat turns 24

LONDON – Blackie, a cat from Leicestershire in Britain, will turn 24 in January and lay claim on the Guinness World Records as the country’s oldest feline.

Quentin Shaw, 49, who has owned her since 1987, said the cat has even outlived three of her own litters along the way, The Sun reported.
“I’ve had …. Original article on Gaea Times at : Britain’s oldest cat turns 24.

Two poachers killed in Kaziranga, rhino found dead

GUWAHATI – Two poachers were killed in a gunfight with wildlife rangers at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam Monday after a gang entered the area and killed a rhino, an official said.

A wildlife warden said a group of about four to six poachers entered the park early Monday and shot dead an adult … Read : Two poachers killed in Kaziranga, rhino found dead.

Humble ant can overcome complex logistical problems

SYDNEY – Humans can take a lesson or two from the humble ant which is really good at overcoming complex logistical problems — something only a few computer algorithms can do.

The finding can help scientists develop even better software to maximise efficiency in many human industries and traffic management, reports the Journal of … Read more : Humble ant can overcome complex logistical problems.

Icy winds sweep Himachal

SHIMLA – Icy winds enveloped the hills of Himachal Pradesh Monday, with the higher reaches recording sub-zero temperatures.

Shimla saw a slight decline in night temperature. The Monday morning temperature was 3.9 degrees Celsius, a marginal fall from Sunday, the weather office here said.
Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district and Kalpa in Kinnaur district … Read : Icy winds sweep Himachal.

Two poachers shot dead in Kaziranga

GUWAHATI – Two rhino poachers were killed in a gun fight with wildlife rangers at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam Monday, officials said.

A wildlife warden said a group of four to six poachers entered the park early Monday and were waiting for a rhino herd near the Agoratoli range.
“A team of forest …. Source : Gaea News Network.

Depression drug may relieve pain from breast cancer treatment

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that a drug usually used to treat depression and anxiety disorder helped in reducing joint and muscle pain linked with a breast cancer treatment.

The women in the University of Michigan study were taking aromatase inhibitors, a type of drug designed to block the production of estrogen, which fuels [..] Read the original article: here.

Protein sheds light on cause and treatment for kidney disease

LONDON – A new study has shed light on causes and treatment of a kidney disease associated with proteinuria-the leakage of protein in the urine.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have found a protein that compromises the kidney’s filtering ability, causing nephrotic syndrome, and demonstrated that a naturally occurring precursor of an acid …. Read the original article : Protein sheds light on cause and treatment for kidney disease.

Humans helped vulture population flourish in Canary Islands

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that the Egyptian vulture population of the Canary Islands flourished around the same time as humans began to colonise the islands.

“We found that the island vultures are significantly heavier and larger than those from Iberia. The establishment of this insular population took place some 2500 years ago, matching … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Humans helped vulture population flourish in Canary Islands.

Toppling giant firms online – protests go digital

LONDON – How many people does it take to topple VISAs website – a company that can process 10,000 transactions per second? Just 2,000. That’s how many were needed to overwhelm VISA.com.

The actual damage was relatively minimal since credit card transactions take place on a separate system, but for ‘Anonymous’, the online collective … Read more >>.

New study could personalize oral health care

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that the defenses of the oral microbiome are unique and tracing them could pave way for personalized oral health care.

A strategy for monitoring the interaction between bacterial communities and viruses is to sequence specific bacterial DNA elements that confer acquired immunity against viral attack, called clustered regularly interspaced …. Source article on Gaea Times at : New study could personalize oral health care.

How Saturn’s rings and inner moons were formed

WASHINGTON – According to a new study, Saturn’s rings and inner moons were formed after the collision of a large satellite with the planet.

Saturn’s rings are at present 90 to 95 percent water ice. Previous studies suggest that the rings formed when a small satellite was disrupted by an impacting comet.

“This scenario would have likely …. Source article : How Saturn’s rings and inner moons were formed.

India to launch advanced communication satellite Dec 20

CHENNAI – India will Dec 20 launch the advanced GSAT-5P communication satellite that will replace the ageing INSAT 2E and ensure continuity of telecom and television services, an official said.

“The launch window will open at 1600 hours on Dec 20,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) director (publications and public relations) S. Satish told … Original source on Gaea Times at : India to launch advanced communication satellite Dec 20.

New tool sweeps away Alzheimer’s plaque from brain

WASHINGTON – A new molecular tool developed by US scientists has shown promise in ‘clearing’ the brain of plaque that triggers Alzheimer’s disease.

This plaque is the aggregation of protein-like bits known as amyloid-beta peptides that accumulate in the brain. It can cause cell death and devastating symptoms of memory loss in Alzheimer’s, an incurable …. Source article : New tool sweeps away Alzheimer’s plaque from brain.

Over 30 ancient shipwrecks found near China coast

BEIJING – Over 30 ancient shipwrecks have been discovered off China’s shoreline, the national oceanic body has said.

The shipwrecks were found during a research project called 908, the China News Service reported quoting an official with the State Oceanic Administration (SOA).
The findings were released Sunday during a seminar in Xiamen in Fujian … Read : Over 30 ancient shipwrecks found near China coast.