Science News – Newsletter for December 14, 2010

Now, you can direct a movie while watching it!

WASHINGTON – It may now be possible for you to direct a movie while watching it, thanks to a new technology developed by Tel Aviv University researchers.

Nitzan Ben Shaul of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Film and Television has made a new format, which uses …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Now, you can direct a movie while watching it!.

Early settlers rapidly transformed Kiwi forests with fire

WASHINGTON – A new research has indicated that the speed of early forest clearance following human colonisation of the South Island of New Zealand was a lot faster and intense than previously thought.

Charcoal recovered from lakebed sediment cores has shown that just a few large fires … Read more : Early settlers rapidly transformed Kiwi forests with fire.

Sleep-deprived bees make poor dancers: Study

LONDON – Like humans, bees aren’t at their best on the job if they’ve been deprived of sleep, according to a new study.

The research showed that sleep-deprived bees are less proficient than their well-rested hive mates at indicating the location of a food source to other members of the colony by waggle dancing – the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Sleep-deprived bees make poor dancers: Study.

Attack on Gawker enables spammers to take over Twitter accounts

LONDON – An attack by hackers on online gossip site Gawker Media has enabled spammers to take over thousands of Twitter accounts after the users’ passwords were stolen.

Gawker revealed on December 12 that its servers had been hacked and 1.3 million user account passwords compromised, and it published a statement on its homepage advising …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Attack on Gawker enables spammers to take over Twitter accounts.

Can flu infections prevent asthma?

WASHINGTON – In a new study, scientists found that the influenza virus infection in young mice protected the mice as adults against the development of allergic asthma.

The same protective effect was achieved by treating young mice with compound isolated from the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that colonizes the stomach and is best …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Oldest fossils discovered in Cordillera Betica mountain range

WASHINGTON – A team of Spanish researchers has discovered fossils of Ordovician conodonts dating to between 446 and 444 million years ago for the first time in the western Mediterranean.

The discovery of these very primitive marine vertebrates has helped scientists to reconstruct the palaeogeography of the Cordillera Betica mountain range.

Their study shows that … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Oldest fossils discovered in Cordillera Betica mountain range.

Money really can’t buy happiness – in the long-term at least

WASHINGTON – It’s an old adage that we usually quote but don’t really believe. “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” However, now a new study by an economist has found it to be true.

A new collaborative paper by Richard Easterlin – namesake of the “Easterlin Paradox” and founder of the field of happiness studies – offers the … Original article on : Money really can’t buy happiness – in the long-term at least.

Facebook crime rises by ‘540pc in 3yrs in UK’

LONDON – Police chiefs have reported that crimes linked to Facebook have reached more than 100,000 across Britain in the last five years.

Police chiefs in 16 forces made the revelation, claiming that 7,545 calls from the public since January were concerned with the social networking site.

Callers have alerted officers to alleged acts of terrorism, sudden …. Source article  : Facebook crime rises by ‘540pc in 3yrs in UK’.

UK to launch its biggest, deadliest nuclear submarine

LONDON – A nuclear reactor which can power a small city and guidedmissiles that can pulverise an enemy more than 1,000 miles away — meet HMS Ambush, the Royal Navy’s newest killer submarine.

The super-sub can produce oxygen and drinking water from seawater to keep its 98 crew members alive in time of crisis.
…. Read the original article  : UK to launch its biggest, deadliest nuclear submarine.

Diet linked to onset of mental illness

WASHINGTON – Previous studies have linked changes in diet to a reduction of abnormal behaviors in mentally ill people or animals, but a Purdue University research demonstrates that diet might also trigger the onset of mental illness in the first place.

Joseph Garner, an associate professor of animal sciences, fed mice a diet high in sugar …. Read the original article  : Diet linked to onset of mental illness.

When it comes to choosing a mate, the eyes have it

WASHINGTON – Queen’s University researchers have traced the difference in the way males and females of the same species of vertebrate see things-especially to choose their mate.

Shai Sabbah led a team of researchers, who found that male and female cichlid fishes not only see things differently, but detect light in different ways as well.

“It …. Original source  : When it comes to choosing a mate, the eyes have it.

‘Fountain of youth’ pill may restore aging immune system

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found an existing medication that restores key elements of the immune system that, when out of balance, lead to a steady decline in immunity and health as people age.

The research team has found that extremely low doses of the drug lenalidomide can stimulate the body’s immune-cell protein factories, which decrease production …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Fountain of youth’ pill may restore aging immune system.

High levels of ‘good’ cholesterol linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – also known as “good” cholesterol – appear to be associated with a reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease in older adults.

Christiane Reitz and colleagues at Columbia University’s Taub Institute, New York, studied 1,130 older adults to examine the association of blood …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : High levels of ‘good’ cholesterol linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s.

Acupuncture may help treat lazy eye

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that acupuncture could potentially become an alternative to patching for treating amblyopia (lazy eye) in some older children.

About one-third to one-half of the amblyopia cases are caused by differences in the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness between the two eyes, a condition known as anisometropia.

Correcting these refractive … Read : Acupuncture may help treat lazy eye.

Sunny day for Delhi, cold winds expected

NEW DELHI – It was a sunny day for Delhi Tuesday, but cold winds were expected to bring the mercury down, said weather officials.

Cold winds will bring down the temperature, the mercury will dip constantly over the next few days, an official of the India Meteorological Department said.
The minimum temperature was around …. Original source  : Sunny day for Delhi, cold winds expected.

Scientists working to make internet better, more responsive

SYDNEY – Researchers are working on a new project to improve the reliability and efficiency of internet services.

The team includes researchers from the AT&T Labs Research, the research arm of US-based global telecommunications company AT&T.
They will synthesise internet traffic matrices, based on the patterns of real network traffic allowing researchers to test …. Original article  : Scientists working to make internet better, more responsive.

Prehistoric humans ate each other: Study

WASHINGTON – New research on probable human teeth marks found on prehistoric human bones suggests that Neanderthals and Homo antecessor made meals of each other.

The findings support prior theories that the first humans to re-colonize Britain after the last ice age practiced nutritional cannibalism 12,000 years ago at a site called Gough’s Cave in what … Original article on : Prehistoric humans ate each other: Study.

Stem cells from testicles could offer diabetes treatment

MELBOURNE – It may soon be possible for men with type 1 diabetes to use stem cells from their testicles to replace their damaged insulin-secreting beta islet cells, say US scientists.

The new research details how the cells, which would normally become sperm, can be coaxed into taking on this new role.

Lead author Associate Professor Ian … Read more : Stem cells from testicles could offer diabetes treatment.

Pedalling 1,000 km to popularise cycling

BANGALORE – Around 100 people, including women and two foreigners, are set to pedal 1,000 km from Bangalore to the picturesque Nilgiris to popularise cycling as eco-friendly transport mode.

Rosanna Nitti, an Italian and an architect, will be pedalling along with her husband Rajesh Nair. The other is Mark Hemhauser, a librarian, at the Maryland …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pedalling 1,000 km to popularise cycling.

Argentine glacier recedes due to global warming

Buenos Aires, Dec 14 (IANS/EFE) The Ameghino glacier in Argentina has receded four kilometres over the past 80 years due to the effects of global warming, non-governmental environment organisation Greenpeace has said.

Greenpeace has released photos of the glacier, located in the Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz province – one photo taken in … Read : Argentine glacier recedes due to global warming.