Science News – Newsletter for December 19, 2010

India’s rocket launch postponed

CHENNAI – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed Monday’s rocket launch, meant to put an advanced communications satellite into orbit, following the detection of a leak in its Russian-made cryogenic engine.

The rocket, called a geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV), was to carry GSAT-5P, an advanced communications satellite meant to retire an earlier …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : India’s rocket launch postponed.

Was Jupiter’s movement perceived as Star of Bethlehem?

LONDON – The appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, which in the Bible guides the three wise men to Jesus’ birthplace, can be backed up by science, according to an astronomer.

Mark Thompson of the Royal Astronomical Society and Astronomy Presenter on BBC’s “The One Show” has conducted research that can explain the story, … Read : Was Jupiter’s movement perceived as Star of Bethlehem?.

NASA Scientists Release Statement

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com)- It seems that the anticipation and speculation about the unique form of bacteria found by NASA scientists in California’s Mono Lake, is far from over. On December 2, the researchers created quite a buzz when they announced that they have come as a different form of microbe that thrives on arsenic after …. Source  : NASA Scientists Release Statement.

Adapting to climate change may have been easier 13,500yrs ago

WASHINGTON – Adapting to climate change may have been easier in the past, according to a new study.

Samuel Munoz, now a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and geologist Konrad Gajewski at the University … Read more »».

Ancient tablets reveal Babylonian math skills

WASHINGTON – An exhibit of 13 ancient Babylonian tablets in New York has revealed that highly sophisticated mathematical practice flourished in Babylonia nearly 1,000 years prior to the Greek sages Thales and Pythagoras, with whom mathematics is … Read more »».

Why do some musical performances move us?

WASHINGTON – Scientists at Florida Atlantic University have identified key aspects of musical performance that cause emotion-related brain activity, and they have shown for the first time how these performance nuances work in the brain, in real-time.

The … Read more >>.

Amazing iPhone application instantly translates words

LONDON – It could be the perfect tool for bewildered tourists lost in a foreign city.

A remarkable new iPhone application has been developed that instantly translates words viewed through the phone’s camera from Spanish into English, and back again.
WordLens uses the iPhone’s inbuilt camera to recognise text that is viewed through the lens. … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Amazing iPhone application instantly translates words.

Maths research to improve reliability, efficiency of Internet services

WASHINGTON – Tech savvies may soon get reliable 24-hour Internet services at a reasonable cost.

Mathematics researchers are now working on a new project that will improve the reliability and efficiency of Internet services.

The team, including researchers from the AT and T Labs Research, the research arm of US-based global telecommunications company AT and T, will …. Original article  : Maths research to improve reliability, efficiency of Internet services.

‘Old’ LOL, BRB are now PML, BFN for net chatters

MELBOURNE – Internet vernacular has changed and it’s no longer cool to write LOL (laugh out loud) – the new acronym is PML (p*** myself laughing).

And no one still uses BRB (be right back) – it’s BFN (bye for now).

“I can tell someone’s age from their internet talk. When I read BRB or LOL, I … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘Old’ LOL, BRB are now PML, BFN for net chatters.

How partners perceive each other’s emotion during relationship fight

WASHINGTON – New research from Baylor University psychologists has shown that how each person perceives the other partner’s emotion during a conflict greatly influences different types of thoughts, feelings and reactions in themselves.

Dr. Keith Sanford, a clinical psychologist and an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor, College of Arts and Sciences, and his … Read this article on Gaea Times at : How partners perceive each other’s emotion during relationship fight.

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol risky: Study

WASHINGTON – Energy drinks lead to increased alcohol consumption, according to a new research.

Sean Barrett, associate professor of psychology and psychiatry at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and colleagues investigated drinking patterns when alcohol and caffeinated energy drinks were combined.

Researchers interviewed more than 70 Dalhousie students about their energy drink consumption and alcohol … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mixing energy drinks with alcohol risky: Study.

Srinagar sees coldest day at minus 5.6 degrees

SRINAGAR – Srinagar shivered at a minimum of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius Sunday morning, making it the coldest day of the season. At some places in Kashmir Valley, people had to light small fires to de-freeze taps!

“I wear woollens in addition to the thick tweed ‘pheran’ and wrap a muffler around my neck when …. Original article  : Srinagar sees coldest day at minus 5.6 degrees.

Jairam shoots off missives over chopper movement in tiger reserve

BHUBANESWAR – Upset by complaints of low-flying helicopters over a tiger reserve in Orissa, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel in the matter.

Ramesh, in his letter to Patel Saturday, said he had received a complaint regarding a low-flying helicopter over the … Read : Jairam shoots off missives over chopper movement in tiger reserve.

Camels on catwalk at Abu Dhabi beauty pageant

ABU DHABI – More than 20,000 camels were competing Saturday at the fourth Camel Beauty Pageant in the United Arab Emirates’ capital of Abu Dhabi, organisers said.

With more than $10 million in prizes up for grabs, the competition – which started Thursday – is serious business for camel owners and seen as the largest … Read more »»».

Sunny Saturday in Delhi

NEW DELHI – The weekend started on a sunny note with Delhi recording above average temperature during the day. A slight dip in mercury levels is expected Sunday, the weather office said.

Saturday’s maximum temperature was recorded at 25.2 degrees Celsius, two notches above average for this time of the season. The minimum was a …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Sunny Saturday in Delhi.

Last eclipse of the year Dec 21

NEW DELHI – A total lunar eclipse Dec 21 will be the last eclipse of 2010, a statement by the Planetary Society, India said Saturday. The eclipse will however not be visible in India.

According to N. Sri Raghunandan Kumar, general secretary of the Planetary Society, the eclipse will begin 10.58 a.m. and after passing … Read more : Last eclipse of the year Dec 21.

How plants counteract against larger neighbours’ shade

WASHINGTON – Researchers have discovered how plants that ‘lose the battle’ during competitiveness for light because they are shaded by larger neighbours, counteract.

Previously, it was thought that these plants adapted to such a condition by rapid shoot elongation and stretching their leaves towards the sun.

However, scientists could not clarify till date the molecular …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

PSA test more reliable in men taking prostate-shrinking drug

WASHINGTON – The PSA screening test for prostate cancer is better known for its imperfection – it can indicate cancer when none is present and miss life-threatening tumours.

But a new study has suggested that the test is more reliable in men who take a drug widely prescribed to shrink an enlarged prostate gland.

Dutasteride lowers PSA …. Read the original article  : PSA test more reliable in men taking prostate-shrinking drug.

Major shift in understanding how eczema develops

WASHINGTON – Our skin serves as a barrier protecting our body from hundreds of allergens, irritants, pollutants and microbes we come in contact with every day.

But in eczema patients, the skin barrier is leaky, allowing intruders to be sensed by the skin and subsequently wreak havoc on the immune system.

While the upper-most layer of …. Original article  : Major shift in understanding how eczema develops.

3400-yr-old Bronze Age man who broke his neck but survived, found in Spain

WASHINGTON – Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a Bronze Age man that lived more than 3,400 years ago in Spain and suffered a broken hyoid bone, likely caused by a blow to his neck.

The hyoid bone is a horseshoe shaped object located at the root of the tongue. Amazingly enough the injury healed …. Source article  : 3400-yr-old Bronze Age man who broke his neck but survived, found in Spain.