Science News – Newsletter for December 20, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Scientists identify proteins that can check 130 illnesses
LONDON – Scientists have identified hundreds of brain-related proteins, faults in which cause 130 illnesses including Alzheimer’s and autism.
The breakthrough could greatly speed the development of new drugs for degenerative and psychiatric illnesses as well as allowing better diagnosis.
Analysing slivers of brain tissue Seth Grant and colleagues at the Edinburgh University identified …. Original article : Scientists identify proteins that can check 130 illnesses.
Modern-day genomes used to reconstruct evolution of 3bn-yr-old microbes
WASHINGTON – MIT scientists have used modern day genomes to reconstruct the evolution of ancient microbes.
The scientists traced thousands of genes from 100 modern genomes back to those genes’ first appearance on Earth to create a genomic fossil telling not only when genes came into being but also which ancient microbes possessed those genes.
Set of proteins linked to over 130 brain diseases discovered
WASHINGTON – Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Edinburgh University have studied human brain samples to isolate a set of proteins that account for over 130 brain diseases.
The brain is the most complex organ in the body with millions of nerve cells connected by billions of synapses. Within each synapse is a set … Read more >>>.
New, exotic African mistletoe discovered just in time for Christmas
WASHINGTON – Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are celebrating some of the weird, wonderful and stunning discoveries they’ve made this year from the rainforests of Cameroon to the UK’s North Pennines.
“Each year, botanists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, working in collaboration with local partners and scientists, continue to explore, document and study … Read : New, exotic African mistletoe discovered just in time for Christmas.
Meet the ‘lifeloggers’, who use technology to record life’s every moment
WASHINGTON – Thanks to sites such as Facebook and Flickr, it’s now possible to capture every moment of your life and share it with your loved ones, but there are people who intentionally capture their daily lives using technology – they are called Lifeloggers.
The term was coined by Microsoft computer scientist Gordon Bell, who as … Read : Meet the ‘lifeloggers’, who use technology to record life’s every moment.
Beware – e-pick pockets could ’skim’ your credit cards for money!
WASHINGTON – Forget regular pickpockets – thanks to technology now a new breed of scams is about to take flight – it’s called e-pick pocketing.
E-pick pocketing lets thieves secretly scan a back pocket or purse to read information off credit card equipped with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Technology).
A recent incident at Memphis showed how. In … Original article on : Beware – e-pick pockets could ’skim’ your credit cards for money!.
How criminals use Facebook to commit crime
LONDON – Think giving out basic personal information on Facebook is harmless? You might need to rethink, as a reformed burglar has given details on how a criminal can use your user account as a tool for committing a crime.
“The information people give out on Facebook, when linked up with other information freely available on … Read this article on Gaea Times at : How criminals use Facebook to commit crime.
Fighter pilots’ brains are smarter
LONDON – Fighter pilots’ brains are smarter and more capable than those with no piloting experience, says a new research based on cognitive tests and scans.
The study, conducted by the University College London, compares the cognitive performance of a group of front-line Royal Air Force Tornado fighter pilots to a control group with a … Read : Fighter pilots’ brains are smarter.
Your iPhone could be spying on you
LONDON – Do you know that dozens of popular iPhone applications could be secretly spying on what you do with them.
More than half of the programmes and games for smartphones sent data back to the private company once they had been downloaded, a study has found.
It found that of the 101 applications tested, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Your iPhone could be spying on you.
Now, third woman who was seduced by WikiLeaks founder emerges
LONDON – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is at the centre of sex assault allegations by two women, is said to have seduced a third right from under her boyfriend’s nose in Sweden.
Assange, 39, allegedly walked away with the girl, who had arrived with the American journalist, as …. Read the original article : Now, third woman who was seduced by WikiLeaks founder emerges.
Craigslist ‘pulls off explicit sex ads globally’
NEW YORK – Craigslist has apparently removed its controversial ‘adult services’ section worldwide following the shut down in the U.S. earlier this year.
According to Wired.com, the highly criticized area of the San Fransisco-based Internet company, often-featured ads for sexual favors or escort … Read more >>.
Researchers create most comprehensive moon map
WASHINGTON – Researchers have created the most detailed and comprehensive map of the moon’s complex landscape thanks to data provided by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
“This dataset is being used to make digital elevation and terrain maps that will be a fundamental reference for future scientific and human exploration missions to the moon,” said …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Researchers create most comprehensive moon map.
Indian, Russian scientists discuss rocket launch delay
CHENNAI – Indian and Russian space scientists are discussing the remedial measures that need to be taken after a leak was detected in the cryogenic engine of a rocket that was to place an advanced communications satellite into orbit Monday.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Sunday decided to postpone the rocket’s launch after it …. Source : Gaea News Network.
Leh, Kargil freeze, cold wave on in Srinagar
SRINAGAR – No respite from the harsh weather was in sight Monday for millions of residents in Kashmir Valley as an unusually long dry and cold spell continued, forcing temperatures to go below the freezing point.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar city was minus 5 degrees Celsius Monday. It was 3 degrees less than normal. …. Original article on Gaea Times at : Leh, Kargil freeze, cold wave on in Srinagar.
Temperature rises in Shimla
SHIMLA – The minimum temperature in Shimla rose marginally Monday even as higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh shivered under sub-zero levels, the weather office said.
The minimum temperature in Shimla was 5.8 degrees Celsius, up from Sundays 4.2 degrees, director of the meteorological office Manmohan Singh told IANS. He attributed it to clear skies.
Keylong … Read more >>>.
A stem cell cure for bald pates
LONDON – Scientists may be close to creating a cure for baldness, following a stem cell breakthrough.
Researchers at the Berlin Technical University in Germany have grown the world’s first artificial hair follicles from stem cells.
The follicles were created from animal cells and were somewhat thinner than normal, but the team were optimistic they … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : A stem cell cure for bald pates.
Amritsar feels the chill at 2.4 degrees
CHANDIGARH – A cold wave continued to sweep most parts of Punjab and Haryana with Amritsar being the coldest in the region at a minimum temperature of 2.4 degrees Celsius Monday.
The minimum in Amritsar was two degrees below normal, a Met official said here.
The mercury was below the average in many cities and …. Original source : Amritsar feels the chill at 2.4 degrees.
Free lunches for birds as Kashmir’s wetlands freeze
SRINAGAR – With water bodies frozen due to sub-zero temperatures, thousands of migratory birds in Kashmir Valley are fighting for food and space in reserves here. So they are being treated to free lunches and dinners – of paddy!
Each year, thousands of greylag geese, mallards, common teals, pintails, pochards, wigeons, coots and shovellers travel …. Source : Gaea News Network.
Sunny day but Delhi to get colder
NEW DELHI – Monday started on a bright and sunny note in Delhi but the weatherman said the temperature will dip considerably in the coming week.
The maximum temperature is likely to be around 22 degrees Celsius, a notch below the average for this time of the season. The minimum temperature was an …. Source : Sunny day but Delhi to get colder.
Sunny Sunday in Delhi
NEW DELHI – It was a warm Sunday in the national capital, with the maximum temperature a notch above the average. Similar conditions are expected over the next few days, the weather office said.
Sunday’s maximum temperature was recorded at 21.9 degrees Celsius, while the minimum settled at 8.5 degrees, a notch below average for … Read : Sunny Sunday in Delhi.