Science News – Newsletter for December 24, 2010

Set-up of Indian Ocean tsunami warning system completed

WASHINGTON – Six years after the tsunami disaster of December 2004, the set-up of the German-Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System for the Indian Ocean (GITEWS) has been completed.

The project ends on 31 March 2011, after which Indonesia would accept the sole …. Read the original article  : here.

Eating ‘nutritious’ bugs may ease world’s food crisis: Dutch scientist

LONDON – How about having bugs on your dinner plate? Well, it may sound disgusting but the world’s food crisis could be eased if Westerners included insects in their diet to make up some of their protein needs, suggests a Dutch scientist.

Arnold Van Huis, of the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Eating ‘nutritious’ bugs may ease world’s food crisis: Dutch scientist.

New solar fuel device that ‘mimics plant life’

LONDON – Scientists have unveiled a prototype solar device that mimics plant life, turning the Sun’s energy into fuel.

The device uses the Sun’s rays and a metal oxide called ceria to break down carbon dioxide or water into fuels, which can be stored … Read this article on Gaea Times at : New solar fuel device that ‘mimics plant life’.

Tweaking DNA can counteract heart injury

LONDON – Tweaking the DNA can counteract heart injury and mimic the effects of two weeks of endurance training.

The experiment was carried out on mice but researchers hope that it could pave the way for treating injured hearts through muscle regeneration in humans, the Journal Cell reports.
Bruce Spiegelman, professor …. Source  : Tweaking DNA can counteract heart injury.

Himachal shivers as cold wave intensifies

SHIMLA – The cold wave tightened its grip on Himachal Pradesh Friday with Keylong turning out to be the coldest town in the state at a minimum temperature of minus 7.1 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature in Keylong, the headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti district, was down by 2.1 degrees Celsius compared …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Scientists probe fossil of biggest ever sea predator

LONDON – Scientists are probing into fossilised skull of the biggest and the most fearsome sea monster that ever lived, with the help of one of the most powerful CT scanners.

The X-rays will help build a lifelike 3D picture of the pliosaur predator – four times as powerful as the fearsome T-Rex.
Its … Read more : Scientists probe fossil of biggest ever sea predator.

Children’s skeletons with throats slit, chests opened found in Peru

WASHINGTON – According to a new study, 82 skeletons, some of which are of children, have been discovered in Peru. Some of these are with signs of throats slit and chests opened.

The find indicates ritual bloodletting sacrifice and mutilation of children t a thousand years ago according to study leader Haagen Klaus.

The team also found … Read more »»».

Top science news stories of 2010

LONDON – 2010 was a turbulent time for the world in terms of the natural calamities that occurred but it was also a year that hailed major scientific discoveries that would change the way we live. Here are the top science stories of 2010:

1. A magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in January, which left 230,000 dead and …. Original article  : Top science news stories of 2010.

Giant observatory comes up 8,000 feet beneath Antarctic

LONDON – The world’s strangest observatory, as big as a cubic kilometre, has come up 8,000 feet beneath the Antarctic ice at the South Pole.

The gigantic telescope, known as IceCube Neutrino Observatory, will detect elusive subatomic particles called neutrinos travelling through Earth at the speed of light.
Very little is known about neutrinos, but …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Giant observatory comes up 8,000 feet beneath Antarctic.

Countdown begins for GSAT launch Saturday

CHENNAI – The 30-hour countdown for the launch of advanced communication satellite GSAT-5P started 10.04 Friday morning at the Sriharikota rocket launch centre, about 80 km from Chennai, an official of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

The Rs.125 crore (Rs.1.25 billion) GSAT-5P satellite weighing 2,130 kg will serve the needs of the telecommunication, …. Read the original article  : Countdown begins for GSAT launch Saturday.

Babies as young as seven months old can ‘read minds’

LONDON – Babies as young as seven months old can take into consideration the perspective of others, according to a new study.

This ability, called ‘theory of mind’, is central to human cooperation.

Lead author Agnes Kovacs, a developmental psychologist at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest, says that the finding provides evidence for the earliest … Read more >>.

Strength and stealth, not good looks, rule in evolutionary mating game

WASHINGTON – One might consider physical appearances to be the top priority for getting a mate, but that’s not true, according to a new study.

Certain species of South American fish (Poecilia parae) prefer brawn and stealth over colourful and refined, say scientists from Syracuse University ’s College of Arts and Sciences.

“The findings may help us … Original article on : Strength and stealth, not good looks, rule in evolutionary mating game.

Users at risk of IE bug, warns Microsoft

LONDON – Microsoft has issued a warning about an Internet Explorer bug that might hack into and take control of unprotected computers.

Although Microsoft has already released a workaround solution for the bug, it is still working on the permanent solution, it said.

In the meantime, it recommended those concerned use a protection system known as the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Scientists can now control building blocks of super-fast quantum computer

LONDON – Scientists have reported a major achievement in the field of quantum computers – they have succeeded in controlling the building blocks of a future super-fast quantum computer.

Scientists from the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology and Eindhoven University of Technology are now able to manipulate these building blocks (qubits) with …. Source article  : Scientists can now control building blocks of super-fast quantum computer.

You are what your father ate – before you were born

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered evidence that environmental influences experienced by a father can be passed down to the next generation, “reprogramming” how genes function in offspring.

The new study, conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the University of Texas at Austin, shows that environmental cues-in this case, diet-influence genes in …. Original source  : You are what your father ate – before you were born.

Nantotechnologists create ‘world’s smallest Christmas card’

LONDON – Nantotechnologists at the University of Glasgow have created what they believe is the world’s smallest Christmas card.

The card is so small it could fit on to the surface of a postage stamp 8,276 times.

The image, which measures 200×290 micro-metres, features a Christmas tree and is etched on a tiny piece of glass.

The team … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Nantotechnologists create ‘world’s smallest Christmas card’.

Light morning fog, Delhi to get colder

NEW DELHI – Delhi saw a light fog cover Friday morning but the day ahead will be sunny and the city will get colder in the coming days, a weather official said.

“The early morning fog will clear up to make way for a bright and sunny day,” an official of the …. Source article  : Light morning fog, Delhi to get colder.

‘Anti-growth’ hormone could reverse signs of aging

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered that a compound that acts opposite to a growth hormone could reverse the process of aging.

Saint Louis University researcher John E. Morley and his colleagues studied the compound MZ-5-156, a “growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonist.”

When tried on mice, the compound had positive effects on oxidative stress in the brain, improving … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘Anti-growth’ hormone could reverse signs of aging.

Solar eclipse will occur on January 4, 2011

WASHINGTON – Scientists have said that Europe and India will witness a solar eclipse next year on January 4th.

In Western Europe, the Sun will be eclipsed as the day begins and will last about 80 minutes more. Even at its maximum, the eclipse will be only partial, with some of the everyday Sun still …. Original article  : Solar eclipse will occur on January 4, 2011.

Temperature dips to 4 degrees Celsius in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – A cold wave continued to grip Orissa Thursday hitting normal life, with the minimum temperature dropping to four degrees Celsius in at least one town, an official said.

Phulbani town, the district head quarters of Kandhamal, some 200 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, recorded a low of 4 degrees Celsius. This was the … Read more »»».