Science News – Newsletter for December 28, 2010

How bacteria developed resistance to antibiotics

LONDON – Researchers are trying to uncover the secrets of one of nature’s most primitive immune systems by studying how bacteria incorporate foreign DNA from invading viruses into their own regulatory processes.

Thomas Wood of the Texas AnM University has shed light on how bacteria have throughout the course of millions of years developed resistance to … Read : How bacteria developed resistance to antibiotics.

Structure of immune system’s key molecule offers clues for designing drugs

WASHINGTON – Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Utrecht University have deciphered a key step in an evolutionarily old branch of the immune response.

This system, called complement, comprises a network of proteins that “complement” the work of antibodies in destroying foreign invaders. It serves as a rapid defence mechanism in most species from primitive … Read more : Structure of immune system’s key molecule offers clues for designing drugs.

Life in Scotland during Middle Ages ‘not as bad as popularly portrayed’

LONDON – Historians have said that life in Scotland during the Middle Ages was not quite as bad as people might believe and was no worse than life in any other European country.

The popular belief is that life in Scotland during the Middle Ages … Read more »»».

Longevinex reduces size of heart attack better than resveratrol: Study

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that Longevinex worked better at reducing the size of a heart attack better than resveratrol.

The study compared and contrasted the gene-switching pattern for both plain resveratrol and resveratrol in a matrix with other small molecules (Longevinex) following an induced [..] Read the original article: here.

Rain, snowfall predicted in Himachal

SHIMLA – The hills of Himachal Pradesh might experience rains and snowfall in the next three days, a weather official said here Tuesday.

“There are chances of heavy rainfall and snowfall at some places in the state from Dec 29 to Dec 31,” meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS.
He said the western disturbances …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Rain, snowfall predicted in Himachal.

Era of first fast growth of the most massive black holes determined

WASHINGTON – Scientists from the Tel Aviv University have determined that the era of first fast growth of the most massive black holes occurred when the universe was only about 1.2 billion years old – not two to four billion years old as popularly …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Era of first fast growth of the most massive black holes determined.

16th century diagrams detail world’s first ever nose jobs

LONDON – Cosmetic surgery is a modern luxury for celebrities like Heidi Montag and Joan Rivers.

But an auctioned book has revealed details of the world’s first ever nose jobs done in the 16th century, reports the Daily Mail.

The surgery – known as rhinoplasty – is considered a modern phenomenon but this book shows … Original article on : 16th century diagrams detail world’s first ever nose jobs.

New yeast strain ‘cuts major drawbacks of biofuel production methods’

WASHINGTON – Scientists at the University of California University of Illinois, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the energy company BP have found a new yeast strain that eliminates many major shortcomings of current biofuel production methods.

The newly engineered yeast strain can simultaneously consume two types of sugar from plants to produce ethanol, researchers report.

One … Read : New yeast strain ‘cuts major drawbacks of biofuel production methods’.

Mums’ social problems affect their kids-even in birds

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that the social environment of mother quails has a direct influence on the growth and the behaviour of their young.

The recent study has been performed by Floriane Guibert and Cecilia Houdelier at the CNRS-Universite de Rennes 1 in France, together with researchers at the INRA in Nouzilly, France … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Mums’ social problems affect their kids-even in birds.

‘Batman’ movies inspire real-world tank design

WASHINGTON – Researchers have taken inspiration from the Batman movies to design seven new conceptual vehicles that may help fight crime.

According to technology blog The Engineer, project leader Hisham Awad, who heads BAE System’s future protected vehicles group, liked a fighting tank the Caped Crusader drives in the latest Batman movies so much that his … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : ‘Batman’ movies inspire real-world tank design.

Shattered glass can tell a lot about future climate change

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that when dirt breaks apart in the atmosphere, it follows a pattern similar to broken glass and other brittle objects.

Jasper Kok at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) said that shattered dirt appears to produce an unexpectedly high number of large dust fragments.

He added that their size determines … Read more >>.

Wildlife thriving in Britain despite cold

LONDON – Wildlife in Britain is thriving despite the coldest winter in more than 30 years.

Despite 2010 starting and ending with much of the country swathed in snow, threatened species such as the puffin and the rare heath fritillary butterfly enjoyed successful breeding seasons.
The warm spring enabled insects to thrive which in …. Source article  : Wildlife thriving in Britain despite cold.

Light snowfall expected in Kashmir Thursday

SRINAGAR – Intense cold wave conditions continued to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday and the weather office has forecast light snowfall in the valley two days later.

“We can expect a light snowfall in the Kashmir Valley Dec 30. This will break the cycle of cold wave under which the valley has been reeling …. Original article  : Light snowfall expected in Kashmir Thursday.

Rain adds to the chill in Delhi

NEW DELHI – A light drizzle added to the chill in the capital Tuesday morning and the met department forecast more rain in the days ahead. The showers eased the intense fog conditions, making flight operations at the Delhi airport normal.

“There is a western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir, because of which Delhi …. Source article  : Rain adds to the chill in Delhi.

400,000-yr-old remains show ‘humans evolved from Middle East, not Africa’

LONDON – A new discovery of 400,000-yr-old human remains has raised doubts as to whether the first humans evolved out of Africa, as the popular theory goes, or elsewhere.

Archaeologists from Tel Aviv University have found eight human-like teeth found in the Qesem cave near Rosh Ha’Ayin, which belong to the Middle Pleistocene Age – and … Original article on : 400,000-yr-old remains show ‘humans evolved from Middle East, not Africa’.

Teeth remains indicate Neanderthals’ meat-only diet is a myth

LONDON – Neanderthals were always thought to be non-vegetarians who enjoyed nothing but meat. However, a new find indicates otherwise.

Discoveries from cave sites in Iraq and Belgium indicate that our primitive ancestors not only ate a lot of greens but were able to cook them as well, reports the Daily Mail.

Analysis of fossilised teeth have …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘Drones have made modern warfare into hi-tech video game’

TORONTO – The drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), used by the US to take out militants in Pakistan’s tribal regions, are the new face of modern warfare, according to a US drone expert.

Lt Col Matt Martin, who as a virtual pilot has logged 1600 hours of flying drones – also called Predators – …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Drones have made modern warfare into hi-tech video game’.

Crocodile sanctuary in the offing: Jairam Ramesh

CHENNAI – The central government will set up a crocodile sanctuary spread over 1,600 sq km near the Chambal river to protect the species, union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said Monday.

The Chambal river flows through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
According to him, a gharial protection authority would also be set …. Read the original article  : here.

Leopard’s carcass found in Uttar Pradesh forest

LUCKNOW – The carcass of a male leopard was recovered from the Dudhwa forest reserve in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, an official said Monday.

The carcass of the leopard, aged around three years, was found late Sunday evening in dense shrubs of the Kishunpur sanctuary of the forest reserve.
Even as the exact cause …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Leopard’s carcass found in Uttar Pradesh forest.

New green coastal norms in two weeks: Jairam Ramesh

CHENNAI – The central government would notify the new Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) in two weeks, said union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh here Monday.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the Madras Crocodile Bank, around 40 km from here, Ramesh said the final touches were being given to the notification.
He said the purpose … Read more »»».