Science News – Newsletter for January 2, 2011

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Device speeds up cleaning of n-contaminated sites

WASHINGTON – Researchers have built a device that will help speed up cleaning of radioactive contaminated sites.

“This system will be able to provide accurate results in 15 minutes that previously might have taken half a day,” said David Hamby, professor of health physics at the Oregon State University.
“That saves steps, time and … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Device speeds up cleaning of n-contaminated sites.

Hotmail users complain of missing e-mails

LONDON – Web giant MSN is facing a barrage of complaints from Hotmail users who claim that some e-mails have been deleted from their accounts.

A number of users resorted to forums to vent out their frustration after they logged into their accounts to find empty inboxes and missing folders.
It is unclear … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Hotmail users complain of missing e-mails.

Even god can be object of human anger

WASHINGTON – Even god can be the object of human anger for the right or wrong reasons.

“Even people who deeply love and respect god can become angry,” said Case Western Reserve University psychologist and associate professor Julie Exline in the US.
“Just as people become upset or angry with others, including loved ones, they …. Original article on Gaea Times at : Even god can be object of human anger.

Hotmail users ‘furious’ to find empty inboxes, missing folders

LONDON – Microsoft Hotmail users have blamed email giant MSN after missing mails and folders from their accounts.

A number of frantic users stormed at forums to vent their frustration claiming emails have been deleted from their accounts, reports the Daily Mail.

“Please help me get them back,” one user under the moniker ‘Zacgore’ posted, Saturday.

” [..] Read the original article: here.

Wrist worn device instantly pinpoints sniper’s location

LONDON – Soldiers are to test a new gadget which can pinpoint the exact location of enemy snipers even 1,000 yards away.

The tiny sniper spotter, developed by scientists at a defence lab in Wiltshire, instantly identifies the shooters location, enabling troops to fire back immediately and accurately.
The new high-tech gadget, just four … Original source on Gaea Times at : Wrist worn device instantly pinpoints sniper’s location.

Fog again hits Punjab, Haryana

CHANDIGARH – Amid overcast conditions, a light fog enveloped parts of Punjab, Haryana and their joint capital Chandigarh Sunday.

Cold waves swept the region Saturday night and Sunday morning, increasing the chill in the air.
“Overcast conditions are prevailing in various parts of Punjab and Haryana,” said a met official here.
Amritsar city recorded a …. Source : Fog again hits Punjab, Haryana.

Secondhand smoke exposure ‘ups hearing loss risk’

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that non-smokers who repeatedly breathe in others’ tobacco smoke are more likely to have some degree of hearing loss.

Researchers studied a total of 3307 adults aged between 20 and 69.

The degree of hearing loss in each ear was assessed by testing the ability to hear pure tones over …. Original source : Secondhand smoke exposure ‘ups hearing loss risk’.

Red, pink pills are preferred over others: Mumbai scientists

WASHINGTON – Indeed, red and pink are sought after colours, but in medicines too? Yes, that’s right. University of Bombay researchers have found medicines in red and pink colour are preferred over tablets in other colours.

Researchers have found that the colour, shape, taste and even name of a tablet or pill can have an effect … Read : Red, pink pills are preferred over others: Mumbai scientists.

Now, vending machine that suggests drinks based on your age, gender!

LONDON – Want to get a drink that goes well with your age and gender? Well, you can do it now as Japanese scientists have developed a new vending machine that uses facial recognition to recommend drinks based on a customer’s age and gender.

The firm behind the high-tech canned drinks dispenser has seen sales … Read more : Now, vending machine that suggests drinks based on your age, gender!.

Prolonged cell use, body piercing, tattoos trigger allergic reaction

WASHINGTON – The next time you chat endlessly on your cell phone, better be careful, as it can lead to an allergic reaction, say allergists.

They also said that from cosmetics to jewellery, body piercing to tattoos, allergies could lurk in unlikely places.

“Increased use of cell phones with unlimited usage plans has led to more prolonged … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Prolonged cell use, body piercing, tattoos trigger allergic reaction.

‘Demon’ device that converts information to energy!

LONDON – Contrary to the laws of physics that you can’t get energy for nothing; scientists from the University of Tokyo have generated energy from information.

Masaki Sano, a physicist at the University of Tokyo, and his colleagues have demonstrated that a bead can be coaxed up a ’spiral staircase’ without any energy being directly transferred [..] Read the original article: here.

More sleep may trigger stroke risk in women

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that women who slept for 10 hours or more had a 63 percent increased risk of stroke compared to those who slept seven hours per night.

The risk estimates dropped to 55 percent when researchers controlled for body mass index, hypertension and history of diabetes.

The results for ischemic stroke …. Source : More sleep may trigger stroke risk in women.

Broccoli juice may keep skin cancer at bay

WELLINGTON – Forget sunscreens, the thing that can actually protect your skin from UV rays is broccoli juice, say scientists.

Scientists in the United States have been testing broccoli extract on human volunteers and mice, which showed their skin was protected against sunburn.

Broccoli contains sulforaphane, an antioxidant, which helps stop sunburn and tumour development.

Additionally, scientists in …. Original article : Broccoli juice may keep skin cancer at bay.

Pulses of light might one day keep diseased hearts beating

LONDON – Heart muscles genetically engineered to respond to optical stimulation could improve models of heart attacks, and may also increase the understanding of how the embryonic heart develops, say scientists.

The works are among the earliest applications outside the nervous system of a technique called optogenetics. This approach switches cells on and off using proteins … Read more >>>.

‘Glowing’ plant cells that could control cell growth, death

LONDON – Researchers have genetically inserted proteins from plants into mammalian cells, which glow when exposed to blue light – resulting in a novel ‘on-off switch’ that could be used to control cell growth or death.

It could also be useful in growing new tissue or deliver doses of medication directly to diseased cells.

Chandra Tucker of … Read more >>.

Kolkata tourists rescued in Himachal

SHIMLA – More than 100 tourists from West Bengal who were stranded in Kalpa town of Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district since Thursday due to heavy snow have been rescued. However, three families from Jharkhand are still stuck in Sangla Valley, officials said Sunday.

All the tourists from Bengal, mainly from Kolkata, were rescued Saturday evening …. Source : Kolkata tourists rescued in Himachal.

The benchmark Central England Temperature plunged to an average of -0.6 degrees Celsius over the month, making it the second harshest December since records began in 1659, Daily Mail reported Saturday.
It was beaten only by the -0.8c … Original article on : It’s official: It was the coldest December in Britain in 120 years.