Science News – Newsletter for January 4, 2011

Women in science to be focus next Congress

CHENNAI – In a move to attract more women to science and technology, the Indian Science Congress (ISC) next year will focus on the role of women in science, said Geetha Bali, general president-elect of the 2012 meet, here Tuesday.

The theme of the next science Congress to …. Read the original article  : Women in science to be focus next Congress.

Remembering ancestors boosts chances of success

LONDON – Something as simple as thinking about your ancestors can boost your chances of success in examinations or job interviews.

The so-called “ancestor effect” seems to work by reminding the brain that seemingly impossible hurdles can be overcome.
Psychologists think the effect comes from the fact that those who familiarise themselves with their family … Read more : Remembering ancestors boosts chances of success.

Look-to-shoot helmet to redefine aerial dogfights

LONDON – A fighter pilot can shoot down enemy planes by just glancing at them, thanks to a futuristic new helmet.

The Striker integrated display helmet marks one of the biggest leaps forward in attack capabilities in military history.
Targets pop-up in the pilot’s visor, at which point he can select by voice command and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Look-to-shoot helmet to redefine aerial dogfights.

Scientist sets Large Hadron Collider data to ‘music’

LONDON – Scientists working at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s biggest particle smasher, have turned masses of data produced by the collider into sound for the first time.

More than 40 million pieces of data are processed by the LHC every second as it seeks to prove the existence of particles such as … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Scientist sets Large Hadron Collider data to ‘music’.

‘Psychedelic’ drug salvia shows promise against addiction

WASHINGTON – Researchers at Johns Hopkins University Medical School are considering the therapeutic role of the drug Salvia, which usually causes an intense psychedelic experience.

Matthew W. Johnson, a psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry, said the study was an attempt to “put some rigorous scientific information … Read more : ‘Psychedelic’ drug salvia shows promise against addiction.

Surya Grahan 2011 Taking Place Today

DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The first solar eclipse or Surya Grahan of 2011 is taking place today and the stargazers are quite excited about this celestial event. It is going to be a partial eclipse and the residents of Delhi may be fortunate enough to get a glimpse of it. However, it is subject to …. Original article  : Surya Grahan 2011 Taking Place Today.

Fireworks likely cause of Arkansas bird deaths

LONDON – Fireworks may have caused thousands of birds to fall from the sky over an Arkansas town on New Year’s Eve, according to US scientists.

Officials say more than 3,000 birds fell over the city of Beebe, reports the BBC.

Karen Rowe, of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said the red-winged blackbirds probably flew low …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Fireworks likely cause of Arkansas bird deaths.

Facebook founder’s fortune doubles to ???9bn

LONDON – The personal fortune of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has doubled to 9 billion pounds after his social networking site got a huge cash injection from Goldman Sachs.

The New York Times reported that the banking giant pumped in 291 million pounds in Facebook, with Russian investment firm Digital Sky Technologies investing in a …. Read the original article  : Facebook founder’s fortune doubles to ???9bn.

Astronomy dabbler discovers four new planets

LONDON – An amateur astronomer is over the moon after discovering four new planets in his spare time at home.

Peter Jalowiczor, 45, has never owned a telescope but still managed to provide scientists with enough information to establish the existence of four gaseous orbs outside the solar system.
The gas worker from Rotherham in … Read more : Astronomy dabbler discovers four new planets.

Soon, ’self-adjusting’ electric wheelchairs to detect hazardous terrain

WASHINGTON – Life may soon get a little easier for those stuck to wheelchairs. Researchers are working on technology that will enable electric-powered wheelchairs to detect hazardous terrain and automatically adjust their control settings to move more safely.

Emmanuel Collins of the of Florida State’s Center for Intelligent Systems said that a device known as …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Do plants hold the key to fighting jet lag?

LONDON – Scientists have suggested that the way plants adjust to having less sunlight in winter could help shed light on the impact of shift work and jet lag on people.

University of Edinburgh researchers looking at the daily rhythms in plants have discovered a complex process that allows the plants’ genes to respond to the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Do plants hold the key to fighting jet lag?.

New discovery may help fight breast cancer

WASHINGTON – Scientists have made a new discovery, which may become a new weapon in fight against breast cancer.

For the first time, researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have shown that a peptide found in blood and tissue inhibits the growth of human breast tumors in mice.

Patricia E. Gallagher and E. Ann Tallant …. Source article  : New discovery may help fight breast cancer.

Mums play key role in convincing daughters to receive HPV vaccine

WASHINGTON – New research has suggested that mothers can play a key role in convincing college-aged women to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, intended to prevent the most common sexually transmitted infection.

The study found that young women were more likely to say they had received the HPV vaccine if they had talked to their …. Original article  : Mums play key role in convincing daughters to receive HPV vaccine.

Thinking about ancestors ‘can boost chances of success in exams’

LONDON – Spending a few minutes thinking about your ancestors before an exam or job interview can significantly boost your chances of success, according to scientists at the University of Graz in Austria.

The so-called ‘ancestor effect’ appears to work by acting as a reminder to the brain that seemingly impossible hurdles can be overcome, reports … Read more »».

Fruit flies shed light on parallels between cancer development, infection

WASHINGTON – A new study from The City College of New York has successfully drawn parallels between infection and the way blood cancer develops, specifically in fruit flies.

The immune system response in Drosophila to a wasp infection is highly restrained, resulting in a thin layer of blood cells encapsulating the egg.

However, blood cancer … Read more »».

Kids often exposed to imaging procedures that use radiation

WASHINGTON – A new study led by University of Michigan researchers has shown that parents and doctors need to exercise caution before children are exposed to radiation during imaging procedures.

“Imaging tests are a critical component of good medical care, but the high number of tests raises questions about whether we are being judicious in our …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Kids often exposed to imaging procedures that use radiation.

How wine glasses indicate social shifts in ancient Greece over 500yrs

WASHINGTON – Even a seemingly small change in wine glasses can indicate social, cultural and economic changes in ancient Greece over the last 500 years, and that’s exactly what a team from University of Cincinnati is analysing.

Kathleen Lynch will present a timeline of wine drinking cups used in ancient Athens from 800 B.C. to 323 …. Source  : How wine glasses indicate social shifts in ancient Greece over 500yrs.

English to be replaced by Chinese as most popular language on Internet

WASHINGTON – English is currently the most popular language on the Internet, but its era of dominance seems to be coming to an end.

An infographic, published by The Next Web using info from Internet World Stats, shows the growing prominence of Chinese users on the web, and predicts that Chinese will overtake English as … Original source on Gaea Times at : English to be replaced by Chinese as most popular language on Internet.

Tomb of King Tut’s wife may emerge in 2011

WASHINGTON – The tomb of King Tut’s wife, a buried pyramid, and the final resting place of Cleopatra are some of the potential discoveries of 2011, according to a prominent Egyptologist.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, chief of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, has dedicated years to solving the mystery behind the Great Pyramid’s secret doors and Cleopatra’s …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Tomb of King Tut’s wife may emerge in 2011.

Breakthrough: Culprit’s DNA can be used to predict probable hair colour

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that DNA extracted from a person’s blood, sperm, saliva or other biological materials can be used to predict people’s probable hair colour.

The approach allows them to differentiate between hair colours that are similar, for example, between red and reddish blond, or between blond and dark blond hair.

“That we are now … Original article on : Breakthrough: Culprit’s DNA can be used to predict probable hair colour.