Science News – Newsletter for January 12, 2011

Thunderstorms blast antimatter clouds into space

LONDON – It was once the preserve of Star Trek and other sci-fi TV shows. But thunderstorms actually blast antimatter clouds into space from earth, scientists monitoring them through telescopes found.

The phenomenon is produced by a reaction inside thunderstorms when circling the planet.
Spotted above thunderstorms around the world, the blasts were monitored by …. Original article  : Thunderstorms blast antimatter clouds into space.

Now, Google to transcend language barriers

WASHINGTON – Google’s prototype language translator, Conversation Mode now lets you communicate with locals in any part of the world.

The translator uses Android phones to record spoken words and then play them back in a different language.

It combines [..] Read the original article: here.

Life expectancy for ‘early modern and late archaic humans was same’

WASHINGTON – A new study from Washington University in St. Louis has found that the life expectancy was probably the same for early modern and late archaic humans.

Erik Trinkaus examined the fossil records of both and found that the proportions of 20 to 40-year-old adults versus adults older than 40, … Read more >>.

New study finds a possible off-switch for anxiety

WASHINGTON – Singapore scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how anxiety is regulated in the vertebrate brain.

The new findings have shed light on how the brain normally shuts off anxiety and also establishes the relevance of zebrafish as a model for human psychiatric disorders.

The team of scientists, led by Suresh Jesuthasan from the Agency …. Read the original article  : New study finds a possible off-switch for anxiety.

How chlamydia can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that women who have had chlamydia are at greater risk of an ectopic pregnancy because of a lasting effect of the infection.

The research provides evidence for the first time of how chlamydia can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

University researchers found that women who had had the … Original article on : How chlamydia can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

New findings may lead to a novel treatment for obesity

WASHINGTON – Scientists have added a new twist to the body of evidence suggesting human obesity is due in part to genetic factors.

While studying hormone receptors in laboratory mice, researchers at Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida and Washington University School of Medicine identified a new molecular player responsible for the regulation of appetite and metabolism.

The …. Source article  : New findings may lead to a novel treatment for obesity.

Eating plenty of vegetables is key to a glowing skin

LONDON – Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is the best way to have a healthy, glowing skin.

Ian Stephen from the University of Bristol, who led the research, said: “Most people in the West think that the best way to improve skin colour is to get a suntan.”
“But our research shows that eating …. Source article  : Eating plenty of vegetables is key to a glowing skin.

Why guys look tough and girls tender

WASHINGTON – There might be some truth in the popular perception that guys are tough and girls tender.

People are more likely to judge a gender-neutral face as masculine if it conveys a hard impression and as feminine if it is soft, the journal Psychological Science reported.
Michael Slepian, a graduate student at … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Why guys look tough and girls tender.

World Bank to help save Ganga dolphins

PATNA – The World Bank will help in conserving the endangered Ganga river dolphins, popularly known as the Gangetic dolphin, the bank’s president Robert B. Zoellick said here Wednesday.

“World Bank will help and cooperate the initiatives taken by the government of India for conservation and protection of the Ganges river dolphins,” Zoellick said … Read more >>>.

Expert chess players use twice the brain: Study

LONDON – A new study has revealed that expert chess players engage both sides of their brains when plotting their next move.

To evaluate the brain activity in players of differing ability, Merim Bilalic at the University of Tubingen in Germany studied the brains of eight international chess players and eight amateurs.

Using functional magnetic resonance … Read more »»».

Eating fruits and vegetables gives you a healthy tan

LONDON – Eating a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables gives you a more healthy golden glow than the sun, say scientists.

Their research has shown that men and women whose skin has a yellow glow are thought to be particularly attractive and healthy – and yellow pigments called carotenoids, found in certain fruit and …. Original article  : Eating fruits and vegetables gives you a healthy tan.

Hair loss drug may result in loss of libido in men

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that 5a-reductase inhibitors (5a-RIs), while improving urinary symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and possible hair loss prevention, produces significant adverse effects in some individuals including loss of libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), ejaculatory dysfunction and potential depression.

These findings suggest that extreme caution should be exercised prior to … Read more »».

Solar car sets speed record

SYDNEY – A solar car designed by Australian students achieved top speed of 88 kmph – the fastest in its category.

Designed and built by students of the University of New South Wales, the car smashed the world solar car speed record of 79 kmph at the HMAS Albatross navy base airstrip in Nowra, Australia.
…. Original article  : Solar car sets speed record.

Slight respite from chill in Kashmir, snowfall likely

SRINAGAR – Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital, battling with an extreme winter chill, got some relief as the overcast night skies brought down the minimum temperature slightly Wednesday morning. Moderate to heavy snowfall is likely in the valley.

“The minimum temperature was minus 0.5 degrees Celsius in Srinagar today which is one degree below normal … Read more >>>.

Fog returns in Chandigarh, mercury below normal

CHANDIGARH – After a day of bright sunshine, Chandigarh and its surrounding areas were again surrounded by thick fog Wednesday morning that disrupted road traffic.

Freezing cold and harsh weather conditions continued to make things difficult for residents with a minimum temperature of 3.7 degrees Celsius. The mercury remained below normal in almost all parts …. Source  : Fog returns in Chandigarh, mercury below normal.

Potential therapeutic target for multiple sclerosis identified

WASHINGTON – Canadian scientists have identified a potential therapeutic target for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Multiple sclerosis is a disease caused by damage to myelin – the protective covering wrapped around the nerves of the central nervous system (CNS).

Using a mouse model, researchers at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary have discovered that a …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Shingles vaccine cuts risk by 55 pc: Study

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that receiving the herpes zoster vaccine is associated with a 55 percent reduced risk of developing shingles, a painful, lingering disease.

The Kaiser Permanente researchers observed the outcomes of the effectiveness of the herpes zoster vaccine in a large, diverse population of men and women ages 60 years and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Shingles vaccine cuts risk by 55 pc: Study.

Elephants demolish a dozen houses in Chhattisgarh village

RAIPUR – In the second such incident within a fortnight, a herd of nine wild jumbos demolished 12 houses in a village in Surguja district, forcing 50 residents to flee in panic, officials said Wednesday.

“Wild elephants sneaked into Damali village Tuesday night and brought down 12 mud-built houses,” Ramchandra Barai, a local forest official, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Elephants demolish a dozen houses in Chhattisgarh village.

US can overcome India, China challenge: US scholar

WASHINGTON – The emergence of India and China does not mean the end of American economic and technological power, says a new book suggesting the United States should now leverage its many advantages.

Author Adam Segal, Senior Fellow at Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a Washington think tank, analyses Asia’s technological rise in the context …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : US can overcome India, China challenge: US scholar.

Big babies ‘may have helped define the shape of modern human societies’

LONDON – Large babies shaped the development of modern human societies, according to a new study.

The research revealed that human babies weigh proportionately more at birth than the newborns of any other primate species and this may have influenced the development of our society.

A baby ape weighs an average of 3 per cent of what …. Source article  : Big babies ‘may have helped define the shape of modern human societies’.