Science News – Newsletter for January 16, 2011

Black hole big enough to swallow solar system

LONDON – This black hole is large enough to swallow our entire solar system and weighs as much as 6.8 billion suns.

The M87 black hole is the largest such phenomenon identified so far. Previous estimates had it as only three billion times the weight of the sun.
Scientists used a specially adapted telescope in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Black hole big enough to swallow solar system.

3D mapping helping police fight Maoists in Jharkhand

RANCHI – The Jharkhand Police has adopted the latest technology of 3D mapping to to take on the Maoists in the state.

“The 3D mapping is helping us in getting familiar with the terrain, forests, hills and other places. It helps the security forces involved in anti-Maoist operations,” Superintendent of Police of anti-Maoist operation Apoorva … Read more >>.

1,654 crocodiles in Orissa park

BHUBANESWAR – The estuarine crocodile population in Orissa’s Bhitarkanika National Park has gone up to 1,654 from last year’s 1,610, officials said Sunday.

Disclosing the results of the annual estuarine or salt water crocodile census conducted in the park in Kendrapada district from Jan 4-11, divisional forest officer Manoj Mohapatra said the increase in the … Original source on Gaea Times at : 1,654 crocodiles in Orissa park.

Bright sunshine in Chandigarh, but mercury dips

CHANDIGARH – There was bright sunshine in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Sunday, but cold winds sweeping the region led to a plunge in temperature, the weather office said.

Punjab’s Amritsar city was coldest in the region at a low of 0.6 degrees Celsius. Patiala and Ludhiana cities recorded minimum temperatures of 6.3 and 3.6 degrees.
…. Read the original article  : Bright sunshine in Chandigarh, but mercury dips.

Faster, larger, quieter superplanes by 2025?

LONDON – US space agency NASA has unveiled three concept designs for quieter and more energy efficient superplanes that could be ready by 2025.

Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Boeing came up with the designs and also won a contract from NASA to research, develop and test their concepts in 2011.
NASA is planning to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Faster, larger, quieter superplanes by 2025?.

Adarsh building should be demolished: environment ministry

NEW DELHI – The scam-hit Adarsh housing society building in Mumbai should be demolished for violating green norms, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) said Sunday.

The environment ministry had November last year served a notice to the society, asking it why the illegal floors in the building should not be demolished.
The 31-storey …. Original article  : Adarsh building should be demolished: environment ministry.

Online tool can help worried seniors quickly determine dementia risk

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that a quick online assessment tool developed by Johns Hopkins researchers can help worried seniors find out if they are at risk of developing dementia and determine whether they should seek a comprehensive, face-to-face diagnosis from a physician.

The tool, which is being refined and validated, is not meant … Read : Online tool can help worried seniors quickly determine dementia risk.

Disney cartoons promote ‘what-is-beautiful-is-good’ stereotype

WASHINGTON – Appalachian State University psychology professors have conducted a study in which they ask: “Do animated Disney characters portray and promote the beauty-goodness stereotype?”

Doris Bazzini, Lisa Curtin and Denise Martz analysed the effect viewing an animated movie that portrays “beauty as good” has on children, male and female, ages 6 to 12.

They found that …. Original source  : Disney cartoons promote ‘what-is-beautiful-is-good’ stereotype.

‘Liquid pistons’ could lead to new advances in camera lenses, drug delivery

WASHINGTON – Engineering researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed liquid pistons, which could lead to new devices like micro displacement pumps and liquid switches, to adaptive lenses and advanced drug delivery systems.

The oscillating droplets of ferrofluid precisely displace a surrounding liquid and the pulsating motion of the ferrofluid droplets, which are saturated with metal …. Source  : ‘Liquid pistons’ could lead to new advances in camera lenses, drug delivery.

Remains of oldest fruit trees found in Iberian Peninsula

WASHINGTON – Researchers have found that the seed samples gathered over the years at medieval archaeological sites in the historic old quarter of Hondarribia are the remains of the oldest fruit trees in Southern Europe.

The town of Hondarribia lies on the coast of the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, Spain.

The research was undertaken by the archaeobiology …. Read the original article  : here.

First genetic test for predicting IVF success developed

WASHINGTON – Researchers have developed the first genetic blood test for predicting the chances that in vitro fertilization (IVF) will lead to a successful pregnancy.

The test is based on the finding that different subtypes of the FMR1 gene (also known as the fragile X mental retardation gene) in potential mothers are associated with significantly different … Read more >>.

Himachal shivers, Shimla sees coldest night of season

SHIMLA – An intense cold wave saw most parts of Himachal Pradesh shivering Sunday with Shimla at a biting minus 3.3 degrees Celsius, a day after the state saw rains and snowfall.

Shimla, which saw 5 cm of snow since Saturday, experienced its coldest night of the season. Flights in and out of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Himachal shivers, Shimla sees coldest night of season.

Kashmir freezes over, Pahalgam minus 16.1

SRINAGAR – The bitter chill returned to Kashmir Valley Sunday with Pahalgam hill station being the coldest at minus 16.1 degrees Celsius and water in the taps freezing in Srinagar that shivered at minus 3.7 degrees.

The Jammu-Srinagar highway was opened to one-way traffic after remaining closed for two days due to snowfall.
“Due to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Kashmir freezes over, Pahalgam minus 16.1.

Facebook, Google join web future warning

LONDON – Web addresses are likely to run out as soon as November and to raise public awareness Google and Facebook have decided to switch their websites to a new system for one day in June.

On June 8, a whole bunch of web giants, including Google, Facebook, Yahoo, will turn on a new way of …. Original source  : Facebook, Google join web future warning.

Don’t save passwords on your browser

FRANKFURT – Never store unencrypted passwords on a computer’s browser. Doing so makes it too easy for hackers to access the data with tools like Trojans and then access private accounts, warns German computer magazine c’t.

The magazine recommends that people who insist on storing passwords on a browser at least use some kind of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Don’t save passwords on your browser.

Clear sky, but cold winds sweep Delhi

NEW DELHI – Cold winds continued to sweep the capital Sunday even as Delhiites witnessed a relatively clear morning. The weather office said the chilly winds were expected to blow throughout the day.

The minimum temperature recorded at 8.30 a.m. was two notches below the average at 9 degrees Celsius. “The maximum temperature is likely [..] Read the original article: here.

Sunny but chilly day in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Despite the capital city witnessing bright sunshine Saturday, Delhiites felt the chill as icy winds blew throughout the day. The met office has predicted a clear and sunny Sunday.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 21.4 degrees Celsius which is normal for this time of the season while the minimum settled at …. Original source  : Sunny but chilly day in Delhi.

Sunny day in UP; 3 more dead

LUCKNOW – A warm day Saturday in Uttar Pradesh saw people enjoying the sun even as three more deaths were reported over the past 24 hours.

The deaths occurred in Maharajganj, Bhadohi and Deoria, according to the state disaster management department. The overall winter death toll in the state stood at 128 Saturday.
With … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sunny day in UP; 3 more dead.

Severe cold in Himachal, snowfall disrupts flights

SHIMLA – The hills of Himachal Pradesh Saturday experienced moderate to heavy snowfall, bringing the temperatures down considerably and disrupting air and road traffic.

“Flights from Delhi to Kullu, Shimla and Dharamsala could not be operated,” an official at the airport here said.
Incessant snow also hampered vehicular traffic on the highways in Shimla, Kinnaur, …. Source article  : Severe cold in Himachal, snowfall disrupts flights.

Helicopter offers the only lifeline in upper Himachal

MANALI – With the Rohtang tunnel beneath the majestic Rohtang Pass near here a long way yet from its targeted completion in 2015, helicopter remains the only hope for thousands of snow-bound villagers high up the Himalayan slopes.

The chopper comes not only to the rescue of the ailing and the aged, but also to …. Source  : Helicopter offers the only lifeline in upper Himachal.