Science News – Newsletter for January 19, 2011

Mother’s bone marrow could cure diseases in unborn baby

LONDON – Scientists have developed a stem cell cure for deadly blood related diseases in unborn babies.

Researchers extracted bone marrow cells from a pregnant mother and injected these into the developing foetus.
The donor cells were accepted by the foetus’s growing immune system without the need for any drugs, the Journal of Clinical …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mums’ stem cells could be key to treating genetic disease before birth

WASHINGTON – UCSF researchers, through a series of mouse model experiments, have determined that a mother’s immune response prevents a fetus from accepting transplanted blood stem cells, and yet this response can be overcome simply by transplanting cells harvested from the mother herself.

Scientists have long viewed in utero blood stem cell transplantation as a promising …. Source article  : Mums’ stem cells could be key to treating genetic disease before birth.

High physical activity helps people with knee osteoarthritis walk faster

WASHINGTON – People with knee osteoarthritis are more likely to walk fast enough if they lead physically active lives, a new Northwestern Medicine research has shown.

“The more active people are, the faster they can walk,” said Dorothy Dunlop, associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and lead author of …. Source article  : High physical activity helps people with knee osteoarthritis walk faster.

Statin benefits questionable in patients at low cardiovascular disease risk

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that statins should be prescribed with caution to people at low risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

There is not enough evidence to recommend the widespread use of statins in people with no previous history of heart disease, according to the new Cochrane Systematic Review.

The researchers reviewed data from 14 …. Read the original article  : Statin benefits questionable in patients at low cardiovascular disease risk.

Wider range of asteroids could have made life’s ingredients

WASHINGTON – A new NASA research has suggested that a wider range of asteroids were capable of creating the kind of amino acids used by life on Earth.

In March 2009, researchers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt found an excess of the left-handed form of the amino acid isovaline in samples of meteorites … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Wider range of asteroids could have made life’s ingredients.

‘Perfect storm’ from mobile use can cause planes to crash

LONDON – Experts have revealed that mobile phones and other gadgets can create enough of a “perfect storm” of interference with aircraft instruments to cause a crash.

With more and more portable electronic devices coming on the market, passengers are becoming increasingly indifferent about potential dangers to sensitive cockpit equipment.

Most personal devices transmit a signal and [..] Read the original article: here.

Step up activities to keep winter blues away

WASHINGTON – Staying indoors or overeating leave most people feeling cheated during the winter months.

University of Missouri-Columbia researchers suggest trying out activities and habits that promote health with spouses, friends and family members.
“When thinking about New Year’s changes, a good first step is creating a vision for the future by picturing …. Original article  : Step up activities to keep winter blues away.

Wheelchair yoga may accelerate stroke patients’ recovery process

WASHINGTON – A man, who was left paralyzed after suffering strokes, has made remarkable progress – thanks to wheelchair yoga.

While making dinner for his daughters one night, James Abram, 59, collapsed on his kitchen floor. He was rushed to Loyola University Medical Center where doctors determined he had suffered a stroke. He later suffered a [..] Read the original article: here.

Tomb robber finds ‘final resting place of Caligula’

LONDON – A report has suggested that a tomb robber who was arrested while stealing part of a 2.5 metre statue into lorry near Lake Nemi, south of Rome, had found the tomb of Caligula.

According to the Guardian newspaper, the statue was “shod with a pair of the ‘caligae’ military boots favoured by the emperor” …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Why a first impression really is the last impression

WASHINGTON – A new study has found out why first impressions are long lasting.

The research by a team of psychologists from Canada, Belgium, and the United States shows there is more than a literal truth to the saying that ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’.

Their results indicate that new experiences …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Why a first impression really is the last impression.

16pc of men fake orgasm: Study

NEW YORK – A lot of men are apparently faking orgasm, according to a new study.

Researchers said that about 16 percent of men don’t experience the pleasure when they climax. The problem isn’t getting aroused or ejaculating, it’s finding pleasure in the moment, reports the New York Daily News.

“When I asked the test subjects in … Original source on Gaea Times at : 16pc of men fake orgasm: Study.

14-yr-old US boy’s video game iPhone app downloaded 2mn times

LONDON – An iPhone app video game created by a 14-year-old US boy is taking the world by storm.

More than 2 million iPhone users have downloaded ‘Bubble Ball’, a simple physics-based puzzle game, since its launch on December 29, reports the Daily Mail.

Robert Nay’s first iPhone game has shot straight to the top of the …. Source  : 14-yr-old US boy’s video game iPhone app downloaded 2mn times.

Actual apology is less satisfying than predicted: Study

WASHINGTON – What is the real value of an apology? Not much, according to a new study.

Researchers found that people who imagined receiving an apology valued it more than people who actually received an apology.

They said the study results suggested that while people wanted an apology and rated it as highly valuable, the actual … Read : Actual apology is less satisfying than predicted: Study.

Watching smoking scenes in movies lights up smokers’ brains

WASHINGTON – New research shows that seeing an actor in a movie light up a cigarette triggers smokers’ brains to plan the same motions.

In the study, researchers led by senior investigator Todd Heatherton, and graduate student Dylan Wagner of Dartmouth College set out to determine whether the parts of the brain that control that routine … Read more : Watching smoking scenes in movies lights up smokers’ brains.

Fury as Facebook gossip page allows Oz teens to spread sex rumours

MELBOURNE – A gossip page on social networking site Facebook has angered parents in Australia, as it allows teens to spread malicious rumours about the sex lives of Territory high school students.

According to the Northern Territory News, Facebook page ‘Palmo Goss’, which appears to be loosely based on the popular US television drama ‘Gossip Girl’, … Read more >>.

Biting chill continues in Kashmir, mercury slips

SRINAGAR – The spell of biting cold continued across the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday as night temperatures remained much below the freezing point.

“Due to clear night skies, the minimum temperatures remained much below the freezing point in the valley and the Ladakh region Wednesday,” said R.L. Pandita, … Original article on : Biting chill continues in Kashmir, mercury slips.

Biological clock ticks slower for female birds that pick right mates

WASHINGTON – A new study claims that choosing the right mates can slow down the ticking of biological clocks in some females birds.

Josh Auld of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, North Carolina, explained that birds become less fertile with age.

Older females lay fewer eggs, and they lay them later in the season – … Read more >>.

Alcoholism delays, breaks marriages: Study

WASHINGTON – A new study claims that alcohol influences the time it takes to get married, as well as the overall length of the marriage.

The study found that alcohol dependence was a strong predictor of both delays in marriage and early separation.

Mary Waldron, an assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Education and colleagues …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Alcoholism delays, breaks marriages: Study.

‘Road train’ technology could cut fuel use and traffic jams, boost safety

LONDON – New technology that links ‘road trains’ to cars has undergone its first trial and if successful, could cut fuel use, boost safety and may even cut congestion.

The trials held on Volvo’s test track in Sweden slaved a single car to a lorry to test the platooning system.

The tests were carried out under the …. Original article  : ‘Road train’ technology could cut fuel use and traffic jams, boost safety.

How green are government buildings? Environment ministry doesn’t know

NEW DELHI – India, at the forefront of the global war against climate change, does not have any guidelines to make government offices eco-friendly, reveals a Right to Information (RTI) query.

RTI activist Lokesh Batra wrote to Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh in June 2010 seeking information about guidelines for eco-friendly central government …. Read the original article  : How green are government buildings? Environment ministry doesn’t know.