Science News – Newsletter for January 22, 2011

8-week mindfulness meditation program changes brain structure

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that participating in an 8-week mindfulness meditation program lead to measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.

A team, led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers, reports the results of their study, the first to document meditation-produced changes over time in the [..] Read the original article: here.

Function of novel molecule that underlies human deafness revealed

WASHINGTON – Scientists has revealed that the molecular mechanism underlying deafness is caused by a mutation of a specific microRNA called miR-96.

The discovery by researchers at the University of Sheffield could provide the basis for treating progressive hearing loss and deafness.

The research team, led by Dr Walter Marcotti, Royal Society University Research Fellow from the …. Source  : Function of novel molecule that underlies human deafness revealed.

Orion’s super-giant red star Betelgeuse ‘won’t explode in 2012???

MELBOURNE – Experts have said that Betelgeuse, the giant red star in the constellation of Orion, will not explode next year.

Earlier, FoxNews.com had said that the star had already become a red giant, which indicates it will explode and become a supernova, but experts believe that won’t happen.

US astronomer Phil Plait noted on his blog [..] Read the original article: here.

Kashmir Valley in cold grip, Leh minus 11.4

SRINAGAR – The Kashmir Valley continued to reel under an intense cold wave with Srinagar recording a low of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius Saturday while Leh town was freezing at minus 11.4 degrees.

The extreme winter chill over the last two weeks has led to frozen water taps and highly slippery roads, inconveniencing residents.
… Original article on : Kashmir Valley in cold grip, Leh minus 11.4.

Man is now ready to go to Mars

LONDON – After a gruelling 233 days of surviving on only canned foods and showering only once a week, a team of astronauts is finally ready to ‘land’ on the Red Planet.

The six researchers on a 520-day mock flight to Mars are all feeling strong and ready to ‘land’ on the Red Planet, the mission … Original article on : Man is now ready to go to Mars.

Kids warned over Facebook modelling scam

LONDON – Police in UK have warned parents and children of a Facebook scam involving fake modelling agencies that encourage kids to pose in underwear.

Leicestershire Police said the scam, using a number of social networking sites, appears to involve a number of false Facebook profiles posing as modelling agencies, even using agency logos to appear … Original source on Gaea Times at : Kids warned over Facebook modelling scam.

Prairie dogs can ‘describe humans’ in their own ‘language’

LONDON – According to scientists, prairie dogs communicate with each other in a unique language of their own and have the ability to describe humans.

They have a distinct call for ‘human’, one for ‘hawk’ and another for ‘coyote’, radio station NPR reports.

Professor Con Slobodchikoff, of Northern Arizona University, believes that the dogs’ barks, yips and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Facebook is now worth $50bn

LONDON – London, Jan 22 (ANI): Facebook has raised 1.5 billion dollars from investors making it the world’s most popular social networking site at about 50 billion dollars, which is more than eBay and Time Warner.

Goldman Sachs turned out be the major investor with 1 billion dollars. The remaining 500 million dollars came from Goldman …. Read the original article  : Facebook is now worth $50bn.

Now GPS to monitor winged visitors to Himachal

SHIMLA – The bar-headed goose, the ruddy shell duck and the mallard, all winter visitors to Himachal Pradesh’s Pong Dam wetlands, are about to find themselves tailed – with the global positioning system (GPS).

After tracking a fully-grown female leopard on the outskirts of this city, the state’s wildlife wing is now going to monitor …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Now GPS to monitor winged visitors to Himachal.

Sunny weekend ahead in Delhi

NEW DELHI – The sun shone down on Delhi Saturday morning and the weatherman said the weekend would be a bright and pleasant one.

The minimum temperature recorded in the morning was an average 7.7 degrees, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
“Saturday will be sunny and the weather in the coming days [..] Read the original article: here.

Thirteen percent decline in birds at Orissa’s Chilika Lake

BHUBANESWAR – Orissa’s world-famous Chilika Lake saw a 13 percent decline in the number of domestic and migratory birds this winter as against the previous year, says the latest bird census.

“During the annual bird census conducted Tuesday and Wednesday, 804,452 birds were spotted at the lake against last year’s 924,578,” an official of the [..] Read the original article: here.

Russian astronauts begin first spacewalk in 2011

Moscow, Jan 22 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Two Russian astronauts Friday began their first spacewalk of the year to install new high-speed data transmission system outside the Russian Pirs compartment at the International Space Station (ISS).

Dmitry Kondratyev, 41, and Oleg Skripochka, 41, will spend six hours in space as part of the 27th Russian space station …. Source  : Russian astronauts begin first spacewalk in 2011.

Chatting is just as effective as brain-training

LONDON – Holding a simple chat could be just as effective as playing popular “brain-training” games that have spawned a multi-million pound industry.

Researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland compared 36 studies on memory exercises conducted between 1970 and 2007.
They found some studies suggested both healthy older adults and those with mild … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Chatting is just as effective as brain-training.

IMImobile launches unique service

HYDERABAD – IMImobile, end-to-end enabler of mobile value-added services for mobile operators, media companies and enterprises, has launched an innovative service Make My Tunes on its Ringback Tone (RBT) platform.

The service was launched Thursday by service provider Aircel as Dialer Tune – Song Edit.
Aircel customers in Chennai and Tamil Nadu circle can … Read : IMImobile launches unique service.

Positive emotions key to good health in old age

WASHINGTON – Positive emotions can keep stress, pain and illness at bay.

There are several ways in which a positive attitude can protect against poor health later in life.
For example, happier people might take a proactive approach to ageing by regularly exercising and budgeting time for a good night\’s sleep, the journal Current Directions … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Positive emotions key to good health in old age.

Delhi has a warm, pleasant day

Indo-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI – Delhi was greeted by a slightly misty morning, but it was a relatively warm Friday as the maximum temperature was recorded at 23.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees above the season\’s average.

The day began on a pleasant note for Delhiites with the misty morning and mild sunshine, and cold breeze blew [..] Read the original article: here.

Temperature rises in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA – Minimum temperatures across Himachal Pradesh rose by a few notches Friday as the state witnessed a sunny day, the weather bureau here said.

The minimum temperature in Shimla was 2.9 degrees Celsius, marginally up from Thursday’s 2.7 degrees, met office Director Manmohan Singh told IANS.
However, the maximum temperature in Shimla was pleasant … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Temperature rises in Himachal Pradesh.

Moth eyes inspire new film to boost solar power

WASHINGTON – Researchers in Japan have created a new film that when covered onto solar cells, can cut down on the amount of reflected light and help capture more power from the sun.

The idea was inspired by moths, whose eyes allow them to see well at night, are also [..] Read the original article: here.

Vitamin E may extend lifespan of certain men

WASHINGTON – Vitamin E supplementation may extend the lifespan of restricted groups of men, depending on their vitamin C intake and the level of smoking, according to a new study.

Several large randomized trials of humans found that vitamin E supplementation does not …. Original article  : Vitamin E may extend lifespan of certain men.

iPhone fits device with screws impossible to remove

LONDON – If you want to repair your iPhone without the aid of Apple, you could be screwed!

The computer giant has started to use a rare type of screw that pretty much no one apart from them and their engineers has the screwdriver for.
The five-pointed ‘pentalobular’ fixing is currently being fitted to the …. Read the original article  : iPhone fits device with screws impossible to remove.