Science News – Newsletter for January 24, 2011

New study explains humans’ critical ability to throw long distances

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed how humans, unlike any other species on Earth, readily learn to throw long distances.

The study by Indiana University and the University of Wyoming has suggested that this unique evolutionary trait is entangled with language development in a way critical to our very existence.

The study has shown that the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : New study explains humans’ critical ability to throw long distances.

Curved carbon to pave way for future nanoelectronics

LONDON – A new scientific discovery has paved the way for unprecedented control over the spin of electrons and may have a big impact on applications for spin-based nanoelectronics.

Researchers from the Nano-Science Center at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with Japanese researchers, have shown how electrons on thin tubes of … Read : Curved carbon to pave way for future nanoelectronics.

Lady Gaga-inspired coloured contact lenses harmful for eyes!

LONDON – Pop singer Lady Gaga-inspired trend of wearing coloured contact lenses could damage people’s eyes, opticians have warned.

Wearing circle contact lenses that make eyes look bigger has become a rage amongst teenagers, after the pop icon wore them in her video for the song ‘Bad Romance’.

They achieve their effect by covering part of the … Original article on : Lady Gaga-inspired coloured contact lenses harmful for eyes!.

Nutrition ‘may have a role in development of asthma’

WASHINGTON – Asthma affects as many as 300 million people and is one of the world’s most common chronic diseases. Researchers estimate that by 2025, there could be an additional 100 million people with the disease.

The rapid increase is mostly due to changing environmental or lifestyle factors, and diet.

Two new studies have now suggested … Read more »»».

Culprit for increased stroke injury with diabetes found

LONDON – Joslin Diabetes Center researchers have discovered one reason why people with diabetes can suffer more damage during strokes.

Strokes are a leading cause of mortality and adult disability. Those that involve intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain) are especially deadly, and there are no effective treatments to control such bleeding.

Moreover, diabetes and hyperglycemia … Read more >>>.

In chimps, as in humans, faces are personality billboards

WASHINGTON – People can read a chimpanzee’s face and tell if the animal is dominant and physically active, according to a new study.

A research team, led by psychologist Robert Ward of Bangor University, Wales, says that people can usually tell whether or not a chimp acts dominantly and is physically active simply by looking at …. Original article  : In chimps, as in humans, faces are personality billboards.

Chances of finding ET are unlikely, says astronomer

LONDON – Waiting to see the green little men? You may be in for a big disappointment, as a leading astronomer has concluded that there probably aren’t any aliens out there – meaning we are entirely alone in the universe.

Even though there may be tens of thousands of other distant planets similar in size to …. Original source  : Chances of finding ET are unlikely, says astronomer.

Sleep best time to strengthen memories: Study

MELBOURNE – The best way to ‘remember’ something important is to remember it while you are asleep, suggests a new study.

The research, led by Bjorn Rasch of the University of Basel in Switzerland, claims reactivating newly learned memories during sleep rather than when awake does a better job of strengthening the memory trace.

The work could … Read more »».

Leh in deep freeze at minus 20 degrees, Srinagar at minus 4.6

SRINAGAR – Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar and other parts of the Valley remained in the grip of a severe cold wave Monday as Leh and Kargil towns in Ladakh region froze at minus 20 and minus 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.

“The minimum temperature in Srinagar was minus 4.6 degrees Celsius, three degrees below … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Leh in deep freeze at minus 20 degrees, Srinagar at minus 4.6.

Brit engineers to put mobile phone in space later this year

LONDON – With an aim to see if the sophisticated capabilities in today’s phones will function in the most challenging environment known, British engineers are planning to put a mobile phone into space later this year.

The team at Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) and Surrey Space Centre (SSC), however, refused to disclose the exact model …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Massive volcanic eruption ’caused world’s largest extinction’

LONDON – Toxic coal ash produced as a result of massive volcanic eruptions may have led to the largest extinction event in Earth’s history, according to Canadian researchers.

The Permian extinction is believed to have occurred about 250 million years ago – back even before dinosaurs roamed the planet – and wiped out 95 percent … Original article on : Massive volcanic eruption ’caused world’s largest extinction’.

Facebook, Twitter ‘making us more isolated and less human’

LONDON – A leading academic in the U.S. has claimed that social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are threatening to dominate our lives, making us more isolated and ‘less human’.

Professor Sherry Turkle, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has even branded the use of the technology a form of ‘modern madness’, reports the Daily [..] Read the original article: here.

Cooling stroke patients’ brains could aid recovery

LONDON – A group of Scottish doctors have suggested that cooling the brain of patients who have suffered a stroke could dramatically improve their recovery.

They are joining others from across Europe who believe that inducing hypothermia in some patients can boost survival rates and reduce brain damage.

To date, studies have involved the body of patients …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Cooling stroke patients’ brains could aid recovery.

Space crew to simulate walking on Mars in Feb

MELBOURNE – Three men will imitate walking on Mars in February as part of a project in which a multinational crew has been locked up inside a mock Moscow spaceship since June.

The team of six participants will ‘land’ on the Red Planet on February 12 after spending more than eight months in isolation in the … Read more »»».

Sunny days ahead for Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhiites witnessed another warm day that began with a slightly misty and shallow foggy morning. The maximum temperature was recorded at 23.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees above average Monday.

The capital will have more warm days in the coming week, the weather office forecast.
The minimum temperature was 7.4 degrees Celsius, …. Original article  : Sunny days ahead for Delhi.

Now, a wildlife park where you can feed live animals

SHANGHAI – In a first of its kind, a wildlife park in China is offering a “live feeding service” to attract more visitors and increase revenue, though education experts have said such “barbaric scenes” may be harmful to children.

The Shanghai Wildlife Park has started a tour inside the park, where visitors can purchase …. Read the original article  : here.

Warm days ahead for Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhi will have more warm days next week, the weather office forecast Sunday.

It was another warm day that began with a slightly misty morning Sunday. The maximum temperature was recorded at 23.4 degrees, two degrees above average, and minimum 8.8 degree, up by one degree.
“The weather will be similar over …. Read the original article  : Warm days ahead for Delhi.

Two killed by jumbos in Jharkhand

RANCHI – A woman and her daughter were trampled to death by a herd of elephants in Jharkhand’s Gumla district Sunday, an official said.

The herd attacked Karni village under Dumri police station, killing the two and destroying two houses and standing crops.
Two people were Jan 4 trampled to death by a herd …. Original source  : Two killed by jumbos in Jharkhand.

Breath test to tell when the fat starts to burn off

LONDON – A breathalyser to reveal how much fat you burn off at the gym is being developed by scientists.

Exercise machines currently estimate when people enter the “fat burning zone”.
The breathalyser works by picking up minute changes in the levels of a molecule called acetone in people’s breath, which is given … Original source on Gaea Times at : Breath test to tell when the fat starts to burn off.

Being close to spouse doesn’t help communicability

LONDON – If your spouse does not understand you, the simple explanation is that you are too close to him.

Psychologists believe that when two people know each other too well they assume too much shared knowledge. Their language becomes dangerously ambiguous.
This “closeness communication bias” can lead to long term misunderstandings, rows …. Read the original article  : Being close to spouse doesn’t help communicability.