Science News – Newsletter for January 26, 2011

Protection of large-scale landscapes could triple Tiger numbers in Asia

WASHINGTON – Some of the world’s leading conservation scientists have suggested that Asia’s tiger reserves could support more than 10,000 wild tigers – 3 times the current number – if they are managed as large-scale landscapes that allow for connectivity between core breeding sites.

Co-authored by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) scientists, the study is the …. Original article  : Protection of large-scale landscapes could triple Tiger numbers in Asia.

NASA to explore possibility of beamed energy propulsion for space launch

WASHINGTON – NASA is conducting studies to examine whether beamed energy propulsion can be used for launching crafts in space.

A beamed thermal propulsion system would involve focusing microwave or laser beams on a heat exchanger aboard the rocket. The heat exchanger would transfer the radiation’s energy to the liquid propellant, most likely hydrogen, converting it … Read more »».

1700-yr-old Stratford-upon-Avon African skeleton found was Roman troop

LONDON – Archaeologists believe that a 1700-year-old skeleton of an African man found in Stratford-upon-Avon shows that he was in fact, a Roman soldier.

The skeleton was discovered buried in Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, in 2009 and is believed to have been a Roman troop who chose to retire in Stratford after serving in an African unit.

“African … Original source on Gaea Times at : 1700-yr-old Stratford-upon-Avon African skeleton found was Roman troop.

Elderly drivers’ habits could give clues about schizophrenia, depression

WASHINGTON – A study of why the elderly are not very good drivers could help scientists understand schizophrenia and depression.

The medial temporal visual area (MT) of a person’s brain is responsible for allowing humans to focus on foreground objects and ignore the background ones.

University of Rochester Professor Duje Tadin found that the inability of elderly … Read more »»».

Winners have higher testosterone levels: Study

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that the winners of wrestling matches have greater increases in testosterone levels than losers.

The findings are consistent with studies linking testosterone changes to aggressive and competitive behavior in male animals-and may even suggest ways of enhancing a wrestler’s ’social dominance’ to facilitate future success.

The researchers collected blood … Read more >>>.

Couples’ way of talking can predict relationship success

WASHINGTON – People who speak in similar styles are more compatible, according to a new study.

People tend to be attracted to, date, and marry other people who resemble themselves in terms of personality, values, and physical appearance. However, these features only skim the surface of what makes a relationship work. The ways that people talk …. Original article  : Couples’ way of talking can predict relationship success.

Hackers leave ‘let the hacking begin’ post on Mark Zuckerberg’s fan page

SYDNEY – It looks like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s fan page has been targeted by hackers, who penned a message from the billionaire himself suggesting the social networking site be turned into a charity-focused business.

Although the message was swiftly removed, technology website TechCruch said it had captured a screen shot of the message that had …. Source  : Hackers leave ‘let the hacking begin’ post on Mark Zuckerberg’s fan page.

Rogue storm system caused devastating Pakistan floods

WASHINGTON – Scientists have found that the disastrous floods that hit Pakistan last summer were caused by a rogue weather system that wandered hundreds of miles farther west than is normal for such systems.

The terrible floods killed more than 2,000 people and left more than 20 million injured or homeless in Pakistan.

The flooding began in …. Original article  : Rogue storm system caused devastating Pakistan floods.

Polar bear’s record 9-day continuous swim blamed on global warming

LONDON – Scientists studying bears around the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska, have revealed that a polar bear swam continuously for over nine days, which could be the result of climate change.

Scientists from the US Geological Survey revealed the first evidence of long distance swimming by polar bears after observing one that swam continuously for … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Polar bear’s record 9-day continuous swim blamed on global warming.

Remains of largest Stone Age building discovered in NW China

NEW DELHI – Archaeologists have discovered the remains of the largest Stone Age building, thought to be a prehistoric ‘town hall’, in Northwest China’s Shaanxi province.

The remains of the pentagon-shaped structure, dating back to the Yangshao culture era of 5,000 to 3,000 BC in the New Stone Age, was uncovered at the Xiahe Site in [..] Read the original article: here.

Love really can last a lifetime

WASHINGTON – A new study has challenged popular beliefs that love is destined to flicker and flame out in course of time.

Researchers at Stony Brook University in New York have found that people can be as madly in love with each other a couple of decades into marriage as they were when they met, reports … Read more : Love really can last a lifetime.

Workplace noise-related hearing loss may affect quality of sleep

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that continued exposure to loud workplace noise may affect the quality of sleep in workers with occupational-related hearing loss.

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers compared the sleep quality of individuals at the same workplace, some with workplace noise-related hearing loss and some without.

They found that workers with hearing …. Original article  : Workplace noise-related hearing loss may affect quality of sleep.

Eyewitness accounts aren’t as reliable as previously thought

LONDON – Eyewitnesses likelihood of giving false information about any crime in subsequent retellings increases if they had described the offence to someone just after it occurred, according to a new study.

The finding attains significance as it suggests that eyewitness accounts of crimes can be untrustworthier than earlier believed.

“In a real-life situation, if you”re an …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Eyewitness accounts aren’t as reliable as previously thought.

Roar of tiger at Rajpath!

NEW DELHI – Tigers roared at Rajpath Wednesday, as a tableau rolled in at the Republic Day parade with the message to save India’s national animal.

The tableau by the Central Public Works Department had giant flower sculptures of two tigers along with two cubs. The entire central boulevard resounded with the cry of the …. Read the original article  : Roar of tiger at Rajpath!.

Shunt surgery ‘improves’ dementia patients’ mental function

WASHINGTON – Swedish researchers have shown that a shunt surgery could improve the mental function and the ability to walk in people suffering from dementia as a result of hydrocephalus and white matter changes.

The study was the first in the world to use a placebo-controlled design to prove the effects of dementia surgery on mental …. Read the original article  : here.

Now, brighten up your smile with LED teeth!

LONDON – Now you really can light up the room with your smile – thanks to a new trend for LED teeth that’s sweeping Japan.

The mouth insert lights up when the wearer opens their mouth, providing a glowing smile, reports the Daily Mail.

The LED teeth can even be controlled by a remote, which allows you … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Now, brighten up your smile with LED teeth!.

Scientists closer to developing graphene spintronic devices

WASHINGTON – Physicists from the City University of Hong Kong and the University of Science and Technology of China have taken a huge step toward the development of useful graphene spintronic devices.

Graphene, a two-dimensional crystalline form of carbon, has the breaking strength 200 times greater than steel.

However, Spintronic devices are being hotly pursued because they …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Scientists closer to developing graphene spintronic devices.

Russia plans to send piloted rocket to Mars

Moscow, Jan 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia plans to develop a new super-heavy carrier rocket that will be used to launch piloted spacecraft to Mars.

“The super-heavy carrier rocket will be based on the design of the Angara rocket and its modifications – Amur and Yenisei,” Anatoly Kuzin, deputy general director of the Khrunichev State Research … Read more »».

T. rex hunted like a lion, did not scavenge like a hyena

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that Tyrannosaurus Rex wasn’t a scavenger like a hyena; rather it hunted like a lion.

Scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) used an ecological model based on predator relationships in the Serengeti to find out if scavenging would have been an effective feeding strategy for the dinosaur.

“By …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

New computer memory that’s faster, greener

LONDON – US researchers are busy developing a new form of computing memory that is faster, more user-friendly and greener.

Currently, computers rely on two distinct forms of memory: volatile and non-volatile.

Volatile memory refers to random access memory (RAM), which stores data in such a way that it can be read and written rapidly but loses … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : New computer memory that’s faster, greener.