Science News – Newsletter for January 28, 2011

How 450mn-yr-old mass extinction is closely linked to climate change

WASHINGTON – Geobiologists at California Institute of Technology have found how the mass extinction that occurred 450 million years ago is linked to a cooling climate.

The mass extinction coincided with a glacial period, during which global temperatures cooled and the planet saw a marked increase in glaciers.

So the …. Original source  : How 450mn-yr-old mass extinction is closely linked to climate change.

Believe it or not – glaciers are growing!

LONDON – There is some good news regarding climate change – glaciers are actually growing!

The reason being that hotter summers may actually slow down the flow of glaciers, according to researchers.
Increased melting in the warmer summer is causing the internal drainage system of the ice sheet to accommodate more melt-water, without speeding … Read more : Believe it or not – glaciers are growing!.

Like-minded partners ‘make better parents’

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the University of Exeter have revealed that couples with similar personalities make much better parents than those with different dispositions – at least in the world of zebra finches.

They found the birds expressing strong personality traits, such as aggressive behaviour or a willingness … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Like-minded partners ‘make better parents’.

Diabetes affects both patient and spouse’s well being

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that older patients with diabetes who are not dealing well with the disease are likely to have symptoms of depression, and their spouses also suffer distress related to the disease and its management.

“Responsibilities and anxieties can differ for patients …. Original source  : Diabetes affects both patient and spouse’s well being.

How to boost broccoli’s cancer-fighting power

WASHINGTON – A new research provides convincing evidence that the way you make and consume broccoli matters, and also suggests that teaming broccoli with broccoli sprouts may make the vegetable’s anti-cancer effect almost twice as powerful.

“Broccoli, prepared correctly, is an extremely potent cancer-fighting …. Original source  : How to boost broccoli’s cancer-fighting power.

Scientists discover hottest ever planet

LONDON – An exoplanet has been found to be the hottest planet discovered so far with a record-breaking temperature of 3,200 degrees Celsius.

The planet WASP-33b, is also known as HD15082. Its scorching temperature is explained by its close orbit around its star, itself one of the hottest planet-hosting stars at 7,160 degrees Celsius, the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Scientists discover hottest ever planet.

Fox may have been primitive man’s best friend

LONDON – Dogs have long been known as man’s best friend. But according to a new research, primitive man seemingly preferred the company of foxes rather than dogs.

Researchers have uncovered a pre-historic graveyard in which a fox was buried with a human, dating thousands of years before man kept dogs as pets.
The team …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Fox may have been primitive man’s best friend.

Our body clock unchanged for millions of years

LONDON – The inner clock that regulates the behaviour of all life forms has existed for millions of years – unchanged.

The finding could shed light on a range of human conditions such as depression, cancer and diabetes and provide relief to workers such as pilots or nurses who do odd hours.
The studies from …. Source  : Our body clock unchanged for millions of years.

Cows’ guts yield clues for new biofuels

WASHINGTON – A new study has found dozens of previously unknown microbial enzymes in the bovine rumen-the cow’s primary grass-digestion chamber-that contribute to the breakdown of switchgrass, a renewable biofuel energy source.

The study tackles a major barrier to the development of more affordable and environmentally sustainable biofuels.n previous studies beginning in 2008, Roderick Mackie of … Read : Cows’ guts yield clues for new biofuels.

How watching terror coverage on TV weakens mental well-being

WASHINGTON – A new University of Haifa study has suggested that watching TV coverage of terrorist events can lead to deterioration of psychological resources, such as commitment and a sense of success.

It may also lead to feeling threatened, which in turn can result in loss of resources and other negative affects.

“Mass media plays a central … Read more »»».

New test measures intelligence more accurately

LONDON – A new test measures both human and artificial intelligence more accurately – provided it is spaced out over a longer period.

“It can be applied to any subject… at any point in its development (child or adult), for any system now or in the future, and with any level of intelligence or speed,” … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : New test measures intelligence more accurately.

Stem cells show promise in repairing child’s damaged heart

WASHINGTON – A study, led by an Indian-origin boffin, has revealed that heart stem cells from children with congenital heart disease were able to rebuild the damaged heart in the laboratory.

Sunjay Kaushal, surgeon in the Division of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery at Children’s Memorial Hospital and assistant professor of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Stem cells show promise in repairing child’s damaged heart.

Right nostril helps pigeons find their way home

LONDON – It’s the right nostril that helps pigeons navigate long distances of unfamiliar territory to find their way home, suggests a new study.

Biologist Anna Gagliardo of the University of Pisa in Italy and her collaborators have previously shown that pigeons may rely on odours carried on the wind-and not the Earth’s magnetic field-to find … Original source on Gaea Times at : Right nostril helps pigeons find their way home.

Modern humans reached Arabia earlier than previously believed

WASHINGTON – An international team of researchers suggests that humans could have arrived on the Arabian Peninsula as early as 125,000 years ago – directly from Africa rather than via the Nile Valley or the Near East, as researchers have suggested in the past.

The team, led by Hans-Peter Uerpmann from Eberhard Karls University in Tubingen, … Read more >>>.

Apple removes Nazi Party anthem from iTunes online store

LONDON – Apple has announced that it has removed a Nazi Party anthem from the German version of its iTunes online music store after it was revealed that it sold songs and albums of neo-Nazi bands.

The song, ‘Horst Wessel Lied’ had been named after a young party activist killed in 1930, and it had been …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Marriage is good for physical as well as mental health

WASHINGTON – Long-term committed relationships are good for mental as well as physical health and this benefit increases over time, suggests a new study.

David and John Gallacher from Cardiff University say that on average married people live longer.

They say that women in committed relationships have better mental health, while men in committed relationships have …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Marriage is good for physical as well as mental health.

A ‘krafty’ kiosk that scans your face and recommends you a snack!

WASHINGTON – A new kiosk developed by Kraft scans your face and according to your gender and age, recommends snack or dinner options.

Using anonymous video analytics (AVA), the kiosk categorizes the customer into gender and demographic groups in order to make suggestion, reports Discovery News.

So a hungry 16-year-old boy might be suggested a McDonald’s burger …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : A ‘krafty’ kiosk that scans your face and recommends you a snack!.

Even infants understand social dominance: Study

WASHINGTON – Scientists at the University of Copenhagen and Harvard University have found that infants less than one year old understand social dominance and use relative size to predict who will prevail when two individuals’ goals conflict.

The work of Lotte Thomsen, of the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Psychology, has suggested that we may be … Read more >>.

‘Hottest’ planet found has scorching heat of 3,200 Degree C

LONDON – Scientists claim to have found the hottest planet ever, where temperatures are a scorching 3200 Degrees Celsius.

Called WASP-33b or HD15082, the exoplanet is 380 light-years away in the constellation of Andromeda and was found in 2006, after observing regularly timed dimmings of its parent star, reports the Daily Mail.

Alexis Smith of Keele University … Original source on Gaea Times at : ‘Hottest’ planet found has scorching heat of 3,200 Degree C.

Fox ‘may have been early man’s best friend’

LONDON – New findings by University of Cambridge-led team suggest that early man may have preferred the fox as a pet rather than dogs.

Scientists analysing remains at a prehistoric burial ground in Jordan have uncovered a grave in which a fox was buried with a human, dated thousands of years before dogs were kept as … Read more »».