Science News – Newsletter for February 2, 2011

New ‘henge-like’ monument unearthed at Stonehenge

WASHINGTON – Archaeologists have discovered a major ceremonial monument less than one km away from the iconic Stonehenge.

The team led by the University of Birmingham and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, Austria, unearthed the prehistoric ‘henge-like’ late Neolithic monument, reports Physorg.com.

Professor Vince Gaffney, from Birmingham University, hailed the incredible discovery … Read : New ‘henge-like’ monument unearthed at Stonehenge.

Stilettoes ‘make your legs more toned’

LONDON – It looks like killer heels are not just a sexy accessory – they are a way of getting a fabulous set of pins.

According to a new research, stilettos give the legs a great workout, and make them more shapely and toned.

The study of women aged 18 to 33 revealed that walking in high …. Source  : Stilettoes ‘make your legs more toned’.

Last five blocks of Internet addresses to be shared

LONDON – The current pool of Internet addresses is running out with the last five blocks set to be distributed to regional agencies.

In the early hours of February 1, the organisation that oversees net addresses in the Asia Pacific region put in a request for more.

When these are handed over, the central pool of net …. Read the original article  : here.

HIV-infected teens ‘at high risk for pregnancy, complications’

WASHINGTON – Johns Hopkins scientists have revealed that teenage girls and young women infected with HIV get pregnant more often and suffer pregnancy complications more frequently than their HIV-negative peers.

The findings come from a multi-center study based on an analysis of records from 181 patients with HIV, ages 13 to 24, treated at four hospitals … Original article on : HIV-infected teens ‘at high risk for pregnancy, complications’.

‘Before-and-after’ tool to help surgeons avoid ‘cosmetic surgery surprises’

WASHINGTON – A Tel Aviv University researcher has developed a three-dimensional ‘before and after’ tool for cosmetic surgeons avoid any unpleasant surprises post surgery.

Dr. Alex Bronstein tackled a very difficult mathematical problem in computer modelling called predicting “deformations” of non-rigid objects to build a tool that can generate an anatomically accurate after-surgery image.

“Our program is …. Read the original article  : ‘Before-and-after’ tool to help surgeons avoid ‘cosmetic surgery surprises’.

Soon, self-cleaning, wiper-free car windshields thanks to grapheme

WASHINGTON – Research from Vanderbilt University has found how graphene can be used to create windshields that shed water so effectively that they don’t need wipers.

James Dickerson and his colleagues have figured out how to create a freestanding film of graphene oxide and alter its surface roughness so that it either causes water to bead … Original source on Gaea Times at : Soon, self-cleaning, wiper-free car windshields thanks to grapheme.

New predictive tool to find where the Gulf spill oil has disappeared

WASHINGTON – A new predictive model based on engineering design tools has been developed by engineers at Louisiana State University and Louisiana State University to predict the environmental fate and impact of the oil and chemical dispersant.

The Deepwater Horizon spill was the first time chemical dispersants were directly added to the oil pouring out of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : New predictive tool to find where the Gulf spill oil has disappeared.

Sleep selectively stores important memories

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that brain evaluates information during sleep and retain the ones they know could be useful in the future.

The study has shed light on how the brain decides what to keep and what to forget.

“Our results show that memory consolidation during sleep indeed involves a basic selection process that …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sleep selectively stores important memories.

Shingles ‘more common than previously thought’

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that recurrences of shingles-condition that causes a specific type of skin rash and severe pain-is more common than doctors have suspected.

The study has challenged the long-held belief that patients are protected from a recurrence of the herpes zoster virus, which causes shingles, after one episode.

Rather the study has … Original article on : Shingles ‘more common than previously thought’.

Bilinguals find it easier to learn a third language: Study

WASHINGTON – A new study from the University of Haifa has revealed that bilinguals find it easier to learn a third language, as they gain a better aptitude for languages.

Prof. Salim Abu-Rabia and Ekaterina Sanitsky of the Department of Special Education, who conducted the study, set out to examine what benefits bilingualism might have in … Original article on : Bilinguals find it easier to learn a third language: Study.

Migraine surgery produces lasting good results

WASHINGTON – A new study has shown that surgery to “deactivate” migraine headaches produces lasting good results, with nearly 90 percent of patients having at least partial relief at five years’ follow-up.

In about 30 percent of patients, migraine headaches were completely eliminated after surgery, according to the new study, led by Dr. Bahman Guyuron of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Coffee boosts women’s brainpower, but sends men into meltdown

LONDON – A new study by psychologists at Bristol University suggests that women should swap herbal teas for strong coffee if they want to get ahead of their male counterparts at work.

The study found drinking caffeinated coffee boosts a woman’s performance in stressful situations but has the opposite effect on men, reports the Telegraph.

They become …. Read the original article  : Coffee boosts women’s brainpower, but sends men into meltdown.

Now, hydrogen beads car-fuel that ‘can cut CO2 emissions by 30pc’

LONDON – Researchers at Cella Energy in Didcot, UK, are developing nanobeads of ammonia-borane hydride which when used as car fuel, can cut greenhouse emission by 30 percent.

Storing liquid hydrogen in cars is a problem because it requires low temperatures and very large tanks.

The hydrides being developed by the team are protected from oxygen in … Read : Now, hydrogen beads car-fuel that ‘can cut CO2 emissions by 30pc’.

Human placenta stem cells show therapeutic potential in stroke models

WASHINGTON – In a new study from the University of South Florida, researchers found that human placenta-derived stem cells showed chances of recovery in the laboratory mice with modelled stroke.

These cells proliferated and differentiated when they interacted with one kind of melatonin receptor, MT1.

“Along with increasing cell proliferation and survival rate, MT1 also enhanced the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Human placenta stem cells show therapeutic potential in stroke models.

First Mercury mission to reveal mysterious planet’s secrets

WASHINGTON – As NASA’s Messenger spacecraft readies itself for entering the orbit of Mercury on March 17, everyone is waiting with bated breaths to see what secrets it reveals about the planet.

Louise Prockter, deputy project scientist on the mission, talks about the challenges, the early successes of the mission and her own triumphant voyage over …. Original article  : First Mercury mission to reveal mysterious planet’s secrets.

Android overtakes Symbian as world’s most popular smartphone OS

LONDON – Nokia’s Symbian is no more the best smartphone operating system – it has been toppled over by Google’s Android.

According to figures released by analysts Canalys, during the last quarter of 2010 a total of 32.9million Android-equipped phones were sold globally -roughly seven times more than during the same time period in 2009 – …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Android overtakes Symbian as world’s most popular smartphone OS.

NASA’S NEOWISE finds previously unknown 20 comets, 33,000 asteroids

WASHINGTON – NASA has completed its mission of surveying the solar system and has discovered previously unknown objects, including 20 new comets and more than 33,000 asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.

The mission, called NEOWISE, also identified 134 near-Earth objects (NEOs) – the NEOs are asteroids and comets whose orbits come within …. Read the original article  : NASA’S NEOWISE finds previously unknown 20 comets, 33,000 asteroids.

Kids given swine flu vaccine ‘have an increased risk of sleep disorder’

LONDON – Finnish researchers have found that children given a swine flu vaccine have an increased risk of a sleep disorder.

According to a preliminary study by the National Narcolepsy Task Force, children aged 4 to 19 vaccinated with Pandemrix had nine times the risk of narcolepsy – a rare disorder that causes people to suddenly …. Read the original article  : here.

Facelift surgery ‘makes you look 12 years younger’

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that patients who have undergone a facelift rate themselves as looking an average of 12 years younger after surgery.

According to the study by Eric Swanson, a plastic surgeon in private practice in Leawood, Kansas, the vast majority of patients undergoing facelift surgery are satisfied with their results after …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Facelift surgery ‘makes you look 12 years younger’.

India should conserve its wetlands, says BNHS director

MUMBAI – There is urgent need to conserve India’s wetlands, home to rare bird and mammal species, which are shrinking gradually due to the dumping of debris, siltation and encroachment, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) director Asad Rahmani said on World Wetlands Day Wednesday.

“On World Wetlands Day, we strongly emphasise on the need to …. Original article  : India should conserve its wetlands, says BNHS director.