Science News – Newsletter for February 14, 2011

Study sheds light on RNA ‘on/off switches’

LONDON – A recent study has shed new light on a molecular switch that turns genes on or off in response to a cell’s energy needs.

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute show these recently discovered RNA “riboswitches” are capable of more complex functions than originally thought.

In addition, because riboswitches so far have been found …. Source  : Study sheds light on RNA ‘on/off switches’.

Forget search engines, try the new ‘answer engines’

LONDON – Computer wizards have claimed that by using a ‘cutting-edge’ technology they have created a clever website that gives direct answers to direct questions.

According to creators, “trueknowledge.com” site is an Internet “answer engine” which breaks new ground by giving direct answers to questions.

Co-founder William Tunstall-Pedoe, who is based in Cambridge, said the website is …. Original article  : Forget search engines, try the new ‘answer engines’.

‘Anti-social’ attitude in boozy fish may explain alcoholism impact in humans

WASHINGTON – Even small amounts of alcohol at an early age can have a long-lasting impact on fish and humans alike, according to a new study.

It found that alcohol exposure makes fish anti-social, reports the Discovery News.

Robert Gerlai, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, Mississauga, and colleagues examined the neurological effects of …. Read the original article  : ‘Anti-social’ attitude in boozy fish may explain alcoholism impact in humans.

Japanese satellite Hinode spots 2 huge holes in Sun

WASHINGTON – A Japanese spacecraft has spotted two huge holes in the sun’s magnetic field – which are blasting solar material into space.

The images, taken by Japan’s sun-watching satellite Hinode on February 1, clearly show two large dark holes at the top and the bottom of the sun, reports the Discovery News.

Known as ‘coronal holes’, … Read more : Japanese satellite Hinode spots 2 huge holes in Sun.

Internet IP addresses not exhausted: ITU official

NEW DELHI – An ITU official has denied that Internet addresses running out worldwide.

Zhao Houlin, a senior official of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said that the IP address stock is not declining and resources allocated to some regional internet registries are far from exhausted.

The in-use IP addresses still have potentials that can be tapped, … Read more : Internet IP addresses not exhausted: ITU official.

New addition to solar system may be bigger than Jupiter

LONDON – A new planet in our solar system’s outer reaches could be four times as large as Jupiter, the biggest planet in the system, scientists believe.

Its orbit would be thousands of times further from the Sun than the Earth’s – which explains its obscurity.
The data which could prove the existence of Tyche, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

600 mn-year-old plant fossils found in China

BEIJING – Paleontologists in China have unearthed thousands of pieces of plant fossils dating back to about 600 million years, officials said.

A spokesman with the government of Xiuning county in Anhui province said the fossils were from the Sinian period (825 million to 570 million years ago), Xinhua reported.
The plants lived in the …. Read the original article  : 600 mn-year-old plant fossils found in China.

A wind-powered car that covered 5,000 km in barely $16

SYDNEY – It’s a car that travelled a distance of 5,000 km in Australia at a cost of just $16. Wondering how? Well, it was powered by the wind.

The Wind Explorer, touted as the world’s first car that runs on wind-generated energy, arrived here Monday after travelling from Perth via Adelaide and Melbourne. It …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘Eighth wonder of the world’ found under a New Zealand lake

WELLINGTON – New Zealand’s first tourist attraction, dubbed the “eighth wonder of the world” by international travellers in the late 19th century, has been rediscovered 125 years after it was buried by one of the biggest-ever volcanic eruptions.

New Zealand and US scientists said they found the Pink and White Terraces, 60 metres below Lake … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘Eighth wonder of the world’ found under a New Zealand lake.

For rural homes, a lamp that’s also a stove!

BANGALORE – Is it a stove or a lamp? “It is actually both,” says engineer-inventor Anil Rajvanshi, developer of a dual purpose device that simultaneously solves the twin problem of cooking and lighting in rural homes that do not have electricity.

A lantern, which burns kerosene to produce bright light and also doubles up as … Read more >>.

Two genes key to wiring brain’s nerve cells

LONDON – Scientists have now been able to show that growing nerve cells realise when they’ve reached their target area in the brain — thanks to the interaction of two genes.

Each of the nerve cells — of which there are about 100 billion in the human brain — is programmed to connect … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Two genes key to wiring brain’s nerve cells.

Moon has deep core – similar to earth

WASHINGTON – The moon possesses an iron-rich core with a solid inner ball nearly 150 miles in radius, which is similar to that of the earth, according to a new study.

A team of NASA-led researchers applied new technology to seismic data from the Apollo mission and detected what many scientists have predicted: the moon …. Read the original article  : here.

In a galaxy far away, Indian-origin scientist finds her calling

CHICAGO – US-based Indian origin astrophysicist Sukanya Charkrabarti has found her calling 260,000 light years away in a galaxy that can barely, if at all, be seen. Galaxy X, at a distance which is modest on the cosmic scale, is where she is perfecting her theoretical skills.

Dealing with structures of the Milky Way that …. Read the original article  : here.

China issues warning on Valentine’s Day computer viruses

BEIJING – Technology experts in China have warned internet users to be alert against computer viruses based on the Valentine’s Day theme.

The China National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre issued a circular Monday warning computer users not to open spam mail with Valentine’s Day messages in the subject line.
Such mails may contain worms [..] Read the original article: here.

For some, music gives the same high as sex

LONDON – A new study from the McGill University has revealed that listening to music is just as pleasurable as food, drugs and sex.

Listening to music releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain important for more tangible pleasures associated with sex or great food.

The study found that dopamine release in response to music elicited …. Read the original article  : here.

Mummies’ toes may be world’s earliest prosthetic body parts

WASHINGTON – Scientists say they have found the world’s earliest prosthetic body parts.

According to the experts, who tested replicas on volunteers, two artificial big toes – one found attached to the foot of an ancient Egyptian mummy, may have been used as artificial body parts in earlier times.

University of Manchester researcher, Dr Jacky Finch, has … Read : Mummies’ toes may be world’s earliest prosthetic body parts.

Indian inventor claims to have made ‘flying car’

LONDON – An Indian inventor, A.K. Vishwanath, has claimed that he has made a flying car with the help of India’s first small car, Maruti.

Made out of a seemingly ordinary 800cc Maruti car, it has rotor blades affixed to the roof with extended wheelarches creating a “vacuum section”, and has been one of the star …. Original source  : Indian inventor claims to have made ‘flying car’.

Cloudy morning, rain likely in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Delhi saw a cloudy yet warm morning Monday and the weatherman said showers were likely later in the day.

“The skies have been overcast since morning and thundershowers are expected in some parts of the city,” an official of the India meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The minimum temperature was five notches above …. Original source  : Cloudy morning, rain likely in Delhi.

Research must focus on sustainability: Experts

AGARTALA – Very little money is spent on research on the sustainable use of natural resources compared to what is spent on studies for their exploitation, experts said here Sunday, adding that identification of research priorities is the key to long-term development.

Worldwide, about 6,000 times more expenditure is made on research …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Research must focus on sustainability: Experts.

Showers expected in Delhi Monday

NEW DELHI – Weather officials have forecast light showers in some parts of Delhi Monday.

“Delhi will experience a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of a thunderstorm in some areas,” an official at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Sunday.
According to him, Monday’s maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around …. Source  : Showers expected in Delhi Monday.