Science News – Newsletter for February 23, 2011

Himachal to get more rain, snow

SHIMLA – Cold conditions will aggravate in Himachal Pradesh with the weather office here Wednesday forecasting more rain and snowfall over the next four days.

“There are chances of rainfall and snowfall in the state till Feb 26 as western disturbances would be active again in the region,” Meteorological Office director Manmohan Singh told IANS.
… Original article on : Himachal to get more rain, snow.

For a better day at work, smile like you mean it

WASHINGTON – Want to keep yourself happy and productive at work? Smile like you mean it, suggests a new study.

The research, led by a Michigan State University business scholar, suggests that customer-service workers who fake smile throughout the day worsen their mood and withdraw from work, affecting productivity.

But workers who smile as a result [..] Read the original article: here.

Backache problem is as old as the Stone Age

LONDON – An archaeologist has found that backache is not a modern problem – even cavemen suffered from it.

A damaged spine found in northern Spain, with other fossil evidence, suggests that back problems have been with us for millions of years.

The spine came from a man aged about 45 who lived over half a million … Original source on Gaea Times at : Backache problem is as old as the Stone Age.

NZ earthquake ‘a warning to North America’

WASHINGTON – The terribly destructive New Zealand earthquake that killed dozens and caused heavy damage is a warning to cities up and down the West Coast of North America, according to a researcher.

Even though Tuesday’s 6.3-magnitude earthquake was weaker than last year’s event, it was much shallower, was situated directly under Christchurch, hit during the …. Read the original article  : NZ earthquake ‘a warning to North America’.

Simple spit and blood test could reveal if you’re on the point of burnout

WASHINGTON – A new research suggests that simple spit and blood tests can detect burnout before it happens.

Researchers Sonia Lupien and Robert-Paul Juster of the University of Montreal also found that if burnouts are ignored they might put distressed workers at a greater risk of physical and psychological problems.

“We hypothesized that healthy workers with chronic … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Simple spit and blood test could reveal if you’re on the point of burnout.

Nano-solution to keep water free of infections

WASHINGTON – A new nanotechnology is likely to make drinking water a lot more safer and keep infections at bay by filtering out deadly bugs at the source.

Both – water molecules and bugs – are so tiny that they are measured by the nanometre, which is 100,000 times thinner than a human hair.
But …. Source article  : Nano-solution to keep water free of infections.

T-Rex was wily, not fearsome predator

WASHINGTON – T-Rex was more of an opportunistic feeder as wily as a hyena, rather than the fearsome predator of popular and cinematic imagination.

Paleontologists John “Jack” Horner, curator from the Museum of the Rockies, and Mark B. Goodwin from the University of California-Berkeley, described T-Rex as an opportunistic predator, like the hyena in Africa …. Read the original article  : T-Rex was wily, not fearsome predator.

Lesbian moms reluctant to seek help when abused: Stud

WASHINGTON – Two professors of University of Illinois have said that that lesbian mothers experience intimate partner violence are often reluctant to seek help for fear of losing custody of their children.

“A lesbian mom’s abuse situation is unique in that she fears losing her kids to the biological father or the state instead of the …. Original article  : Lesbian moms reluctant to seek help when abused: Stud.

New technology could serve as a future cancer predisposition test

WASHINGTON – Scientists have developed a new technology that detects distinct genetic changes differentiating cancer patients from healthy individuals and could serve as a future cancer predisposition test.

The research team, led by scientists from the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech, which includes researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, has created … Read more >>.

Use of nitrates increases bone strength: study

WASHINGTON – In a new study, scientists found that use of nitroglycerin ointment among postmenopausal women for 2 years was associated with a modest increase in bone mineral density and decrease in bone resorption (loss).

Nitroglycerin is used medically as a vasodilator (a drug that causes dilation of blood vessels) to treat heart conditions, such …. Original source  : Use of nitrates increases bone strength: study.

Midlife crisis is more hype than truth: Experts

WASHINGTON – Experts have suggested that the idea of midlife crisis being common is nothing but a myth.

Psychologist Margie Lachman of Brandeis University in Massachusetts has said that crisis are usually spurred by some event that can happen at any age, such as a career setback, the death of a friend or relative, or an … Read : Midlife crisis is more hype than truth: Experts.

CIA reveals James Bond-like spy gadgets

WASHINGTON – Robotic catfish, cameras in makeup compacts and secret documents in cigarette packs-all these things may sound like they come from a James Bond flick. But the Central Intelligence Agency used all these gadgets in reality, it has been revealed.

The US spy organization launched a complete overhaul to its cia.gov website, including new pages …. Read the original article  : CIA reveals James Bond-like spy gadgets.

Compound used to control cholesterol may also kill breast cancer

WASHINGTON – A new University of Missouri study has found that a compound used to control cholesterol may also kill breast cancer cells.

Salman Hyder, the Zalk Endowed Professor in Tumor Angiogenesis and professor of biomedical sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, and his research team discovered that a … Read more >>.

New study finds how Kleopatra got its moons

WASHINGTON – A team of French and American astronomers has found how the asteroid Kleopatra gave birth to two moons probably spawned by the asteroid sometime in the past 100 million years.

The team also confirms earlier reports that the asteroid is shaped like a dog bone.

“Our observations of the orbits of the two satellites of …. Original source  : New study finds how Kleopatra got its moons.

Why men may remain monogamous despite temptation

WASHINGTON – Men naturally find ovulating women more attractive, but deliberately play down this attraction if they are in a committed relationship, a new study has found.

Researchers at Florida State University looked at how relationship status influenced men’s attraction to a woman throughout her menstrual cycle, reports Discovery News.

They found that although men rated a … Read more »».

T.rex was ‘more hyena than lion’

WASHINGTON – A new study has found that Tyrannosaurus Rex was an opportunistic feeder, not a top predator.

Palaeontologists John “Jack” Horner from the Museum of the Rockies and Mark B. Goodwin from the University of California, Berkeley, say that a new census of all dinosaur skeletons unearthed over a large area of eastern Montana shows … Original article on : T.rex was ‘more hyena than lion’.

Now plastic turned into power conductor

SYDNEY – Plastics used in insulating power cables can be made to conduct electricity with the help of a thin metal film, opening the way to plastic electronics.

Applying this technique, University of New South Wales researchers can now make cheap, strong, flexible and conductive plastic films.
Ion beam techniques are widely used in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Now plastic turned into power conductor.

Kashmir in for another spell of snow, rain

SRINAGAR – Kashmir Valley is in for another spell of inclement weather with rain and snow likely at many places. Heavy snow and landslides have been predicted in the higher reaches during the next seven days.

“A western disturbance has hit the Valley today (Wednesday) and under its influence, rain and snow will occur at … Read : Kashmir in for another spell of snow, rain.

Speaking more than 2 languages may be good for your memory

NEW DELHI – A new study has suggested that speaking more than two languages may lower the risk of developing memory problems.

According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the finding was based on analysis of 230 men and women with an average age of 73 who had spoken or currently spoke … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Speaking more than 2 languages may be good for your memory.

Scientists name new dino species ‘thunder thighs’

LONDON – Scientists have named a new dinosaur species ‘thunder-thighs’, thanks to its huge thigh muscles.

The team from University College London recovered fossils from a quarry in Utah, US, which are fragmentary but enough to indicate that the creature must have possessed extremely powerful legs.

The fossilised bones of two specimens – an adult and a … Original article on : Scientists name new dino species ‘thunder thighs’.