Technology News for December 5, 2007

Early Southwestern Indians made beer centuries before Spanish arrived
The Indians of the American Southwest had been consuming food or beverages made from fermenting corn centuries before the arrival of the Spanish, according to a study. ANI

How to remove obstacles to eye scanning technology
A researcher at the University of Queensland (UQ) has conceived an idea to remove one of the final obstacles to the application of the iris scanning technology in routine works-like unlocking doors, accessing bank accounts, logging on to computers etc. ANI

Microbes can make inter-continental travel and survive for centuries, confirms study
Scientists have confirmed that microbes can travel thousands of miles across continents by attaching themselves to dust particles. ANI

White dwarfs get a kick to hurl them to the edge of their cluster
NASAs Hubble Space Telescope has provided evidence that white dwarfs, the burned out relics of stars, are propelled to the outer reaches of their star cluster at the time of their formation. ANI

IIT, Bombay alumnus develops technique to control nanoparticle size
Those who have got bored of watching the same conventional black car tyres may now expect vehicles with colourful tyres to hit the roads in the days to come. The reason: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay alumnus Pratim Biswas has developed a method to control the size of the nanoparticles, opening up possibilities for new nanotechnology applications and different techniques. ANI

Mars rover frees itself from loose soil
Reports indicate that NASAs Mars Rover Spirit has freed itself from the loose soil it had been stuck in for about two weeks. ANI

Neanderthals grew up physically more rapidly than humans
A new research by scientists has found evidence for a rapid physical development pattern in Neanderthals as compared to humans. ANI

Life may have originated inside mineral mica layers in ancient oceans
A new hypothesis by scientists has suggested that life may have originated inside layers of mineral mica in ancient oceans. ANI

Female elephants can keep track of at least 17 relations simultaneously
Experiments carried out by researchers from the University of St Andrews and the Amboseli Trust for Elephants in Kenya have shown that female elephants possess the ability to remember where they can find the members of their families, while their herd is searching for food. ANI

Female elephants can keep track of at least 17 relations simultaneously
Experiments carried out by researchers from the University of St Andrews and the Amboseli Trust for Elephants in Kenya have shown that female elephants possess the ability to remember where they can find the members of their families, while their herd is searching for food. ANI

Humans and Neanderthals may have interbred, but had no hybrids
A new study has suggested that humans may have interbred with Neanderthals, but there were no hybrids that emerged as a result. ANI

Heres why men like to marry women almost half their age
Ever wondered why men like to marry women who are years younger them? Well, you can now give your mind a rest, for a study has found that men prefer young women due to their high fertility. ANI

Indian researcher reveals why enjoying a movie is contagious
The next time you watch a movie, make sure you have company with you, for a new study conducted by an Indian researcher suggests that the presence of other people might enhance a persons movie-watching experience. ANI