Technology News for August 17, 2008

Mini drug-producing biofactories built in yeast
California Institute of Technology scientists in the U.S. say that mini biofactories in yeast may be useful for churning out large quantities of drugs, including antiplaque toothpaste additives, antibiotics, nicotine, and even morphine. ANI

Wind screens could save glaciers from melting
A German geographer has said that wind screens could help to keep chilly breezes on top of glaciers in Europe, thus saving them from melting. ANI

One of two mummified fetuses may be Tutankhamuns daughter, says scientist
A scientist has said that the ongoing analysis on the mummified remains of two female fetuses buried in the tomb of Tutankhamun will most likely show that at least one of the stillborn children is the offspring of the teenage Egyptian pharaoh. ANI

Animal bones are better markers for environmental change than plants
Scientists have found that the bones of animals like wolves provide a much better record of environmental change than by analysis of plants. ANI

Birds singing ability may indicate their intellectual prowess
Male zebra finches with the sweetest song are more likely to win females because singing ability advertises intellectual prowess, say researchers. ANI

U.S. physicist develops electrifying theory
A theory that may help build future superconducting alternating-current fault-current limiters for electricity transmission and distribution systems has been developed, thanks to the efforts of a physicist at the U.S. Department of Energys Ames Laboratory. ANI

Virtual archaeologist to shed new light on 3,500 yr old civilization
A research team, from Princeton University in the US, has developed an automated system that works like a virtual archaeologist to shed new light on Thera, an island civilization near Greece that was buried under volcanic ash more than 3,500 years ago. or several decades, archaeologists in Greece have been painstakingly attempting to reconstruct wall paintings that hold valuable clues to the ancient culture of Thera. ANI

Study casts light on the psychology behind pupils who dont cheat
Students who score high on measures of courage, empathy and honesty are less likely than others to have cheated in the past, and to intend to cheat in the future, according to a study at one Ohio university. ANI

Coming soon, orange that can be peeled in 35 seconds!
An orange that can be peeled in 35 seconds is to go on sale for the first time in the UK in a bid to win back consumers who have lost the patience to eat them. ANI

Star Trek warp drive comes closer to reality
Star Trek fantasies of interstellar civilisations and voyages powered by warp drive may no longer be the exclusive domain of science fiction writers, with two physicists from Baylor devising a new scheme to travel faster than the speed of light. ANI