Technology News for February 8, 2008

Scientists identify protein that marks difference between mole and melanoma
Scientists have found that a protein naturally produced and secreted by the body can make the difference between an average mole and the deadly melanoma, a type of skin cancer that appears as a coloured mark. ANI

Ancient human bones may unravel TB conundrum
Academics from Durham and Manchester universities are set to conduct a DNA-test of ancient human remains held in Portsmouths museum archives to analyse how tuberculosis evolved through the ages. ANI

Micro-organisms could survive inside volcanic bubbles
Researchers at the University of Gottingen in Germany have given evidence for the first time suggesting that micro-organisms could survive in gas bubbles within volcanic rock. ANI

Scientists develop new network to break down science barriers
Scientists at the New York Academy of Sciences would soon be launching a network that would break down the geographical barriers and bring together scientific organisations and researchers working in developing countries. ANI

TV wrestling associated with risky teen behaviour
Adolescents watching professional wrestling on television are more prone to violence, unsafe sex, and other risky behaviours, says a new study. ANI

Louis Palmers Solar Taxi arrives Down Under
Swiss adventurer Louis Palmers Solar Taxi has made its way to Australian capital Canberra. ANI

Hypertensive women face numerous health-related complications
Women with hypertension face a number of health-related complications while keeping their high blood pressure under control, according to a new study. ANI

Wind patterns might mask effects of global warming in ocean
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that wind patterns could be masking the overall effect of global warming in the North Atlantic Ocean. ANI

Shrews are highly sophisticated predators
A new study of the water shrew has revealed that the species are highly sophisticated predators, thus challenging the traditional view that the tiny mammals are simple and primitive. ANI

Teen sex lives influenced more by socio-economic factors than school
A new study has shown that schools have less influence than socio-economic factors such as deprived neighbourhoods and peers in shaping the sexual behaviour of teenagers. ANI

Scientists reveal clue to why brain cells die in Alzheimers
Scientists at the University of Queensland have uncovered a major clue to why some brain cells die in neurodegenerative diseases. ANI

Studying locusts may provide key to understanding human migraines
Biologists have suggested that studying how locusts react to stress may be the key to understand the cause behind human migraines. ANI

Acupuncture may help boost IVF success rates by 65%
Acupuncture can increase the chances of getting pregnant for women undergoing fertility treatment by 65 percent, according to a new study. ANI

Doctoral student devises new way to study Neanderthals eating habits
In what may enable scientists to advance their understanding of the eating habits of early humans, a doctoral student studying hominid paleobiology has devised a way to analyse reindeer bones from around 65,000 to 12,000 years ago. ANI

Indian researcher leads effort to create human protein encyclopedia
An Indian researcher at the Johns Hopkins Institute of Genetic Medicine has led the effort to create online human protein encyclopedia. ANI

Global warming not sole reason behind massive Antarctic ice shelfs collapse
Two scientists have claimed that climate change was not the only cause of the collapse of a 500 billion ton ice shelf in Antarctica six years ago. ANI

South Asian nations pledge cooperation on thwarting illegal wildlife trade
All eight South Asian nations - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, have agreed to step up cooperation in thwarting illegal wildlife trade, in addition to addressing the management of wild animals and plants in the area. ANI

IIT alumnus finds what gives us fingertip dexterity
An Indian Institute of Technology, Madras alumnus has discovered that humans ability to use their fingertips for performing various tasks is the result of a complex neuro-motor-mechanical process orchestrated with precision timing by the brain, nervous system and muscles of the hand. ANI

Carbon nanotubes produced from polymeric resins
Scientists at the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have successfully created carbon nanotubes from commercially available aromatic containing resins. ANI

Madagascars turtles and tortoises face threat of extinction
A new study has indicated that Madagascars turtles and tortoises are facing the threat of extinction, unless major conservation measure are enacted. ANI

Ancient thermometer reveals primordial Earths temperature
A team of scientists has reconstructed proteins from ancient bacteria to measure the Earths temperature over the ages. ANI

Scientists using accelerometer backpacks to study flying lemurs gliding behaviour
University of California, Berkeley scientists are studying the gliding behaviour of flying lemurs called the colugo by fixing miniature accelerometer backpacks on their bodies. ANI

Good bacteria in women may slow down HIV transmission
Researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Rochester Medical Center, have found that god bacteria or beneficial bacteria found in healthy women may help in reducing the amount of vaginal HIV among HIV-infected women and may also make it difficult for the virus to spread. ANI

Scientists identify fat-burning gene that worsens diabetes
In a new study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in collaboration with researchers from Finland, China, Japan and the US, have identified a fat-burning gene that is responsible for worsening diabetes in people. ANI

NASAs Deep Impact begins scouting for alien worlds
NASAs Deep Impact spacecraft has begun scouting for alien (exosolar) planets as part of its extended mission, called EPOXI. ANI

Lower-income neighborhoods linked to higher obesity rates
A new study has revealed that characteristics of neighborhoods, including the areas income level, the built environment, and access to healthy food, are linked to higher obesity rates. ANI

Now, charge your mobiles just by walking
University of Michigan scientists have found that a new energy-capturing knee brace has the potential to generate enough electricity from walking to operate a portable GPS locator or to charge a cell phone. ANI

Destroying native ecosystems for biofuel crops worsens global warming
A new study has determined that destroying native ecosystems for biofuel crops worsens global warming. ANI

Researchers reveal the key to sexy saxophone playing
Amateur saxophonists have long been wondering why they cant hit the sharp high notes like jazz legend John Coltrane. Now researchers have given an answer by finding that unlike amateurs, pro sax players have learned to flex their vocal tracts in a special way to amplify the high notes. ANI

Rain showers may soon be an electricity source
French scientists say that they have developed a technique that may facilitate the generation of electricity from rain showers. ANI

Kissing cousins sire more kids
It might be considered a taboo in present society, but a new study has suggested that incest or mating with cousins has reproductive advantages. ANI

Infertility raises risk of testicular cancer in men
Men with a history of infertility are at an increased risk of developing testicular cancer, says a new study. ANI

HIV drugs Abacavir, Didanosine boost heart attack risk
A recent study has found that two widely used HIV drugs, Abacavir and Didanosine, can increase the risk of heart attack or formation of blood clots in the heart. ANI

Study proposes new treatments for lung disease patients
Contrary to a common notion that Hypercapnia or high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood and lungs of acute lung disease patients may be beneficial, a recent study found that elevated levels can actually have an opposite effect. ANI

Low-carb diets thwart diabetes better than low-fat diets
A new study has claimed that a diet low in carbohydrates is better than a diet low in fat at preventing diabetes. ANI

Novel drug may reduce heart attack damage
A new study conducted by the Duke Clinical Research Institute has revealed that a novel drug, known as KAI-9803, might lessen muscle damage from a heart attack. ANI

Less sleep may increase childhood obesity risk
A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has revealed that less sleep can increase a childs risk of being overweight or obese. ANI

Microbes could survive inside volcanic bubbles
German researchers have unearthed evidence that microbes could survive inside gas bubbles within volcanic rock. ANI

Get ready for a total lunar eclipse on Feb 20
The world will get to see a total lunar eclipse on February 20, according to reports. ANI