Technology News for January 17, 2008

Microsoft developing software to monitor staffs productivity and well-being
Microsoft is developing software that may help employers to monitor the productivity, competence and physical well-being of employees while sitting at a distance. ANI

Molecule crucial in activating innate immune response identified
Researchers at the German Cancer Research Centre have found a new molecule that plays a vital role in activating the innate immune response from a fly to humans. ANI

Short birth length makes men more prone to violent suicide attempts
Males with short stature at birth have more than a double risk of violent suicide attempt in adulthood, says a study. ANI

Upgraded neutrino detector to search for signs of dark matter in our galaxy
A report in New Scientist has said that the worlds biggest neutrino detector might be upgraded to search for signs of dark matter at the Suns core or at the center of our galaxy.This detector known as Ice Cube, aims to find the elusive neutrinos, which are also produced in some cases by activities within decaying dark matter. ANI

Old wood floor finishes a likely source of banned environmental pollutants
A new research has suggested that old wood floor finishes in some homes may be a significant source of the banned, disease-causing pollutants known as environmental pollutants polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs. ANI

An X-ray vision gun may soon be a reality
Technologists have invented a new hand-held X-ray scanner, which they believe may revolutionise police work and Customs searches by giving officers the superhero power to see through walls. ANI

Bisexuality not a transitional phase in women: Study
Bisexuality is a distinctive sexual orientation and not a transitional phase among women, as it is thought to be. ANI

Chemical reaction of uranium opens up possibilities for developing cleaning agents for nuclear waste
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, UK, have forced uranium - a highly unreactive element, into a chemical reaction, thus raising possibilities of developing cleaning agents for nuclear waste, where uranium is prevalent. ANI

Specially designed program can prevent weight gain by antipsychotic drugs
Researchers from University of Lavals Faculty of Medicine and Robert-Giffard Hospital have revealed that weight gain due antipsychotic drugs can be combated through a specially designed weight control program. ANI

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may not protect against Alzheimers
Cholesterol lowering drugs like statins may not offer protection against Alzheimers disease, say researchers. ANI

Scientists uncover eye cancer genes role in retinal growth
Working with mice, researchers at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, have found that a gene called N-myc, coordinates the growth of the retina during foetal development, and that malfunctioning variants of this gene can also be linked to pediatric neural cancers like retinoblastoma. ANI

New drug may reduce skin disease psoriasis flare-ups in kids
In a first of its drug trial on children with psoriasis, the researchers at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine reported that the drug etanercept has been found to be safe for treating kids with the disease. ANI

Computer software that classifies dog barks better than humans
Hungarian researchers have shown that computer programs can be better than humans at classifying dog barks. ANI

Portable device may help detect early onset of Alzheimers
US researchers have developed a portable device that might quickly detect the early onset of Alzheimers disease. ANI

2007 shares record of being Earths second warmest year with 1998
New research by climatologists at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, has found out that the year 2007 tied with 1998 as Earths second warmest year in a century. ANI

Why 5ft tall Kylie Minogue tops best legs polls
Ever wondered why celebs such as Kylie Minogue, fare well in polls of the best celebrity legs, despite being short in height? Well, Polish researchers have answered the query by concluding that legs 5 per cent longer than the average are most attractive on the eye, even when their owner is no taller than average. ANI

Trainee surgeons perform better operations after plying Nintendo Wii games
Scientists have given trainee surgeons a new way to perform better operations - Nintendo Wii games. ANI

New species of palm tree that self-destructs after flowering found in Madagascar
Biologists have discovered a completely new species of palm tree in Madagascar, which dies soon after flowering. ANI

Scientists put the bite on mosquitoes
Mosquito bites have many times proved fatal for human beings. But if researchers from The University of Arizona in Tucson have their way, one-day mosquito bites may prove deadly to the mosquitoes as well. ANI

Toxoplasma infection ups schizophrenia risk: Study
A study at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Johns Hopkins Childrens Center, has cited that being infected with the common Toxoplasma gondii parasite, carried by cats and farm animals, may increase the risk of schizophrenia. ANI

NASAs first image from Mercury probe reveals unusual dark-rimmed craters
NASAs Messenger spacecraft has sent back the first image of the unseen region of Mercury - one of the largest impact craters in the solar system, which has mysterious smaller dark-rimmed craters. ANI

Indian medicinal plant Acanthus may harbour liver cancer cure
Indian researchers at Jadavpur University in Kolkata have discovered that the Indian medicinal plant Acanthus or Harkach Kanta can effectively combat liver cancer. ANI

Large CO2 clouds on Mars cast dense shadow on surface
Scientists have for the first time detected high-level clouds made up of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere of Mars, which are so large and dense that they throw dark shadows on the dusty surface of the Red Planet. ANI

33pct stunting, 25pct deaths among under 3s in poor nations could be prevented
About one-third cases of stunting, and deaths by up to a quarter among under 3s in poor countries could be averted with existing interventions, say researchers. ANI

New data link that is 250 times faster than standard broadband created
A collaborative research between Australian and US universities has led to the development of a data link that has a connection of one Gigabit per second, which would enable data transfer at an incredibly high speed. ANI