Technology News for January 30, 2008

2,500-year-old tomb containing human sacrifice, treasure trove discovered
Archaeologists have excavated a 2,500-year-old tomb full of nearly four-dozen victims of human sacrifice and a treasure box full of precious artifacts. ANI

DNA originating from ancient viral infections may be essential for healthy pregnancy
The DNA that originated from ancient viral infections are essential for a healthy pregnancy, says a new study.Retrovirus infections represent the most intimate host-pathogen relationship. ANI

Whales sleep with half a brain at a time
Researchers at the University of St. Andrews Gatty Marine Research Institute have found that sperm whales perform slow, rhythmic dives while asleep, a finding that suggests that the seafaring mammals perhaps sleep with one side of their brain at a time. ANI

Scientists using electromagnetic forces to create shape-shifting robot
Carnegie Mellon University researchers are working on swarms of robots that use electromagnetic forces to cling together, and assume different shapes. ANI

Now, a lab-on-chip technology for cheap, portable medical tests
Canadian researchers have created a portable device, which may be as useful in conducting medical tests as a lab full of expensive equipment. ANI

Determining a persons birth date by looking into the eyes of the dead
By looking into the eyes of the dead, researchers at the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus can now establish, with relatively high precision, when the person was born. ANI

Modern potato roots traced to lowlands of south-central Chile
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have uncovered DNA evidence showing that 99 percent of all modern potato varieties planted today are the direct descendents of varieties that once grew in the lowlands of south-central Chile. ANI

Genetic differences between humans, chimps may be due to distinct diet
A study in mice conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, has found some of the differences between humans and chimpanzees to differences in the diet. ANI

Secondhand smoke worsens cystic fibrosis patients lung function
Exposure to secondhand smoking can worsen the condition of patients with cystic fibrosis, says a new study. ANI

Cat domestication started in the Fertile Crescent region: Study
A new study has confirmed that the ancestral road for the modern day domestic cat leads back to the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East. ANI

Researchers find link between smoking and SIDS
A new study at McMaster University has highlighted the relationship between women who smoke while pregnant, or are exposed to second-hand smoke, and an increased risk of SIDS to their babies. ANI

Magnetism can decline drastically when put under pressure
Scientists have discovered that the magnetic strength of magnetite-the most abundant magnetic mineral on Earth-declines drastically when put under pressure. ANI

Subconscious signals can activate drug craving
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have found that subconscious cues can trigger drug craving in addicts. ANI

Carbon monoxide may have long-lasting effects on heart
A recent study has revealed that carbon monoxide (CO) can cause a direct damage to the heart muscle, irrespective of the effects of lack of oxygen that reduces the hearts pumping capacity and permanently damages cardiac function. ANI

River plants might play a major role in the health of ocean coastal waters
A new research at MITs Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has suggested aquatic plants in rivers and streams may play a major role in the health of large areas of ocean coastal waters. ANI

Now,nanonails that can repel any liquid
University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers and their colleagues from Bell Laboratories have created a material that can repel almost any liquid. ANI

New adhesive mimics quick catch, rapid release traits of a geckos foot
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed an adhesive that, they claim, is the first to mimic quick catch and rapid release traits of a geckos foot. ANI

Swimmers sunscreen is lethal for coral
The sunscreen which you apply before going for a swim on the beach might be killing coral reefs worldwide, a new research has shown. ANI

Mast cell in lungs could be new target for asthma
A study at Weill Cornell Medical College, has cited that an enzyme, called renin, released by mast cells in the lungs may play a key role in the tightening of airways, a trademark of asthma. The finding may have implications in finding new target for treatment against the condition. ANI

Facebook-like networking technique to make gene discovery easier
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a potent gene-networking model for easy identification of disease-causing genes. ANI

Heres how we focus on one sound in a noisy environment
A new study conducted by researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) might help explain how we are able to focus on one particular sound among many in noisy environments such as offices or cocktail parties. ANI

Digital mammography better than film mammography for some women
A new study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has revealed that for some women, digital mammography may be a better screening option than traditional film mammography. ANI

Galaxies on cosmic highways likely to form new stars
New observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope have revealed that galaxies on their way to densely populated galaxy clusters on cosmic filaments, are likely to form new stars. ANI

New Vaccine to counter deadliest strain of bird flu
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new vaccine against the deadliest strain of the H5N1 virus to counter the continued threat to global health. ANI

New technology to improve reliability of embedded systems
University of Leicester engineers have developed a new technology that promises to ensure safety of equipments as diverse as those used in cars, aircraft and medical equipment. ANI

Remoulding heart may aid bypass surgery
Cardiac surgeons at John Hopkins Medical Institutions have revealed that patients undergoing bypass surgery to boost blood supply to the heart and resisting repeat heart attacks may do better if their surgeons remould the heart to a near normal size. ANI

E.Coli bacteria could one day power cars and homes
E. coli, the bacteria synonymous with food poisoning and product recalls, can be used as a future source of energy to power cars and homes, says a professor in Texas A and M University. ANI

Cradle of creativity identified in the brain
A study has revealed a distinct pattern of brain activity, even at rest, in people who tend to solve problems with a sudden creative insight, an Aha! Moment, compared to people who tend to solve problems more methodically. ANI

Astronomers observe a star in the making
Astronomers at European Southern Observatory (ESO) have used the VLT (Very Large Telescope) Interferometer to probe the inner parts of the disc of material surrounding a young star, witnessing how it gains its mass before becoming an adult. ANI