Technology News for June 10, 2008

Caribbean monk seal is now officially extinct
Lack of evidence has led researchers to confirm that the Caribbean monk seal is now officially extinct. ANI

2,350-year-old ancient ship may have carried most expensive Greek red wine
Archaeologists working on a 2,350 year-old ancient shipwreck in Cyprus, have determined that the ship was carrying the renowned red wine of Chios, which is perhaps the most expensive Greek wine of the Classical period. ANI

Hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan launch chess website
Known for their violent lyrics and constant encounters with the law, notorious hip hop group, Wu-Tang Clan is now venturing into a completely different domain-launching a chess website. ANI

Infinera Unveils New Passive PIC Platform
Two New Passive PICs Bring New Features, Benefits to 160-Channel System Equator PR

Vehicle idling contributes to greenhouse gas emissions
Experts have said that vehicle idling is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, as it wastes about 4 percent of a cars gasoline. ANI

Rising sea levels would make Arctic ice free by 2030
Some scientists believe that without action to stave off climate change, all of the year-round ice in the Arctic could be gone by as early as 2030, thanks to resulting rise in sea levels around the world. ANI

China still selling tiger bone wine in its animal parks
If reports are to be believed, illegal tiger bone wine is still being made and sold by some animal parks in China. ANI

Moon missiles could one day breach lunar surface to study its internal structure
High speed missiles that could one day be used to breach the surface of the moon to study its internal structure, have passed their first test, accelerating to 1100 km per hour before striking their target. ANI

Colossal structures beyond visible cosmos may shed light on universes earliest moments
Cosmologists have suggested that colossal structures that stretch beyond the edge of the visible universe, may be responsible for a strange pattern seen in the big bangs afterglow, and could provide precious information about the universes earliest moments. ANI

Synthetic biology may be misused for bioterrorism, warn experts
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have warned that synthetic biology - a technique popular for its ability to create artificial life by engineering organisms - is at risk of damaging the ecosystem and being abused by terrorists. ANI

People with higher working memory make more balanced moral decisions
A new study has shown that people with higher working memory can be relied upon when it comes to taking decisions on moral issues, for they are able to more deeply consider the consequences. ANI

Chemical pollutants are making their way in deep-sea food web
A new study has found persistent man-made chemical pollutants in the deep-sea food web, with contaminants being discovered in marine organisms like octopods and squids. ANI

Suns long period of inactivity a matter of concern for scientists
Scientists have expressed concern about the Sun going through a period of inactivity for the past couple of years, producing no sunspots. ANI

Climate change is hastening extinction in Madagascars reptiles and amphibians
A new research has determined that climate change has hastened extinction in Madagascars reptiles and amphibians, with three species in the region predicted to go extinct between 2050 and 2100 because of habitat loss associated with rising global temperatures. ANI

Feeling of prejudice may be part of a self-fulfilling prophecy
A new study by researchers at the University of Toronto has suggested that expecting to be treated with prejudice may be part of a self-fulfilling prophecy. ANI

How we can follow a single conversation in the midst of a crowd
Researchers at the University of Heidelberg have gained fresh insights into what enables people to follow a single conversation in the midst of a crowded, noisy room. ANI

Fund for Tamil schools proposed in Malaysia
Malaysias Peoples Progressive Party is proposing to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein that a fund for Tamil schools be set up. ANI

New research to find how ions tamper with signals from GPS satellites
New research and monitoring systems are clarifying what happens to disruptive clouds of electrons and other electrically charged particles, known as ions, in the ionosphere, which might lead to regional predictions of reduced GPS (Global Positioning System) reliability and accuracy. ANI

Magnetic ink in banknotes may make forgery detection easier
Experts associated with UK military research company Qinetiq have come up with a new idea for detecting counterfeit currency notes just by folding them. ANI

Indiana Jones endorses new global tiger initiative
Actor Harrison Ford, who has portrayed the fictional Indiana Jones on the silver screen, has endorsed a new global tiger initiative, which will take a hard look at existing projects in tiger habitats, review existing efforts to combat the trade in illegal tiger parts, and develop alternative funding for saving tigers, among other strategies. According to a report in National Geographic News, the project is a World Bank-led tiger conservation initiative that will draw on the collective might of the worlds nonprofits, governments, and local citizens to prevent tigers from completely slipping away. ANI

Wooly mammoth existed as two groups 40,000 years ago
By sequencing five new complete genomes of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of woolly mammoths, an international team of scientists has determined that the now extinct animal existed as two groups 40,000 years ago, originating from a common ancestor. ANI

Scientists block malarial parasite transmission in animal tests
While performing animal tests, scientists have been able to prevent the malaria parasites from forming in mosquitoes by disrupting the potassium channel of the malaria parasite, thereby being successful in breaking the cycle of infection. ANI

Human beings were as genetically diverse 2000 years ago as they are today
By studying human remains found in two ancient Danish burial grounds, forensic scientists have found that the Scandinavian race is not pure, which suggests that human beings were as genetically diverse 2000 years ago as they are today. ANI

Bionic hand bags UKs top engineering prize
The worlds first commercially available bionic hand, called the i-LIMB, has won this years MacRobert award. ANI

Indian researchers recommend gait recognition software for security checks
Indian researchers have a new idea to boost security surveillance, and recognition of terrorists and outlaws. ANI