Technology News for June 21, 2008

Predecessor of modern day computer celebrates 60th anniversary
The predecessor of the modern day computer, known as the Small Scale Experimental Machine, has reached its 60th anniversary. ANI

Southeast Asias first plant disease clinic opened in Bangladesh
Southeast Asias first plant disease clinic has been opened in Bangladesh, which would help the countrys farmers in battling outbreaks of leaf blight and insect pests. ANI

Beijing to offer online registration for marriages on Olympic opening day
Chinese couples hoping to wed on the opening day of the Olympic Games will now be able to register their marriage easily, as the Beijing registry authorities are offering to open a new on-line marriage booking service to benefit such couples. ANI

Now, a simple blood test to screen for Downs syndrome in mums-to-be
A simple, risk-free blood test that can detect Downs syndrome from the blood of pregnant women has raised the prospect of screening being routinely available to every expectant mother. ANI

Meet the robot with a repertoire of human emotions, learning capability
Victoria University researchers has unveiled a robot that has the capability of showing a repertoire of human emotions, including fear, surprise, happiness, sadness, and anger. ANI

Sea cucumber-inspired fibre switches from rigid to flexible
Case Western University researchers say that they have invented a biopolymer that can be transformed from rigid to flexible, and vice versa. ANI

New report to help reduce potential impact of climate change on environment
The US Environmental Protection Agency has released a report that can help reduce the potential impact of climate change on estuaries, forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and other sensitive ecosystems. ANI

Changing climate will lead to more extreme weather conditions in the future
A new scientific assessment has determined that changing climate will lead to more extreme weather conditions in the future. ANI

NASAs ocean satellite to chart sea levels to estimate climate change
NASA has launched a new ocean satellite that would chart sea level, a vital indicator of climate change, on a globe-circling voyage. ANI

Predecessor of modern day computer celebrates 60th anniversary
The predecessor of the modern day computer, known as the Small Scale Experimental Machine, has reached its 60th anniversary. ANI

Michelangelos frescos in Sistine Chapel carry a secret code, claims book
A new book says that the frescoes created by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel contained a secret code made up of mystical Jewish symbols, and insults aimed at the pope. ANI

North Pole might be free of ice for the first time in history this summer
Scientists have warned that the North Pole might be free of ice for the first time in history this summer, thanks to a dramatic increase in Arctic warming. ANI

8,500 yr old Anatolian wheat confirmed to be oldest in the world
A series of DNA analyses conducted on ancient wheat samples dating back to 8,500 years, have led scientists to conclude that the oldest known wheat was grown in Catalhoyuk, a Neolithic settlement in southern Anatolia. ANI

Changing physical constant may be constant after all
A new analysis has found that variation in one of the fundamental constants of physics is not correct, and it is constant after all. ANI

For female red squirrels the more the merrier when it comes to sex
When it comes to female red squirrels, it seems any male will do. According to a new research, the kinky species show high levels of multimale mating and may even mate with males with whom they are related.To reach to the conclusions, researchers from the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the University of Sheffield in Sheffield, England, United Kingdom studied a population of red squirrels over a period of three years near Kluane National Park in southwest Yukon. ANI

Not letting go off painful memories can soon turn to addiction
We all experience the pain grief brings at some point of our lives. Some ultimately adapt to it but for a substantial minority, its impossible to let go. Now, a group of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has provided an insight as to why individuals cant get over a loss. ANI

New X-ray source could be the brightest in the world
Scientists at US Department of Energys Argonne National Laboratory have devised a novel X-ray source, which could be the brightest in the world, with estimates projecting it to increase current brightness by millions of times. ANI

Scientists hope to find life after discovery of frozen water on Mars
After confirming that the white material found on the Martian surface by the Phoenix Mars Lander is frozen water, NASA scientists now hope to find life on the Red Planet. ANI

Study on honeybees confirms the existence of selfish gene
An expert at The University of Western Ontario has unearthed strong evidence supporting British biologist Richard Dawkins concept of the selfish gene, which was long accepted as fact decades ago. ANI