Technology News for November 5, 2008

Junk DNA distinguishes humans from other species
What was earlier considered to be junk DNA has now been found to be an important ingredient distinguishing humans from other species, say scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS). ANI

Coming soon, ad technology that could turn piracy into profits
The original owners of a pirated video will now be able to make profit when the copied content will be broadcasted online, all thanks to a new technology developed by California-based company Auditude. ANI

Christmas Islands native rats went extinct due to invasive pathogen
A new genetic research has suggested that the extinction of the native rat species of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean in 1908, was caused by a pathogen carried by Eurasian black rats. ANI

Modern chickens have lost most of their ancestral genes
A new study suggests that super-productive modern chickens have, on average, lost over half the genes present in ancestral populations. ANI

Music training makes for brighter kids
Kids who study a musical instrument for at least three years outperform children with no instrumental training, according to a study. ANI

Coral reefs found growing at a depth of thousand meters in the Atlantic Ocean
A team of researchers has found coral reefs growing at depths of six hundred to a thousand meters in the Atlantic Ocean. ANI

New hydrogen-absorbing metal alloy sixty percent lighter than battery
A researcher has shown that that an alloy of the metals magnesium, titanium and nickel is excellent at absorbing hydrogen, and is sixty percent less than a battery pack, which brings the world a step closer to the everyday use of hydrogen as a source of fuel for powering vehicles. ANI

Video games dont boost brainpower, claims study
A new study challenges claims made by previous researches that video games help boost memory power and multitasking ability. ANI

DNA master regulator find may revolutionise diabetes, heart disease treatment
Penn State researchers have identified thousands of positions where a molecular master regulator is located in DNA to control genes in fat cells. ANI

Being gay can boost fertility, at least in beetles
In a surprising finding, scientists have discovered that homosexual activity in male flour beetles can actually boost their chances of reproducing, says a new study. ANI

Climate change threatens giant pandas
Researchers at York University have determined that climate change may be about to affect the lives of rare species such as the giant panda, because of fears that global warming is likely to result in substantial re-distribution of plants and animals. ANI

TATA buys rights to make air-powered cars for Indian market
A US based company is developing a vehicles that would require nothing but air to run on the roads, with Indian carmaker TATA already buying the rights to make the car for the huge Indian market. ANI

Artificial hair on submarines may help them overcome turbulence
A team of US engineers has developed artificial hairs like those used by fish to sense water flow around them to avoid predators or take the most efficient path through complex turbulence, a move which could help improve robotic submarine maneuverability. ANI

Archaeologists discover worlds oldest shaman grave in Israel
Archaeologists have unearthed what is believed to be the worlds oldest known grave of a shaman in northern Israel, which includes an elderly female of the mysterious Natufian culture, animal parts, and a human foot. ANI