Technology News for July 4, 2009

New method to detect food borne pathogens
Scientists have suggested an improved method for detection of food-borne pathogens. ANI

Positive self-statements do more harm than good
While self-help books are considered to boost a persons moral, a piece of research now suggests that positive self-statements in such books may actually leave people with low self-esteem and feeling worse about themselves. ANI

Migraine headaches linked to bad academic performance
Teens who suffer from migraine headaches are more likely to get lower grades, and less likely to graduate from high school, or attend college than those who dont have migraine, according to a study. ANI

Mixing in Earths outer core causes geomagnetic dipole to collapse
Scientists have performed numerical calculations that show how convective mixing flows in the Earths liquid outer core can cause the geomagnetic dipole to collapse. ANI

Radioactive isotope in ice core record reflects solar activity over 600 years
Scientists have analyzed Beryllium-10, a radioactive isotope, found from the NGRIP ice core, Greenland, which reflects solar activity over the past 600 years. ANI

Why we make social gaffes
Always end up making one faux pas or another, even after trying your best not to make any social gaffe? Well, researchers have now found why it happens. ANI

Glaciers cause quakes in Iceland
A new study has determined that glaciers are the reason behind seismic activity and earthquakes in Iceland. ANI

Scientists make first direct measurement of lunar backscatter from solar wind
A team of scientists has for the first time observed energetic neutral atoms scattered off the Moon from the incoming solar wind ion beam. ANI

Indonesian supervolcanos eruption caused decade of fatal winters 74,000 years ago
Climate model simulations by a team of scientists has suggested that Indonesias Toba supervolcano, when it erupted about 74,000 years ago, triggered a 1,000-year episode of ice sheet advance, and also may have produced a short-lived volcanic winter, which drastically reduced the human population at the time. ANI

New instrument can detect explosives up to range of 100 meters
Scientists have developed a new explosives detector with incredible sensitivity and a range of up to 100 meters that could save lives and thwart the efforts of terrorists. ANI

Locusts brains may provide clues to curing migraines, stroke
Queens University biologists have revealed that insight into the locusts brain may offer a novel way to manipulate human brain to stave off diseases like migraines, stroke, and epilepsy. ANI

Sony Walkman named top music invention of last 50yrs
The Walkman used to be the perfect companion for whole generation of music lovers, and now the clunky portable cassette player by Sony has been named the best musical invention of the last 50 years, by a leading magazine. ANI

Tasers can limit injury to police officers and suspects if used properly
A three-year study released by researchers at the University of South Carolina and funded by the US Department of Justice has determined that conducted electrical devices (CEDs), such as Tasers, limit injury to police officers and suspects if used properly. ANI

Cockroaches, too, get fat eating unhealthy diet
Just like humans, cockroaches too can get fat on an unhealthy diet, says a British researcher. ANI

Next generation fireworks turn out to be a whole lot greener
A team of scientists is working on a new generation of eco friendly pyrotechnics that produce less smoke and use fewer toxic metals. ANI

Planck space observatorys detectors become coldest known objects in space
The detectors of Planck space observatorys High Frequency Instrument have reached their amazingly low operational temperature of -273.05 degrees Celsius, making them the coldest known objects in space. ANI

Jacko death probe spam a threat to bank account numbers, passwords
Beware of any emails regarding the investigation into King of Pop Michael Jacksons death, for they may be spam messages that infect computers with a virus able to steal bank account numbers and passwords. ANI