Technology News for November 21, 2009

Extinction rates higher in open-ocean settings during mass wipeouts
In a new research, a team of paleontologists has found that extinction rates higher in open-ocean settings during mass extinctions. ANI

Flax and yellow flowers can produce bioethanol
Two studies carried out by Spanish and Dutch researchers have determined that surplus biomass from the production of flax shives, and generated from Brassica carinata, a yellow-flowered plant related to those which engulf fields in spring, can be used to produce bioethanol. ANI

New method to measure snow, soil moisture with GPS may benefit climate modelers
A research team led by the University of Colorado at Boulder has found a clever way to use traditional GPS satellite signals to measure snow depth as well as soil and vegetation moisture, a technique expected to benefit meteorologists, water resource managers, climate modelers and farmers. ANI

Geckos tail an energy powerhouse, say scientists
In a new research, scientists have determined that a geckos tail is an energy powerhouse, as the reptiles have a slower getaway after dropping their tail to fee a predator, presumably running out of steam. ANI

Microbe poop on lava tubes offer clues for life on Mars
Scientists have determined that colorful cave deposits found on the walls of lava tubes, long thought to be ordinary minerals, are actually mats of waste excreted by previously unknown types of microbes, a discovery that offer clues in the search for life on Mars and beyond. ANI

Worlds most energy-efficient supercomputer recognized
The high-performance computer QPACE (QCD Parallel Computing on the Cell) has been recognized as the most energy-efficient supercomputer in the world. ANI

Giant cannibal galaxy observed having its last meal by astronomers
Astronomers, using European Southern Observatorys (ESOs) 3.58-meter New Technology Telescope (NTT), are seeing through the opaque dust lanes of the giant cannibal galaxy Centaurus A, unveiling its last meal in unprecedented detail - a smaller spiral galaxy, currently twisted and warped. ANI

Childhood abuse accelerates bodys ageing process
Kids, who suffer physical or emotional abuse, are more likely to undergo accelerated cellular aging as adults, according to new research from Butler Hospital and Brown University. ANI

Worlds oceans losing appetite for CO2
In a new study, scientists have determined that the worlds oceans are losing their appetite for absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2). ANI

Computer model predicts future deforestation in Congo Basin rainforest
Scientists have come up with a computer model that predicts future changes in the worlds forests, which has forecasted deforestation in the Congo Basin rainforest in the future. ANI

Comets may have delivered water on Moon
Evidence from NASAs LCROSS mission has suggested that water found in the lunar impact recently was delivered by comets rather than forming on the surface through an interaction with the solar wind. ANI

Hobbit a genuine ancient human species, say scientists
A team of scientists has confirmed that Homo floresiensis, dubbed the hobbit, is a genuine ancient human species and not a descendant of healthy humans dwarfed by disease. ANI

Indus Valley civilization created worlds first sophisticated financial exchange system
A Canadian mathematician has discovered that the Indus Valleys Bronze Age civilization may have developed the worlds first sophisticated financial exchange system. ANI

Jesus Christs death certificate imprinted on Turin Shroud
A Vatican scholar claims to have deciphered Jesus Christs death certificate on the Turin Shroud, or Holy Shroud, a linen cloth revered by Christians and held by many to bear the image of the crucified Jesus. ANI

New discovery may lead to improved asthma drugs
An international team of researchers have made a novel discovery that might open avenues for developing new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and asthma. ANI

An upgrade makes Jaguar the worlds fastest supercomputer
Reports indicate that an upgrade to a Cray XT5 high-performance computing system deployed by the US Department of Energy has made the Jaguar supercomputer the worlds fastest. ANI

Radiation therapy can boost longevity in rare pancreatic cancer patients
People with rare pancreatic cancer, called pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNTs), might live longer if treated with radiation therapy, says a study. ANI

New test boosts clarity of breast MRI results for premenopausal women
A simple blood test corresponding to the follicular phase (days 3-14) of a normal menstrual cycle could reduce repeated breast MRI scans in premenopausal women with irregular periods, according to a study. ANI

Now, smartphone app that illuminates power consumption
A new application has been developed which can help check the power being consumed by applications loaded on smartphones. ANI

Big Bang Machine restarts after 14 months of repairs
The Large Hadron Collider, the worlds largest atom smasher, dubbed the Big Bang Machine, has been re-started after a 14-month hiatus for repairs. ANI

Galileos lost fingers, tooth found
Father of astronomy Galileo Galileis missing fingers and a tooth have been found again. ANI

Therapy 32 times more cost effective than money in boosting happiness
Psychological therapy could be 32 times more cost effective in boosting happiness than simply obtaining more money, according to a study. ANI

New pathways to metabolise sexual assault drug found
Date-rape drug-4-hydroxybutyrate (4-HB)-can be metabolised by the human body in more than one ways, according to a new study. ANI