NASA downgrades threat of 885-foot asteroid striking Earth in 2036October 7th, 2009 NASA downgrades threat of large asteroidLOS ANGELES — Earth can breathe a sigh of relief. NASA on Wednesday downgraded the odds of an 885-foot asteroid striking the planet in 2036.
Scientists uncover origin of Merkel cellsSeptember 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists claim to have unravelled the mystery surrounding the developmental origin of specialized skin cells involved in touch sensation. Merkel cells are neuroendocrine cells that reside in the vertebrate epidermis, passing mechanical stimuli on to sensory neurons.
Moon's craters could be coldest spot in solar systemSeptember 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The shadowy craters of the moon's south pole could be the coldest spot in the solar system, NASA scientists said Thursday. NASA scientists announced the first data sent back to Earth from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a satellite that will spend the next year making the most detailed maps yet of the moon's surface to prepare for man's eventual return.
NASA lacks money to track killer asteroids: studyAugust 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US space agency NASA does not have enough cash to track the large nearby asteroids that could pose a hazard to Earth, a study by the National Academy of Science found Wednesday. In 2005, Congress ordered NASA to track up to 90 percent of near-Earth asteroids that are 140 metres in diameter or larger by 2020.
'Big Bang Machine' fizzling out because of faulty magnetsAugust 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), or the 'Big Bang Machine', as it is popularly called, is fizzling out, as many of the magnets meant to whiz subatomic particles around the 17-mile underground machine outside Geneva have mysteriously lost their ability to operate at high energies. According to a report in New York Times, after 15 years and 9 billion dollars, and a showy "switch-on" ceremony last September, the LHC, the giant particle accelerator outside Geneva, has to yet collide any particles at all, thanks to thousands of bad electrical connections.
Healthy secret of red wine uncorkedJuly 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Resveratrol in red wine is known for controlling inflammation and promoting health. However, how the ingredient works was not known to scientists - up till now.
Defective mitochondria slow aging in miceJuly 23rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from McGill University have revealed that defective mitochondria actually slow down aging in mice. Mice with a defective mitochondrial protein called MCLK1 produce elevated amounts of reactive oxygen when young, which could spell disaster, but the new study found that mice actually age at a slower rate and live longer than normal mice.
New NASA images show scar on Jupiter apparently made by impact of space objectJuly 21st, 2009 NASA images show Jupiter apparently hit by objectPASADENA, Calif. — Astronomers say Jupiter has apparently been struck by an object, possibly a comet.
Biological 'fountain of youth' found in new world bat cavesJuly 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - An Indian-origin researcher in Texas has announced a discovery that may lead to the single most important medical breakthrough in human history-significantly longer lifespans. Writing about the finding in The FASEB Journal, VA Medical Center's Professor Asish Chaudhuri says that proper protein folding over time in long-lived bats explains why they live significantly longer than other mammals of comparable size, such as mice.
NASA images reveal changes in Earth's plant growth over past 11 yrsJune 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new series of NASA images has illustrated how Earth's plant growth has changed over the past 11 years. The images, which are part of the series, "World of Change: Global Biosphere", show the yearly changes in plant growth between 1999 and 2008 based on data on chlorophyll on the ocean's surface and vegetation density on land.
Mice cloned for the first time in SpainJune 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Making one of the biggest breakthroughs in cloning, researchers at the Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) have become the first one to clone mice in Spain. The scientists created Cloe, Cleo and Clona-the three female brown-coloured mice that were born respectively on 12 May, 3 June and 10 June.
Mothers' exposure to plastic cans, bottles may cause fertility defect in offspringJune 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Mothers' exposure to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which is found in plastic household items like plastic cans and bottles, may make their offspring prone to a fertility defect, according to a new animal study. In fact, the study has now revealed how the defect actually occurs.
Eat Indian curry to lose weightMay 20th, 2009 LONDON - Eating lots of curry may help you lose weight, research suggests. Scientists believe that haldi, or turmeric, which is used in most Indian meals, has an active ingredient that can help fight obesity.
'Big Bang' machine almost ready to run againMay 4th, 2009 LONDON - The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which is the biggest atom-smashing machine ever built, is almost ready to run again. The LHC straddles the borders of France and Switzerland and is operated by CERN, the European particle physics laboratory near Geneva.
Killer mice decimate albatross populationJanuary 1st, 2009 LONDON - The critically endangered Tristan albatross has suffered its worst breeding season ever and is closer to extinction, thanks to the depredations of mice, according to latest research. The number of chicks making it through to fledging has decreased rapidly, and it is now five times lower than it should be because introduced predatory mice are eating the chicks alive on Gough island - the bird's only home and a South Atlantic territory of Britain.
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