WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a federal judge went too far when he banned the planting of genetically engineered alfalfa seeds after claims that the plants might harm the environment.

San Francisco (GaeaTimes.com) The Summer Solstice 2010 falls on June 21 2010, the longest day of the year marking the start of summer for this year. The summer solstice signifies the position of sun directly over the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere. The day gives the longest period of daylight in the northern hemisphere.

Visitors to east Texas’ Caddo Lake find ‘hauntingly beautiful’ tree-lined waterways

Contentious whaling commission meeting holds 2 days of closed talks on suspending hunting ban

Mercury astronaut John Glenn: Keep space shuttles flying until replacement is ready to launch

What a view: Subway in the sky feeds workers building signature skyscraper at NY’s ground zero

Subway in the sky atop NY ground zero construction

Another warm day for Delhi, but rain likely

NEW DELHI - The capital experienced another warm day Monday with the maximum temperature touching the 44 degree-mark, though the weatherman said there might be some respite for Delhiites as some parts of the capital may get rain late in the night.

Ivory Coast minister accused of stealing compensation meant for victims of toxic waste spill

Ivory Coast minister investigated for corruption

Funds allocated to shift people out of Corbett park

NEW DELHI - The environment and forests ministry has allocated Rs.25 crore for the relocation of 181 Gujjar families from core areas of the Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand to reduce man-animal conflict.

Blue-green bacteria may help generate ‘green’ electricity Home

WASHINGTON - Using blue-green bacteria, researchers have for the first time developed a way to convert sunlight directly into electricity in a CO2-free manner.

Canyon carved within a week to help understand ancient megafloods on Earth, Mars

LONDON - A huge canyon carved out in a week may help understand ancient flood events on the Earth and Mars.

How spiderweb glue makes it difficult for prey to escape (re-issue)

LONDON - Apart from being sticky, spiderweb glue has elasticity like chewing gum, which makes it difficult for the prey to escape.

Genetic on-off switch behind evolution of complex life

LONDON - A simple on-off switch seems to be the answer to the evolution of complex life.

The process of the formation of multi-cellular organisms from single cells has long been a puzzle-it requires single cells to bind together and divide the tasks of life.

Use of plagiarism detecting software on rise in schools

LONDON - The number of schools using plagiarism-detecting software to catch students cheating in their coursework has doubled in the last two years, pertaining to the increase in the number of incidents of plagiarism.

Fishes are fond of gardening too!

WASHINGTON - Damselfish maintain algae gardens and they weed, harvest and defend them, a new study reveals.

Summer solstice at stonehenge, call for more daylight time

LONDON - Even as thousands of people witnessed the sunrise on the longest day of the year at the site of the circle of stones in Stonehenge, British parliament heard arguments from an action group calling for more daylight time by having the British Standard Time even in winter.

Protozoan swimming style helps detect toxins in water

LONDON - The swimming pattern of protozoa can be a low-cost method of identifying water toxins, according to a new study.

Flame retardant may alter thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy

WASHINGTON - A new study has revealed that pregnant women with higher blood levels of a common flame retardant may alter thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy.

New strategy to fight cancer drug resistance discovered

London, June 21: Scientists seem to have found a way to immobilize a common protein that often opposes chemotherapy treatment of various forms of cancer.

Simulator to test blood platelets in virtual heart attacks invented

LONDON - A team of bioengineers have trained a computer neural network model to foresee how blood platelets respond to intricate conditions found at the time of a heart attack or stroke.

Scientists find way to harness thrombin’s anti-blood clotting properties

WASHINGTON - Molecular biologists have made an advance towards the development of an anti-thrombotic drug by discovering a way to harness the enzyme thrombin’s anti-blood clotting properties.

Childhood exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls lowers immune response to vaccination

WASHINGTON - Children exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls ((PCBs) early in life demonstrate a diminished immune response to vaccinations, suggests a new study.

Stranded whale in Denmark dies, to be dissected for analysis

Stranded Danish whale dies

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A fin whale that was stranded in a Danish fjord for days has died and scientists were trying to pinpoint the cause, they said Monday.

Britons ‘relaxed’ about synthetic life

LONDON - While firing debates have been launched over synthetic life, Britons, it seems, are unfazed by all the hoopla surrounding the breakthrough.

Carbon nanotubes in lithium batteries improve energy capacity

LONDON - Using carbon nanotubes in lithium batteries can dramatically improve energy capacity, a new American research has revealed.

China puts on hold trial of Tibet environmentalist as brother prepares to face court

China puts on hold trial of Tibet environmentalist

Erectile dysfunction may lead to heart disease

SYDNEY - Erectile dysfunction may be a major warning indication for heart disease and diabetes, say researchers.

Whales too ‘can feel and suffer’ like humans

LONDON - Whales also demonstrate human-like characteristics of self-awareness, suffering and a social culture along with high mental abilities, according to marine biologists.

Abnormal radiation detected near border, but SKorea says NKorea did not conduct nuclear test

Abnormal radiation detected near Korean border

How ants maintain stability while carrying heavy loads

LONDON - The use of high-speed video cameras has enabled scientists to understand how the ants use controlled head movements to maintain their stability as their carry heavy loads.

Now, Swype software that predicts words as you glide across your keypad

NEW YORK - Tapping on your touch screen phones would soon be a thing of past, all thanks to new software-Swype-which predicts words as you slide your fingers on the keypad.

Soon, monster wind turbines to generate green power

LONDON - Gigantic wind turbines with blade spans more expansive than the London Eye could soon be generating green power, according to a British clean energy expert.

Why music is ‘music to our ears’

LONDON - A British professor is explaining why most of us tend to enjoy music.

According to Dr John Powell, a Visiting Professor of Materials Science at the University of Nottingham, our ears are part of a “warning system” that makes sure we stay away from dangerous situations.

How complex genetic variations determine our height

MELBOURNE - The combined effect of numerous minute genetic variations in many of our genes determines our height, according to a new Australian study.

As Roundup resistant weeds develop, farmers face return to tilling, use of harsher chemicals

Roundup resistant weeds pose environmental threat

Facebook risky for adopted children, warns charity

LONDON - Networking sites like Facebook can be risky for adopted children since birth relatives can easily track them down even when the kids are not ready for a reunion, charities have warned.

Moving clocks forward could reduce CO2 emissions

LONDON - A new study has revealed that keeping the clocks one hour ahead of time would save half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

Pine Island Glacier behind thinning ice in Antarctica

LONDON - Scientists have identified Pine Island Glacier (PIG) as a major source for thinning ice in West Antarctica, which has contributed nearly 10 per cent of global sea level rise.

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