‘Internet has not become great leveller once thought it could be’

LONDON - A Harvard academic has said that the Internet has not become the great leveller that it was once thought it could be, and that it could actually be narrowing our world-view.

“iDosing”, the latest “digital drug” high available on Internet

MELBOURNE - A new free legal high drug that can be downloaded through the Internet has emerged in the form of “iDosing”.

Sulabh International to help clean flood-hit Ambala in Haryana

CHANDIGARH - Sulabh International, a leading social service organisation, will help the municipal corporation of Ambala city in Haryana to clean up the city in the aftermath of the flooding earlier July.

iPads may soon make lengthy novels history

LONDON - With reading habits witnessing a change in this era of iPads and e-readers, long novels with intricate plots might be a thing of the past, warned a leading academic.

‘Miniature electronics’ come closer to reality

WASHINGTON - Engineers at the University of Illinois have come up with a novel direct-writing method for manufacturing metal interconnects that could shrink integrated circuits and expand microelectronics.

Particle accelerator research allows better estimate of our galaxy’s age

WASHINGTON - Scientists will soon have a better measure of the age of our galaxy, courtesy new particle accelerator research.

Global warming threatens coral growth in Red Sea

WASHINGTON - Carbon dioxide-induced global warming is slowly killing off a major coral species in the Red Sea, scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have discovered.

Smoking plus exposure to wood smoke increases risk of COPD

WASHINGTON - If you are a smoker and regularly exposed to wood smoke then you are four times higher at risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other pulmonary problems, say scientists.

What causes metabolic disease?

WASHINGTON - Researchers have reportedly discovered the gene mutation responsible for a condition in which eye and brain development is severely disrupted in infants.

Astrocytes, star shaped brain cells, regulate breathing

WASHINGTON - A recent study has revealed that star shaped brain cells, Astrocytes, which were previously thought to act only as the ‘glue’ between neurons, have a central role in the regulation of breathing.

How brains guide hands to swat flies

WASHINGTON - When a fly lands on one hand, you can almost effortlessly swat it with the other. But this seemingly simple action involves a surprisingly complex coordination of different types of sensory information in order for your brain to construct a constantly updated ‘map’ of the body in space.

Survival rates for top 9 cancers revealed

WASHINGTON - Skin melanoma patients have the highest survival rates among sufferers of one of the nine types of cancer, new research reveals.

New archaeological find indicates Indo-Roman trade in ancient India

WASHINGTON - At least 18 wooden pegs have been discovered in Kodungalloor, Kerala, taking the archaeological finds at Muziris - an ancient port city believed to have existed on the banks of Periyar - a step further.

Scientists trash reports of God particle discovery

LONDON - Rumours that the Higgs boson - sometimes called the ‘God particle’ - has been detected by the Tevatron particle accelerator have been denied.

Radiation may help detect explosives

WASHINGTON - Radiation similar to that used to treat cancer may some day help detect explosive powder hidden underneath clothing.

Morning urine test could help doctors save kidneys

WASHINGTON - A morning urine test is best in detecting declining kidney performance in patients with diabetic kidney disease, according to a new study.

AP answers your questions on the news, from the nationality of soccer players to E85 fuel

Ask AP: Soccer players and nationality, E85 fuel

HIV replication process could be different than previously thought

WASHINGTON - The process by which a retrovirus, like HIV, reproduces and assembles new viruses is different than previously thought, according to a new study.

25,000 new asteroids plus brown dwarfs, galaxies found by NASA sky-mapping telescope

25,000 new asteroids found by NASA’s sky mapping

World’s first robotic legs developed to improve mobility of disabled

LONDON - A New Zealand company has given hope to numerous people who do not have proper mobility by unveiling the world’s first robotic legs for the disabled.

How wrinkles evolve

WASHINGTON - Physicists have found clues to the origin and evolution of wrinkles in thin sheets and what determines their size and shape in soft materials.

Your longevity depends on your brain size!

LONDON - Mammals with larger brains in relation to body size tend to have longer lives.

A third of the Chinese population uses internet

BEIJING - The number of Chinese people who use the internet has gone up to 420 million - about a third of the populaton - boosted by the rising number of cell phone connections.

New theory on why some mountains form, crumble

MELBOURNE - Scientists in Australia have come up with a new theory about the movement of tectonic plates that can help explain why and when some mountains form and crumble.

NASA’s Messenger probe reveals new information about Mercury

WASHINGTON - The Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER), the first spacecraft designed by NASA to orbit Mercury is providing new insights on the planet’s atmosphere and evolution.

Under fire, ethanol industry scrambles to keep billions of dollars in incentives

Ethanol industry scrambles to keep incentives

Blame your serotonin levels for being a crybaby

WASHINGTON - Always end up crying while watching a movie high on emotional quotient? Well, blame your serotonin levels for it, says a new study.

Egypt Ramesses II temple found in Upper Egypt

ROME - The remains of a 3,000 year old temple dating from the reign of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Rameses II have been unearthed in the excavations in Upper Egypt’s Ehnasia archaeological area.

Titan lake-levels change due to Earth-like seasonal evaporation

WASHINGTON - The water level of lakes on Earth rises and falls with the seasons and with longer-term climate changes, as precipitation, evaporation, and runoff add and remove liquid. Now scientists have, for the first time, found compelling evidence for similar lake-level changes on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.

Now radiation can track cancer, oil spills and terrorism

WASHINGTON - A study has found that a new radiation mechanism could more directly target cancer, and may someday help clean up environmental disasters such as the Gulf oil spill and detect explosive powder hidden underneath clothing.

How mice sniff out whether food is safe to eat

WASHINGTON - Scientists have revealed how mice sniff out scent of food on the breath of their fellow mice to decide whether it’s safe to eat or not.