Biomimicry: Cyborg Cockroach would be the New Rescuers

Cockroaches are one organism that is disliked by a majority of people but these creepy looking creatures is soon going to help in tracing humans trapped in disaster sites. Similar to penny sized micro robots, these tiny roaches can make its way through the extremely small spaces where others like dogs, camera or robots might not reach thus making rescue operation slow and risking lives of people. 

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Heart Disease starts from Stomach: Red Meat hardens the Arteries

Though red meat is one of the richest source of a powerful antioxidant called, lipoic acid, apart from harboring other essentials like iron, creatine, minerals and vitamins, findings from various studies suggest that red meat consumption is linked to significant health risks such as an increased chance of developing cardiovascular disease and even bowel cancer. 

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Recycling Wood, Crop Waste into Valuable Chemicals: Renewable Biomass Material

Everyone realizes the importance of recycling potential wastes into useful products. This recycling process helps in reducing the requirement for raw materials, minimizing energy usage, curb water and air pollution, thus reducing greenhouse gas emission. Experts around the world are trying ceaselessly to look for new and innovative techniques to recycle wastes. In one such attempt, researchers have found an innovative method to recycle lignin, which is a biomass waste, into certain chemicals that can be put to use in other applications. Recycling Lignin Lignin is the complex material responsible…

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Confession of a Buddhist Atheist by Stephen Batchelor

Confession of a Buddhist Atheist is beautifully woven and presented by Stephen Batchelor in form of a written collage, as he himself mentions at the end of the book. Although the book is in narrative mode yet no where we found it a story presented by the writer in fact, while I was into the book, I felt as if Stephen is talking to me and describing the sequence of his life’s events which led him towards Buddhism and finally his discovery of motif in life.

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Magnetic Nanoparticle Pill will detect Cancer: Searching Bloodstream with Google

Giant web search engine, Google is expanding its business in different technological areas, investing in research program to develop driver-less cars, goggle glasses, contact lenses, delivery drones, robots, providing internet facilities via balloons to name a few. Now Google is expanding into the field of advance medicine. With an aim of developing nanoparticles that would be delivered in the form of a pill in aiding cancer detection and other ailments, the big G unveiled its latest project called the “Nanoparticle Platform. 

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ECOSTRESS: The New Thermometer for detecting Earth’s Temperature

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is developing a space-based instrument for detecting transpiration within plants so that the flora can effectively use water. ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment (ECOSTRESS) is the name of the device that will be docked on the space station for monitoring the water loss through nano-pores occurring within leaves.

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Nanodiamonds to be used for Delivering Drugs and Cancer Therapeutics: New Imaging Modality

Capturing ongoing processes within living cells in real time is usually done with fluorescent dyes made up of a fluorescent chemical compound, fluorophore. The compound’s unique property of re-emitting light upon excitation makes it the most deserving candidate for imaging cellular processes, however, with the passage of time, the compound becomes toxic thereby renders havoc to the cells in close proximity.

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High Milk Consumption leads to Greater Risk of Fractures: Fat triggers Inflammation

Importance of milk and other dairy products are long known to everyone. They are one of the richest sources of Calcium and contain Vitamin D which together plays an imperative role in strengthening human bones and teeth, thus, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Milk also contains many other essential nutrients. However, a recent study challenges the health benefits of milk intake and on the contrary, links high milk consumption with higher risk of fractures and early mortality.

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Individual Genes responsible for Violent Crimes: Nature versus Nurture

The debate on what makes a person more violent than another is still on. The question is whether criminals are born with such fierce nature or any incident or experience shape up such violent trait in criminals is yet to be answered. So far, scientists have proposed that certain genes (by altering brain chemistry), might be an influential factor behind such violent behavior. But DNA clues to back this suggestion is not present. 

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Yardarm delivers wireless Firearm Telematics: Gun Technology

Yardarm Technologies, a California based firearms technology company has developed an innovative product that has an ability of delivering the real time track record of using firearms, by police personals or security officers. With the use of a wireless sensor for firearms, the company has taken machine-to-machine (M2M) capabilities to a higher level. 

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LEDs Attract more Flying Invertebrates: Light Pollution

Invention of blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by three scientists won them the Nobel Prize for physics. This innovative LED technology comes with many advantages such as they are energy efficient, bright enough to be used for regular lighting and last longer. But the increasing use of LEDs has certain drawbacks too, as found in a new study led by a pair of experts from Scion, a New Zealand research Institute. According to them LEDs serve light pollution and can cause ecological problems because flying invertebrates are more drawn to LED…

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Fruit Fly can sniff out Drugs and Bombs: Electronic Noses Technology

When it comes to detecting bomb or drugs, generally dog is the first animal that comes in our mind. But would you believe when I say that very soon fruit-fly might be taking over the job of detecting bombs and illicit drugs? Surprised! According to a research conducted by the University of Sussex, fruit fly’s sense of odor can be employed in an innovative technology to expose bombs and drugs. 

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A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

Advanced mathematics coupled with severe mental illness, this is what the book, A Beautiful Mind is about. Sylvia Nasar professor of journalism at Columbia University, has done full justice in surfacing Nash’s life, his youth, college life, his work before and after he earned his doctorate and finally to his breakdown then illness and eventually his recovery. A Beautiful Mind juxtaposes sadness and the will to succeed despondency and depression.

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Coordination and Collaboration discovered in Hunting Crocodilians: A Club of Hunters

We have already read Vladimir Dinets’ research work about certain species of crocodiles and alligators that very intelligently made use of twigs to lure its prey, to climbing tree’s crown to keep an eye on its potential prey or an approaching enemy. Apart from these, advanced parental care, complex communication are other behavior noticed in reptiles. 

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