Asian Lite News Archive

Category: Science

  • Indian space science benefiting common man

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      Former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan has said India is the “role model” in the world in harnessing space research and explorations for the benefit of the common man. “The vision of Vikram Sarabhai, our founder, was that this high technology (space science) should be beneficial for the people of this country, for the governance…

  • ‘Darwin’s theory not original’

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    The well-known Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was actually proposed by a little-known horticulturist 27 years earlier and he should be given due credit for his work, claims a British scientist. A new review of the ideas and work of Patrick Matthew, a Scottish landowner and fruit farmer, argues that he under-appreciated…

  • Hepatitis B cure in sight

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    A combination therapy of an antiviral drug and an anti-cancer drug has been found 100 percent successful in eliminating the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in pre-clinical models, Australian scientists have said. Hepatitis B is a chronic viral disease that is currently incurable. The virus infects liver cells and can lead to complications including cirrhosis…

  • India’s space journey after Aryabhata

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    Venkatachari Jagannathan writes about India’s long and exciting journey into space and beyond in UK’s  top Asian newspaper.  India’s first satellite – Aryabhata – was launched successfully by a Russian rocket on an April day 40 years ago, taking the country on an exciting space odyssey as far as the Moon and the Mars. The year…

  • NASA reveals colour image of Pluto

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    NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, set to fly by the Pluto system on July 14, has sent its first colour image of the dwarf planet and its largest moon Charon. “The image reveals tantalising glimpses of this system,” Jim Green, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, said in a statement. Charon is seen dimmer than Pluto…

  • New GM bacteria can treat cancer

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    A bacterium that causes severe food poisoning and leads to sepsis and death in humans can be genetically modified to treat cancer safely, says new research. The investigational therapy has been found effective in test tube studies with human cancer cells and in tumour-bearing mice. Once it gets to human trials, the therapy would probably…

  • SpaceX fails rocket recovery test

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    Private US spaceflight company SpaceX has launched its sixth cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS), but failed in an attempt to land a part of its Falcon 9 rocket on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The California-based company’s Dragon cargo ship, filled with over 1,950 kg of supplies and payload, lifted off…

  • Mars may have liquid water

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     Adding to the growing literature on possible life conditions on the Red Planet, new research from NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity shows that it is possible that there is liquid water close to the surface of Mars. The explanation is that the substance calcium perchlorate has been found in the soil which lowers the freezing point…

  • India puts navigation satellite in orbit

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    By Venkatachari Jagannathan  India successfully put into orbit its fourth navigation satellite with its own rocket in copy book style. Exactly at 5.19 p.m, the rocket – Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle – (PSLV-C27) standing about 44 metres tall and weighing around 320 tonne, tore into the evening skies with fierce orange flames at its tail.…

  • Facebook tests laser drones in Britain

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    If Facebook has its way, there would soon be huge solar-powered drones — with the wingspan of a commercial airliner — beaming down internet in the remotest of areas. Facebook has been testing such drones in the skies over England, according to its CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The drones use lasers to beam internet access down…

  • Russian spacecraft docks at ISS

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     A Russian Soyuz spacecraft, with three crew on board, docked with the International Space Station (ISS), a media report said. According to a statement issued by American space agency NASA, Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, 54, and American astronaut Scott Kelly, 52, are to spend 342 days aboard the orbiting laboratory – about twice as long…

  • Countdown begins for launch

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    The countdown for the lift of an Indian rocket with the country’s fourth navigation satellite as the sole passenger began, the ISRO said. According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the 59 and half hours countdown for the launch of rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV–27) carrying Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-IRNSS-1D began in the…

  • NRI develops new imaging technique

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    A new imaging technique developed by an Indian American scientist will allow pathologists a peek into the structures of tissues and cells, enabling quicker and better diagnostic assessments. Rohit Bhargava, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois, led the team of researchers that developed the new technique that uses a combination of advanced…

  • Cancer treatment breakthrough by NRI professor

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    Queen’s University cancer researcher Madhuri Koti has discovered a biomarker that will help lead to better predictions of the success of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients. Biomarkers are an indicator of a biological state or condition, and the discovery could lead to better treatment options in the fight against ovarian cancer, according to a press…

  • Mars Orbiter mission extended

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    By Fakir Balaji   India’s maiden Mars Orbiter mission was extended for another six months to further explore the Red Planet and its atmosphere, a senior official said here. “As the 1,340 kg Mars Orbiter has sufficient fuel (37 kg) to last longer than it was intended earlier, its mission has been extended for another six…

  • Damaged heart has good hope

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    In a development that could pave the way for heart tissue regeneration, US and Chinese scientists claim to have successfully used a tiny molecule that fine-tunes gene expression to stimulate the mouse heart to grow new cells. Unlike other organs, the adult human heart lacks the ability to form new cells and repair damage after…

  • Mystery of ‘alien’ genes solved

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    A new study challenged the assumption that evolution relies solely on genes passed down as it finds that humans contain ‘alien’ genes not passed on from our ancestors. They say we acquired essential ‘foreign’ genes from the micro-organisms co-habiting their environment in ancient times. The research, published in the journal Genome Biology, focuses on the…

  • US researchers develop custom blood cells

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      In a first, researchers from the Johns Hopkins University have successfully engineered custom blood cells after correcting a genetic error in stem cells from patients with sickle cell disease. “It may be possible in the not-too-distant future to provide patients with sickle cell disease with an exciting new treatment option,” said Linzhao Cheng, member…

  • India to launch navigation satellite

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     The Indian space agency plans to launch its fourth regional navigation satellite by March-end after replacing a faulty transmitter, a senior official said. “We are planning to launch the satellite by the end of this month. The replacement transmitter is getting ready and will be brought from our centre in Bangalore,” M.Y.S. Prasad, director, Satish…

  • Cartilage from stem cells created

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    Providing a ray of hope for arthritis patients, scientists have succeeded in producing cartilage formed from embryonic stem cells. In future, this may be used to treat the painful joint condition osteoarthritis. Scientists have developed a protocol under strict lab conditions to grow and transform embryonic stem cells into cartilage cells (also known as chondrocytes).…

  • NASA hints that life existed in Mars

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     After an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days, NASA’s Curiosity rover has confirmed the presence of methane on Mars environment which may hint that life once existed on the Red Planet. The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic…

  • NASA to study Earth’s magnetic field

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      The US space agency is set for the launch of Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft March 12, the first space mission dedicated to the study of magnetic reconnection. This fundamental process occurs throughout the universe where magnetic fields connect and disconnect with an explosive release of energy, a NASA statement said. “Magnetic reconnection is one…

  • E-cigarettes compromise the immune system

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    E-cigarettes compromise the immune system in the lungs and generate some of the same potentially dangerous chemicals found in traditional nicotine cigarettes, says a team of researchers including an Indian-origin scientist. “Our findings suggest that e-cigarettes are not neutral in terms of the effects on the lungs,” said senior author Shyam Biswal, professor at the…

  • Bone stem cells may regenerate bones

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    Indian-American researcher Siddhartha Mukherjee from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) has identified stem cells that are capable of regenerating both bone and cartilage in bone marrow of mice. The cells called osteochondroreticular (OCR) stem cells were discovered by tracking a protein expressed by the cells. Using this marker, Mukherjee and his team found that OCR…

  • Key cancer-promoting gene discovered

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    A team of researchers, including an Indian-origin scientist, has discovered a key cancer-promoting gene that may explain how a protein – TGF-beta – can prevent cancer from forming and encourage its aggressive growth. With the new insight into the cancer mystery, considered to be a major paradox of cancer biology, the findings could provide a…

  • India successfully test fires GSLV-Mark II

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    By Venkatachari Jagannathan India  moved forward in rocket technology with the successful flight testing of its heaviest next generation rocket and the crew module. Precisely at 9.30 a.m., the 630 tonne Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mark III) standing 43.43 metre tall freed itself from the second launch pad and with a reverberating deep throated…

  • NASA detects organic matter on Mars

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    In a promising find, the NASA Curiosity rover has detected organic molecules – the building blocks of all known forms of terrestrial life – on Mars. The organic molecules, found by the team responsible for the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on Curiosity, were in a drilled sample of the Sheepbed mudstone in…

  • Gene therapy holds promise for the blind

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    A new genetic therapy was found effective in restoring light responses to the degenerated retinas of mice and dogs, indicating that it may be feasible to restore some light sensitivity in blind humans. The therapy uses a virus to insert a gene for a common ion channel into blind cells of the retina and photoswitches…

  • NASA’s Orion success boosts Mars mission

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    The US space agency marked a major milestone on its mission to Mars as the Orion spacecraft completed its first voyage to space Friday – travelling farther than any spacecraft designed for astronauts has been in more than 40 years. “Today’s flight test of Orion is a huge step for NASA and a really critical…

  • HIV virus losing virility

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    A study involving more than 2,000 women in Africa has found that the rapid evolution of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and widespread access to antiretroviral therapy are slowing down the virus’s ability to cause AIDS. “Factors that influence the virulence of HIV are of direct relevance to ongoing efforts to contain, and ultimately eradicate, the…

  • NRI scientist finds gene that cuts stroke risk

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    An Indian-origin scientist has discovered a gene that protects people against one of the major causes of stroke in young and middle-aged adults, a development that could hold the key to new treatments. “Our findings provide us with a greater understanding of how this region of the genome appears to influence key vascular functions which…

  • NASA’s flying saucer among the best

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    NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD), a spacecraft that aims to facilitate the safe landing of future Mars missions, has earned a place in the the Popular Science magazine’s “Best Of What’s New” list. The NASA project, also known as the “flying saucer”, won the award in the aerospace category. “Landing safely on an alien planet…

  • Gravity saved the universe

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      Shedding light on why the universe did not collapse immediately after the Big Bang, European researchers have found that gravity provided the stability needed for the universe to survive expansion during that period. Physicists from the Imperial College London and the universities of Copenhagen and Helsinki investigated the interaction between the Higgs particle –…

  • Philae lander makes comet landing

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      European robot probe Philae has made the first, historic landing on a comet, after descending from its mothership, a BBC report said Wednesday. The European Space Agency (ESA) moved closer to putting a robot on the surface of a comet Wednesday, as its Rosetta satellite released the Philae lander towards its destination. The lander,…

  • Life on Mars?

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    By Yesica Brumec  UFO researchers addressed such big questions as whether there is life on Mars and “invisible” beings at the 17th International Ufology Congress in Capilla del Monte, an Argentine city located 800 km west of Buenos Aires. The four-day gathering, which ended Sunday, drew Argentine and foreign UFO researchers who discussed progress in…

  • Gene mutation could lead to infertility

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    Scientists have discovered that a single mutation in a gene could lead to infertility. Not through a disruption of the production of egg or sperm cells but rather by leading to abnormalities in the morphology of the sexual organs – making natural reproduction impossible. The beta-catenin gene codes a protein known to be deeply involved…

  • NASA arranges 3D tour of Space Station

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    You could now have a 3D tour of the International Space Station and experience how astronauts orbit in zero gravity while sitting in front of your computer at home. NASA has posted a new playlist of 3-D videos on the agency’s official YouTube channel, providing a realistic representation of living and working on the International…

  • Asthma could affect entire body

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    Asthma could be more dangerous than previously thought as researchers have found that it could affect the whole body, not just the lungs. “Asthma is a very widespread disease, and we show for the first time an association between asthma and genotoxicity in peripheral blood,” said Robert Schiestl, senior author and professor at the University…

  • New respiratory vaccine against Ebola

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    A single dose of a breathable, respiratory vaccine could provide long-term protection against the deadly Ebola virus, new research shows. Currently in development, the vaccine was found effective in shielding non-human primates from the virus. The findings could have significant global implications in controlling future Ebola outbreaks as they represent the only proof to date…

  • ‘Dead heart’ transplanted in Australia

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    Australian surgeons said  that they have made a major breakthrough by making a dead heart beat again and successfully using it in a transplant. Previously, surgeons relied on donor hearts from brain-dead patients whose hearts were still beating. But the director of Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital Heart Lung Transplant Unit, Peter MacDonald told a press…

  • India behind in medical research: Modi

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      Prime Minister Narendra Modi  said India is lagging behind in the field of medical research and more work should be done. “India is lagging behind in the field of medical research and much more needs to be done… We should focus on research, particularly on case history. This can be a big contribution to…

  • Mars orbiter safe after comet flyby

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    All three NASA orbiters around Mars confirmed their healthy status after each took shelter behind the Red Planet during a period of risk from dust released by a comet that sped past Mars  – closer than any other known comet flyby off a planet. The Mars Odyssey, the Mars Reconnaissance and the Mars Atmosphere and…

  • India moves towards own navigation satellite system

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    By Venkatachari Jagannathan   India moved closer towards having its own satellite navigation system as it successfully launched a satellite with its rocket in a copy book style. With the successful launch of third of the seven satellites planned under the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) early Thursday, India moved nearer to a select group…

  • India prepares for navigation satellite launch

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    The 67-hour countdown for the Thursday launch of India’s third navigation satellite is progressing smoothly though a thunder storm Wednesday delayed some operations, a senior space agency official said. “Today (Wednesday) morning we moved the mobile service tower (MST) backwards. The operation was delayed by around two hours owing to thunderstorm in the morning. There…

  • ‘Mars One’ not ready to colonise the Red Planet

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      Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have questioned the technical feasibility of the ‘Mars One’ project that aims to establish the first human colony on the Red Planet by 2025. ‘Mars One’ is a non-profit organisation based in the Netherlands that has put forward conceptual plans to establish a permanent human colony on…

  • Broccoli may curb autism

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    A study led by an Indian-origin researcher has found evidence that daily treatment with sulphoraphane – a molecule found in foods such as broccoli – may improve some symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Participants receiving a daily dose of sulforaphane showed improvement in both behavioural and communication assessments in as little as four weeks. Two…

  • Jean Tirole wins Nobel Prize for Economics

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    The 2014 Nobel Prize for Economics, or officially the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, was awarded to French economist Jean Tirole “for his analysis of market power and regulation”, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Monday. Answering questions during phone interviews, Tirole said he was “so moved” upon…

  • Glaciers that don’t melt

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    Even as the climate continues to grow warmer and melt glaciers around the world, the stable glaciers of the Himalaya’s Karakoram region, a picturesque chain of snowy peaks spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China, has long been a mystery. Not any longer though. “It has been a source of controversy that these glaciers…

  • Boeing & SpaceX to begin work on space taxis

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    NASA has ordered the US multi-national Boeing Company and the California-based Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) to restart work to develop space taxis to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS) using their CST-100 and Crew Dragon spacecraft respectively. Last month, NASA had asked Boeing and SpaceX to suspend work in response…

  • India offers help to make affordable Ebola drugs

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      India will cooperate in the development of vaccines and drugs to fight the Ebola virus “for the poorest of the poor at realistic prices”, Indian Ambassador to the UN Asoke Kumar Mukerji has told the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The Indian ambassador said, “The international community must support research and development of a vaccine…