The Korea Herald

Evidence of ‘God particle’ found

Jul 3, 2012

(123rf)Physicists say they have all but proven that the “God particle” exists. They have a footprint and a shadow, and the only thing left is to see for themselves the elusive subatomic particle believed to give all matter in the universe size and shape.Scientists at the world's biggest atom smasher plan to announce Wednesday that they have nearly confirmed the primary plank of a theory that could
Early full-term babies may face later school woes

Jul 2, 2012

Even for infants born full-term, a little more time in the womb may matter.The extra time results in more brain development, and a study suggests perhaps better scores on academic tests, too.Full-term is generally between 37 weeks and 41 weeks; newborns born before 37 weeks are called premature and are known to face increased chances for health and developmental problems.The children in the study
Mayan inscription predicts end of the world to be Dec. 21, 2012

Jul 2, 2012

News reports said archaeologists found a Mayan inscription in Guatemala predicting the end of the world to be Dec. 21, 2012.It is the second discovery of a Mayan tablet predicting the apocalypse on that date.Mayan prophecies about the end of time have sparked internet speculation about how it could happen -- from a giant asteroid strike to a black hole swallowing the planet.The 1,300-year-old inscription is said to be the most significant find of its kind in decades. However, excavation chief Ma
Philippines crocodile, gets World Record as largest in captivity

Jul 2, 2012

(AP-Yonhap News)Guinness World Records has declared that a huge crocodile blamed for deadly attacks in the southern Philippines is the largest in captivity in the world. The giant reptile has brought pride, fear, tourism revenues and attention to the remote town where it was captured.The saltwater crocodile named Lolong, which was captured last September in Bunawan town in Agusan del Sur province
New discovery indicate Mayan ‘doomsday date’ meant something else

Jul 1, 2012

Archeologists have found a new reference about so-called "doomsday date" of December 21, 2012, that suggests Mayans may have never predicted the apocalyptic end of world, according to news reports.Scientists from Tulane University and Universidad del Valle de Guatemala announced Thursday findings of Mayan hieroglyphs carved on a stone steps in the Mayan ruins of La Corona. It was the second known reference that mentions the famous date.Contrary to the beliefs of many new-age believers and doomsd
Severe sleep deprivation hurt immunity

Jul 1, 2012

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands -- Severe sleep deprivation affects the body's immune system the same way physical stress does, researchers in the Netherlands and Britain found. Lead author Katrin Ackermann, a post-doctoral researcher at the Eramus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues at the University of Surrey said if the study findings were confirmed using more da
Study: Wrong diet doomed 1912 polar try

Jul 1, 2012

Members of an ill-fated British expedition to the South Pole in 1912 were effectively killed by the equivalent of a modern slimming diet, research has shown.Capt. Robert Falcon Scott's disastrous attempt to be the first to the South Pole resulted in his death and the death of four comrades.British researchers say the men expended more energy than Olympic athletes as they hauled their supplies acro
Web site sells anti-infidelity ring

Jul 1, 2012

Image from thecheeky.comA Vancouver-based Web site is marketing an anti-infidelity wedding ring that leaves the imprint of the words "I'm married" on the wearer's finger.TheCheeky.com is selling the titanium bands, which have the letters carved into the inside of the wedding band to leave an imprint on the wearer's finger, for $550, the New York Daily News reported Friday."With Arnold, Tiger and t
Landmark sexual behavior study found to be ‘flawed’

Jun 28, 2012

Scientists have found potentially fatal flaws in an iconic decades-old study that claimed males are genetically programmed to look for multiple partners, Science Daily reported Tuesday.The famous 1940s study, conducted by British geneticist Angus John Bateman, says that male fruit flies that mate with a variety of partners have more offspring, while female flies have same number of offspring no matter how many mates they have.The findings was widely accepted and gave birth to a theory that men a
DNA vaccine may halt nicotine addiction: study

Jun 28, 2012

An injection of genes that neutralize nicotine cravings could help smokers quit the habit, scientists claim.According to a research team at Weil Cornell Medical College in New York, the “genetic vaccine” tested on mice so far could eventually be used to vaccinate children to prevent them from ever getting addicted to nicotine.When vaccinated mice were given nicotine, the amount was cut by 85 percent before reaching the brain by antibodies. There were no other effects on behavior, blood pressure
Meteor metal among solar system's oldest

Jun 27, 2012

(123rf)U.S. scientists say they've discovered a new primitive mineral in a meteorite that they believe to be among the oldest minerals formed in the solar system.Researchers from the California Institute of Technology studying a meteorite that fell in Mexico more than 40 years ago report they discovered the new mineral, dubbed panguite, embedded in the space rock.The mineral, a titanium oxide, i
Scientists successfully transplant engineered organs to monkeys

Jun 26, 2012

South Korean scientists have successfully transplanted organs from a genetically modified pig to monkeys, a state research center said Tuesday, significantly raising the prospect of successful animal-to-human organ transplants.A heart and a kidney from the engineered pig were given to two separate monkeys on May 31, according to the National Institute of Animal Science, a research arm of the Rural Development Administration. The pig used in the latest experiment was an offspring of Xeno, the cou
Research finds gene linked to depression

Jun 26, 2012

A new international study led by a Korean researcher has succeeded in identifying a gene linked with depression, which may create a new target for drugs for the mood disorder.In a series of experiments on rats, researchers found that a gene called neuritin in the brain plays a key role in depression and other mood disorders. They also discovered that by boosting the gene’s activity one can protect the brain from the disorders.To test whether neuritin is directly linked to depressed behavior, Son
Sending reply to ‘alien message’

Jun 26, 2012

More than three decades after receiving the famous Wow! signal, humanity is finally sending its answer to what may be an alien civilization, according to news reports.The National Geographic channel recently revealed a plan to collect messages from the general public via Twitter and beam it to outer space. All tweets tagged with the hashtag #ChasingUFOs from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. on June 30 GMT will be combined into a single encrypt message.The message will be sent out on August 15, exactly 35 years
Recent water action detected on Mars

Jun 26, 2012

(MCT)Areas of Mars may have been shaped by liquid water in recent geologic times, suggesting more favorable conditions for life, European researchers say.Scientists at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, along with colleagues from Germany, said their study shows large parts of the planet's Northern Hemisphere have undergone a number of freeze-thaw cycles, similar to what occurs on Earth."This pr