El Salvador Confirms First Zika-Linked Birth Defect

The infant was born in April, link to Zika virus proved 'short while ago'. Over 10,000 cases of Zika have been recorded in South America since Nov. Microcephaly is a birth defect that causes abnormally small heads.  El Salvador on Tuesday confirmed its first case of microcephaly in a baby that was linked to a Zika infection in the mother. Microcephaly is a birth defect that causes an abnormally small head and deformed

Life's first handshake: Chiral molecule detected in interstellar space

A team of scientists using highly sensitive radio telescopes has discovered the first complex organic chiral molecule in interstellar space. The molecule, propylene oxide (CH3CHOCH2), was found near the center of our Galaxy in an enormous star-forming cloud of dust and gas known as Sagittarius B2.Scientists applaud the first detection of a "handed" molecule, (propylene oxide) in interstellar space. It was detected, primarily

Jupiter-like planet, Kepler-1647b, orbiting two stars discovered

Scientists have discovered a Jupiter-like planet, Kepler-1647b, orbiting a system of two stars, making it the largest such cosmic body ever found. The planet Kepler-1647b, located in the constellation Cygnus, was discovered by astronomers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre and San Diego State University (SDSU) in the US. Researchers said that the Kepler-1647 is 3700 light-years away and about 4.4 billion

NIST's super quantum simulator 'entangles' hundreds of ions

The new NIST system can generate quantum entanglement in about 10 times as many ions as any previous simulators based on ions, a scale-up that is crucial for practical applications. The behavior of the entangled ions rotating in a flat crystal just 1 millimeter in diameter can also be tailored or controlled to a greater degree than before. Described in the June 10, 2016, issue of Science, NIST's latest simulator improves on the same

Ancient deep geological events could influence present earthquakes: Study

New Delhi: Recently world witnessed many geological disasters that were high in intensity and frequency. What we know abot earthquakes is that they are caused by sudden slip or disturbances between the boundaries of tectonic plates. But a recent research narrates a different story about the occurrence of earthquakes. A team of scientists from University of Toronto and University of Aberdeen have created

Antibody-based drug may act as a 'bridge' to cure blood cancer

In a randomized Phase III study of the drug inotuzumab ozogamicin, a statistically significant percentage of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) whose disease had relapsed following standard therapies, qualified for stem cell transplants. Inotuzumab ozogamicin, also known as CMC-544, links an antibody that targets CD22, a protein found on the surface of more

The primate brain is 'pre-adapted' to face potentially any situation

Enel et al at the INSERM in France investigate one of the most noteworthy properties of primate behavior, its diversity and adaptability. Human and non-human primates can learn an astonishing variety of novel behaviors that could not have been directly anticipated by evolution -- we now understand that this ability to cope with new situations is due to the "pre-adapted" nature of the primate brain. This study shows that this

The primate brain is 'pre-adapted' to face potentially any situation

Enel et al at the INSERM in France investigate one of the most noteworthy properties of primate behavior, its diversity and adaptability. Human and non-human primates can learn an astonishing variety of novel behaviors that could not have been directly anticipated by evolution -- we now understand that this ability to cope with new situations is due to the "pre-adapted" nature of the primate brain. This study shows that this