Intelligent people could live 15 years longer
It seems there may be some truth in the old cliche about being old and wise, for a new study has revealed that brainy people are likely to live 15 years longer. Researchers at Calabria University in Italy have found that longevity is because the brains of intelligent people age more slowly thanks to the very gene SSADH which makes them clever actually.
According to them, those with the less "smart" variant of the gene, are unlikely to live beyond 85 but those blessed with a "good" version of the same gene could expect to live up to 100 years. The Italian team came to the conclusion after analysing a research involving 500 elderly men and women.
They asked 115 people within the sample, who fell into the 65 to 85 age group, to take cognitive tests. Those with the less intelligent variant of the gene performed significantly worse confirming the earlier pattern.
However, lead researcher Prof Giuseppe Passarino said that “lifestyle such as reading, having challenging work and enriching cultural life will also influence one’s longevity."
Genetic Building Blocks Found In Meteorite
FiReaNGeL writes to tell us scientists have confirmed that the components of genetic material could have originated in a place other than Earth. A recently published report explains how uracil and xanthine, two basic biological compounds, were found within a meteorite that landed in Australia. From Imperial College London: "They tested the meteorite material to determine whether the molecules came from the solar system or were a result of contamination when the meteorite landed on Earth. The analysis shows that the nucleobases contain a heavy form of carbon which could only have been formed in space. Materials formed on Earth consist of a lighter variety of carbon."
Myth comes to life : Unicorn' born in Italy
A deer with a single horn in the center of its head, similar to the fabled unicorn, has caused a stir in Italy.
The roe deer was born in captivity at the Centre of Natural Sciences park in the Tuscan town of Prato, near Florence.
“This is fantasy becoming reality,” News.com.au quoted Gilberto Tozzi, director of the centre, as saying.
The unicorn, a horse-like creature with magical healing powers, has appeared in legends and stories throughout history.
However, experts believe that the condition may have been caused by a genetic flaw.
Mr Tozzi, who had never seen the condition before, said such anomalies might have inspired the myth of the unicorn.
“This shows that even in past times, there could have been animals with this anomaly. It’s not like they dreamed it up,” he added.
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No need to learn in future
Chris Parry, formerly a Rear Admiral with a senior strategic role at the Ministry of Defence and now chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, claims that we will be able to download knowledge straight into our brains within three decades.
Parry predicts that current learning systems will be rendered obsolete by learning technology not dissimilar to that shown in the science fiction movie 'The Matrix'.
"It's a very short route from wireless technology to actually getting the electrical connections in your brain to absorb that knowledge. Within 30 years, sitting down and learning something will be a thing of the past," he said.
World Environment Day!!!!
A boy searches for reusable items as Greater Adjutant Storks stand among the debris at a garbage dump near Deepar Beel bird sanctuary on World Environment Day, in Gauhati, India.
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