Month: December 2013

PS4 becomes fastest-selling console ever with 250,000 units sold in five days

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Sony’s PlayStation 4 (PS4) has become the biggest selling console ever with 250,000 units sold out in Britain alone since last Friday.

According to games trade site MCV and official sales figures from Chart-Track, PS4 sales have generated around 90 million pounds during the first weekend since its launch, Daily Star reports.

The new super games machine has outstripped its handheld PSP, which sold 185,000 consoles eight years ago in three days.

Protein key to restoring `exhausted` HIV-fighting immune cells identified

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Researchers have identified a protein that causes loss of function in immune cells combating HIV.

The scientists claimed that the protein, Sprouty-2, is a promising target for future HIV drug development, since disabling it could help restore the cells’ ability to combat the virus that causes AIDS.

Jonathan Schneck, who led the study, said that a large part of the reason we lose wars against viruses that cause chronic infection is that immune cells called T cells get turned off.

Soon, `fertility clinic` to breed endangered coral

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Scientists have launched a plan to create a ‘fertility clinic’ in order to breed endangered coral.

They want to harvest billions of sperm and eggs, and then freeze them, in an effort to save corals in the World Heritage-listed reef from extinction.

The world’s largest living organism has shrunk by about half over the past 30 years as a result of climate change, ocean acidification, pollution and crown-of-thorns starfish, which prey on coral, the Independent reported.

Rajnath Singh defends Modi, hits out at Congress

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BJP chief Rajnath Singh today came out in defence of Narendra Modi on the snooping row saying while the Gujarat CM himself has ordered a probe into the matter, a “depressed” Congress is busy leveling baseless allegations.

“Congress leaders are giving wayward statements under depression. Their national president Sonia Gandhi terms BJP as a party of poisonous people and its Vice President (Rahul Gandhi) term it as thieves. This is the result of their depression,” he alleged.

Rajnath said Modi himself has constituted a commission to probe into the snooping charges.

Row over Modi’s call for Article 370 debate escalates

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The row over Narendra Modi’s call for a debate on Article 370 of the Constitution escalated today with BJP being accused of stoking “communal tension” for political gains and the saffron party saying it is not a “holy book” over which there cannot be any review.

Meet the world’s most arrested man who has been jailed 1267 times

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World’s most arrested man, who has been put behind bars 1267 times in the last 40 years, has been arrested again in Lexington, Kentucky, for being drunk outside an eatery.

According to the Smoking Gun, Henry Earl turned 64 in jail, and has celebrated his last three birthdays in custody, News.com.au reported. Earl, who was first arrested at the age of 20, has spent 6000 days – nearly six and a half years – in jail. (ANI)

Soon, nanobots to transport drugs in body

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Researchers have taken a major step towards building the first nanorobot that would facilitate targeted transport of medications to the diseased cells in the body for faster and more beneficial effect. A nanorobot is a popular term for molecules with a unique property that enables them to be programmed to carry out a specific task. In collaboration with colleagues in Italy and the USA, researchers at Aarhus University are developing the first nanorobot, also called a DNA nanocage, of DNA molecules that can encapsulate and release active biomolecules.

Iran, world powers to discuss action plan for n-deal

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Iran and the world powers will hold an expert-level meeting in Vienna Dec 8-9 to discuss implementation of the Geneva nuclear deal, the Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesperson announced here Tuesday.

According Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham, the two-day Dec 8-9 meeting is aimed at preparing the implementation of the deal reached Nov 24 in Geneva between Iran and the P5+1 group — the US, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany, reports Xinhua.

GoM on Telangana to meet again tomorrow

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The GoM, set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday could not finalise its report and the draft bill on Telangana and decided to meet again tomorrow before submitting them to the Union Cabinet.

The Group of Ministers, in its meeting today discussed issues related to providing special status to both the states under Article 371-D of the Constitution and believed to have examined a proposal to include two districts of Rayalseema in Telangana.

However, the process of finalising the report and the draft bill remained inconclusive.

Kate Moss strips naked for Playboy`s 60th anniversary issue

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Kate Moss has striped naked for the 60th anniversary issue of the Playboy magazine.

For the cover, the 39-year-old supermodel has kept a bit more flesh under wraps, as she donned the classic black bunny ears collar, corset and bunny tail while kneeling on the floor.

The anchor tattoo on her wrist and another one on her hip are clearly visible, the Daily Star reported.

J Lo set to receive celeb parent role model award

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Jennifer Lopez is set to receive the Grace Kelly Award for her role as a celebrity parent.

The 44-year-old singer’s being recognized for her support for women to give birth to healthy babies after full-term pregnancies.

She’s is going to receive it at the eighth annual March of Dimes luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Washington Times reported.

Lopez, who is mother of 5-year-old twins, said that as a mother herself, she is aware of the importance of healthful pregnancies and babies.

Tom Daley comes out as bisexual, reveals relationship with man on YouTube

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British diver Tom Daley has admitted in a YouTube video that he is bisexual and currently in a relationship with a man, who makes him feel “so happy and so safe”.

The teen Olympian revealed in the video that he met his beau earlier in 2013 and his life has changed massively since then, the Mirror reported. Daley said that he took this long to come out because he wanted to keep his private life private, and also because his life has been a bit of a roller coaster over the last couple of years, with his dad’s death due to cancer, winning an Olympic medal and finishing his A levels.

George Clooney `yet to meet love of his life`

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George Clooney has revealed that he is yet to meet the greatest love of his life. The ‘Gravity’ star told W magazine that he fell madly in love with Audrey Hepburn as an 11-year-old when he saw ‘Roman Holiday’, where the late actress played a princess being pursued by a reporter, People Magazine reported. The 52-year-old actor said that he found Hepburn as elegant as anything he’d ever seen. Clooney added that he has also always loved Grace Kelly and when he saw her coming out of the water in ‘To Catch a Thief’, he thought that she was the most beautiful woman ever. (ANI)

`Good-old` Windows 7 user base grows stronger than latest Microsoft OS

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Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 and 8.1 is apparently having a hard time to compete with its own predecessor Windows 7 which reportedly saw an increase in its user base last month.

A study by Net Applications, a firm which tracks a range of marketshare data, the pool of people using Windows 7 grew to 46.6 percent, up from 46.4 percent, by the end of last month.

According to Fox News, the firm found that of all computers running the Windows OS, Windows 7 system was installed on 51.3 percent and about 34.4 percent of those machines had Windows XP.

Ukraine PM warns of ”coup in making” in country

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said he sees ”all the signs of a coup” as protests intensify in the country. Azarov said the government was aware of plans to seize the parliament building in the capital Kiev.

3 men convicted for acid attack on Bolshoi Ballet”s director Filin

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Three men have been convicted for masterminding and carrying out an acid attack on Bolshoi Ballet”s artistic director, Sergei Filin in Russia.

Prosecutors at the Moscow court asked for star soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko to be given nine years in prison.

According to CNN, prosecution demanded a 10-year term for Yuri Zarutsky, who admitted carrying out the attack, and six years in prison for Andrei Lipatov, who acted as Zarutsky”s driver.

Sulfuric acid was thrown at Filin”s face in January when he was walking up to his Moscow apartment, leaving him severely burned and nearly blinded.

Koalas produce `low-pitched` mating calls using unique sound organ

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Researchers have discovered that koalas have a specialized sound-producing organ which enables them to make mating calls that are more suited to an animal the size of an elephant.

The pitch of male koalas’ mating calls is about 20 times lower than it should be, given the Australian marsupial’s relatively small size. The researchers have revealed the key feature of this newly described organ is its location outside the voice box, what scientists call the larynx.

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol extremely hazardous to health

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A new study has suggested that mixing energy drinks with alcohol is riskier than just drinking alcohol alone.

Lead author of the study Megan Patrick from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research said hey found that college students tended to drink more heavily and become more intoxicated on days they used both energy drinks and alcohol, compared to days they only used alcohol.

Sonakshi sizzles in L’Officiel India’s December issue

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Sonakshi Sinha has posed for the cover of L’Officiel India magazine.

Photographer Suresh Natarajan was the one who captured the Bollywood beauty in five avatars.

Showing off a sculpted body, Sinha, who sets the cover on fire in a sheer Jatin Varma gown, seems to have been working at her body, too, L’Officiel India magazine reported.

She also embraces her curves in ensembles by designers ranging from the likes of Amit Agarwal and Pankaj and Nidhi to Falguni and Shane Peacock. (ANI)

Snowden revelations push UN to probe US surveillance programmes

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The revelations by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden about the US’ alleged mass surveillance programmes targeting citizens and world leaders alike has reportedly prompted the United Nations to launch an investigation into the matter.

The UN’s senior counter-terrorism official said that the revelations are at the very apex of public interest concerns.

The special rapporteur Ben Emmerson QC wrote to the Guardian that he would be launching an investigation into the surveillance powers of American and British intelligence agencies following the revelations.

Amla, Anderson, Clarke among ICC Cricketer of the Year nominees

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Michael Clarke has been short-listed for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year. England”s James Anderson, South Africa”s Hashim Amla and Australia captain Michael Clarke have all been short-listed for the top honours Anderson, Amla and Clarke in running for both ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year awards in TV show that will broadcast on 14 December 2013 England”s James Anderson, South Africa”s Hashim Amla and Australia captain Michael Clarke have all been short-listed for the top honours at this year”s LG ICC Awards 2013.

Now, camera that takes 3D photos in complete darkness

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A new has been developed that can create 3D-images in almost pitch-black conditions. The researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which developed the camera, captured images of objects, using just single particles of light, known as photons.

Vitamin D helps reduce type 2 diabetes pain and depression in women

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A new study has revealed that vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes and depression.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with depression and pain, but few studies have looked at how pain may affect the treatment of depression in patients with type 2 diabetes and no studies have evaluated the role of vitamin D supplementation on this association.

Researchers in this study tested the efficacy of weekly vitamin D2 supplementation for six months on depression in women with type 2 diabetes. Depression significantly improved following supplementation.

Male contraceptive pills come closer to reality

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A new breakthrough by an Australian scientist could finally make a male contraceptive a reality.

Dr Sabatino Ventura, who aims to develop a pill that temporarily prevents sperm from leaving a man’s body, said that it will take at least 10 years to build the final product, News.com.au reported.

Till now, Ventura has managed to block sperm in mice, but only through a permanent genetic modification that leaves them without two specific proteins; his next step is to develop a chemical that achieves the same effect.

Aerobic exercise boosts memory in young adults

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A new research has revealed that aerobics may be beneficial for brain health and cognition, as certain hormones, which are increased during exercise, may help improve memory.

Hormones called growth factors are thought to mediate the relationship between exercise and brain health. The hippocampus, a region of the brain crucial for learning and memory, is thought to be uniquely affected by these hormones.