Monkey mind control; a breakthrough for paralysis?

SAO PAULO: Scientists believe they are a step closer to enabling paralyzed people to walk and use artificial arms after an experiment in which monkeys moved and sensed objects using only their minds.

Titanium treasure found on Moon

PARIS: A new map of the Moon has revealed an abundance of titanium ore that is up to 10 times richer than on Earth, a finding that could one day lead to a lunar mining colony, astronomers said on Friday.

World's oldest operational car to be auctioned in October

LONDON: It isn't quite a car, but this steam powered 1884 De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux Dos-A-Dos runabout is claimed to be the oldest running motorized vehicle in existence. The 127 year old De Dion can reach 38 MPH thanks to it's twin compound steam engines which need a tank of water every twenty miles.

Secret to shark health could fight human viruses

Sharks are primitive creatures but their bodies produce a sophisticated substance that shows promise in fighting a range of human viruses from hepatitis to yellow fever, researchers said Monday.

New dolphin species discovered in Australia

MELBOURNE: Researchers in Australia have discovered that dolphin colonies living around Melbourne are a species unlike any other in the world, they revealed on Thursday.

US astronomers find planet with two Suns

WASHINGTON: US astronomers said Thursday they have discovered the first planet that is orbiting two Suns, much like the fictional home of Luke Skywalker featured in Star Wars.

World's youngest nuclear scientist

RENO: American Taylor Wilson has become the world's youngest nuclear scientist at the age of 17. Taylor spends his time advising the US Department of Energy on nuclear fusion research.

Philippines catches ‘largest’ crocodile on record

BUNAWAN: A giant saltwater crocodile weighing more than a tonne was captured in a remote Philippine village following a spate of attacks on humans and livestock, officials said Tuesday.

Big underground river flows below Amazon

RIO DE JANEIRO: Scientists in Brazil claim to have discovered a massive 6000km river running deep below the Amazon basin, but other researchers think it might just be water trickling through underground rocks.

Russia plans orbiting hotel in space

ZHUKOVSKY: A hotel in orbit, lunar sightseeing flights and luxury rides into the cosmos -- all are part of Russia's vision to ensure it is not left behind in the growing space tourism industry.

Fossil find shows life on Mars possible

LONDON: Scientists have found Earth's oldest fossils in Australia and say their microscopic discovery is convincing evidence that cells and bacteria were able to thrive in an oxygen-free world more than 3.4 billion years ago.

Wild world: Millions of unseen species fill Earth

WASHINGTON: Our world is a much wilder place than it looks. A new study estimates that Earth has almost 8.8 million species, but we've only discovered about a quarter of them. And some of the yet-to-be-seen ones could be in our own backyards, scientists say.

Captive crocodile recognised as world's largest

SYDNEY: A crocodile which measures 18 feet in length has been officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest crocodile in captivity.

HK study finds molecule that offers fertility hope

Hong Kong scientists said Friday they have discovered a molecule that binds human sperm to an egg, in a breakthrough which offers new hope for infertile couples.

The study by researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) found a key molecule on the coating of the human egg, called sialyl-LewisX (SLeX), which acts as a binding agent to help the sperm and egg stick together.

Astronomers discover planet made of diamond

LONDON: Astronomers have spotted an exotic planet that seems to be made of diamond racing around a tiny star in our galactic backyard. The new planet is far denser than any other known so far and consists largely of carbon. Because it is so dense, scientists calculate the carbon must be crystalline, so a large part of this strange world will effectively be diamond.