'Vampire' rites still have bite in Bulgaria

This picture taken on Thursday shows a skeleton with an iron piece before being exposed at the National History museum in Sofia. (AFP-Yonhap News)The ancient skeleton of a man, pinned down in his grave in order not to turn into a vampire, was put on show in Bulgaria last week, where vampire tales and rites still keep their bite even nowadays.The 700-year-old skeleton -- unearthed in the necropolis

June 18, 2012

Samsung, Apple dominate smartphone markets

Samsung Electronics and its close rival Apple are dominating the global smartphone markets, accounting for more than a half of the share.The number of smartphones that hit the markets totaled 145 million in the first half of this year, according to data by ABI Research, a tech research firm.This is an increase of 41 percent from the same period a year ago.The Korean tech manufacturing giant enjoyed sales of 43 million Galaxy series phones in the first quarter, becoming the number one in the sect

June 17, 2012

Blizzard faces growing outcry against Diablo 3 over poor service: reports

 Blizzard Entertainment is facing growing criticism and outcry from fans and industry experts against its latest hit game Diablo 3 for failing to live up to its proposed expectations, according to various media reports.Failure of smooth data connections and repeated error messages while logging in or playing the game compelled Korean users, game cafe operators and regulators to take the matter int

June 17, 2012

Genetic factors linked to gay men

(MCT)Researchers in Italy suggest sexually antagonistic genetic factors in mothers may promote homosexuality in men and fertility in female relatives.However, it is not clear whether and how the genetic factors are expressed to simultaneously induce homosexuality in men and increased fertility in their mothers and maternal aunts, the researchers said.Andrea Camperio Ciani of the University of Pado

June 17, 2012

Lack of sleep makes it hard to resist junk food

U.S. researchers found that sleep-deprived people have a bigger possibility of choosing unhealthy food for their meals, which could lead to obesity.Lead author Stephanie Greer, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, and his team conducted a study on 23 healthy adults to see how poor sleep affects food choices.In the study, researchers divided participants into two groups, with one restricted to have only four hours sleep and the other allowed to have nine hours of sleep fo

June 15, 2012

Reasons for bruising

We can get bruises from bumping into objects without knowing, getting hit by objects or falling over. Black bruises are formed when the blood vessels beneath the skin are damaged. When the blood pigment is absorbed the bruise becomes blue.Bruises and swelling are more obvious in areas with particularly thin skin. Women tend to bruise more easily than men because women have thinner layers of skin, their tissues are more delicate and they are more likely to get thrombocytopenia ― a lack of platele

June 14, 2012

Implantable pain disc may help those with cancer

BALTIMORE _ An estimated 3.5 million cancer patients around the globe are in severe pain from their disease, but many get no relief.In poor countries the cost is considered too high for drugs like morphine when such opioids are often stolen, abused or not taken according to instruction.But some Johns Hopkins University scientists have been working on a solution for those patients, as well as some in the United States, that uses a flexible button-sized disc implanted under the skin that releases

June 14, 2012

Staying healthy in the summer heat

The summer heat has gripped the nation early, pushing the mercury above 29 degrees Celsius around the country. Premature hot weather often causes illnesses. Here are some tips to keep you healthy in the summer. Take extra care when working outdoors: heat cramps prevail when you lose salt after sweating too much. Spasms can last for 2-3 minutes on the arms, legs and abdomen. Massage the body parts and take saline water. In case of heat exhaustion, which can occur when working in the heat for more

June 14, 2012

'Tropical' lake possible on Saturn moon

(123rf)A long-lasting "tropical" lake of liquid methane on Saturn's moon Titan may be replenished by underground wells of hydrocarbons, U.S. astronomers report.While the Cassini spacecraft confirmed the presence of such lakes in Titan's polar regions in 2004, it had been unknown whether similar bodies could survive in the moon's marginally warmer lower latitudes -- its "tropics" -- without evapora

June 14, 2012

[Photo] Innovation

June 14, 2012

Tech road map to help developing markets achieve green growth

Global Green Growth Institute and Brookings Institution, a U.S.-based think tank, are collaborating to help developing countries access key technologies that could boost their economic growth in an environmentally-friendly way. GGGI executive director Richard Samans said the two organizations aimed to create a “pillar” for international technology cooperation between developed and developing markets.“We are in the midst of identifying specific technology options or mechanisms, maybe more toward

June 13, 2012