NASA launches spacecraft to study Moon's atmosphere

NASA has launched an unmanned spacecraft from Virginia that aims at unlocking the mysteries of Moon's atmosphere, a first moonshot from the state in the history of space exploration.

The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer or Ladee spacecraft, which is charged with studying the lunar atmosphere and dust, soared aboard an unmanned Minotaur rocket a little before midnight from from Wallops Island.

It was a change of venue for NASA, which normally launches moon missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida. But it provided a rare light show along the East Coast for those blessed with clear skies.

NASA expected the launch from Virginia's Eastern Shore to be visible, weather permitting, as far south as South Carolina, as far north as Maine and as far west as Pittsburgh. The Ladee is taking a roundabout path to the moon, making three huge laps around Earth before getting close enough to pop into lunar orbit.

Unlike the quick three-day Apollo flights to the moon, Ladee will need a full month to reach Earth's closest neighbour.

An Air Force Minotaur V rocket, built by Orbital Sciences Corp., provided the ride from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. Ladee, which is the size of a small car, is expected to reach the moon on October 6.Scientists want to learn the composition of the Moon's ever-so-delicate atmosphere and how it might change over time. Another puzzle, dating back decades, is whether dust actually levitates from the lunar surface.

The USD 280 million moon-orbiting mission will last six months and end with a suicide plunge into the moon for Ladee. The 844-pound spacecraft has three science instruments as well as laser communication test equipment that could revolutionise data relay. NASA hopes to eventually replace its traditional radio systems with laser communications, which would mean faster bandwidth using significantly less power and smaller devices.

It was a momentous night for Wallops, which was making its first deep-space liftoff. All of its previous launches were confined to Earth orbit. NASA chose Wallops for Ladee because of the Minotaur V rocket, comprised of converted intercontinental ballistic missile motors belonging to the Air Force.

A US-Russian treaty limits the number of launch sites because of the missile parts. All but one of NASA's previous moon missions since 1959, including the manned Apollo flights of the late 1960s and early 1970s, originated from Cape Canaveral.

The most recent were the twin Grail spacecraft launched almost exactly two years ago. The military-NASA Clementine rocketed away from Southern California in 1994.

Wallops will be back in the spotlight in less than two weeks. The Virginia-based Orbital Sciences will make its first delivery to the International Space Station, using its own Antares rocket and Cygnus capsule. That commercial launch is scheduled for September 17.

sources : the indian express

Young women who drink alcohol at greater risk of breast cancer

The more alcohol a young woman drinks before motherhood, the greater her risk of future breast cancer, a new study has warned.

If a female averages a drink per day between her first period and her first full-term pregnancy, she increases her risk of breast cancer by 13 per cent, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis.

This is the first study to link increased breast cancer risk to drinking between early adolescence and first full-term pregnancy.

Previous studies have looked at breast cancer risk and alcohol consumption later in life or at the effect of adolescent drinking on noncancerous breast disease.

"More and more heavy drinking is occurring on college campuses and during adolescence, and not enough people are considering future risk," said study co-author Graham Colditz, associate director for cancer prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.

"But, according to our research, the lesson is clear: If a female averages a drink per day between her first period and her first full-term pregnancy, she increases her risk of breast cancer by 13 per cent," Colditz said.

The researchers also found that for every bottle of beer, glass of wine or shot of liquor consumed daily, a young woman increases her risk of proliferative benign breast disease by 15 per cent.

Although such lesions are noncancerous, their presence increases breast cancer risk by as much as 500 per cent, said first author of the study, Ying Liu, a School of Medicine instructor in the Division of Public Health Sciences.

The findings are based on a review of the health histories of 91,005 mothers enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study II from 1989 to 2009.

Researchers didn't consider the effects of adolescent and early adulthood drinking on women who didn't have a full-term pregnancy because not enough were represented among those studied, Liu said.

Breast tissue cells are particularly susceptible to cancer-causing substances as they undergo rapid proliferation during adolescence and later.

Adding to the risk is the lengthening time frame between the average age of a girl's first menstrual cycle and the average age of a woman's first full-term pregnancy.

"Reducing drinking to less than one drink per day, especially during this time period, is a key strategy to reducing lifetime risk of breast cancer," he said.

The study is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

sources : the indian express

New laser technology to improve accuracy of brain tumour surgery

A new laser-guided imaging technology, based on work by Indian physicist CV Raman, can make brain surgery more accurate by allowing surgeons to distinguish brain tissue from tumours at a microscopic level.

A team of University of Michigan Medical School and Harvard University researchers describes how the technique allows them to "see" the tiniest areas of tumour cells in brain tissue.

The discovery relies on Raman scattering, a physics phenomena whereby shining a laser on an object emits a unique colour pattern of scattered light that represents its chemical composition.

The phenomena is named after CV Raman, one of the Indian scientists who co-discovered the effect and shared a 1930 Nobel Prize in physics for it.

The new imaging system, dubbed Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) microscopy, provided a colour-coded map that the researchers used to distinguish between healthy brain tissue and gliobastoma, the most common and most lethal form of primary brain cancer.

They used this technique to distinguish tumour from healthy tissue in the brains of living mice - and then showed that the same was possible in tissue removed from a patient with glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most deadly brain tumours.

"Though brain tumour surgery has advanced in many ways, survival for many patients is still poor, in part because surgeons can't be sure that they've removed all tumour tissue before the operation is over," said co-lead author Daniel Orringer.

"We need better tools for visualising tumour during surgery, and SRS microscopy is highly promising. With SRS we can see something that's invisible through conventional surgical microscopy," he said.

Over the past 15 years, Sunney Xie from the Harvard University - the senior author of the new paper – has advanced the technique for high-speed chemical imaging.

By amplifying the weak Raman signal by more than 10,000 times, it is now possible to make multicolour SRS images of living tissue or other materials.

The team can even make 30 new images every second – the rate needed to create videos of the tissue in real time.

The technique can distinguish brain tumour from normal tissue with remarkable accuracy, by detecting the difference between the signal given off by the dense cellular structure of tumour tissue, and the normal healthy grey and white matter.

The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

sources : the indian express

Jaiphal benefits

Jaiphal is a powerful herbal alternative medicine known to have the following healing benefits:
- Jaiphal reduces stress and exhaustion
- Herbal jaiphal decreases anxiety and depression
- This natural home remedy reduces joint pain and soreness
- Jaiphal in herbal form also decreases menstrual cramping
- This natural home remedy also cures digestion issues and reduces bad breath

Jaiphal has been used as a natural herbal supplement for centuries for these and other maladies, and just recently jaiphal has started to become accepted by modern alternative medicine practitioners.
Jaiphal is known more commonly as nutmeg. What is not commonly known about the natural remedy jaiphal is the potential of this home remedy to cure many common ailments.
As a spice, jaiphal, or nutmeg, is commonly used and makes many recipes taste more flavorful and aromatic. What many don’t know is jaiphal also has anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, analgesic male potency increasing properties. In addition, at a higher dose this home remedy can help a person find calm or sleep. Finally, this alternative
medicine can be helpful for less serious but more chronic problems such as sinus infection and headaches.
Please consult with a medical practitioner before using jaiphal to treat your condition with jaiphal or any other natural remedy, but here are some known ways to use jaiphal:
Digestive upsets: Take one fourth of a teaspoonful of jaiphal (nutmeg) powder in water as a home remedy.
Nausea and gas: Jaiphal mixed with honey is a natural remedy for this condition
Joint pains: Sesame oil prepared with herbal jaiphal powder applied directly on the painful joints can help as a natural home remedy
Headache: Paste of herbal remedy jaiphal and water applied to the forehead.
Insomnia: Jaiphal powder mixed with honey is an excellent home remedy for this condition.
Diminished libido: powdered jaiphal with honey as an alternative medicine.
Jaiphal’s average daily dose is up to one gram. An overdose on nutmeg can produce toxic symptoms like severe acidity, nausea, and anxiety, so again it’s important to consult with a medical practitioner before starting to take jaiphal or any other natural remedy.
Examples of Jaiphal Preparation
Jaiphal can be prepared as a home remedy in several different ways, depending in what symptom you are trying to address. Since it is such a wide-ranging natural cure in Ayurvedic medicine, it presents many possibilities as far as how you would apply it. For example:
- If you are using jaiphal as a home remedy for pain in your extremities - your arms, hands, feet or legs - mix a powder made from jaiphal into massage oil and use it like you would normally use the massage oil.
- For depression and anxiety, an Ayurvedic cure involves taking jaiphal seeds, crushing them, and using them as a tea that you drink twice each day.
- For issues related to the complexion of your skin, make a paste of jaiphal that includes some milk and apply it to the area of skin you want to improve as a home remedy.
As you can see, jaiphal is a natural herbal remedy that is not only powerful but also quite flexible as far as how it can be used. As with many herbal remedies in Ayurvedic medicine, careful preparation is key, and you should ask an experienced practitioner for the correct amounts of ingredients to use so you don;t use too much or too little.
Anxiety, complexion, depression, home remedy, jaiphal, pain
Jaiphal (Nutmeg) for restful sleep
Jaiphal has been known as a home remedy and natural cure for sleeping problems. Taken correctly, jaiphal (nutmeg) can help a person calm their mind and relax and get ready for a deep restful sleep. In fact, many who have had sleep problems from insomnia to early morning awakening have tried jaiphal as a possible natural cure. But is it as simple as taking some nutmeg and sprinkling it on food? Not really, given that you need just the right concentration of jaiphal to help you feel tired and ready for bed.
One way to prepare jaiphal (nutmeg) for use as a home remedy against insomnia and other sleep problems is to make a tea. You simply pour about a pint of boiling water into crushed nutmeg, let it cool off, then strain. Then heat it up again and drink. About a cup of jaiphal tea a half hour before you go to sleep should do the trick. One warning though – you should only use about 3-5 grams of jaiphal in this mixture – more than that and the nutmeg might actually have the opposite effect and make you agitated.
Jaiphal tea made simply like described here may be a great treatment for other issues as well, and a potential cure for fitfull sleep!
Tagged cure, home remedy, insomnia, jaiphal, natural, nutmeg, sleep, tea
Jaiphal (Nutmeg) – Home Remedy and Cure for Acne
While most people know jaiphal by its more common name, nutmeg, most do not realize the incredible healing properties of this spice. Listed in the first post are some of the more common uses, but jaiphal also has some less common but equally powerful uses as a home remedy and cure. Its no wonder that jaiphal is becoming known as an incredible all-in-one home remedy.
For acne breakouts, grind up the jaiphal (nutmeg) – ideally from the nut form as opposed to the form you get for cooking. Then add warm milk – enough to create a paste. Apply this mixture on the affected area. This jaiphal mixture should clear acne pimples as well as anything you would buy at a pharmacy. You should test the mixture first on a small area, especially if using on the face, to make sure you will not have any allergic reaction.
The mechanism of action of jaiphal, whether for the above use in reducing acne, or any of the other uses listed here, is not completely known, though the results are well documented. Nutmeg is a common household spice, and yet it has incredible healing benefits as a home remedy and cure – and this use against acne is amazing in how easy, elegant, and powerful it is.

35 health benefits of garlic

1. Helps treat atherosclerosis.
2. Helps lower cholesterol.
3. Has the ability to lower blood pressure.
4. Helps treat gout.
5. Treating and preventing the flu and upper respiratory tract infections.
6. Prevents the growth and spread of bacteria.
7. Helps treat Tuberculosis.
8. Treating purulent wounds.
9. Helps treat Trichomoniasis (a sexually transmitted infection.)
10. Boosts your metabolism.
11. Prevents the spread of collon cancer…
12. …gall bladder cancer…
13. …rectal cancer…
14. …breast cancer…
15. …and prostate cancer.
16. Helps aid digestion.
16. Treats a yeast infection.
17. Dissolves blood clots.
18. Increases appetite.
19. Kills intestinal worms and parasites.
20. Helps treat cataracts.
21. Helps treat arthritis.
22. Helps treat diabetes.
23. Help treat staph infection.
24. Hells get rid of a tooth ache.
25. Treats acne.
26. Kills warts.
27. Helps treat tetter.
28. Helps in the treatment of boils on the skin.
29. Has a soothing effect on the intestines.
30. Garlic phytoncides are used to treat asthma…
31. …chronic bronchitis…
31. …and whooping cough.
32. Helps cure insomnia.
33. Slows the process of aging.
34. Inhibits the growth of Candida albicans.
35. Strengthens the body’s immune system.

Read this small story; Hope that makes a BIG change in YOU

The Professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students “How much do you think this glass weighs?"
'50gms!'..... '100gms!' .....'125gms' ...the students answered.
"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "but, my question is:
What would happen if I hel
d it up like this for a few minutes?"
'Nothing' …..the students said.
'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.
'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student
"You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"
"Your arm could go numb; you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!"
….. Ventured another student & all the students laughed
"Very good.
But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?" Asked the professor.
'No'…. Was the answer.
"Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?"
The students were puzzled.
"What should I do now to come out of pain?" asked professor again.
"Put the glass down!" said one of the students
"Exactly!" said the professor.
Life's problems are something like this.
Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.
Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.
Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.
It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life, But EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to 'PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before you go to sleep...
That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh &strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!
So, when you start your day today, Remember friend to ‘PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY! '

Health Benefits of Basil (Tulsi)

The tulsi or holy basil is an important symbol in the Hindu religious tradition and is worshipped in the morning
and evening by Hindus at large. The holy basil is also a herbal remedy for a lot of common ailments. Basil is
rich in vitamin K, the vitamin that promotes blood clotting. It is also thought to have anti-oxidant properties.
Here are some of the medicinal uses and health benefits of holy basil (tulsi).
1. The leaves are a nerve tonic and also
sharpen memory.
2. Fever & Common Cold : The leaves of basil are specific for many fevers.
3. Chewing tulsi leaves relieves cold and flu.
4. Water boiled with basil leaves can be taken as drink in case of sore throat. This water
can also be used as a gargle.
5. The herb is useful in the treatment of respiratory system disorder.
6. Basil has strengthening effect on the kidney.
7. Reduces the level of blood cholesterol.
8. Common pediatric problems like cough cold, fever, diarrhea and vomiting respond favorably to the juice of basil leaves.
9. Basil leaves are regarded as an 'adaptogen' or anti-stress agent.
10. The leaves are quit effective for the ulcer and infections in the mouth.

Health Benefits of Coriander (Dhania)

The health benefits of coriander include treatment of swellings, high cholesterol levels, diarrhea, Mouth ulcers, anemia, digestion, menstrual disorders, small pox, eye care, conjunctivitis, skin disorders, blood sugar disorders, etc.
Coriander, commonly known as Dhania in the Indian Subcontinent or Cilantro in the Americas and some part of Europe, is an herb which is extensively used around the world as a condiment or as a garnish or as a decoration on the dishes. Its scientific name is Coriandrum Sativum L. Its leaves and fruits have typical aroma and are used raw or dried in culinary.
But that part of introduction was only the tip of the ice-berg. Coriander has so many benefits that a book can be written on them. It has eleven components of essential oils, six types of acids (including ascorbic acid, better known as vitamin-C), minerals and vitamins, each having a number of beneficial properties.
Swellings: Cineole, one of the 11 components of the essential oils, and linoleic acid, present in coriander, possess anti rheumatic and anti arthritic properties, which are very beneficial for swelling caused due to these two reasons. For others, such as swelling due to malfunctioning of kidney or anemia, it is seen to be effective to some extent, as some of the components help excretion of extra water from the body while.
High Cholesterol Levels: Some of the acids present in coriander viz. linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and ascorbic acid (vitamin-C) are very effective in reducing the cholesterol level in the blood. They also reduce the cholesterol deposition along the inner walls of the arteries and veins.
Diarrhea: Some of the components of essential oils in coriander such as Borneol and Linalool, aid digestion, proper functioning of liver and bonding of bowels, helping cure diarrhea. It is also helpful in diarrhea caused by microbial and fungal action, since components like Cineole, Borneol, Limonene, Alpha-pinene & beta-phelandrene have anti bacterial effects. In addition, the fresh coriander leaves are excellent appetizers.
Mouth Ulcers: Citronelol, a component of essential oils in coriander, is an excellent antiseptic. In addition, other components have anti microbial and healing effects which do not let wounds and ulcers in the mouth go worse. They aid healing up of ulcers and freshen up the breath.
Anemia: Coriander is good in iron content which directly helps curing anemia.
Digestion: Coriander, due to its rich aroma because of its essential oils, apart from being an excellent appetizer, helps in proper secretion of enzymes and digestive juices in the stomach, stimulates digestion and peristaltic motion. It is helpful in treating problems like anorexia.
Small Pox: The essential oils in coriander are rich in anti microbial, anti oxidant, anti infectious and detoxifying components and acids. The presence of vitamin-C and iron strengthen the immune system too. These properties help prevent and cure small pox. They also reduce the pain and have a soothing effect on pox patients.
Menstrual Disorders: Being stimulating in nature and helping proper secretion from the endocrine glands, it also helps proper secretion of the hormones and thereby inducing proper menstrual cycles and reducing pains etc. during periods.
Eye Care: Coriander has lots of anti oxidants, vitamin-A, vitamin-C and minerals like phosphorus in the essential oils in it which prevents aging of eye, macular degeneration and soothes eyes against stress.
Conjunctivitis: As discussed earlier, coriander is a very good disinfectant and has anti microbial properties which protect the eyes from contagious diseases like conjunctivitis.
Skin Disorders: The disinfectant, detoxifying, anti-septic, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties of cumin are ideal for curing skin disorders such as eczema, dryness and fungal infections.
Blood Sugar: Due the stimulating effect of cumin on the endocrine glands, the secretion of insulin is increased from pancreas which increases the insulin level in the blood, thereby helping proper assimilation and absorption of sugar and resultant fall in the sugar level in the blood. This property is very beneficial for the diabetes patients and others too.
Other benefits: Still want more from it? You get it! Coriander helps cure ulcer, inflammation, spasm and acts as an expectorant, protects and soothes liver. It is anti-carcinogenic, anti-convulsant, anti-histaminic and hypnotic. Coriander is believed to be a natural aphrodisiac and previously it was extensively used in certain preparations, combined with other herbs, to enhance libido

Health Benefits of Blackberries

Cancer Prevention
Anthocyanins, which give blackberries their dark color, are an antioxidant shown to reduce inflammation. As an antioxidant, they destroy free radicals in the body that harm cells and lead to cancer. Research has also shown that the ellagic acid in blackberries may have anti-cancer properties. One cup of blackberries contains half of the daily recommendation of the antioxidant vitamin C, which protects the immune system and may lower the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Researchers have found that blackberries may reduce esophageal cancer by relieving the oxidative stress caused by Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous condition usually brought about by gastroesophageal reflux disease. Perhaps the greatest benefit from eating blackberries is their high level of phenolic acids which, besides having many other potential health benefits, are antioxidant compounds known as powerful anti-carcinogenic agents. Because of these compounds, blackberries have been given an ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of about 5350 per 100 grams, placing them near the top of ORAC fruits.
Cardiovascular Benefits
The anthocyanins that give blackberries their dark color are antioxidants shown to reduce inflammation by helping combat free radicals in the body that destroy cells and lead to heart disease. Vitamin C in blackberries acts as an antioxidant, and one cup of this delicious berry contains half of the daily recommendation of vitamin C. The immune system uses vitamin C to fight illness adequate vitamin C intake may lower the risk of developing heart disease. One cup of blackberries contains over thirty percent of the daily recommended amount of fiber, promoting healthy digestion and reducing the risk of heart disease.
Skin Health
As are all berries, blackberries are a great source of ellagic acid, an antioxidant shown to protect the skin from damage from ultraviolet light. Studies have also shown that ellagic acid may also repair skin damaged by the sun. Vitamin C helps heal wounds, and studies also show vitamin C may even lessen the appearance of wrinkles. Studies of cyanidin-3-glucoside, a compound found in blackberries showed it prevents skin cancer by inhibiting tumors from growing and spreading.
Eye Health
Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant in blackberries and one cup contains half of the daily recommendation of vitamin C. The body uses vitamin C for protection from immune system deficiencies, and may reduce the chances of macular degeneration, a condition in which fine vision deteriorates, resulting in central vision loss and is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50.
Women's Health
Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant estrogens found in blackberries that may help relieve the common symptoms of PMS like bloating, food cravings, and even menopausal symptoms including hot flashes.
Digestive Tract Health
Just one cup of blackberries contains over thirty percent of the daily recommended amount of fiber, which promotes healthy digestion and aids in maintaining bowel regularity by bulking up the feces and reducing the time it takes matter to pass all the way through the intestines. Bowel regularity is commonly associated with a decreased risk for colon cancer.
Diabetes
Thirty percent of the daily recommended amount of fiber is to be found in just one cup of blackberries. The steady movement of fiber through the digestive system allows for a measured breakdown of food into its component parts. This even breakdown of food helps to curtail extremes regarding simple sugar uptake from the digestive tract. An excess of simple sugar uptake all at once can produce an unwanted blood sugar spike. A lack of simple sugar uptake may produce a rapid blood sugar drop. Either extreme can upset blood sugar balance. The quantity of fiber in blackberries helps avoid both extremes.
Bone Health
Blackberries are a good source of vitamin K, offering 36% of the daily recommended amount of this nutrient used by the body for the clotting of blood and to aid the absorption of calcium.

Orange is one of the most favorite fruit in the world.

Orange is loaded with vitamins, and the most abundant vitamin inorange is Vitamin C. This powerful vitamin protect our body against harmful elements.
Orange is Beneficial in the following cases :
* Asthma
* Bronchitis
* Tuberculosis
* Pneumonia
* Rheumatism
* Prevent kidney stone
* Helps lower cholesterol
* Helps prevent diabetes
* Arthritis
* High blood pressure
* Persons addicted to alcohol have found that the desire for liquor is greatly reduced by drinking of orange juice.
* Consumption of large quantities of oranges will decrease the outpouring of mucus secretions from the nose.
Nutritional Contents of Orange :
1. Betacarotene, another powerful antioxidant that protects our cells from being damage.
2. Calcium that helps protect and maintain the health of our bone and teeth.
3. Folic Acid for proper brain development.
4. Magnesium helps maintain bloodpressure.
5. Potassium helps maintain electrolyte balance in the cells, and is important in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.
6. Thiamin helps to convert food into energy.
7. Vitamin B6 helps support the production of hemoglobin that carries oxygen to all parts of the body........