Neural Evidence for Sudden Insight Found

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Our daily lives are filled with changes that force us to abandon old behavioral strategies that are no longer advantageous and develop new, more appropriate responses. While it is clear that new rules are often deduced through trial-and-error learning, the neural dynamics that underlie the change from a familiar to a novel rule are not well understood.

A recent study provides intriguing information about the neural dynamics underlying behavioral changes associated with the development of new problem solving strategies. The research, published by the Cell Press in the May 13 issue of the journal Neuron, supports the idea of “a-ha” moments in the brain that are associated with sudden insight.

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For Space Shuttle Atlantis, The End Is Here

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

One last flight is planned for each of NASA’s three space shuttles, beginning with Atlantis, which is poised for liftoff on Friday (May 14, 2010) for a 12-day mission to deliver a Russian docking compartment to the International Space Station. Here’s a look back in time over Atlantis’ 25 years of flight.

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Most Distant Galaxy Cluster Revealed by Invisible Light

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Clusters of galaxies are the largest building blocks in the universe. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is part of the Virgo cluster, comprising some 1000-2000 galaxies. By observing galaxies and clusters that are very distant from Earth, astronomers can look back in time, as their light was sent out a long time ago and took millions or billions of light-years to reach the astronomers’ telescopes.

An international team of astronomers from Germany and Japan has discovered the most distant cluster of galaxies known so far — 9.6 billion light years away. The X-ray and infrared observations showed that the cluster hosts predominantly old, massive galaxies, demonstrating that the galaxies formed when the universe was still very young. These and similar observations therefore provide new information not only about early galaxy evolution but also about history of the universe as a whole.

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Coca Cola is Not Showing Responsible Behavior In India

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Interestingly some multinationals behave differently in different parts of the world. Coca-Cola is not alone. I have found an article about this by The New Ecologist.I am reproducing it here. Read and think.

Coca-Cola is usually a company that makes a lot of efforts into ecological and environmental issues. Lately the company is accused in corporative bad practices, when it comes to their Indian market.

One of the biggest companies in the world is now blamed for not showing a responsible behavior by several ecological and non-governmental institutions.

According to them, Coca-Cola is not open with the investors of the Indian market and covers the truth about an important fact – the environmental damages in water-stresses parts of India.

A month ago the state of Kerala has been insisting Coca-Cola to cover the damages that the company causes by its bottling plant in a local village. The published reports displayed damages for over $48 million. This is a figure, which Coca-Cola needs to cover.

One of the committees in Kerala, which is fighting against the pollution that the company causes, is claiming that the brand needs a new environmental plan in India.

According to Kerala’s Agriculture, Groundwater, Health and Pollution Control Departments, the company has been polluting the water resources ever since it has entered to this Indian province.

If Coca-Cola doesn’t take an action, it could face criminal charges. However, there are no actions taken from the company so far. The spokesman of the brand said the accusations are false and unfounded.

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