The Korea Herald

Five hospitals picked for infants

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has added five hospitals to the list of those that must be equipped with intensive care units for newborns. The selected hospitals are Bundang Seoul National University Hospital in Gyeonggi Province, Inha University Hospital in Incheon, Dankook University Hospital in Daejeon, Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju and Ulsan University Hospital in Ulsan. With the latest designation there are now 18 general hospitals that have or will have special units for infant

March 1, 2012

Women have rare egg-producing stem cells, Harvard scientists claim

WASHINGTON (AP) ― For 60 years, doctors have believed women were born with all the eggs they’ll ever have. Now Harvard scientists are challenging that dogma, saying they’ve discovered the ovaries of young women harbor very rare stem cells capable of producing new eggs.If Sunday’s report is confirmed, harnessing those stem cells might one day lead to better treatments for women left infertile because of disease - or simply because they’re getting older.“Our current views of ovarian aging are inco

March 1, 2012

Beware of spring depression

It is high time to beware of seasonal depression. It occurs most frequently before or after the winter, when the early spring breeze begins to blows away the winter cold. As the spring gets closer, however, we are at increased risk of committing suicide as symptoms of depression are most intense. In recent years several Korean celebrities have committed suicide while suffering from depression. Most of these deaths occurred in the spring. Suicide is the greatest potential evil that can result fro

March 1, 2012

Keep your eyes healthy during spring

Eyes become sensitive just after winter; yellow dust may cause various symptomsSpring is right around the corner, but whole many look forward to warmer weather, some dread the season because of pollen, dust and other allergies. Our eyes are especially sensitive in spring. The dryness and extreme temperature differences between morning and nighttime during winter weakens the immune system, leaving yellow dust and pollen able to cause intolerable itchiness, sneezing, tears and more. Dr. Kim Jin-gu

March 1, 2012

Miracle diet pill? A safe drug is elusive

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The battle of the bulge has been a big, fat failure for U.S. drugmakers. But that hasn’t stopped them from trying.For nearly a century, scientists have struggled to make a diet pill that helps people lose weight without side effects that range from embarrassing digestive issues to dangerous heart problems.Earlier this week, a government panel recommended the FDA approve the latest diet drug Qnexa. The recommendation raises hopes that the U.S. could approve the first anti-obesit

March 1, 2012

Miracle diet pill? A safe drug is elusive

Dinosaurs had fleas too -- giant ones, fossils show

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In the Jurassic era, even the flea was a beast, compared to its minuscule modern descendants. These pesky bloodsuckers were nearly an inch (25 millimeters) long.New fossils found in China are evidence of the oldest fleas _ from 125 million to 165 million years ago, said Diying Hua

March 1, 2012

Intel makes more mobile inroads with new phones

SAN JOSE, California ― Further demonstrating its resolve to expand beyond the personal computer market, Intel Corp. on Monday announced that three more new smartphones incorporating its microprocessors will be introduced in other countries this year.The smartphone makers are Orange, Lava International and ZTE. Intel CEO Paul Otellini, who made the announcement at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, said more smartphones containing Intel’s brainy chips will be unveiled in the next year

Feb. 29, 2012

Samsung, KT, LG win at trade show

Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S2 was chosen as the best smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Wednesday.Presented by the Global System for Mobile Association, Samsung’s flagship smartphone Galaxy S2 competed with other handsets like Galaxy Nexus, Apple’s iPhone 4S, HTC’s Desire S and Nokia’s Lumia 800. It was also given the Device Manufacturer of the Year award at the event.It was the first time for the firm to take home the best device manufacturer award and the third time it w

Feb. 29, 2012

Fukushima contamination 'chronic and lasting': French agency

Radioactive contamination levels from Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have fallen sharply since the accident but will be "chronic and lasting" for many years, a French watchdog said Tuesday."The initial contamination linked to the accident has greatly declined," Didier Champion, crisis mana

Feb. 29, 2012

US Navy getting close on making super-powerful gun

A super-powerful gun that shoots rounds more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) away _ at several times the speed of sound _ is being developed for Navy warships.The weapon is known as an electromagnetic railgun. It consists of parallel rails and uses a magnetic field and electric current, instead of c

Feb. 29, 2012

Scientists find key to immortality for asexual worms

British scientists have found that a species of flatworm can overcome the process of ageing to become potentially immortal, Reuters reported. (123rf image)In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal on Monday the researchers found that the flatworms, kno

Feb. 28, 2012

Scientists find key to immortality for asexual worms

iPad 3 price hike is rumored

SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) -- The upcoming iPad 3 -- expected to be announced in a little more than a week-- could carry a $70-$80 price hike over its iPad 2 predecessor, analysts say.The MacRumors Web site posted an image Monday of a purported pricing sheet found on the popular Chinese microblogging site

Feb. 28, 2012

Active video games don't boost exercise

Children who play active video games do not engage in more physical activity than those who play inactive video games, U.S. and Hong Kong researchers suggest. MCTTom Baranowski of the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Ester Cerin of the Institute of Human

Feb. 28, 2012

Scientists say big asteroid bears watching

VIENNA (UPI) -- Scientists at a United Nations meeting in Vienna say they're keeping a close eye on a large asteroid that may pose an impact threat to Earth in a few decades.An artist`s illustration of asteroids. (European Space Agency/P. Carril)The subject of the asteroid known as 2011 AG5 was on t

Feb. 28, 2012

Scientists say big asteroid bears watching

Origin of photosynthesis revealed by a ‘living fossil’

Recently, the complete genome of a glaucophyte alga (Cyanophora paradoxa) has been unraveled by an international consortium led by Dr. Debashish Bhattacharya from Rutgers University. A schematic image of the "living fossil" Cyanophora paradoxa that is a member of the algal phylum Glaucophyta.

Feb. 28, 2012

Origin of photosynthesis revealed by a ‘living fossil’

Weight affected by some medications

Weight gain or loss may not always be caused by diet and exercise; it could be affected by medications, a U.S. pharmacist said.Ryan Roux, chief pharmacy officer, Harris County Hospital District, said certain medicines can cause significant weight changes. Fox example, weight side-effects are common

Feb. 28, 2012

Report: Women have rare egg-producing stem cells

For 60 years, doctors have believed women were born with all the eggs they’ll ever have. Now Harvard scientists are challenging that dogma, saying they’ve discovered the ovaries of young women harbor very rare stem cells capable of producing new eggs.If Sunday’s report is confirmed, harnessing those

Feb. 27, 2012

Two new blood types identified

MCTScientists have discovered the two proteins in red blood cells that cause the rare Langereis and Junior blood types, Science Daily reported Thursday. “Only 30 proteins have previously been identified as responsible for a basic blood type,“ University of Vermont biologist Bryan Ballif says, “but t

Feb. 26, 2012

Playing World of Warcraft can boost cognitive functions for seniors

Online role-playing game World of Warcraft (MCT)Researchers from a U.S. university found that playing the popular online game World of Warcraft (WoW) can improve cognitive functioning in older adults, Science Daily reported Wednesday.According to a study by North Carolina State’s Gains Through Gamin

Feb. 26, 2012

Playing World of Warcraft can boost cognitive functions for seniors

Turkey carries out world's first quadruple limb transplant

Turkish surgeons have performed the world's first-ever quadruple limb transplant at a university hospital in Ankara, the Anatolia news agency reported on Saturday."In such a big organ transplant... more than 50 percent of the (patient's) body has changed," Professor Murat Tuncer, rector of Ankara's

Feb. 26, 2012