2,000 papers presented at 97th Indian Science Congress

About 2,000 scientific and technical papers were presented during the 97th Indian Science Congress (ISC 2010) that concluded Thursday in the green campus of Kerala University here.

'I have not seen such a huge participation of scientists, technologists, research scholars, experts, policy-makers and students in the previous science congresses,' ISC general president G. Madhavan Nair told reporters on its concluding day.

About 7,000 delegates, including 2,000 students from across the country, participated in the five-day mega event, held for the first time in this picturesque coastal city and for the second time in the southern state after two decades at Kochi in 1990.

About 40 plenary sessions in various disciplines of science, public lectures, parallel scientific and technical sessions, a science and technology expo and a Children's Science Congress were the highlights of the mega event that was unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Jan 3.

Organised by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), with the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Kerala University as co-hosts, the focal theme of the mega event was 'Science and Technology Challenges of 21st century - National Perspective'.

Eminent scientists, including M.S. Swaminathan, father of India's first green revolution, former atomic energy secretary Anil Kakodkar and Space Commission member Roddam Narasimhan delivered lectures at the plenary sessions.

Former scientist-president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, distinguished scientists M.G.K Menon and C.N.R. Rao and Nobel laureates Roger Tsien and John Cromwell Mather from the US made presentations.

Vice-chancellors of universities and educationists from across the country and abroad discussed the status and future perspectives of science education at an university meet Tuesday.

A panel discussion on 'Frontiers of Science and Technology in 21st century' was also held during the congress.

Genelia hits out at Shahid Kapoor

Ken Ghosh’s next directorial venture Chance Pe Dance starring Shahid Kapoor and Genelia D’Souza is ready to hit the theatres next week. The title of the movie
explains it all in nutshell but at a recent promotional event Shahid and Genelia were put in an awkward situation when asked about him maaroin chance (hitting on) on any lass.
To which Shahid smilingly replied, “Today, time has come when girls hit on boys and boys are quite sober.” And no sooner did he say that than the bubbly Genelia unaware of Shahid’s reply to media pulled him towards her to speak to her. Smart Shahid pointed towards Genelia’s gesture and naughtily said, “Look at her she is trying to marofy chance (hit on) on me and she is a girl. I rest my case here.” Hearing this Genelia quickly took her hand away.
Seems like Shahid- Genelia the young and bubbly pair have struck a great rapport while working together in Chance Pe Dance. While rumours of Genelia getting married to Riteish Deshmukh are all doing rounds, we wonder what has Riteish has to say on this newly blossomed friendship.

Indigenous H1N1 vaccine by March: Katoch

CHANDIGARH: H1N1’s indigenous vaccines are expected to hit the Indian market by March this year at half the price of the imported ones. Dr VM Katoch, director-general, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and secretary to the Government of India, department of health research, made an announcement on Thursday while interacting with the media.
Dr Katoch was in Chandigarh to inaugurate the new academic session of PGI. Dr Katoch informed that there were four pharmaceutical companies, including Zydus Cadila and Panacea Biotec, which are in advanced stage of research. He said Zydus Cadila had already completed human trials, while Panacea was conducting animal trials.

`We are 15-days ahead of the schedule and will introduce the vaccine as early as possible,’’ said Katoch adding that government of India is negotiating on vaccine prices keeping in view community need.

The prices of indigenous vaccines would be in range of Rs 50-100, in contrast with imported ones which cost Rs 300-400. The imported vaccine will be made available for public health workers by the January-end, said Dr Katoch. He informed that the government was trying to make regulatory clearance for research easier for pharma companies so that they do not have to run from pillar to post.There is also a thrust to transform research into products and make it available to public.

source:indiatimes.com

Is Google's Nexus One phone any good?

The screen is fantastic, it links superbly with your online Google account - but does it have what it takes to win over iPhone obsessives?

At first glance, the Nexus One doesn't look like a revolution waiting to happen. In fact, Google's much heralded rival to the Apple iPhone looks remarkably similar to almost every high-end mobile phone released in the last two years: big black screen with small button at the bottom. But as soon as you switch on the handset and swipe your finger across the screen to unlock it, it is clear this is more than just another also-ran.

The first thing that strikes you is how incredibly bright and clear the screen is. It's a 3.7in, low-power, "organic LED" screen that doesn't need backlighting and allows deep, clear blacks and vivid colours. In terms of visibility, it's streets ahead of the competition: a gang of Nexus One users waving their prized gadgets in the air could probably send a signal into space.

The second thing that leaps at your eyeballs is the animated background. Whether you've got rippling pools of water or computerised lights zipping around the screen, the constant movement whenever you're using the phone breathes a strange sort of life into this static object.

Above all, though, you are stepping through a portal into Google's world. On first use, the phone prompts you to log into your Google account – within seconds it has synchronised your email, web searches, contacts book and any other information you happen to keep with the company. Convenient for you, but also – thanks to the constant stream of data being fed back to California – handy for Google. You're now a satellite-tracked, walking, talking, web-surfing recruit into Google's informationalised army.

Despite this nagging feeling that you've stepped into the pages of Nineteen Eighty-Four, becoming one of Google's disciples boasts some impressive benefits. Browsing the web is fast, the powerful five-megapixel camera-phone with built-in flash should make the all-important business of taking good photos a doddle. The really futuristic extra, though, is "voice search". On other handsets, including the iPhone, this addition seems like a gimmick – hey, what kind of dimwit talks to their phone? – but the accuracy and speed of the Nexus One makes it feels like something from Star Trek. I asked for "toy shops in San Francisco" and it found me a (Google) map of local toy shops in a couple of seconds. Combine this with the phone's simplified "in-car mode" display and ability to speak turn-by-turn directions, and it spells goodbye to satnav.

The downsides are its appearance – sleek but bland, made from a dull, metallic-looking plastic – and the small, rubber trackball that sits under your thumb, which feels like an awkward afterthought (although it does glow in different colours to let you know when the phone is charging or connected via Bluetooth).

But a big "miss" is the feature that makes the iPhone so simple to use: multi-touch. While the Nexus One's single-finger prodding works well enough, there's none of the pinching action to zoom into maps and photographs that makes the iPhone feel so advanced, nor its realistic-feel friction. Google's on-screen keyboard feels cramped, too, and won't completely satisfy text freaks and heavy emailers.

Also missing is the depth of downloadable applications that have turned the iPhone into something much more like a mini-computer. There are plenty of programs available through the Android Market (and Google is, of course, encouraging armies of coders to feverishly build more), but there is still nowhere near the volume you can get for Apple's gizmo.

Then, of course, there's the price. Salivating British gadget fans can buy one now from Google's US shop – without a sim card or contract – for £330, and Vodafone is scrambling to make it available on a contract here for significantly less. But even then, it's unlikely to come cheap.

What ultimately justifies the price, Google argues, is the phone's sheer power. And the thing certainly is fast, with the memory and processing guts equivalent to a top-of-the-range laptop from eight or nine years ago.

But will it beat the iPhone? This debut model falls short of the smooth and totally intuitive design that Apple came up with. Google prides itself on being a company of engineers, and – despite all its bells and whistles – the Nexus One still leaves behind an aftertaste of nerdiness.

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk

pictures of baghdad twin bomb blasts

Mathura Train Collision

AGRA/NEW DELHI: At least 13 people were killed when two Delhi-bound passenger trains collided early Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura city.
Train collision near Mathura
Rescue workers and bystanders gather at the site of a train collision on outskirts of Mathura. At least 10 people were killed and 20 injured in the accident. AFP
Hours after the Goa Express rammed into the stationary Mewar Express, several people continued to be trapped in the mangled carriages.

More than 20 people were injured in the accident that occurred around 5 a.m. at an outer signal, about 55 km from here.

"Thirteen have been killed and 20 injured in the accident. The injured have been taken to four hospitals in Mathura," said Anil Saxena, director, public relations office, in the ministry of railways in New Delhi.

"The damaged portion of both the trains are still at the site. The rear portion of the Goa Express and the front portion of the Mewar Express have left the site around 8 a.m. with the remaining passengers," Saxena told IANS.

The Mewar Express, in which some people from the Goa Express had been accommodated, had been stopped at nearby Vrindavan. Some buses have also been arranged to take the passengers to Delhi, about 150 km away.

"Work is progressing at a fast pace and the situation should normalise within a few hours," public relations officer Bhupendra Dhillon at the divisional railway manager's (DRM) office here told IANS.

Traffic along the busy route that affects Delhi-West and Delhi-South trains has been disrupted. Several trains have been diverted and the Intercity Express from Agra to Hazrat Nizamuddin has been cancelled. The Taj Express and the Shatabdi from Delhi are likely to be delayed, the official added.

Trains are being diverted from Agra Cantt railway station towards Tundla junction for Delhi. Railway officials said most trains were likely to be delayed. "Arrival at Delhi would be delayed by a few hours, as there would be heavy traffic on this line via Agra Fort junction and Yamuna Bridge station towards Tundla which is connected by a second track," an official said.

Divisional Manager Rajesh Kumar said: "It would take up to one hour to extricate the bodies and release the trapped passengers and anything between four to six hours to restore traffic on the track."

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was in Kolkata, ordered an inquiry into the train collision and announced a compensation of Rs.500,000 for the families of the deceased.

If Everything Was Made by Microsoft

Back in the 90s, it looked like Microsoft might take over the world. But after ten years, Vista, the iPod, and a government lawsuit, we feel pretty safe saying that's not happening. But we're equally certain that it won't be for a lack of trying. Whether they're unleashing the Zune or hip new Microsoft Stores, their ambition is only matched by their painful lack of self awareness. So how long until they try their hand at making, well, everything else?

We asked you to show us what the world might look like if it really did run on Microsoft. The winner is below, but first the runners up.

click here to see If Everything Was Made by Microsoft

Windows 7 screen shots

First look at Windows 7's User Interface

Microsoft has given us a first glimpse as Windows 7. The taskbar has changed significantly, and there are a number of other changes we have screenshots of.

At PDC today, Microsoft gave the first public demonstration of Windows 7. Until now, the company has been uncharacteristically secretive about its new OS; over the past few months, Microsoft has let on that the taskbar will undergo a number of changes, and that many bundled applications would be unbundled and shipped with Windows Live instead. There have also been occasional screenshots of some of the new applets like Calculator and Paint. Now that the covers are finally off, the scale of the new OS becomes clear. The user interface has undergone the most.....click here to see article

NASA Lets You Send Your Name to Mars

NASA now gives anyone the opportunity to send their name to Mars. Just enter your name, country and zip code into the form, and your name – along with many others – will be included in a microchip on the Mars Science Laboratory rover which will be heading to Mars in 2011.

click to send your name here

Google OS News

Dell May Test Google's Chrome OS

Dell on Friday said it would consider testing Google's upcoming Chrome operating system, but didn't commit to offering the Linux-based OS in future products.

"Dell constantly assesses new technologies as part of managing our product development process and for consideration in future products," company spokesman David Frink said in an e-mail.


here some more Google OS images

Google OS

Finally Google officially announced their OS preparations.
and here there are some images of google os

LandRover in India