Washington, April 27 : In a new research, scientists in Japan have reported the development of a new type of ice that may provide a more efficient, environmentally-friendly method for putting out fires, including out-of control blazes that destroy homes and forests.
Toshihisa Ueda and colleagues note in the new study that firefighters have used water and carbon dioxide (CO2) as fire extinguishing agents for decades.
That knowledge led the scientists on a quest to see if carbon dioxide hydrates, frozen crystals made of water and CO2 bonded together, may serve as promising fire-suppressing materials.
Such icy chunks occur naturally in some parts of the world, including hydrates containing methane.
Washington, April 27 : Scientists in The Netherlands are reporting development of a new plastic with a "self-healing polymer" that has potential for use in the first easy-to-recycle computer circuit boards, electrical insulation, and other electronics products that now wind up on society's growing heaps of electronic waste.
Nanjing (China), Apr. 27 : The Chinese mainland and Taiwan decided on Sunday to double flights between them and change chartered flights to regular ones for the first time, as their ties are now in "a new era of peaceful development".
London, Apr 27 : In a first of its kind study, researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found a way to induce gamma waves by shining laser light directly onto the brains of mice, which could lead to new treatments of brain-related disorders.
Tokyo - The Tokyo market closed modestly higher Monday after optimism was dampened by concerns over the spread of swine flu. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 18.35 points, or 0.21 per cent, to close at 8,726.34.
