India not alone in economic model rethinking

India is certainly not alone 'in rethinking some established theories of economics. A poll released recently in the United States suggests that capitalism has lost its popularity to many people, including folk in US. Meanwhile, the Eurozne crisis persists and recovery in US is still slow.

India rethinks economic development theory

India''s 'President Pranab Mukherjee has openly questioned the once'-popular ('economic') development theory of '"trickle down". As India's economy slows down,'there is now a school of economic thought that calls for 'rethinking of economic policy to balance growth with equity.

Saudi female athletes seen at Games' opening

Saudi Arabia''s female athletes did appear at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London. However, it is not immediately clear if the technical issue of a female athlete''s headscarf has been resolved. London hosted its first Olympic Games'- for both men and women'- in 1908, 'or twenty four years before Saudi Arabia was set up as a state. The Olympics in 1932, also for both genders, was held in Los Angeles.

Saudi Arabia threatens to quit Olympics 2012

Saudi Arabia has reportedly threatened to withdraw from the London Olympic Games over the issue of headscarf of a woman athlete. The Arab kingdom 'originally banned female athletes from competing but changed its' decision later after succumbing to pressure in the West.

Some true images of galaxies in real universe

There are many galaxies, known and unknown, in space. The galaxies sometimes collide with one another. 'Certain purpose-built telescopes are powerful 'enough to capture some fairly clear pictures of galaxies. In the 21st century, telescopes are useful enough as an instrument to explore and study, in a rational manner, many more celestial objects.

Rational knowledge of blood in modern times

Following the advance of sciences, 'particularly biochemistry, 'blood is now better and 'more rationally understood 'than in ancient eras when some 'old' books were conceived, composed, published and promoted. In those times, 'there was no radio, television, telephone 'or Internet for ideas in books to be more widely discoursed 'or critically explored. As printing technologies and the system of production of papers were not as developed as in modern societies, illiteracy rate was also high.

First US woman in space Sally Ride dies at 61

America's first female astronaut Dr. Sally Kristen Ride passed away at 61 yesterday. Certainly, her departure is a loss to the whole world but she will forever be remembered and honoured for her contributions to the advancement of scientific understanding of our physical universe.

Royal wedding in Tonga unites & splits family

A royal wedding 'held recently in the Pacific island-state of Tonga has raised the centuries-old as well as universal concern about marriages between close relatives. 'Two prominent members of the royal family were reportedly absent from the big ceremony at a church on '12 July. In science, is there really a unique group of blood that predetermines a specific type of humans and their descendants to lord over others ?

WWF in Spain sacks king over hunting scandal

WWF 'in Spain has reportedly sacked monarch Juan Carlos as a patron of the organisation for his elephant-hunting trip earlier this year. The country is facing a serious economic crisis with a jobless rate of 25'%. Meanwhile, the monarch and his family have taken a pay cut recently.

Understanding of Mayan civilisation increases

As more and more archaeological finds, including the skeleton said to belong to a queen, 'have been discovered and studied, our knowledge about the Mayan civilisation in Central America has rapidly increased. From what have been unearthed, especially the dam which was found recently, 'it seems that the Mayan civilisation was very sophisticated. How did the civilisation come into being ? What caused its downfall '?

Ancient Maya temple unearthed in Guatemala

Recently, an ancient Mayan temple has been unearthed in Guatemala. Archaelogists believe that it is rich 'in information for verification 'of hypotheses about the civilisation that covered a group of city'-'states. Other major discoveries in Guatemala include an ancient dam as well as a skeleton, in a 2000'-year old tomb, thought to belong to a queen.

Skeleton thought to be Mona Lisa's unearthed

Archaelogists in Italy have recently unearthed a skeleton 'they believe to belong to Mona Lisa. But, this hypothesis has still to be tested and verified before it can be confirmed,'established and accepted as fact. Politicians' policy announcement or'/'and clerical pronouncement can't be relied on to 'make' or ''unmake' facts in archaelogy or paleontology, or, for that matter, geology as well as space and also marine science.

Knowledge of earth's interior in 21st century

The composition or contents of earth's interior 'was once a subject of theological speculation. Now, there is a scientific understanding of it. This is why 'old' books have to be perused critically in scientific spirit.

Structure of earth & earthquakes' occurrence

As sciences progress, mankind is now able to understand 'the natural cause of, for example, earthquake, whether it hits Indonesia or Italy. However, prediction of the exact place, date and time of a particular earthquake is still difficult for even technologically advanced nations.

Call to improve science teaching for children

Malaysia''s Academy of Sciences recently called on the Government to "drastically improve" the teaching of science at the primary (-school') level. The pretty drastic decline of interest in science subjects at the secondary and tertiary levels of education 'has been publicly reported.

Images of very old galaxies in space captured

The images of 3 very old galaxies have reportedly been captured by a very powerful telescope. Scientists have named the three galaxies as Hercules, Leo IV and Ursa Major,'for further studies and explorations. However, there is still no report of any sighting of human-like beings floating around aimlessly or flying with purpose'(s) in the outer space.

Telescope spots sign of dark galaxies in space

Reportedly, astronomers have spotted signs of' "dark" galaxies whose existence had been 'theorised' by scientists who study the universe in a rational manner and with the aid of instruments such as telescopes.

Critical mind & scientific spirit for modernity

The recent discovery of Higgs Boson and the authoritative statement that mermaids are not real should serve as a point of departure to re-'read all 'old' books with more critical minds and also scientific spirit. However, as British scientist  Dr. Joseph Needham ( 1900-1995 ) had discovered and recorded in Science & Civilisation in China, many 'old' or even very 'old'' books contain a vast amount of scientific thinkings articulated in a language that was not widely understood in the West. Galileo Galilei''s 'heliocentrism, 'as opposed to the geocentrism of the Catholic Church in the Middle Age, 'was first advanced by Aristarchus of Samos (''310-230 BC'') who was a mathematician in ancient Greece.

Science authority in US: mermaids aren't real

According to an official authority in the United States, mermaids are not real. 'Mermaids are creatures which appear in many 'old' books in the Western world, especially fairy tales for kids. Creatures with half-human and half-animal physical features also appear in some ancient books for all age groups in some non-Western societies. However, it is hard to deny that dinosaurs existed before 'as fossils are available. No fossil of human'-like creature with two wings has ever been found.

Discovery of Higgs Boson & impacts on beliefs

News of the recently discovered 'Higgs Boson is now aplenty. 'What is it ''? ''How does the discovery impact on the established beliefs on the universe as well as its origin, nature (or composition) and evolution ? How do people who uphold established beliefs react or respond to the discovery of Higg Boson or other such leaps of knowledge in science ? How do they adjust their established beliefs in the face of 'new' facts, when outright denial and moralistic rebuttal are no longer acceptable. As non-experts in sciences or theologies, most of the people on earth can only hope that media would give space to a widest possible range of arguments or opinions so that they can think more deeply about it.

Science fiction film Prometheus thrills minds

Prometheus, a science fiction movie, is thought-provoking as well as entertaining. 'Indeed, great science fiction movies can stimulate and arouse popular, especially youths', interest in science and technology. But, excessive, obssessive or fixated love for science and technology could also result in the emergence of an one-dimensional society that treats human beings as mere numbers, digits and variables in charts.