Laser tests may replace dentists drill

The dentists dreaded drill may soon be a thing of past, thanks to the laser tests University of Sydney scientists have developed to identify weakness in dental enamel. Currently, X-rays and metal probes are used to check cavities, but they fail to detect weakness in the enamel in time to repair the surface. Lead researcher David Wang sought to determine whether the propagation of sound waves through the enamel could provide an early warning. The study showed that short, low-energy pulses from a laser generate weak bursts of acoustic waves in the surface of the enamel. In tests on an extracted tooth, Wang detected these vibrations by collecting infrared laser light reflected from the surface of the tooth. He found that changes in mineralization of the enamel, which signal the onset of decay, appear to cause in the pattern of acoustic waves.

English holidaymakers

A survey taken by department of health in London suggests that the English holidaymakers are turning to drink on their breaks with the average adult consuming eight alcoholic drinks a day. So this kind of drinking equates to 80 drinks over the course of the average holiday, or well over 200 units of alcohol. Some people said they ended up drinking three times more than normal. When department of health questioned 3,500 adults 70% of them said they plan to make September the "new January" by cutting back. NHS guidelines gave a suggestion that the women should not take more than two to three units a day and for men not more than three to four units which is roughly equal to a large glass of wine for women and two pints of beer for men. But 10 million adults in England regularly exceed the recommended daily limits, increasing their risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, liver disease and various cancers, says government.

pop songwriter dies

The famous American songwriter Ellie Greenwich has died aged 68. She was a popular songwriter and written many songs like River Deep, Mountain High and other hits. Her niece said due to heart attack Ellie died after being admitted to a New York hospital for pneumonia treatment. Ellie Greenwich was awarded 25 gold and platinum discs in her 50-year career. Chapel of Love and Da doo Ron Ron was written by her and it was collaboration with Phil Spector. Ellie wrote Leader of the Pack with her ex-husband, which became the basis for a Broadway musical based on her life. Greenwich was also the member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and contributed to the success of many stars, including working with Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. She is also co-produced songs for Neil Diamond, including his hit Kentucky Woman. Other compositions included Do Wah Diddy Diddy and Look of Love.

Swine flu toll increases

H1N1 toll continues to increase day by day. In the national capital Delhi the report says the third swine flu death on Tuesday when a 44-year-old woman collapsed at government-run RML Hospital, pushing the countrywide toll to 69. Totally 186 new cases of H1N1 infection were reported from different parts of the country on Tuesday. On Tuesday the health officials in Bangalore said, Siddarraju (27), who was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases on August 21 in a critical condition, fell to the virus on Sunday night. In Karnataka, 29 fresh cases of H1NI infection were detected on Tuesday, Union health ministry officials said. The state has so far reported 15 swine flu deaths. This disease can spread anywhere so each and every people should be careful.

A man named Lord of Ring

A New Zealand man who promised his wife he would find his wedding ring after it fell into the capital's harbour has been successful - 16 months later. Ecologist Aleki Taumoepeau was working in Wellington harbour last year when the ring went into just over three meters (10 feet) of water. He threw an anchor in to mark the spot, insisting he would find it. Friends now call him Lord of the Ring, in a play on the Tolkien novel, the film of which was made in New Zealand. "It flew off into the air and everyone on the boat was looking at it and said it was like a scene from "Lord of the Rings" in slow motion," Rachel Taumoepeau told the Dominion Post newspaper. The couple had been married just three months when the ring took its dive.

An initial search three months after the loss failed, but Mr. Taumoepeau was determined. He returned again recently for another dive, risking chilly midwinter temperatures. "I was getting cold and tired so I said to God it would be really good to find the ring about now," he said, also using new global positioning co-ordinates. He spotted the anchor - with the ring lying just inches away. "I couldn't believe that I could see the ring so perfectly," he said. "The whole top surface of the ring was glowing."