HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011
'Happiness Is All About Earning More Than Your Friends'
Source:Indiareport
Money can buy you happiness, only if you earn more of it than your friends, scientists say.
A study of life satisfaction in dozens of countries found that contrary to popular perception, economic growth doesn't bring with it a corresponding long-term rise in happiness.
While people may feel more positive in the short-term, the shine quickly wears off, found the study by researchers from University of Southern California.
However, they found that the rich are happier than the poor within an individual country, the Daily Mail reported.
This implies that what matters is earning more than others, not the actual amount earned, said Professor Richard Easterlin, who led the study.
Professor Easterlin first coined the theory in the 1970s which became known as the Easterlin Paradox.
With several recent studies challenging his findings, Professor Easterlin again set out to examine if this pattern still exists.
After crunching together figures from 37 countries around the globe including burgeoning economies such as China, South Korea and Chile, the University of Southern California professor said little had changed.
He said:"Simply stated, the happiness-income paradox is this: at a point in time both among and within countries, happiness and income are positively correlated.
"But, over time, happiness does not increase when a person's income increases."
He added:"China's growth rate implies a doubling of real per capita income in less than 10 years, and Chile's in 18 years.
"Yet both China and Chile show mild declines in life satisfaction.
A study of life satisfaction in dozens of countries found that contrary to popular perception, economic growth doesn't bring with it a corresponding long-term rise in happiness.
While people may feel more positive in the short-term, the shine quickly wears off, found the study by researchers from University of Southern California.
However, they found that the rich are happier than the poor within an individual country, the Daily Mail reported.
This implies that what matters is earning more than others, not the actual amount earned, said Professor Richard Easterlin, who led the study.
Professor Easterlin first coined the theory in the 1970s which became known as the Easterlin Paradox.
With several recent studies challenging his findings, Professor Easterlin again set out to examine if this pattern still exists.
After crunching together figures from 37 countries around the globe including burgeoning economies such as China, South Korea and Chile, the University of Southern California professor said little had changed.
He said:"Simply stated, the happiness-income paradox is this: at a point in time both among and within countries, happiness and income are positively correlated.
"But, over time, happiness does not increase when a person's income increases."
He added:"China's growth rate implies a doubling of real per capita income in less than 10 years, and Chile's in 18 years.
"Yet both China and Chile show mild declines in life satisfaction.
Prayers Can Handle Harmful Emotions
Source:Indiareport
Those who choose to pray find personalised comfort during hard times and can easily deal with their emotions and problems, according to a new study.
The 75 per cent of Americans who pray on a weekly basis do so to manage a range of negative situations and emotions illness, sadness, trauma and anger, a researcher at University of Wisconsin-Madison has claimed.
Through the course of his in-depth interviews with victims of violent relationships, Shane Sharp, a sociology graduate at the university, gathered ways how prayer helped them deal with their situations.
Sharp's interviewees represented a wide swath of the US in geographic, educational and racial terms, and came largely from Christian backgrounds.
Those who were boiling with anger said they found"a readily available listening ear,"said Sharp, who explores how prayer helps manage emotional pain in the December issue of the journal Social Psychology Quarterly.
"If they vented their anger to the abusive partner, the result was likely to be more violence,"Sharp said.
"But they could be angry at God while praying without fear of reprisal. During any interpersonal interaction, the participants are considering how they look through the other's eyes. In the case of people who pray, they are considering God's view."
"During prayer, victims came to see themselves as they believed God saw them. Since these perceptions were mostly positive, it helped raise their senses of self-worth that counteracted their abusers'hurtful words,"Sharp says.
Prayer is also a handy distraction for some, Sharp's study found.
Simply folding hands and concentrating on what to say is a reprieve from the anxiety of an abusive relationship.
The experience isn't that much different from a conversation with a close friend or a parent, he says.
"I looked at the act of praying, of speaking to God, as same as a legitimate social interaction,"Sharp said.
"Instead of a concrete interaction in which you would have to be face-to-face with another person, prayer is with an imagined other.
The 75 per cent of Americans who pray on a weekly basis do so to manage a range of negative situations and emotions illness, sadness, trauma and anger, a researcher at University of Wisconsin-Madison has claimed.
Through the course of his in-depth interviews with victims of violent relationships, Shane Sharp, a sociology graduate at the university, gathered ways how prayer helped them deal with their situations.
Sharp's interviewees represented a wide swath of the US in geographic, educational and racial terms, and came largely from Christian backgrounds.
Those who were boiling with anger said they found"a readily available listening ear,"said Sharp, who explores how prayer helps manage emotional pain in the December issue of the journal Social Psychology Quarterly.
"If they vented their anger to the abusive partner, the result was likely to be more violence,"Sharp said.
"But they could be angry at God while praying without fear of reprisal. During any interpersonal interaction, the participants are considering how they look through the other's eyes. In the case of people who pray, they are considering God's view."
"During prayer, victims came to see themselves as they believed God saw them. Since these perceptions were mostly positive, it helped raise their senses of self-worth that counteracted their abusers'hurtful words,"Sharp says.
Prayer is also a handy distraction for some, Sharp's study found.
Simply folding hands and concentrating on what to say is a reprieve from the anxiety of an abusive relationship.
The experience isn't that much different from a conversation with a close friend or a parent, he says.
"I looked at the act of praying, of speaking to God, as same as a legitimate social interaction,"Sharp said.
"Instead of a concrete interaction in which you would have to be face-to-face with another person, prayer is with an imagined other.
Taj Mahal For The Rich And Famous Only?
Source:Indiareport
Access to the Taj Mahal, the epitome of Mughal art and one of the world's most recognisable structures, may be limited to the rich and famous only, a new report has suggested.
The report by the influential Future Laboratory in Britain claims that the Taj Mahal in India, the Pyramids of Egypt and Venice should be made the exclusive playgrounds of the wealthy class in order to protect them.
It warns that drastic action is needed to protect these World Heritage sites or else they could be lost in just 20 years'time because they are being crushed under the weight of mass tourism, the'Daily Express'reported.
The report says that in time access to the sites may be limited to the wealthy, with ordinary tourists having to make do with viewing platforms.
Futurologist Ian Pearson said:"We take World Heritage sites for granted today. In the future we won't be able to go wherever we want. There'll be tourist levies on key locations and only the rich and famous will be able to afford a ticket.
"You might need to win a lottery for the right to pay a fee to visit places such as the Taj Mahal."
Taj Mahal, built in 1653 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, is considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love. In 1983, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The report by the influential Future Laboratory in Britain claims that the Taj Mahal in India, the Pyramids of Egypt and Venice should be made the exclusive playgrounds of the wealthy class in order to protect them.
It warns that drastic action is needed to protect these World Heritage sites or else they could be lost in just 20 years'time because they are being crushed under the weight of mass tourism, the'Daily Express'reported.
The report says that in time access to the sites may be limited to the wealthy, with ordinary tourists having to make do with viewing platforms.
Futurologist Ian Pearson said:"We take World Heritage sites for granted today. In the future we won't be able to go wherever we want. There'll be tourist levies on key locations and only the rich and famous will be able to afford a ticket.
"You might need to win a lottery for the right to pay a fee to visit places such as the Taj Mahal."
Taj Mahal, built in 1653 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, is considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love. In 1983, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Think About Your Food, And You'll Eat Less Of It
Source:Indiareport
Struggling to control your diet? Just think about eating your favourite food and it could make you eat less, says a new study.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh have carried out the study and found that if one imagines eating one's favourite snack, the real thing will become less appealing, the'Daily Mail'reported.
In the study, volunteers were asked to visualise eating a large handful of M&Ms, one by one.
A second group was'given'just three imaginary M&Ms to eat, while a third group was told to think about feeding a machine with coins -an action similar to popping sweets in the mouth. Next, the men and women were presented with a bowl of chocolates and told they could eat as many as they liked.
Those who had just imagined eating lots of the sweet treats got through only half as many of the real thing as the others, including those who had thought about eating just two or three. This suggests that repetition is key to the effect.
Other experiments showed that in order to curb appetite, the volunteers had to imagine eating the sweets simply visualising placing them in a bowl one by one did nothing to tackle hunger.
Only the food that is thought about becomes less appetising, so thinking about chocolate biscuits won't stop you from tucking into chips, say the researchers.
"People tend to try to avoid eating unhealthy foods by suppressing their thoughts of them. That tends to be a flawed strategy because it suggests you are going to stay in the initial state of craving, whereas our research suggests that repeatedly imagining the consumption of a food seems to decrease one's appetite for it.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh have carried out the study and found that if one imagines eating one's favourite snack, the real thing will become less appealing, the'Daily Mail'reported.
In the study, volunteers were asked to visualise eating a large handful of M&Ms, one by one.
A second group was'given'just three imaginary M&Ms to eat, while a third group was told to think about feeding a machine with coins -an action similar to popping sweets in the mouth. Next, the men and women were presented with a bowl of chocolates and told they could eat as many as they liked.
Those who had just imagined eating lots of the sweet treats got through only half as many of the real thing as the others, including those who had thought about eating just two or three. This suggests that repetition is key to the effect.
Other experiments showed that in order to curb appetite, the volunteers had to imagine eating the sweets simply visualising placing them in a bowl one by one did nothing to tackle hunger.
Only the food that is thought about becomes less appetising, so thinking about chocolate biscuits won't stop you from tucking into chips, say the researchers.
"People tend to try to avoid eating unhealthy foods by suppressing their thoughts of them. That tends to be a flawed strategy because it suggests you are going to stay in the initial state of craving, whereas our research suggests that repeatedly imagining the consumption of a food seems to decrease one's appetite for it.
"One In Four Worldwide Pays Bribes "
Source:Indiareport
One person in four worldwide paid a bribe during the past year, according to a study released today to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.
The study, by the Berlin-based non-governmental agency Transparency International, focuses on small-scale bribery and was put together from polls conducted among more than 91,000 people in 86 countries and territories.
In the past 12 months, one in four paid a bribe to one of nine institutions, such as health, education or tax authorities, according to the 2010 Global Corruption Barometer.
But it was the police who proved most corrupt, according to the study which reported that 29 per cent of those having dealings with police said they had paid a bribe.
Worldwide, sub-Saharan Africa was the region reporting the greatest incidence of bribery with more than one person in two saying they had made such payments to officials in the past 12 months.
The Middle East and North Africa was the next most corrupt region with 36 per cent of people there reporting having paid a bribe.
This compared to 32 per cent in the former Soviet republics, 23 per cent in South America, 19 per cent in the Balkans and Turkey, 11 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region, and five per cent in the European Union and North America.
Countries topping the list for reported bribe payments over the year were Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cameroon, India, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, the Palestinian territories, Senegal, Sierre Leone and Uganda, where more than one person out of two said they had handed out financial sweeteners to officials.
Nearly half of respondents said they paid to avoid problems, while a quarter said it was meant to speed up procedures.
Lower income earners reported paying more bribes than the better paid.
The study, the seventh on the matter by Transparency International since 2003, this time involved a greater number of countries, including for the first time China, Bangladesh and the Palestinian territories.
Polling, mostly by the Gallup Institute, was conducted between June 1 and September 30.
The study, by the Berlin-based non-governmental agency Transparency International, focuses on small-scale bribery and was put together from polls conducted among more than 91,000 people in 86 countries and territories.
In the past 12 months, one in four paid a bribe to one of nine institutions, such as health, education or tax authorities, according to the 2010 Global Corruption Barometer.
But it was the police who proved most corrupt, according to the study which reported that 29 per cent of those having dealings with police said they had paid a bribe.
Worldwide, sub-Saharan Africa was the region reporting the greatest incidence of bribery with more than one person in two saying they had made such payments to officials in the past 12 months.
The Middle East and North Africa was the next most corrupt region with 36 per cent of people there reporting having paid a bribe.
This compared to 32 per cent in the former Soviet republics, 23 per cent in South America, 19 per cent in the Balkans and Turkey, 11 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region, and five per cent in the European Union and North America.
Countries topping the list for reported bribe payments over the year were Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cameroon, India, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, the Palestinian territories, Senegal, Sierre Leone and Uganda, where more than one person out of two said they had handed out financial sweeteners to officials.
Nearly half of respondents said they paid to avoid problems, while a quarter said it was meant to speed up procedures.
Lower income earners reported paying more bribes than the better paid.
The study, the seventh on the matter by Transparency International since 2003, this time involved a greater number of countries, including for the first time China, Bangladesh and the Palestinian territories.
Polling, mostly by the Gallup Institute, was conducted between June 1 and September 30.
Mobile Use Risky In Pregnancy
Source:Indiareport
Moms-to-be, please note - regular use of cell phones during pregnancy could cause behavioural problems in your offspring, says a new study.
Researchers at the University of California and the University of Southern California have found that the risk is even higher if the offspring start using mobiles themselves by the time they are seven.
However, experts say that they are "sceptical" of the findings published in the latest edition of the'Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health'.
In the latest study, involving 29,000 youngsters, the researchers found that those children who were exposed to mobile phones in the womb and then in early childhood were 50 per cent more likely to have behavioural problems aged seven than youngsters exposed to neither.
Only being exposed to mobile phones while in the womb was linked to a 30 per cent increase, while youngsters who're exposed to phones in childhood but not in the womb were 20 per cent more likely to display abnormal behaviour, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.
The study is the second such research by the same team to find such an association. The first had involved a separate group of almost 13,000 children. The studies relied on mothers scoring their own child's behaviour and recalling their own mobile phone use.
When the results from both studies were combined, more than 10 per cent of children exposed to mobile phones in pregnancy had mothers who spoke on them at least four times a day, while half women had their phone turned on at all times.
Researchers at the University of California and the University of Southern California have found that the risk is even higher if the offspring start using mobiles themselves by the time they are seven.
However, experts say that they are "sceptical" of the findings published in the latest edition of the'Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health'.
In the latest study, involving 29,000 youngsters, the researchers found that those children who were exposed to mobile phones in the womb and then in early childhood were 50 per cent more likely to have behavioural problems aged seven than youngsters exposed to neither.
Only being exposed to mobile phones while in the womb was linked to a 30 per cent increase, while youngsters who're exposed to phones in childhood but not in the womb were 20 per cent more likely to display abnormal behaviour, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.
The study is the second such research by the same team to find such an association. The first had involved a separate group of almost 13,000 children. The studies relied on mothers scoring their own child's behaviour and recalling their own mobile phone use.
When the results from both studies were combined, more than 10 per cent of children exposed to mobile phones in pregnancy had mothers who spoke on them at least four times a day, while half women had their phone turned on at all times.
Romance With Wife--Be Your Wife's Boyfriend
Source:Indiareport
A Wife has to practically beg her husband to say “I love you". A wife grabs his hand when walking together (and he keeps pulling it away). Man thinks logically, woman thinks emotionally. After all, a man is a man. A wife feels petty-petty things as a part of romance like wishing birthdays, anniversaries, giving gifts, and holding hands; however, a husband feels romance is limited to the bed as marriage gives you a license to have an authorized sex. There’s no doubt that women rule when it comes to romance. Right? Let the husbands learn these beautiful and simple tricks to be as romantic as their wives would want them to be.
Call her with nicknames—
Call your wife baby, sweetheart, darling, sweetu, love, sexy or Ms your surname. Wives always want to hear these words from their husbands.
Romantic Punches—
While she is cooking for you, go in the kitchen silently and hold her from back and kiss on her ear. You are relaxing in the couch after coming back from office; she comes with a glass of water; while she is holding the tray, hop a little and bite her lips softly, then wink at her and drink the water. Flirt with her.
An Evening Out—
Call your wife when returning home and ask her if she would like you to pick up her favorite hot beverage. Make it into habit. It does not take long to do and half the time she’ll decline, but she’ll love that you asked. Else, you can make a dinner at home as a romantic event by sharing meals with her in a soft glow of candles. Trust me, it scores big and really an inexpensive way out.
Unwrap a Surprise Packet—
How about this! You come home with a long face, tired eyes and no smile; after lying lethargically in the bed, you ask your wife to open your wallet to get you an important paper. Here you go; the important paper is nothing but two movie tickets of tonight’s show. If she is adventurous, then tickets could be of a farmland or adventure park for trekking and other adventurous games. Sweep her off her feet by adding some love notes, flowers, gifts, and cards in the catalog of your surprises.What an idea sirji...
Go On A Holiday—
If possible, go on a holiday—a wife will be thrilled to spend her time out with her children and husband, away from her daily chores. Also See 5 Easy steps to Achieve Pregnancy
Breakfast in Bed—
Relax! It’s not as hard as you think. I am not talking about simple job like boiling eggs or preparing a toast. She’ll surely enjoy her coffee, a slice of fruit, bread toast, and some boiled eggs in her breakfast prepared by you. It will take you about ten minutes to make this simple meal. What a beautiful way to begin the day - her smiling face.
hjer is the best one for you man: Is Your Wife Spying On You-Try These To Escape
Call her with nicknames—
Call your wife baby, sweetheart, darling, sweetu, love, sexy or Ms your surname. Wives always want to hear these words from their husbands.
Romantic Punches—
While she is cooking for you, go in the kitchen silently and hold her from back and kiss on her ear. You are relaxing in the couch after coming back from office; she comes with a glass of water; while she is holding the tray, hop a little and bite her lips softly, then wink at her and drink the water. Flirt with her.
An Evening Out—
Call your wife when returning home and ask her if she would like you to pick up her favorite hot beverage. Make it into habit. It does not take long to do and half the time she’ll decline, but she’ll love that you asked. Else, you can make a dinner at home as a romantic event by sharing meals with her in a soft glow of candles. Trust me, it scores big and really an inexpensive way out.
Unwrap a Surprise Packet—
How about this! You come home with a long face, tired eyes and no smile; after lying lethargically in the bed, you ask your wife to open your wallet to get you an important paper. Here you go; the important paper is nothing but two movie tickets of tonight’s show. If she is adventurous, then tickets could be of a farmland or adventure park for trekking and other adventurous games. Sweep her off her feet by adding some love notes, flowers, gifts, and cards in the catalog of your surprises.What an idea sirji...
Go On A Holiday—
If possible, go on a holiday—a wife will be thrilled to spend her time out with her children and husband, away from her daily chores. Also See 5 Easy steps to Achieve Pregnancy
Breakfast in Bed—
Relax! It’s not as hard as you think. I am not talking about simple job like boiling eggs or preparing a toast. She’ll surely enjoy her coffee, a slice of fruit, bread toast, and some boiled eggs in her breakfast prepared by you. It will take you about ten minutes to make this simple meal. What a beautiful way to begin the day - her smiling face.
hjer is the best one for you man: Is Your Wife Spying On You-Try These To Escape
Mimicking One 'Can Help You Understand What One's Saying'
Source:Indiareport
Finding someone's accent difficult to understand? Fret not. Just imitate their speech style, for a new study says that mimicking one's accent can help you get what one's saying.
Researchers at University of Manchester have carried out the study and found that imitating someone may actually be our brain's way of helping us understand someone, according to the 'Psychological Science' journal.
"If people are talking to each other, they tend to sort of move their speech toward each other. People don't only do this with speech.
"People have a tendency to imitate each other in body posture, for instance in the way they cross their arms,"Patti Adank of University of Manchester, who led the study, was quoted by the 'Daily Mail' as saying.
For their study, researchers devised an experiment to test the effect of imitating on subsequent comprehension of sentences spoken in that accent.
In the experiment, Dutch volunteers were first tested on how well they understood sentences spoken in an unfamiliar accent of Dutch. To make sure all listeners were unfamiliar, a new accent was invented for the study, in which all the vowels were swapped - for instance "ball" would become "bale".
Researchers at University of Manchester have carried out the study and found that imitating someone may actually be our brain's way of helping us understand someone, according to the 'Psychological Science' journal.
"If people are talking to each other, they tend to sort of move their speech toward each other. People don't only do this with speech.
"People have a tendency to imitate each other in body posture, for instance in the way they cross their arms,"Patti Adank of University of Manchester, who led the study, was quoted by the 'Daily Mail' as saying.
For their study, researchers devised an experiment to test the effect of imitating on subsequent comprehension of sentences spoken in that accent.
In the experiment, Dutch volunteers were first tested on how well they understood sentences spoken in an unfamiliar accent of Dutch. To make sure all listeners were unfamiliar, a new accent was invented for the study, in which all the vowels were swapped - for instance "ball" would become "bale".
Polar Bears Spotted Swimming With Cubs On Back
Source:Indiareport
Scientists have spotted polar bears carrying their cubs on their backs while swimming through icy waters, which they claim is vital for the survival of the litters in waters surrounding scattered ice.
According to them, the practice is new and the result of the bears having to swim longer distance in the sea -the prime seal-hunting territory for the largest land predators in the world -due to reductions in Arctic ice in the summer.
Travelling on the mother's back will mean the cub's body will be in direct contact with the adult's fur and a large part of the baby will be out of the icy water thereby reducing heat loss,'The Daily Telegraph'reported.
The data from the WWF-Canon polar bear tracker programme, which has been running since 2007 in the Arctic, indicate that tagged bears in Alaska have swum around 350 to 400 miles in the past four years.
Radio collars, which can only be fitted on the females as the males'necks are wider than their heads so the collars slide straight off, send signals via satellites monitoring the bears'movements to track their behaviour and help determine how they are affected by climate change.
Geoff York, polar bear specialist from WWF, said:"As the Arctic ice continues to melt, it is likely that polar bears are increasingly going to have to swim longer distances.
"Data from tagged bears near Alaska has indicated swims of 350-400 miles in the past four years and if polar bear cubs are forced to cover these distances, then it is vital for them to behave in a way that minimises heat loss.
According to them, the practice is new and the result of the bears having to swim longer distance in the sea -the prime seal-hunting territory for the largest land predators in the world -due to reductions in Arctic ice in the summer.
Travelling on the mother's back will mean the cub's body will be in direct contact with the adult's fur and a large part of the baby will be out of the icy water thereby reducing heat loss,'The Daily Telegraph'reported.
The data from the WWF-Canon polar bear tracker programme, which has been running since 2007 in the Arctic, indicate that tagged bears in Alaska have swum around 350 to 400 miles in the past four years.
Radio collars, which can only be fitted on the females as the males'necks are wider than their heads so the collars slide straight off, send signals via satellites monitoring the bears'movements to track their behaviour and help determine how they are affected by climate change.
Geoff York, polar bear specialist from WWF, said:"As the Arctic ice continues to melt, it is likely that polar bears are increasingly going to have to swim longer distances.
"Data from tagged bears near Alaska has indicated swims of 350-400 miles in the past four years and if polar bear cubs are forced to cover these distances, then it is vital for them to behave in a way that minimises heat loss.
Coming Soon: Vehicles From Lungfish Teeth?
Source:Indiareport
Coming soon: Aircraft and cars made from lungfish teeth, say scientists.
A team at the Queensland University of Technology, has claimed the tooth enamel of lungfish - favoured for toughness and durability - could provide the basis for material to make aircraft or vehicles lighter and fuel-efficient.
"Without new materials we would never had had modern and efficient cars, for example. Compared with 60 years ago cars of today have much better handling, acceleration and braking and safety features thanks to the discovery of new materials along the way,"team leader Prof John Barry said.
According to the scientists, by copying some of the structures in lungfish teeth it should be possible to make composites which could be used more widely in cars and planes.
"At present, carbon fibre composites are the best available, and although carbon fibre composites are very strong'along the grain'they are very weak'across the grain'and their uses are limited,"he said.
A team at the Queensland University of Technology, has claimed the tooth enamel of lungfish - favoured for toughness and durability - could provide the basis for material to make aircraft or vehicles lighter and fuel-efficient.
"Without new materials we would never had had modern and efficient cars, for example. Compared with 60 years ago cars of today have much better handling, acceleration and braking and safety features thanks to the discovery of new materials along the way,"team leader Prof John Barry said.
According to the scientists, by copying some of the structures in lungfish teeth it should be possible to make composites which could be used more widely in cars and planes.
"At present, carbon fibre composites are the best available, and although carbon fibre composites are very strong'along the grain'they are very weak'across the grain'and their uses are limited,"he said.
Ears Can Help Identify Criminals
Source:Indiareport
In a finding that can make identification of criminals easier, a study has found that external ears of different persons, even if related, are never exactly the same and remained unchanged till the age of 60.
According to a study conducted by the anthropology department of Dr H S Gour Central University in Madhya Pradesh, external ear of different persons are never exactly the same and the left and right ears of the same person are distinctly different.
"We found that the shape and size of the external ear of one individual is different from another, whether related or not, and the left and right ears of the same person are also different. The study was carried out on more than 1,000 people,"forensic anthropologist Ruma Purkait said.
The external ear can be used to identify a criminal because the fingerprint are not always available at the scene of the crime and a forensic expert has to depend on images usually acquired through surveillance camera. But personal identification from facial images has its own drawbacks like effect of ageing, facial expression, disguise with artificial beard, moustache, sun glasses etc, she said.
"So this feature (external ear) can be used as an alternative tool for identification of an individual. More studies are being carried out in this regard as it answers the drawbacks associated with fingerprint or facial photograph,"she said.
Based on the findings, which was published in International Plastic Surgery Journal, IIT-Kanpur has developed a software which can do ear analysis for developing an external ear database, she said.
As per the study, the ear stops growing after 14 years in case of girls and 15 years in case of boys. Once a person attains 60 years, the ear starts elongating due to loss of elasticity.
"Since constancy over time is one of the essential trait of identification, the study emphasised that the ear can be used as an identification tool with a ceiling age of 60 years after which they need to update their data from time to time,"Purkait said.
According to a study conducted by the anthropology department of Dr H S Gour Central University in Madhya Pradesh, external ear of different persons are never exactly the same and the left and right ears of the same person are distinctly different.
"We found that the shape and size of the external ear of one individual is different from another, whether related or not, and the left and right ears of the same person are also different. The study was carried out on more than 1,000 people,"forensic anthropologist Ruma Purkait said.
The external ear can be used to identify a criminal because the fingerprint are not always available at the scene of the crime and a forensic expert has to depend on images usually acquired through surveillance camera. But personal identification from facial images has its own drawbacks like effect of ageing, facial expression, disguise with artificial beard, moustache, sun glasses etc, she said.
"So this feature (external ear) can be used as an alternative tool for identification of an individual. More studies are being carried out in this regard as it answers the drawbacks associated with fingerprint or facial photograph,"she said.
Based on the findings, which was published in International Plastic Surgery Journal, IIT-Kanpur has developed a software which can do ear analysis for developing an external ear database, she said.
As per the study, the ear stops growing after 14 years in case of girls and 15 years in case of boys. Once a person attains 60 years, the ear starts elongating due to loss of elasticity.
"Since constancy over time is one of the essential trait of identification, the study emphasised that the ear can be used as an identification tool with a ceiling age of 60 years after which they need to update their data from time to time,"Purkait said.
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