News: Secreat of Mona lisa

French scientists crack secrets of Mona Lisa Paris: The enigmatic smile remains a mystery, but French scientists say they have cracked a few secrets of the "Mona Lisa."        French researchers studied seven of the Louvre Museum's Leonardo da Vinci paintings, including the "Mona Lisa", to analyze the master's use of successive ultrathin layers of paint and glaze - a technique that gave his works their dreamy quality. Specialists from the Center for Research and restorationof the Museums of France found that da Vinci painted up to 30 layers of paint on his works to meet his standards of subtlety. Added up, all the layers are less than 40 micrometers, or about half the thickness of a human hair, researcher Philippe Walter said on Friday. The technique, called "sfumato," allowed da Vinci to give outlines and contours a hazy quality and create an illusion of depthe and shadow. His use of the technique is well-known, but scientific study on it has been limited because tests often required samples from the paintings.       The french researchers used a noninvasive technique called X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to study the paint layers and their chemical composition.They brought their specially developed high-tech tool into the museum when it was closed and studied the portraits' faces, which are emblematic of sfumato. The project was developed in collaboration with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble. The tool is so precise that "now we can find out the mix of pigments used by the artist for each coat of paint." Waller told the Associated Press. "And that's very, very important for understanding the technique."        the analysis of the various paintings also shows da Vinci was constantly trying out new methods, Walter said, in the "Mona Lisa," da Vinci used manganese oxide in his shadings, In others, he used copper Often he used glazes, but not always. The results were published Wednesday in Angewandte Chemie International Edition , a chemistry journal. Traditions holds that the "Mona Lisa" is a painting of Lisa Cherardinl, wife of florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo, and that da Vinci started painting it in 1503.

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Health Issue: Paralysed leg using robotic legs

Robotic legs put paralysed back on their feet Wellington: Two New Zealand inventors have produced what they claim are the world's first robotic legs to help paraplegics walk again.        The bionic legs were road tested publicly for the first time by 23-year-old Hayden allen who was told five years ago he would never walk again after being paralysed from the chest down in a motorcycle accident. Allen said the experience of being able to stand up and walk when strapped into his robotic legs was fantastic and he felt like a normal buman being again. "It will be a big benefit from a social aspect, being able to talk to someone at the same eye level," he told reports.        Inventors Richard Little and "robert Irving, two ex-patriate Scottish engineers, came up with the idea seven years ago and have spent $7.1 million developing it, Called Rex (robotic exoskeleton) the 38kg joy-stick operated legs were inspired by the movie 'Aliens' in which the character Ripley(Sigourney Weaver) climbs into a robotic exo0skeleton to fight an alien.       Rex is "a realistic standing and walking alternative to wheelchairs," the inventors said on their website Rexbionics.com "It enables the user to climb up and down stairs, sit, stand, and step backwards, sideways and forwards - providing the opportunity for people in wheelchairs who want to walk, to do just that."        However, Rex comes with a hefty price tag of 150,000 US dollars and at present is only available in New Zealand although the inventors said it would be sold worldwide from next year.       Rex Bionics believes demand will outstrip supply for the next few years.

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HEalth Issue: iDosing: Through Internet

iDosing: New way to get high the digital way Listening To Repectitive, Atonal Tracks Downloaded From Net In a Dark Room Can Induce Hallucinogenic State Melbourne: A new free legal high drug that can easily be downloaded through the internet has emerged in the formof "iDosing".        Reports of kids achiening catatonic or hallucinogenic states simply by downloading and litening to "digital drugs" have beenmaking rounds. It was first revealed when kids at Mustang high school in Oklahoma were caught wasted on "monotonous, layered sounds in a dark room"        According to NewsOK. iDosing's caught on a t Miustang High enough to convince staff to send letters home to parents warning them of the possible dangers.        "The parents' reaction was the same as mine.Just shocked."News.com au guoted Mustang school district super intendent Bonnie Lighfoot as saying.         A person can iDos by simply finding a dark room, slipping on the headphones and sitting motionless, listening to repetitive, atonal tracks, and the time it takes to achieve any transcendental state is entire;y up to the user.         An analysis done on the dangers of iDonsing has shown that while the practice itself is mostly harmless, there's a chance of it leading to mor harmful addictions.         Owner of I-doser.com, Nick Ashton, supports Mustang's warning for parents. "We have heard of that, and we agree. Any method that involved experiencing a simulated mood or experience should be taken seriously,"he siad.        "I-Doser.com is not dnagerous, completely safe, but any user should be aware that this is causing a modification of mood." he stated.According to i-dose.us, the tracks on theri"Binaural Beats" list can promote a range of feel good vibes, which canhelp you quit smoking, relieve PMS and relieve pain. And the site also offers one the chance to become a "digital dealer" at I-Doser.         Their Recreational simulations pack, which is priced at $16.95, is a collection of 4 doses in MP3 formnat: Marijuana, co-caine, Opium, and Peyote.

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