Java sparrows can become able to distinguish languages: scientists
February 3, 2006An experiment by a group of Japanese scientists has shown that Java sparrows can be trained to distinguish different languages spoken by humans. It marks the first time for ability to recognize differences of spoken languages to be found among animals other than some mammals, said biological psychologist Shigeru Watanabe, who heads the group.
Team observes gamma-ray burst afterglow 12 bil. light years away
February 3, 2006A team of astronomers said Friday it has observed the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst that took place about 12 billion light years from the Earth, the sixth farthest known ever and the farthest reported by a Japanese observatory. The team comprises researchers from the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory, a National Astronomical Observatory of Japan facility in the town of Kamogata, Okayama Prefecture, the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Kyoto University.