Get our news on your inbox! x

Remember me Forgot password

MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, November 21st 2024 - 08:40 UTC

Health & Science

  • Wednesday, September 25th 2024 - 16:16 UTC

    UK Antarctic Science Conference at BAS, Cambridge

    Falklands MLA Mark Pollard and FIG Office London Representative during a recent visit to BAS, closely linked to the Falklands

    The British Antarctic Survey, BAS, has announced that the UK Antarctic Science Conference 2024 will take place at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, 1st – 3rd October 2024. The meeting aims to bring together all in the UK who are involved in Antarctic research or the support of Antarctic research.

  • Wednesday, September 25th 2024 - 15:40 UTC

    Well-preserved Ice Age mastodons found in Peru

    The near-complete preservation of one specimen heralded possible findings of global importance if the skull is found, it was explained

    Peruvian archaeologists found the fossilized remains of three Ice Age mastodons, which shed new light on these animals' presence in the region, with further specimes hoped to be unearthed shortly as the excavations that began in 2019 in the Chambara Valley, 300 kilometers east of Lima, are scheduled to continue. The behemoths found there are believed to be between 11,000 and 12,000 years old.

  • Tuesday, September 24th 2024 - 15:50 UTC

    Use of unauthorized suicide capsule sparks controversy in Switzerland

    The Sarco capsule is purple because it is “the color of dignity,” The Last Resort states on its website.

    Authorities in the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen arrested a group of people Tuesday in connection with the first-time unsanctioned use of the assisted suicide capsule known as Sarco, with which a 64-year-old American woman took her own life. Although assisted suicide is permitted in the country under certain conditions, prosecutors fear that these requirements had not been met.

  • Monday, September 23rd 2024 - 08:29 UTC

    Bluetongue virus, BTV 3, has spread to the whole of South East England

    DEFRA announced on Saturday that 'high risk' and 'control' zones previously set up in the UK had been merged and extended.

    As more cases were found temporary restriction zones have been brought in to help stem the spread of the bluetongue virus (BTV-3), some 95 cases, which now cover the whole of the South East England.

  • Friday, September 20th 2024 - 08:02 UTC

    Falklands, confirmed case of avian influenza in Surf Bay, close to Stanley

    Since 30 October 2023, 113 suspect birds/animals have been reported, 72 sets of swabs have been taken. Nineteen have returned positive results and 53 negative results

    The Falkland Islands Director of Natural Resources has released the following, “On Monday 16 September 2024 swabs that were taken from a dead Gentoo penguin on Surf Bay were tested and returned positive for HPAI. Given that this is an isolated case of one single bird, that is more than 1km from poultry or a colony, a level 1 response will be followed and a full protection zone will not be declared.”

  • Thursday, September 19th 2024 - 07:58 UTC

    Lush Rainforest in Falklands? Mysteries that Tussac House foundations helped discover

    Perfectly preserved wood sample from Tussac House site aged between 15 and 30 million years old. Credit: Dr. Zoë Thomas

    A researcher from the University of Southampton (UK) has found evidence that the treeless, rugged, grassland landscape of the Falkland Islands was home to a lush, diverse rainforest up to 30 million years ago.

  • Tuesday, September 17th 2024 - 16:52 UTC

    Brazilian physicians worried about respiratory damage caused by widespread fires

    Facemasks do not filter smaller pollution particles and are therefore rather useless, Dalcolmo explained

    Respiratory disease specialists are concerned about people suffering the effects of long-lasting forest fires in several parts of South America's largest country and insist children and the elderly need special attention, Agencia Brasil reported. Excessive smoke in the air coupled with a dry climate has caused discomfort to many, Brazilian Society of Pneumology and Physiology (SBPT) President Margareth Dalcolmo warned.

  • Tuesday, September 17th 2024 - 07:31 UTC

    Falklands Fidelis 2 emergency medical evacuation exercise

    The Exercise was an opportunity for the multi-agency team to train and develop skills in a controlled environment in preparation to support the MEDEVAC chain

    Each year there are about 5-7 aero-medical transfers of military and civilian patients from the Falkland Islands to South America onboard fixed wing military airframes stationed at BFSAI.

  • Monday, September 16th 2024 - 08:38 UTC

    Polaris Dawn mission completed successfully

    Isaacman and Gillis performed consecutive spacewalks Poteet and Menon remained inside the capsule

    The mission behind the first-ever spacewalk performed by a non-professional astronaut was completed Sunday when the Dragon capsule of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission splashed down off the coast of Florida.

  • Monday, September 9th 2024 - 10:14 UTC

    Falklands support for tourism sector affected by pathogenic avian influenza

    Given the importance of the tourist sector, the Falklands Government, where possible, will compensate for losses associated with HPAI-related restrictions

    Following the approval at ExCo on Tuesday 27 August 2024, the Falkland Islands Government are pleased to announce the continuation of the support scheme designed specifically to mitigate the effects of site closures associated with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, on tourism businesses, operators and employees until 2 April 2025.