Health & Science

• Tuesday, September 18th 2012 - 06:17 UTC

  Brazil begins rebuilding Antarctic base destroyed by deadly fire last February

  

  Three navy supply ships will head for Antarctica next month to begin rebuilding a Brazilian naval base destroyed by a deadly fire in February, Defence Minister Celso Amorim said Monday.

• Thursday, September 6th 2012 - 03:51 UTC

  Brazil excels in many fields but also in crack and cocaine consumption

  

  Brazil is the world's largest market for crack and the second for overall cocaine use, researchers from the Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP) said on Wednesday.

• Wednesday, September 5th 2012 - 00:44 UTC

  Antarctica could hold large volumes of methane, warn British scientists

  

  Large volumes of methane - a potent greenhouse gas - could be locked beneath the ice-covered regions of Antarctica, according to a new study. Methane could be released into the atmosphere as ice retreats, contributing to climate warming.

• Wednesday, August 29th 2012 - 02:56 UTC

  Falklands’ Shallow Marine Survey Group shares beauty of South Georgia waters

  

  The Shallow Marine surveys Group, which normally operates around the Falkland Islands, completed what they described as a, “highly productive expedition,” to South Georgia earlier this year, exploring the sub-tidal and inter-tidal habitats along the island’s north coast.

• Tuesday, August 28th 2012 - 04:13 UTC

  Despite Fukushima accident, 30 countries considering nuclear energy says IAEA

  

  Almost 30 countries are considering or planning to introduce nuclear energy as interest remains strong despite last year's Fukushima accident, the United Nations' atomic agency said.

• Thursday, August 23rd 2012 - 06:24 UTC

  Animal welfare demand inquiry into death of 400 pregnant heifers en route to Russia

  

  The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and Compassion in World Farming are calling on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take immediate action following reports that 400 pregnant cattle among a total of 3,900 cattle being transported by ship from the United States to Russia have died en route.

• Wednesday, August 22nd 2012 - 06:06 UTC

  UN warns of risk of African swine fever in Caucasus region

  

  Following the first-ever detection of African swine fever (ASF)in Ukraine, the United Nations is warning that while control measures appear to have temporarily halted the disease's spread, it has established a firm foothold in the Caucasus and poses an ongoing risk to neighbouring areas.

• Saturday, August 18th 2012 - 05:28 UTC

  US scientists develop a translucent polymer robot inspired in the squid

  

  Scientists in the United States said they had devised a rubbery robot, inspired by the squid and octopus, which can crawl, camouflage itself and hide from infrared cameras. The Pentagon-backed gadget is the latest type of a so-called soft machine, meaning silicone-based robots that are made from squidgy, translucent polymers.

• Friday, August 17th 2012 - 11:20 UTC

  Cuban health authorities admit dengue and yellow fever outbreaks

  

  The Cuban Public Health Ministry (MINSAP) this week again called on people's support to help eradicate the proliferation of the dengue transmitter Aedes aegypti mosquito during the summer months, when vector-associated diseases are on the increase.

• Friday, August 17th 2012 - 06:46 UTC

  Dallas in state of disaster; aerial spraying of mosquitoes to combat West Nile virus

  

  The city of Dallas in Texas is joining other municipalities declaring a state of disaster during what has become the worst outbreak of West Nile virus in the United States in 2012.