Health & Science

Monday, July 22nd 2013 - 00:18 UTC
Introducing the Exlana sheep after eight years of development

The concept of an easier care animal is not new – as SIG, a group of eight sheep farmers developing Sheep Improved Genetics, are the first to admit. But after years of breeding sheep through genetics, not cosmetics, the Exlana breeders say they have bred the ultimate animal.
Wednesday, July 17th 2013 - 20:21 UTC
Latin America becoming prime destination for medical tourism

The high cost of healthcare has created the lucrative phenomenon of medical tourism. An IPK International survey revealed roughly 3% of the world’s population travels to foreign countries for medical treatment, while Patients Beyond Borders, which publishes international medical travel guidebooks, reported the medical tourism industry is a 40 billion dollars a year business.
Tuesday, July 16th 2013 - 03:55 UTC
Closer to discovering how genetic flaws increase obesity risks

The mystery of a genetic flaw which greatly increases the risk of obesity in one in six people has been solved by an international group of scientists. A version of an obesity gene, called FTO, had been linked to a bigger belly, but the reason why was uncertain.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 22:11 UTC
Despite lavish spending, health of the US population has fallen behind that of economic peers

The United States is falling behind its economic peers in most measures of health, despite making gains in the past two decades, according to a sweeping study of data from 34 countries.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 06:40 UTC
Right to abort of raped-pregnant 11-year-old triggers major controversy in conservative Chile

A pregnant 11-year-old Chilean girl who was allegedly raped by her stepfather should be granted all medical options, including the right to abort, rights group Amnesty International said on Thursday. The pregnancy of 'Belen,' as she is known has sparked an outcry in one of South America’s most conservative countries, where abortion is banned under all circumstances.
Thursday, July 11th 2013 - 07:08 UTC
Eight times Manhattan island iceberg breaks off from Antarctic glacier

Pine Island Glacier (PIG), the longest and fastest flowing glacier in the Antarctic, has spawned a huge iceberg. The block measures about 720 sq km in area - roughly eight times the size of Manhattan Island in New York.
Thursday, July 11th 2013 - 06:58 UTC
One third of world’s population benefits from effective tobacco control measure

At 2.3 billion, the number of people worldwide covered by at least one life-saving measure to limit tobacco use has more than doubled in the last five years, according to the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2013. The number of people covered by bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, the focus of this year’s report, increased by almost 400 million people residing mainly in low- and middle-income countries.
Wednesday, July 10th 2013 - 17:44 UTC
Falklands: multi-disciplinary plan to help tackle veterans’ trauma

Archaeologists, historians, former service personnel and mental health professionals are meeting in London to discuss a plan to use archaeology to tackle war trauma. The plan is the idea of University of Glasgow academic Dr Tony Pollard and is centred on the Falkland Islands conflict.
Tuesday, July 9th 2013 - 00:09 UTC
Brazil drops the idea of Cuban doctors and will hire physicians from Spain and Portugal

The Brazilian government, under pressure to improve public health services, has dropped plans to import a contingent of Cuban doctors and is instead looking to hire physicians in Spain and Portugal, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
Monday, July 8th 2013 - 23:57 UTC
FAO and WHO agree on new Alimentarius Codex with stricter standards for healthier diets

The UN food standards body Codex Alimentarius has agreed on new standards to protect the health of consumers worldwide. These include standards on fruit, vegetables, fish and fishery products and animal feed.