Health & Science

• Tuesday, February 21st 2012 - 05:16 UTC

  Dutch scientists planning first lab-grown hamburger later this year

  

  Dutch scientists have used stem cells to create strips of muscle tissue with the aim of producing the first lab-grown hamburger later this year. The aim of the research is to develop a more efficient way of producing meat than rearing animals.

• Friday, February 17th 2012 - 01:25 UTC

  On eve of Carnival, Brazilian minister warns Rio do Janeiro of dengue epidemics

  

  Brazilian health minister Alexandre Padilha warned on Thursday that the city of Rio do Janeiro is exposed to potentially one of the worst epidemics of the mosquito transmitted dengue disease in recent history.

• Friday, February 17th 2012 - 01:18 UTC

  HMS Protector meets RRS Ernest Shackleton in Antarctica

  

  Newly commissioned Royal Navy Ice patrol vessel HMS Protector met up with her sister ship, the RRS Ernest Shackleton, in Antarctica recently. Her role as Ice Patrol Ship is to: conduct hydrographical surveys; assist the British Antarctic Survey; conduct base inspections to support the Antarctic Treaty and patrol for unlicensed fishing and visitors

• Thursday, February 16th 2012 - 21:13 UTC

  UK Science minister calls in the Falklands en route to Antarctica tour

  

  Science and Universities Minister David Willetts has become the latest UK politician to visit the Falklands. A spokesman for Mr Willetts said he would make on Thursday a “transiting visit” en route to an engagement in Antarctica.

• Monday, February 13th 2012 - 23:11 UTC

  South Africa will have a new multi-purpose polar research vessel next season

  

  The South African 30 years old research and supply ship “SA Agulhas” made her last ever call to King Edward Cove in South Georgia Island on January 15th. She will be replaced by a new icebreaker currently being built in Finland next season, reports the South Georgia Newsletter.

• Thursday, February 9th 2012 - 07:34 UTC

  Paraguay’s second couple in hospital with dengue

  

  Paraguay’s Vice president Federico Franco and his wife lawmaker Emilia Alfaro are in hospital in the capital Asuncion following infection symptoms of the mosquito transmitted dengue which is very common in tropical areas during the rainy season.

• Thursday, February 9th 2012 - 07:30 UTC

  Hantavirus public alert in Chile after outbreak kills three people, infects ten others

  

  Chile declared a public health alert this week over a hantavirus outbreak that has killed three people and infected at least 10 others and which have been blame of the wildfires of a very hot summer.

• Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 05:57 UTC

  Deadly bacteria that resist antibiotics found in Antarctica seawater

  

  Bacteria that can resist nearly all antibiotics have been found in Antarctic seawater, reports the New Scientist.

• Monday, February 6th 2012 - 20:02 UTC

  HMS Protector cuts through Antarctic ice and visits remote research bases

  

  HMS Protector, the Royal Navy's ice patrol ship, has cut through the ice floes of Antarctica for the first time. The icebreaker arrived in Antarctica for the first time two weeks ago and is following up important survey work for shipping in the region with visits to remote research bases locked in the frozen continent.

• Monday, February 6th 2012 - 06:43 UTC

  Bolivia declares dengue emergency as six deaths are reported

  

  The Bolivian province of Santa Cruz has declared a sanitary emergency in the region following an outbreak of the mosquito transmitted dengue fever which has already caused at least six deaths, according to local officials.