Health & Science

• Sunday, January 8th 2012 - 05:10 UTC

  Shrinking sea ice cover in north Canada threatening seal population, says report

  Shrinking sea ice cover in the North Atlantic over the past three decades due to warming has led to a “dramatic” spike in deaths among seal pups, a new US study says, offering a glimpse into a population issue while numbers are still abundant.

• Thursday, January 5th 2012 - 05:28 UTC

  Paraguay declares sanitary emergency because of outbreak of FMD

  

  Paraguay declared on Wednesday animal sanitary emergency in the district of San Pedro, 400 kilometres north of the capital Asuncion where this week an outbreak of foot and mouth disease was confirmed in a farm.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2012 - 17:37 UTC

  Pale octopus and yeti crabs found surrounding hydrothermal vents near Antarctica

  

  Communities of species previously unknown to science have been discovered on the seafloor near Antarctica, clustered in the hot, dark environment surrounding hydrothermal vents.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2012 - 05:52 UTC

  GSK Argentina fined for experimenting vaccines in babies from poor families

  

  GlaxoSmithKline Argentina Laboratories company was fined 400.000 Pesos (approx 90.000 dollars) by Judge Marcelo Aguinsky following a report issued by the National Administration of Medicine, Food and Technology (ANMAT) for the killing of 14 babies during illegal lab vaccine trials conducted between 2007 and 2008.

• Monday, January 2nd 2012 - 21:01 UTC

  Peru’s fish meal anchovy finds a new successful outlet in the burger market

  

  Peruvians now have a choice of good food thanks to a hamburger produced by TASA that is made with anchovy pulp: Omegaburger Kontiki, innovative product rich in protein, minerals, vitamins and Omega 3 fatty acids.

• Monday, January 2nd 2012 - 20:39 UTC

  Fears of another foot and mouth disease outbreak in Paraguay

  

  Paraguay’ Livestock Sanitary Office has confirmed the isolation of a cattle farm in the north of the country where an apparent outbreak of foot and mouth disease has been reported. The farm is approximately 35 kilometres from the outbreak reported last September.

• Monday, January 2nd 2012 - 00:51 UTC

  Scott’s spirit and contribution to science to be honoured by Antarctic expedition

  

  The New Year marks the 100th Anniversary of Captain Robert Scott’s Antarctic endeavors and his heroic efforts to reach the South Pole, which ultimately led to his team’s tragic demise in 1912.

• Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:34 UTC

  Buenos Aires City becomes 100% smoke-free in public places

  

  The City of Buenos Aires put forth the steps to become 100% smoke-free, after amendments were made to the anti-tobacco laws, totally prohibiting the use of smoking areas in restaurants and bars in Argentina’s capital.

• Friday, December 30th 2011 - 05:53 UTC

  Titanic sinking anniversary includes the auction of a 5.500 item collection

  

  The biggest collection of Titanic artefacts is to be sold off as a single lot in an auction timed for the 100th anniversary in April of the sinking of the famed ocean liner.

• Wednesday, December 28th 2011 - 03:29 UTC

  Chile signs strategic science and education agreement with Massachusetts

  

  The Chilean government has signed a strategic bilateral agreement with the state of Massachusetts, opening the way for collaborative research in the key areas of education, energy and biotechnology.