Health & Science

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 05:45 UTC

  Argentine-Swedish team discovers 49 million-years fossil of fully aquatic whale in Antarctica

  

  The jawbone of an ancient whale found in Antarctica may be the oldest fully aquatic whale yet discovered, Argentine scientists said Tuesday. The discovery took place close to the Argentine Antarctic base of Marambio next to the Weddell Sea.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 05:42 UTC

  UK expedition plans to collect water and sediment from Antarctic sub-glacial lake

  

  British engineers will next week set off for Antarctica to prepare the ground for an ambitious exploration project to search for life in an isolated lake three kilometers beneath solid ice, called Lake Ellsworth.

• Tuesday, October 11th 2011 - 07:54 UTC

  Brazil satisfied with first chapter of “Strategic Frontiers Plan”

  

  President Dilma Rousseff revealed Monday that in the last four months Brazilian forces in the framework of the ‘Strategic Frontiers Plan’ had seized over 62 tons of drugs and 650 kilos of arms and explosives.

• Monday, October 10th 2011 - 22:49 UTC

  Largest virus ever discovered pulled off the coast of Chile

  

  The largest virus yet discovered has been isolated from ocean water pulled up off the coast of Chile. Called Megavirus chilensis, it is 10 to 20 times longer than the average virus.

• Saturday, October 8th 2011 - 08:29 UTC

  Santiago de Chile is experiencing highest levels or solar radiation since 2008

  

  Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has increased three points compared to last September in Santiago de Chile, according to a study released by Chile’s National Cancer Corporation (Conac) and the UV monitoring network of the Universidad de Santiago (USACH).

• Wednesday, October 5th 2011 - 15:23 UTC

  Irrigation channels blamed for spike of typhoid and hepatitis A cases in Chile

  

  Last week Chile’s Institute of Public Health (ISP), together with Metropolitan Regional Health Secretary Rosa Oyarce, began taking samples from irrigation channels in western Santiago in relation to a recent upturn in cases of typhoid fever.

• Wednesday, October 5th 2011 - 08:35 UTC

  Argentina claims development of first vaccine against hydatidosis in livestock

  

  The first vaccine against hydatidosis in livestock and developed in Argentina together with Australian and New Zealand scientists was officially presented in Buenos Aires by the Ministry of Industry. In Argentina the tape worm parasite from cattle which is transmitted by dogs to human causes 450 deaths annually.

• Monday, October 3rd 2011 - 16:57 UTC

  Denmark taxes food with more than 2.3% of saturated fat

  

  In a bid to encourage healthier eating among its citizens, Denmark has introduced a tax on foods containing more than 2.3% saturated fat. As from last Saturday, all such products in Denmark now carry a tax to the tune of 16 Danish krone (2.86 dollars) per kilogram of saturated fat that goes into making them.

• Saturday, September 24th 2011 - 21:57 UTC

  Experiment with ‘faster than light’ neutrino particles open dreams of time travel

  

  Sub-atomic particles apparently travelling faster than light could force a major rethink of theories about how the cosmos works and even allow dreams of time travel and extra dimensions, scientists said on Friday.

• Thursday, September 22nd 2011 - 08:31 UTC

  UN launches all-out attack on non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cancer

  

  The United Nations launched on Monday an all-out attack on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and diabetes with a summit meeting devoted to curbing the factors, like tobacco and alcohol use, behind the often preventable scourge that causes 63% of all deaths.