Health & Science

• Thursday, March 4th 2010 - 21:10 UTC

  Cruise along Brazilian coast suffers alleged massive food poisoning

  

  Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas was liberated and allowed to continue with the cruise after Brazilian sanitary officials imposed a 24 hours quarantine following a massive outbreak of what is believed to be food poisoning.

• Thursday, March 4th 2010 - 21:03 UTC

  Cost of rebuilding Chile estimated in 30 billion US dollars

  

  Chile’s plans to repair the damaged caused by last Saturday’s earthquake are likely to cost the nation an estimated 30 billion US dollars and three to four years work, according to EQECAT, a firm that evaluates catastrophe risk for insurers.

• Thursday, March 4th 2010 - 03:25 UTC

  Outbreak of foot and mouth disease in south China pig farms

  

  A total of 8,382 pigs have been culled after a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in south China's Guangdong Province, bordering Hong Kong, local animal husbandry and veterinary officials reported earlier this week.

• Thursday, February 25th 2010 - 01:11 UTC

  Genetically altered mosquitoes to help curb spread of dengue fever

  

  Scientists are breeding a genetically altered strain of mosquito in an effort to curb the spread of dengue fever. The dengue virus is spread by the bite of infected female mosquitoes and there is no vaccine or treatment.

• Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 23:47 UTC

  Scientists warn about impact on marine life of growing oceans’ acidity

  

  With the growing level of pollution, the world's oceans are becoming acidic faster that could destroy the marine life and food supplies, a new study has claimed.

• Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 21:31 UTC

  Vindication of siesta: steps up brain’s ability to absorb new information

  

  A nap during the day improves the brain's ability to absorb new information, US scientists claim. Volunteers who slept for 90 minutes during the day did better at cognitive tests than those who were kept awake.

• Saturday, February 20th 2010 - 21:24 UTC

  Census of marine life reveals 5.000 new species and “most advanced chemicals”

  

  A preview of the Census of Marine Life has revealed that the project has discovered over 5,000 new species. These include bizarre and colourful creatures, as well as many organisms that produce therapeutic chemicals.

• Thursday, February 18th 2010 - 23:24 UTC

  Dengue is back in Brazil and northern Argentina

  

  Brazilian sanitary authorities confirmed the existence of a dengue epidemic in several counties of five states. They are Matto Grosso bordering with Bolivia; Matto Grosso do Sul next to Bolivia and Paraguay; Acre neighbouring with Peru and Bolivia; Roraima to the north next to Venezuela and Guyana and the state of Goias in the heart of Brazil.

• Tuesday, February 16th 2010 - 02:02 UTC

  Shackleton “Quest” cabin, new show piece for South Georgia Museum

  

  The cabin in which British polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton died aboard his ship “Quest” looks set to become an important new artefact at the South Georgia Museum.

• Tuesday, February 9th 2010 - 04:21 UTC

  Carnival takes off and Brazilian government hands out millions of condoms

  Brazilian health officials have kicked off an AIDS awareness campaign and will hand out 55 million condoms during the annual Carnival festival that begins this weekend.