Health & Science

• 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.

• Saturday, February 6th 2010 - 12:18 UTC

  Atlas Air Flight 46 Drops Wing Cover On Approach To MIA

  

  While on a one mile final approach descent to Miami International Airport, an Atlas Air Flight 46, a Boeing 747, had a structural separation of a wing actuator fairing cover that fell onto the parking lot at the International Mall of Americas in Miami, Florida on Friday midday. Flight 46 was a cargo flight out of Santiago, Chile.

• Saturday, February 6th 2010 - 08:53 UTC

  Shackleton Antarctic gift for whisky lovers': century old recipe

  

  Five crates of a century-old lost whisky belonging to Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton have been recovered by conservators. Three crates of the Mackinlay whisky, and a further two crates of brandy, were discovered beneath the hut, and used by Shackleton to launch his journey to the South Pole.

• Tuesday, February 2nd 2010 - 04:44 UTC

  FAO forensic techniques to improve seafood safety for consumers

  

  An unknown percentage of the fish we eat isn't what's it's purported to be and could have fatal consequences. FAO explores how forensic techniques could help address the problem.