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Scientists design laser to kill weeds![]() Washington (UPI) Jun 8, 2017 In a quest to become heroes to yard workers everywhere, a team of German researchers are developing a laser gun to kill weeds. In reality, the new laser system is unlikely to be coming to a yard near you. But it could prove a boon to farmers and the environment. The system's promising ability relies on robotic software, which is being tested and improved by computer scientists at the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation at the University of Bonn in Germany. Researchers hope a combinat ... read more |
Culls, poultry transport ban as S. Korea fights bird flu outbreakSeoul (AFP) June 7, 2017 South Korea has imposed a temporary nationwide ban on poultry transportation as it struggles to contain an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N8 virus, which has led to the slaughter of some 190,000 birds. ... more
Study predicts where global warming is likely to spark food violenceWashington (UPI) Jun 8, 2017 Global warming is likely to trigger a higher frequency of extreme weather - longer, hotter droughts and more intense flooding. Regions of Africa and the Middle East are expected to become too hot and dry to sustain large human populations. ... more
New ceramic nanofiber 'sponges' could be used for flexible insulation, water purificationProvidence RI (SPX) Jun 05, 2017 Researchers have found a way to make ultralight sponge-like materials from nanoscale ceramic fibers. The highly porous, compressible and heat-resistant sponges could have numerous uses, from water p ... more
Scientists discover plant 'brain' controlling seed developmentBirmingham UK (SPX) Jun 07, 2017 A new study by scientists at the University of Birmingham has revealed a group of cells that function as a 'brain' for plant embryos, capable of assessing environmental conditions and dictating when ... more |
Typhoon Fung-wong leaves flooded Philippine towns in its wake
Typhoon exposes centuries-old shipwreck off Vietnam port Weakening Typhoon Fung-wong exits Philippines after displacing 1.4 million Super Typhoon Fung-wong makes landfall in Philippines Over 1 million evacuate as deadly Super Typhoon Fung-wong nears Philippines Dam reservoir levels drop below 3% in Iran's second city: media Philippines evacuates one million, woman dead as super typhoon nears Japan observes tiny tsunami following 6.7 magnitude quake Philippines evacuates hundreds of thousands as super typhoon nears Tornado kills six, injures 750 as it wrecks southern Brazil town |
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| Previous Issues | Jun 08 | Jun 07 | Jun 06 | Jun 05 | Jun 02 |
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Understanding a river's 'thermal landscape' may be the key to saving itWashington DC (SPX) Jun 05, 2017 River temperatures have long been an area of study, but until recently, the field has been hampered by technological constraints. Fine-scale measurements over large distances and long time periods h ... more
Slovenia's 'eco-hero' who crushed a cement giantTrbovlje, Slovenia (AFP) June 4, 2017 When he saw swallows nesting in the barn for the first time in almost two decades, Slovenian farmer Uros Macerl felt vindicated. His exhausting battle against a polluting industrial giant had been worthwhile. ... more
As temperatures rise, plants take up more carbonWashington (UPI) Jun 5, 2017 New research suggests plants begin to take up more carbon once they're acclimated to warmer temperatures. ... more
Myanmar's edible bird nest industry comes home to roostBokpyin, Myanmar (AFP) June 6, 2017 The cries of amorous swiftlets echo around the dark room, an unlikely gold mine for traders in southern Myanmar who are cashing in on rising demand for the edible nests from China's growing middle class. ... more
Brexit risks disrupting EU agriculture market, experts warnBrussels (AFP) June 6, 2017 EU farm and food businesses may pay a big price for Brexit if new trade barriers pop up and dim the British appetite for products like Irish cheddar, French wine and Danish bacon, experts and advocates warn. ... more
Blockchain seen as tool in food safetyNew York (AFP) June 4, 2017 The food industry is turning to the same technology used by virtual currencies to strengthen food safety and inventory management by tracking meats and crops from farm to table. ... more |
![]() Bacteria may supercharge the future of wastewater treatment
Cape Town cuts back to survive worst drought in 100 yearsCape Town (AFP) June 1, 2017 As Cape Town suffers its worst drought in a century, residents have been told to restrict showers to two minutes and flush toilets only when "absolutely necessary". ... more
Historical rainfall levels are significant in carbon emissions from soilAustin TX (SPX) May 30, 2017 Scientists have known that microbes living in the ground can play a major role in producing atmospheric carbon that can accelerate climate change, but now researchers from The University of Texas at ... more
Squeezing every drop of fresh water from waste brineRiverside CA (SPX) May 30, 2017 Engineers at the University of California, Riverside have developed a new way to recover almost 100 percent of the water from highly concentrated salt solutions. The system will alleviate water shor ... more
China's 'toilet revolution' targets dirty lavatoriesBeijing (AFP) May 29, 2017 China is taking care of a pressing need: Authorities have installed or upgraded over 50,000 lavatories in a "national toilet revolution" designed to clean up filthy public restrooms. ... more |
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Washington (UPI) Jun 8, 2017
New satellite images from the Global Precipitation Measurement mission offers a visualization of the extreme rainfall that has accumulated in Florida over the past week.
GPM is a joint mission between NASA and Japan's space agency JAXA. It consists of a GPM core observatory satellite and a constellation of cooperating probes.
As the GPM core observatory satellite passed above Sou ... more Paris (ESA) Jun 02, 2017The heat is on for Sentinel-3B exactEarth Launches Revolutionary Global Real-Time Maritime Tracking and Information Service Paris (AFP) May 30, 2017Earth is a jewel, says astronaut after six months away |
Paris (ESA) Jun 09, 2017
Two further satellites have formally become part of Europe's Galileo satnav system, broadcasting timing and navigation signals worldwide while also picking up distress calls across the planet.
These are the 15th and 16th satellites to join the network, two of the four Galileos that were launched together by Ariane 5 on 17 November, and the first additions to the working constellation since ... more Washington DC (SPX) May 30, 2017GIS is a powerful tool that should be used with caution Tokyo (AFP) June 1, 2017Japan launches satellite in bid for super accurate GPS system exactEarth Broadens Small Vessel Tracking Offering |
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Washington DC (SPX) Jun 07, 2017
Scientists have pinpointed a new source of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that's more potent than carbon dioxide. The culprit? Tiny bits of decomposing leaves in soil. The new discovery, led by Michigan State University (MSU) researchers and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is featured in the current issue of the journal Nature Geoscience.
"This study looked at the geometr ... more Czerlonka, Pologne (AFP) June 8, 2017Activists block logging in Poland's ancient forest Washington DC (UPI) Jun 2, 2017Forensic analysis of wood's chemical signatures could curb illegal logging Ottawa (AFP) June 1, 2017Canada provides Can$867 mn to beleaguered softwood sector |
Washington (UPI) Jun 7, 2017
Recycling can encompass more than just materials like plastics and paper. Important chemicals can also be recovered and reused.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new technique for recycling plant material into stock chemicals, or commodity chemicals.
When recycling plant materials, the target is lignin, a complex organic polymer that provides structure to ... more Madison WI (SPX) Jun 07, 2017Newly identified gene helps time spring flowering in vital grass crops Lausanne, Switzerland (SPX) Jun 07, 2017Splitting carbon dioxide using low-cost catalyst materials Montreal, Canada (SPX) Jun 01, 2017Cold conversion of food waste into renewable energy and fertilizer |
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Turku, Finland (SPX) Jun 07, 2017
Researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, have developed a synthetic material based on the natural hackmanite mineral which produces broad spectrum white light in lamps. The hackmanite created by the Inorganic Materials Chemistry research group is a low-cost material emitting luminescence closer to sunlight than that of the currently used lanthanides.
The hackmanite developed by the ... more Beijing (AFP) June 8, 2017US official backs clean energy cooperation with China Beijing, China (SPX) Jun 05, 2017Artificial transpiration for solar water purification Lausanne, Switzerland (SPX) Jun 05, 2017Ultra-stable perovskite solar cell remains stable for more than a year |
Washington (UPI) Jun 5, 2017
The largest regional investor in renewable energy, the Asian Development Bank said Monday it was pegging clean energy to development in Pacific economies.
In an annual regional update, the ADB said it was working to promote renewable energy strategies in the Pacific region by helping to drive the low-carbon economy forward. The ADB's current portfolio of energy sector projects in the re ... more Anaheim, CA (SPX) May 28, 2017GE Energy Financial Services Surpasses $15 Billion in Renewable Energy Investments Washington (UPI) May 25, 2017U.S. states taking up wind energy mantle Solomons MD (SPX) May 10, 2017Scientists track porpoises to assess impact of offshore wind farms |
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Sydney (AFP) June 6, 2017
Indian mining giant Adani on Tuesday said it will start work on a huge US$16 billion coal project that environmentalists warn will damage Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Billionaire chairman Gautam Adani said in Townsville that the board had made its "final investment decision" which marked the "official start" of the Carmichael coal mine, destined to be one of the world's largest.
The ... more Beijing (AFP) May 25, 2017From coal miner to writer of China's hit TV show Beijing (AFP) May 8, 2017Gas leak kills 18 miners in central China Washington DC (SPX) Apr 26, 2017India's coal plant plans conflict with climate commitments |
Beijing (AFP) June 5, 2017
A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer who disappeared late last year has been officially charged with "subversion of state power", his wife said Monday, after his case attracted international attention.
Jiang Tianyong took on numerous high-profile cases, including those of Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetan protesters and victims of the 2008 contaminated milk powder scandal before being dis ... more Fangshan, China (AFP) June 5, 2017Chinese skinny-dippers defy public morals Hong Kong (AFP) June 4, 2017Thousands gather at Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil Beijing (AFP) June 1, 2017US returns criminal suspect to China |
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Beijing (AFP) June 8, 2017
An AI machine has taken the maths section of China's annual university entrance exam, finishing it faster than students but with a below average grade.
The artificial intelligence machine - a tall black box containing 11 servers placed in the centre of a test room - took two versions of the exam on Wednesday in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
The machine, called AI-MATHS, scored 105 out of ... more Geneva (AFP) June 8, 2017AI 'good for the world'... says ultra-lifelike robot San Francisco (AFP) June 7, 2017Apple wants to rock the market with HomePod, faces challenges Boston MA (SPX) Jun 07, 2017Tactile sensor gives robots new capabilities |
Austin TX (SPX) Jun 07, 2017
Engineering researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed the most detailed and extensive local map of air pollution ever produced for an urban area, using specially equipped Google Street View cars to measure air quality on a block-by-block basis. This new hyper-local mobile approach to measuring air quality, which reveals that air pollution can vary dramatically even within a ... more The Hague (AFP) June 8, 2017Plastic in rivers major source of ocean pollution: study Washington (UPI) Jun 7, 2017Americans' caffeine habit may be harming waterways, wildlife Paris (AFP) June 7, 2017Woman sues France over Paris pollution health damage |
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Cape Town (AFP) June 8, 2017 Up to ten thousand people were evacuated from their homes as fires continued to ravage South Africa's Western Cape region on Thursday, fanned by a ferocious winter storm.
Knysna, a town of 77,000 people 500 kilometres (310 miles) east of Cape Town on South Africa's famed Garden Route, was worst hit as firefighters battled to quell 26 fires along the tourist trail.
High winds from a stor ... more Cape Town (AFP) June 8, 2017Thousands evacuated in South Africa as storm fans fires Moscow (AFP) May 25, 2017Three die in raging Siberia wildfires in Russia Fort Mcmurray, Canada (AFP) April 30, 2017Fort McMurray recovery from 2016 forest fire plods along |
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jun 07, 2017
Wearing white sneakers, a cowboy hat and overalls, Bernie Fowler walks into Maryland's Patuxent River every June to see how deep he can go and still see the tops of his shoes. As a young man he could see his feet on the river bottom as he stood chest-deep to net blue crabs. Now in his nineties, he ventures into the river to assess the water clarity. Fowler has been collecting this data point for ... more New Brunswick NJ (SPX) Jun 05, 2017Stony corals more resistant to climate change than thought, Rutgers study finds United Nations, United States (AFP) June 7, 2017At UN ocean conference, US takes aim at illegal fishing Providence RI (SPX) Jun 05, 2017New ceramic nanofiber 'sponges' could be used for flexible insulation, water purification |
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Maiduguri, Nigeria (AFP) June 4, 2017
Torrential rains and wind destroyed 1,000 makeshift homes in northeast Nigeria over the weekend, aggravating conditions for the thousands of people displaced by Boko Haram violence, the United Nations said.
At least 4,300 people have been affected by violent storms that swept the state of Borno, the heart of the eight-year jihadist insurrection, said the International Organization for Migra ... more Moscow (AFP) May 30, 2017Death toll from Moscow storm rises to 15 Moscow (AFP) May 29, 2017Violent storm kills 13 in Moscow area Dhaka (AFP) May 25, 2017'Panic' in Bangladesh factories as workers collapse in heatwave |
Beijing (AFP) June 8, 2017
China on Thursday posted a forecast-busting surge in exports and imports in May, signalling improvement in the world's number two economy, but there were warnings Beijing would struggle to maintain its momentum.
The readings will come as a relief after a series of weak readings suggesting a recent pick-up could be fizzling, while there are also lingering concerns about US President Donald Tr ... more Hong Kong (AFP) June 7, 2017Wonderland Villas: A tale of Hong Kong's property rollercoaster Beijing (AFP) June 9, 2017China factory gate inflation slows to 5.5% in May Washington (AFP) June 4, 2017Trump saw Paris climate pact as economic straitjacket |
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Greenbelt MD (SPX) May 30, 2017
On May 25, 2017, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, saw a partial solar eclipse in space when it caught the moon passing in front of the sun. The lunar transit lasted almost an hour, between 2:24 and 3:17 p.m. EDT, with the moon covering about 89 percent of the sun at the peak of its journey across the sun's face. The moon's crisp horizon can be seen from this view because the moon has n ... more Miami (AFP) May 31, 2017A real scorcher: NASA probe to fly into sun's atmosphere Washington DC (SPX) Jun 01, 2017NASA renames Solar mission to honor Eugene Parker Huntsville AL (SPX) May 24, 2017CLASP Sounding Rocket Mission Opens New Research Window in Solar Physics |
Hong Kong (AFP) June 6, 2017
A frontline park ranger from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday delivered an emotive testimony to legislators against the ivory trade in Hong Kong, as the city faces criticism over how it plans to phase out the trade.
The southern Chinese city, a major hub for ivory sales, announced last year that it would ban the import and export of the goods, but later clarified that it would onl ... more Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 05, 2017How the Galapagos cormorant lost its ability to fly Yangon (AFP) June 5, 2017Skin cure fad driving Myanmar elephant poaching surge: WWF Washington (UPI) Jun 1, 2017How and why did a house swift cross the Pacific |
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