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Study identifies likely scenarios for global spread of devastating crop disease![]() Cambridge UK (SPX) Sep 26, 2017 Stem rust, named for the blackening pustules that infect plant stems, caused devastating crop epidemics and famine for centuries before being tamed by fungicides and resistance genes. Since the turn of the century, however, aggressive new strains have emerged - such as 'Ug99', first detected in Uganda in 1999 - that infect widely grown varieties of wheat. These diseases threaten to disperse trillions of pathogenic fungal spores on winds across countries and continents. The current global economic ... read more |
Food labeling pact aims to cut food wasteNew York (AFP) Sept 20, 2017 Many of the world's largest retailers and food companies have agreed to better labeling of products by 2020 in a bid to radically cut food waste, they announced Wednesday. ... more
Veolia's US growth hopes run into troubleNew York (AFP) Sept 24, 2017 Veolia's hopes of taking advantage of municipal privatizations and promised Trump administration public works projects to expand its US presence, are being strained by its role in water crises in Flint, Michigan and other cities. ... more
Syngenta chief calls for debate on 'sustainable agriculture'Paris (AFP) Sept 21, 2017 Swiss agrochemicals giant Syngenta, recently taken over by ChemChina, said there should be a wide-scale debate on what constitutes "sustainable agriculture" in face of a number of current controversies over pesticides. ... more
At Dubai expo, Chinese firms look to tap lucrative halal marketDubai (AFP) Sept 19, 2017 Standing behind her stall at a Dubai exhibition centre, Dai Dong He offered passersby what looked like carefully wrapped biscuits or chocolates. ... more |
Iran president warns Tehran may face evacuation due to drought
Deadly Typhoon Kalmaegi ravages Vietnam, Philippines Operation Cloudburst: Dutch train for 'water bomb' floods Hurricane left millions of tons of debris in Jamaica: UN Typhoon Kalmaegi hits Vietnam after killing 140 in Philippines Vietnam evacuates thousands from coast ahead of Typhoon Kalmaegi Philippine death toll tops 140 as typhoon heads towards Vietnam CORRECTED: Philippine death toll tops 140 as typhoon heads towards Vietnam Camels replace cows as Kenya battles drought Jamaica still 'digging out' from hurricane, but Red Cross hopes toll stays low |
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| Previous Issues | Sep 25 | Sep 24 | Sep 22 | Sep 21 | Sep 20 |
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Research finds roots use chemical 'photos' to coordinate growthMelbourne FL (SPX) Sep 15, 2017 Though it may look haphazard, the network of intertwining plant roots snaking through the soil actually represents a deliberate process. Root growth is guided by chemical snapshots taken by the youn ... more
Climate change threatens Latin America coffee producersWashington (AFP) Sept 12, 2017 Climate change is threatening the Latin American zones most favorable for growing coffee, according to a study out Monday that warns seed production could drop by nearly 90 percent by 2050. ... more
Latvia tweets no room for mushroom hunters on army baseRiga (AFP) Sept 10, 2017 Latvia's armed forces took to Twitter this weekend to warn sneaky mushroom-pickers against venturing onto restricted training ranges where they run the risk of getting shot or even blown up while seeking the perfect fungi. ... more
EU chamber urges China to lift cheese banBeijing (AFP) Sept 11, 2017 China should reconsider its decision to suspend imports of some types of cheese, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said Monday. ... more
Parched Jordan starts growing vegetables in Aqaba, Jordan (AFP) Sept 7, 2017 Jordan, a water-poor country that is 90-percent desert, on Thursday launched a project to turn its sand dunes into farming land to produce food using sun and sea water. ... more
130-tonne 'monster fatberg' clogs London sewerLondon (AFP) Sept 12, 2017 Sewage workers have found a 130-tonne ball of congealed fat - dubbed a "monster fatberg" - clogging a Victorian-era sewer in London, utility company Thames Water said Tuesday. ... more |
![]() Foodies cheesed off as China says 'non' to France's finest
Your tap water may contain plastic, researchers warnParis (AFP) Sept 7, 2017 People may be ingesting between 3,000 and 4,000 microparticles of plastic from tap water every year, according to a study published Wednesday based on samples from 14 countries. ... more
Scientists developed 'smart fertilizer'Krasnoyarsk, Russia (SPX) Sep 07, 2017 According to the head of the works Tatiana Volova, Professor of SibFU and the Head of Laboratory in the Institute of Biophysics KSC of SB RAS, development of a new generation of drugs with the use o ... more
Italy's drought seen from spaceParis (ESA) Sep 07, 2017 Despite the welcome showers at the weekend, abnormally low soil-moisture conditions persist in central Italy. Scientists are using satellite data to monitor the drought that has gripped the country. ... more
Don't be salty - tiny tubes desalinate water one molecule at a timeChicago IL (SPX) Aug 30, 2017 Earth is 70 percent water, but only a tiny portion - 0.007 percent - is available to drink. As potable water sources dwindle, global population increases every year. One potential solution to ... more |
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Canberra, Australia (SPX) Sep 21, 2017
Scientists at The Australian National University (ANU) have produced the best estimate of Earth's elemental composition which will help them understand how the Earth formed 4.6 billion years ago.
The solar system began as a dense blob in a molecular cloud of hydrogen gas and dust that collapsed under its own gravity, forming the early Sun, Earth and other planets.
Co-researcher Assoc ... more Plesetsk, Russia (ESA) Sep 19, 2017Sentinel-5P launch preparations in full swing Boulder CO (SPX) Sep 22, 2017Ball Aerospace Completes Spectrometer Testing and Verification on NASA's TEMPO Program Nairobi (XNA) Sep 22, 2017Experts set to meet in Kenya on space science |
Cambridge, Canada (SPX) Sep 26, 2017 Beijing (XNA) Sep 15, 2017BeiDou navigation to cover Belt and Road countries by 2018 Beijing (XNA) Sep 19, 2017China's BeiDou-3 satellites get new chips Denver CO (SPX) Sep 13, 2017US Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin GPS M-Code Early Use Ground System Upgrade Contract |
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Bras�lia (AFP) Sept 26, 2017
The Brazilian government backed off a controversial proposal to authorize private companies to mine a sprawling Amazon reserve Monday after blistering domestic and international criticism.
President Michel Temer's office will issue a new decree Tuesday that "restores the conditions of the area, according to the document that instituted the reserve in 1984," the Ministry of Mines and Energy s ... more Washington DC (SPX) Sep 21, 2017American oaks share a common northern ancestor Montreal, Canada (SPX) Sep 15, 2017Forest fires are not limited to hot or temperate climates Washington (UPI) Sep 19, 2017Harvard report details the threats faced by New England forests |
Princeton NJ (SPX) Sep 25, 2017
Two new studies of green algae - the scourge of swimming pool owners and freshwater ponds - have revealed new insights into how these organisms siphon carbon dioxide from the air for use in photosynthesis, a key factor in their ability to grow so quickly. Understanding this process may someday help researchers improve the growth rate of crops such as wheat and rice.
In the studies publishe ... more Urbana IL (SPX) Sep 21, 2017Researchers discover unique property of critical methane-producing enzyme University Park PA (SPX) Sep 21, 2017New biomaterial could replace plastic laminates, greatly reduce pollution Washington DC (SPX) Sep 15, 2017Re-engineering biofuel-producing bacterial enzymes |
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Albany NY (SPX) Sep 25, 2017
The Green Bank Network has closed transactions that are expected to mobilize more than US$29 billion in public and private capital for clean energy projects around the globe, putting them on pace to exceed their collective goal of US$40 billion by 2019. The announcement was made at the 5th annual Green Bank Congress, part of ClimateWeek NYC. Green Bank Network members are mobilizing as much as 1 ... more Antigua and Barbuda (SPX) Sep 25, 2017Antigua's well-built PV systems sustain impact of hurricane Irma Golden CO (SPX) Sep 21, 2017NREL investigates coatings needed for concentrating solar power Scientists make atoms-thick Post-It notes for solar cells and circuits |
Washington (UPI) Sep 20, 2017
French energy company ENGIE said it teamed up with an investment group to help develop a wind energy program in India, one of the world's fastest growing economies.
The company formed a partnership with the Abraaj investment group to develop as much as 1 gigawatt of wind power in the Indian energy sector.
"Energy demand is growing tremendously in India, and ENGIE is investing in ... more Washington DC (SPX) Sep 19, 2017Finding better wind energy potential with the new European Wind Atlas Washington (UPI) Sep 7, 2017Last of the 67 turbines for a British wind farm installed Washington (UPI) Sep 14, 2017Kimberly-Clark next U.S. company to draw more on renewables |
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Sydney (AFP) Sept 22, 2017
Rio Tinto will return $2.5 billion to shareholders in a buyback after selling most of its Australian coal assets to China-backed Yancoal, the mining giant said Friday.
The world's second-largest miner sold Coal & Allied to Yancoal, majority-controlled by China's Yanzhou Coal, earlier this month in a divestment drive analysts expect will lead to a complete exit from the sector.
The buybac ... more Washington (UPI) Sep 15, 2017First-ever U.S. coal shipment arrives in Ukraine Sydney (AFP) Sept 1, 2017Rio completes Australia coal mines sale to China's Yancoal Washington (UPI) Aug 22, 2017In a first, U.S. ships coal to Ukraine |
Hong Kong (AFP) Sept 23, 2017 Universities have become the latest battleground over freedoms in Hong Kong as a ban on signs on campuses advocating independence from China sparks fresh fears that the city's liberties are under threat.
As term kicked off earlier this month, posters and banners calling for semi-autonomous Hong Kong to split from the mainland were plastered on walls and bulletin boards after a tense summer ... more Beijing (AFP) Sept 25, 2017China gives Tianjin ex-mayor 12 years for graft Hong Kong (AFP) Sept 21, 2017Patten on egg tarts and the future of Hong Kong Datang, China (AFP) Sept 21, 2017An ancient Chinese fishing community washes ashore |
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Washington DC (SPX) Sep 22, 2017
Language acquisition in young children is apparently connected with their ability to detect patterns. In their learning process, they search for patterns in the data set that help them identify and optimize grammar structures in order to properly acquire the language. Likewise, online translators use algorithms through machine learning techniques to optimize their translation engines to produce ... more Pasadena CA (SPX) Sep 22, 2017Sorting molecules with DNA robots San Diego CA (SPX) Sep 25, 2017From self-folding robots to computer vision Manchester UK (SPX) Sep 21, 2017Scientists create world's first 'molecular robot' capable of building molecules |
Athens (AFP) Sept 11, 2017
Canada's Eldorado Gold announced early Monday it would suspend investment in mining operations in Greece due to what it said were delays by the Greek government in issuing permits.
Despite repeated attempts by the company and its Greek subsidiary to talk to the government, "delays continue in issuing routine permits and licences for the construction and development of the Skouries and Olympi ... more Washington (UPI) Sep 14, 2017Brexit a step away from pollution commitments, U.N. envoy says London (AFP) Sept 11, 2017UN slams UK government over 'plague' of air pollution Colombo (AFP) Sept 1, 2017Sri Lanka bans plastic after garbage crisis |
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Sydney (AFP) Sept 25, 2017 Ten people believed to be Chinese died when a supermarket caught fire in Papua New Guinea while they were sleeping, reports and officials said Monday.
The disaster at the Splendid Star shop was made worse by the lack of any proper fire-fighting equipment in Manus province in the impoverished Pacific nation's north, where the blaze started early Friday.
The dead included six women and fou ... more Lisbon (AFP) Sept 12, 2017Portuguese ex-firefighter jailed for starting 2016 forest fires Washington (UPI) Sep 5, 2017Satellite images show wildfire smoke spreading across United States Marseille (AFP) Sept 3, 2017Arson suspected as fire in southeast France brought under control |
New York (AFP) Sept 24, 2017
Veolia's hopes of taking advantage of municipal privatizations and promised Trump administration public works projects to expand its US presence, are being strained by its role in water crises in Flint, Michigan and other cities.
The French water and waste management giant has targeted five percent revenue growth in North America in 2017, with the United States expected to lead the way. In 2 ... more San Juan (AFP) Sept 24, 2017Puerto Rico rushes to evacuate many amid fears dam will burst Seattle WA (SPX) Sep 21, 2017Wave Glider surfs across stormy Drake Passage in Antarctica Manila (AFP) Sept 25, 2017Two Vietnamese fishermen dead in Philippine navy chase |
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Bucharest (AFP) Sept 17, 2017
A storm packing powerful winds ripped off roofs and toppled trees in Romania on Sunday, killing eight people and injuring dozens more, authorities and witnesses said.
With gusts that reached nearly 100 kilometres (60 miles) an hour, the storm pounded the area around the western city of Timisoara before heading north toward Ukraine.
Most of the victims were outside when the winds swept in ... more Manila (AFP) Sept 12, 2017At least three dead, six missing, as storm hits Philippines Berlin (AFP) Sept 13, 2017Storm kills three people in Germany Rome (AFP) Sept 10, 2017Family drowns as violent storms thrash Italy |
Tokyo (AFP) Sept 25, 2017
Japan said on Monday that it expects to raise more than $11.6 billion by selling off another chunk of the country's massive postal service.
The government will sell 914 million Japan Post shares at 1,322 yen apiece, it said in a regulatory filing, with the offering set to raise as much as 1.3 trillion yen ($11.6 billion) if domestic and foreign investors snap up an extra allotment of stock. ... more Washington Sept 22, 2017US says NAFTA helps Chinese goods reach American market Shenyang, China (AFP) Sept 24, 2017China rust belt opens door wider to foreign investors Beijing (AFP) Sept 25, 2017US commerce secretary in Beijing ahead of Trump trip |
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Daytona Beach FL (SPX) Sep 22, 2017
Could the flapping of a butterfly's wings in Costa Rica set off a hurricane in California? The question has been scrutinized by chaos theorists, stock-market analysts and weather forecasters for decades. For most people, this hypothetical scenario may be difficult to imagine on Earth - particularly when a real disaster strikes.
Yet, in space, similarly small fluctuations in the solar wind ... more Paris (ESA) Sep 21, 2017Solar antics Washington (UPI) Sep 11, 2017NASA captures significant solar flare Washington (AFP) Sept 7, 2017NASA captures images of strong solar flares |
Paris (AFP) Sept 25, 2017 China's fiercely protected giant panda had a smaller habitat in 2013 than when it was declared endangered more than 20 years earlier, researchers said Monday.
What living space they had was much more fragmented, and often in areas under threat from earthquakes, road construction, tourism or global warming, they wrote in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.
Last year, the International ... more Washington (UPI) Sep 15, 2017Study finds wolves understand cause and effect better than dogs Boston MA (SPX) Sep 21, 2017Mathematics predicts a sixth mass extinction Boston MA (SPX) Sep 21, 2017Imagining a world without species |
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