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Sao Tome: Rainforests, chocolate and millionaires![]() Sao Tome (AFP) Jan 4, 2018 Key facts on Sao Tome and Principe: - TROPICAL: Archipelago of small islands located off the western coast of central Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. Named after the two main islands, Sao Tome and Principe, covered with lush rainforests with unique species. - SLAVES: Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, used as a settlement for convicts and later as a transhipment site for slaves. Gained independence in 1975, stable democracy since early 1990s. - SMALL: Africa's tiniest ... read more |
UK to continue farm subsidies for five years after BrexitLondon (AFP) Jan 4, 2018 The British government said Thursday it will match European Union subsidies for farmers for around five years after Brexit until it puts in place a new system focusing more on environmental protection. ... more
Global warming could leave 25 percent of the planet in permanent drought(UPI) Jan 2, 2018 New research suggests roughly a quarter of the globe could be left in permanent drought if efforts to curb global warming fail to meet the targets set by the Paris agreement. ... more
Farmers in Kenya willing, able to ramp up croton nut output for biofuelUniversity Park PA (SPX) Jan 02, 2018 Small-holder farmers in Kenya have the capacity and desire to play a major role in the scale-up of biofuel production from agroforestry, according to a Penn State forest economist, who led a study i ... more
Natural therapy: Hong Kong's mountain warriorsHong Kong (AFP) Jan 2, 2018 Wooded hillsides, craggy ridges and wheeling birds of prey are a world away from Hong Kong's famous skyscrapers but the city's country parks are a necessary balm for its stressed out residents. ... more |
Jamaica still 'digging out' from hurricane, but Red Cross hopes toll stays low
Death toll tops 100 as Philippines digs out after typhoon Typhoon death toll soars past 90 in the Philippines Typhoon death toll climbs to 66 in the Philippines CORRECTED: Typhoon Kalmaegi kills 66 in Philippines: civil defence office Reeling from earthquakes, Afghans fear coming winter Typhoon flooding kills over 40, strands thousands in central Philippines Indonesia floods kill 15 Afghan govt says quake death toll rises to 27 Fierce mountain storms kill nine in Nepal |
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| Previous Issues | Jan 05 | Jan 04 | Jan 03 | Jan 02 | Jan 01 |
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Warming to force winemakers, growers to plant different varieties(UPI) Jan 2, 2018 Global warming is likely to force many winemakers and winegrowers to cultivate new grape varieties, according to a new study. ... more
Speed breeding technique sows seeds of new green revolutionNorwich UK (SPX) Jan 02, 2018 Speed breeding technique sows seeds of new green revolution Pioneering new technology is set to accelerate the global quest for crop improvement in a development which echoes the Green Revolut ... more
Speed breeding breakthrough to boost crop research(UPI) Jan 2, 2018 Scientists in Britain and Australia have developed a new technique for speed breeding crops. The breakthrough could accelerate the pace of crop research and help scientists find more productive, resilient and adaptive varietals and hybrids. ... more
Study shows streams are reliable indicators of a region's environmental healthWashington (UPI) Dec 29, 2017 New research shows streams are stable and reliable indicators of a region's ecological and environmental health. ... more
Droughts and ecosystems are determined by the interaction of two climate phenomenaBilbao, Spain (SPX) Jan 02, 2018 What is causing the droughts that the Iberian Peninsula regularly endures? Why are the winters sometimes mild and rainy and other times cold and dry or cold and damp? Is climate change of anthropoge ... more
Soil science adds many complexities to climate modelingLeipzig, Germany (SPX) Dec 28, 2017 When the soil warms up, it releases more carbon dioxide (CO2) - an effect that further fuels climate change. Until now, it had been assumed that the reason for this was mainly due to the presence of ... more |
![]() Unexpected agricultural production allowed pre-Hispanic society to flourish in arid Andes
Rust stemmed for wheatCambridge UK (SPX) Dec 28, 2017 Expertise in viruses and high security containment brought Rothamsted Research into a multinational team that has just won a major battle in the war against a genetically versatile fungal pathogen w ... more
The origin of water's unusual properties foundStockholm, Sweden (SPX) Dec 28, 2017 Using x-ray lasers, researchers at Stockholm University have been able to map out how water fluctuates between two different states when it is cooled. At -44 C these fluctuations reach a maximum poi ... more
Florida orange industry hit by hurricane, diseaseNew York (AFP) Dec 24, 2017 Hit by Hurricane Irma and a citrus ailment known as "Yellow Dragon Disease," Florida orange growers are bracing for potentially the worst harvest in more than a half century. ... more
Heat patterns help bees pick which flowers to pollinateWashington (UPI) Dec 19, 2017 Heat plays an important role in flower-pollinator interactions. According to new research, heat patterns serve as signatures for flowers, advertising their availability to passing bees. ... more |
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New Delhi, India (SPX) Jan 02, 2018 India, with nearly 3.3 million sq.km. geographical area, is endowed with natural resources such as forests, crop lands, water resources, minerals, wetlands, snow and glaciers etc. The accurate information on the availability of natural resources and their optimal management is vital for sustainable development and overall socio-economic growth of the country.
Resourcesat series of satellit ... more Pasadena CA (SPX) Dec 28, 2017Scientists discover unexpected side effect to cleaning up urban air Washington (UPI) Jan 3, 2018Earth passes perigee, its closest point to the sun Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jan 04, 2018NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission locates elusive electron act |
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 03, 2018 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated that quantum physics might enable communications and mapping in locations where GPS and ordinary cellphones and radios don't work reliably or even at all, such as indoors, in urban canyons, underwater and underground.
The technology may help mariners, soldiers and surveyors, among others. GPS signals ... more Washington (UPI) Dec 28, 2017Raytheon to provide GPS-guided artillery shells Washington DC (SPX) Dec 26, 2017DARPA Subterranean Challenge Aims to Revolutionize Underground Capabilities Geneva, Switzerland (SPX) Dec 19, 2017New satellite tracking of in-flight aircraft to improve safety |
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Washington (UPI) Dec 20, 2017
Trees synchronize their reproductive schedule with the North Atlantic Oscillation, a climate pattern that influences zonal winds and the strength of storms.
The NAO describes fluctuations in the region's air pressure differences. Shifts in the region's pressure gradients affect atmospheric circulation and Europe's climate patterns.
And according to the latest analysis, the oscill ... more New Haven CT (SPX) Dec 14, 2017African deforestation not as great as feared Munich, Germany (SPX) Dec 14, 2017Cascading use is also beneficial for wood New York NY (SPX) Dec 14, 2017New maps show shrinking wilderness being ignored at our peril |
University Park PA (SPX) Jan 02, 2018 Small-holder farmers in Kenya have the capacity and desire to play a major role in the scale-up of biofuel production from agroforestry, according to a Penn State forest economist, who led a study in the East African country.
Croton trees - which seem to grow everywhere in Kenya - and the oilseeds they produce have the potential to improve rural livelihoods, said Michael Jacobson, professo ... more Lemont, IL (SPX) Jan 02, 2018A catalytic balancing act Washington DC (SPX) Jan 03, 2018Locating the precise reaction path: Methane dissociation on platinum Columbus OH (SPX) Jan 03, 2018A fossil fuel technology that doesn't pollute |
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Davis CA (SPX) Jan 02, 2018
Unconventional spaces could be put to use generating renewable energy while sparing lands that could be better used to grow food, sequester carbon and protect wildlife and watersheds, says a study led by the University of California, Davis.
These land-sparing spaces include: 1) built environments, such as rooftops 2) salt-affected land 3) contaminated land, and 4) water reservoirs with flo ... more Lausanne, Switzerland (SPX) Jan 03, 2018Standardizing perovskite aging measurements Boston MA (SPX) Jan 02, 2018New technique allows rapid screening for new types of solar cells Durham NC (SPX) Jan 03, 2018Laser Evaporation Technology to Create New Solar Materials |
Bilbao, Spain (SPX) Jan 03, 2018
The offshore power plant or wave farm at Mutriku is the only commercial facility (it is not a prototype) in the world that operates by regularly feeding the grid with electrical power produced by waves. It has been operating since 2011 and the study by the UPV/EHU's EOLO group analysed its behaviour during the 2014-2016 period.
"It is important to find out how the wave power farm is actual ... more Washington (UPI) Dec 28, 2017Turkey gets European loan for renewable energy Washington (UPI) Dec 14, 2017Oil-rich Alberta sees momentum for wind energy Canberra, Australia (SPX) Dec 13, 2017Construction to start on $160 million Kennedy Energy Park in North Queensland |
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Warsaw (AFP) Dec 19, 2017
Polish state-controlled energy company Enea on Tuesday inaugurated Europe's largest coal-fired power unit, at a time when other nations want to shift away from greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels.
Enea opened a 1,075 MW capacity unit built by Japan's Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems at its Kozienice plant to join a dozen other units in the 250-300 MW range at the site.
"The B11 section ... more Sydney (AFP) Dec 19, 2017BHP to exit global coal body over climate change policy Washington (UPI) Dec 18, 2017Coal demand falling, IEA says Sydney (AFP) Dec 18, 2017Adani drops contractor for contentious Australia mega mine |
Beijing (AFP) Jan 4, 2018
A Tibetan who has waged a campaign to preserve his region's ancestral language was put on trial in China for inciting separatism Thursday in a case Amnesty International denounced as "ludicrously unjust".
Tashi Wangchuk was featured in a New York Times documentary that followed him on a trip to Beijing, where he attempted to get Chinese state media and courts to address what he describes as ... more Beijing (AFP) Jan 4, 2018Migrant worker evictions tear at Beijing's backbone Hong Kong (AFP) Jan 1, 2018Anti-Beijing protesters march in Hong Kong Beijing (AFP) Jan 2, 2018French President Macron to visit China next week |
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Beijing, China (SPX) Jan 02, 2018
Popular entertainment often portrays robots as the perfect best friend, from Bender in the cartoon Futurama to the mighty Transformers. These close friendships don't exist off-screen yet, but humans and robots are getting to know each other better in real life.
Dr. Ali Safavi and Prof. Mehrdad Zadeh at Kettering University have proposed a model to improve human-robot interactions using hap ... more Las Vegas (AFP) Jan 8, 2018Virtual aide market a "wildfire" at CES gadget show Washington (UPI) Jan 4, 2018Scientists design muscles for shape-shifting, cell-sized robots Beijing, China (SPX) Jan 02, 2018Scientists teach robots how to respect personal space |
Beijing (AFP) Jan 3, 2018
Air quality in China's notoriously smog-ridden capital in 2017 was the best since pollution control measures were implemented five years ago, the Beijing government announced Wednesday.
The city met its targets with year-on-year "improvement of regional air quality and overall favourable meteorological conditions", a statement posted on the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau's ... more Manila (AFP) Jan 6, 2018Suspect in murder of Philippine environmentalist freed Belgrade (AFP) Dec 30, 201725 tonnes of toxic waste found dumped near Belgrade Moscow (AFP) Dec 29, 2017Russian environmental campaigner hospitalised after beating |
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Sapporo, Japan (SPX) Jan 02, 2018
Charcoal remains after a forest fire help decompose fine roots in the soil, potentially accelerating CO2 emissions in boreal forests.
Boreal forests are a huge carbon sink. The fine roots, not only the leaves, stems and branches of trees, largely contribute to carbon accumulation. The Russian Far East has had an increasing number of forest fires, many of which are believed to be caused by ... more Washington DC (SPX) Dec 27, 2017Wet winters may not dampen small wildfires Los Angeles (AFP) Dec 20, 2017Returning winds churn up heightened alert in fire-hit California Los Angeles (AFP) Dec 21, 2017Thomas fire mostly contained in charred |
San Diego CA (SPX) Jan 04, 2018
There's a new way to measure the average temperature of the ocean thanks to researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego. In an article published in the Jan. 4, 2018, issue of the journal Nature, geoscientist Jeff Severinghaus and colleagues at Scripps Oceanography and institutions in Switzerland and Japan detailed their ground-breaking approach. ... more Kandal, Cambodia (AFP) Jan 8, 2018Power stacked against SE Asia's poor as China dams Mekong Washington (UPI) Jan 3, 2018New coral sowing method could inspire large-scale reef restoration Washington (UPI) Jan 4, 2018Oxygen levels in Earth's oceans continue to drop |
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Sydney (AFP) Jan 7, 2018
Sydney sweltered through one of its hottest days on record Sunday as temperatures soared in southern Australia and authorities imposed a fire ban in a sizzling start to summer.
Australia's largest city recorded its hottest day since 1939 as the mercury rose to 47.3 degree Celsius (117.14 degrees Fahrenheit) in the western suburb of Penrith.
More than 200 weather records were broken natio ... more Manila (AFP) Jan 2, 2018Two dead, thousands flee in storm-weary Philippines Manila (AFP) Dec 19, 2017Philippine storm toll rises to 43 as hopes fade for dozens missing Manila (AFP) Dec 18, 2017Rescuers search for dozens missing after deadly Philippine storm |
Xian, China (AFP) Jan 8, 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday launched a state visit to China at the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, a nod to his Chinese counterpart's scheme to revive the famous trading route.
Along with his wife Brigitte, Macron visited the famous terracotta warriors in the northern city of Xian, a centuries-old Big Wild Goose Pagoda - a Buddhist site - as well as the city's mosqu ... more Beijing (AFP) Dec 30, 2017China tightens rules on oversea cash withdrawals Beijing (AFP) Jan 3, 2018China's Ant Financial drops MoneyGram deal as US approval fails Islamabad (AFP) Jan 3, 2018Pakistan allows use of Chinese yuan for trade, investment |
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Berkeley CA (SPX) Jan 08, 2018
Although August's total solar eclipse was over in minutes, analysis of the 50,000 photos uploaded to the Eclipse Megamovie website is a time-consuming job, so team leaders are asking citizen scientists for help.
The images have been put online at Zooniverse so that the public can scan and categorize them, a project dubbed Megamovie Maestros I.
Initially, volunteers are being asked to ... more Aarhus, Denmark (SPX) Jan 08, 2018Special star is a Rosetta Stone for understanding the sun's variability and climate effect Washington (UPI) Dec 27, 2017August eclipse left a wake in ionosphere, researchers reveal Silver Spring, MD (SPX) Dec 21, 2017Report Highlights Social and Economic Impacts of Space Weather |
(UPI) Jan 2, 2018
Scientists believe they've discovered the Achilles heel of the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, a disease devastating bat populations across North America. New research suggests the fungus can't survive significant doses ultraviolet light.
To better understand the pathogen, researchers with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of New Hampshir ... more Banda Aceh, Indonesia (AFP) Dec 27, 2017Pregnant elephant 'poisoned' in Indonesian palm plantation Beijing (AFP) Dec 31, 2017Chinese ban on ivory sales goes into effect Washington (UPI) Dec 26, 2017Study: Golden-crowned manakins are 'exceedingly rare' hybrid |
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