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The Hong Kong beekeeper harvesting hives barehanded![]() Hong Kong (AFP) April 14, 2019 High up in the hills above Hong Kong, Yip Ki-hok uses nothing but his bare hands to remove a honey-filled nest of swarming bees - a remarkable skill he learned after the hardship of China's famine years. While most new beekeepers buy insects from those with already established colonies, Yip prefers a more organic method, trekking into the hills and catching wild bees using skills he developed through trial and error from the age of seven. The 62-year-old effortlessly moves through bush and dens ... read more |
How much nature is lost due to higher yields?Leipzig, Germany (SPX) Apr 15, 2019 Around 80 percent of land area in Europe is used for settlement, agriculture and forestry. In order to increase yields even further than current levels, exploitation is being intensified. Areas are ... more
Historic water levels at Iraq reservoirs and dams: officialsSamarra, Iraq (AFP) April 11, 2019 Water levels in Iraq's reservoirs and dams have reached historic heights, officials have told AFP, with thousands of families facing possible displacement by more flooding. ... more
Scientists prevent supercooled water from freezingWashington (UPI) Apr 10, 2019 Scientists have discovered a way to keep water from freezing, even at extremely cold temperatures. ... more
Genome assembly of pasta wheat leads to new insights for modern wheat breedingLeibniz, Germany (SPX) Apr 10, 2019 Scientists from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben) participated to perform the assembly of the genome using the method of 3D-Conformation Capture Seque ... more |
IMF approves $206 mn aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah
Flights cancelled, roads flooded as rare storm soaks UAE Sri Lanka plans $1.6 bn in cyclone recovery spending in 2026 Brazil megacity Sao Paulo struck by fresh water crisis Indonesians reeling from flood devastation plea for global help Levee break near Seattle prompts evacuation order Flash flood kills dozens in Morocco town At least 20 dead in eastern Bolivia floods Press Release from Business Wire: Textron Inc. Flash floods kill 37 in Moroccan coastal town |
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| Previous Issues | Apr 13 | Apr 12 | Apr 11 | Apr 10 | Apr 09 |
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Survival in arid eastern Chad depends on struggle for waterHadjer Hadid, Chad (AFP) April 9, 2019 "I've already earmarked a customer for this drum - I need to get a move on!" ... more
Just how much does enhancing photosynthesis improve crop yield?Brisbane, Australia (SPX) Apr 09, 2019 In the next two decades, crop yields need to increase dramatically to feed the growing global population. Wouldn't it be incredibly useful if we had a crystal ball to show us what are the best strat ... more
New pathways for sustainable agricultureWurzburg, Germany (SPX) Apr 09, 2019 Hedges, flowering strips and other seminatural habitats provide food and nesting places for insects and birds in agricultural landscapes. This also has advantages for agriculture: bees, flies, beetl ... more
The future of agriculture is computerizedBoston MA (SPX) Apr 08, 2019 What goes into making plants taste good? For scientists in MIT's Media Lab, it takes a combination of botany, machine-learning algorithms, and some good old-fashioned chemistry. Using all of t ... more
Study shows arctic warming contributes to droughtLaramie WY (SPX) Apr 08, 2019 When the Arctic warmed after the ice age 10,000 years ago, it created perfect conditions for drought. According to new research led by a University of Wyoming scientist, similar changes could ... more |
![]() Ultrabright X-rays reveal the molecular structure of membranes used to purify seawater
Farmers and nomads take to violence in drought-stricken ChadAbeche, Chad (AFP) April 7, 2019 The chief medical officer at Adre hospital takes a routine phone call: a patient has been admitted with gunshot wounds and needs emergency surgery. ... more |
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'Cow toilets' in Netherlands aim to cut e-moo-ssionsThe Hague (AFP) March 29, 2019 Teaching cows to use the toilet is not the easiest task, but a Dutch inventor is banking on a new bovine urinal to help cut emissions that cause environmental damage. ... more
Libya chaos leaves city residents struggling for waterZintan, Libya (AFP) April 2, 2019 Hundreds of blue pipes lay abandoned in Libya's Zintan, leaving residents struggling to get enough water after the 2011 revolution halted their spot on the world's largest irrigation project. ... more
Plant seed research provides basis for sustainable alternatives to chemical fertilizersSt. Paul MN (SPX) Mar 27, 2019 Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have allowed scientists to access and assess previously undetectable plant microorganisms. Scientists have long known that various plant-as ... more
Scientists propose a new benchmark skill for decadal prediction of terrestrial water storageBeijing, China (SPX) Mar 27, 2019 Terrestrial water storage (TWS) includes all phases of water over land (e.g., surface and groundwater, snow etc.) and acts as an important fresh water resource. It is a critical component of terrest ... more
Monsanto ordered to pay $81 mn in Roundup cancer trialSan Francisco (AFP) March 28, 2019 Monsanto was ordered on Wednesday to pay some $81 million to an American retiree who blames his cancer on the agribusiness giant's weedkiller Roundup. ... more |
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Declassified U2 spy plane images reveal bygone Middle Eastern archaeological features Philadelphia PA (SPX) Apr 09, 2019
In the 1950s and early '60s, with the Cold War at its peak, the United States flew U2 spy planes across Europe, the Middle East, and central eastern Asia, taking images of interesting military targets. Though the missions typically connected Point A to Point B, say an air field and an important city, in many cases the camera kept recording between those spots, capturing thousands of photos of th ... more |
Industry collaboration on avionics paves the way for GAINS navigation demonstration flights London, UK (SPX) Apr 10, 2019
The GAINS project has moved one step closer to demonstrating that general aviation (GA) is able to fly instrument procedures with radius-to-fix (RF) legs, thanks to a strong collaboration with EASA and the manufacturing industry, who worked together to clear the way for existing avionics to be used.
GAINS - General Aviation Improved Navigation and Surveillance, is a project co-funded by th ... more |
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Gabon suspends permit for Chinese logger after watchdog probe Libreville (AFP) April 12, 2019
Gabon has suspended a logging licence issued to a Chinese timber company after a British watchdog group, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), accused the firm of bribery and breaches of forestry laws.
The EIA, in a report on March 25, said Dejia Group "routinely bribes ministers" in Gabon and the neighbouring Republic of Congo.
The group has "continuously broken the most fundame ... more |
Tracking sludge flow for better wastewater treatment and more biogas Melbourne, Australia (SPX) Apr 02, 2019
A new way of tracking how sewage sludge flows during thermal treatment could help engineers design better wastewater treatment plants and boost production of biogas.
Researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, demonstrated how the flow behaviour of sludge can be used as a tool to gauge how quickly organic matter is dissolving at high temperatures, paving the way for online moni ... more |
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The interface makes the difference in Perovskite-based solar cells Barcelona, Spain (SPX) Apr 15, 2019 |
The complicated future of offshore wind power in the US New Haven CT (SPX) Apr 03, 2019
Over the past decade, wind power production in the U.S. has tripled, becoming the largest source of renewable energy in the country, the American Wind Energy Association has reported. There are more than 56,800 wind turbines in 41 states and territories, generating more than 6 percent of the nation's electricity, supporting more than 105,000 jobs and garnering billions of dollars in private and ... more |
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Contentious India-backed Australia mine clears major hurdle Sydney (AFP) April 9, 2019
A major Australian coal mine project near the Great Barrier Reef was controversially approved by the federal government Tuesday, days before national elections are expected to be called.
The controversial Queensland project backed by India's Adani would significantly boost coal production, but must now get approval from state and local governments.
The project faces fierce opposition and ... more |
Young Chinese to be sent back to villages in Mao-style move Beijing (AFP) April 11, 2019
China is planning to send millions of youth "volunteers" back to the villages, raising fears of a return to the methods of Chairman Mao's brutal Cultural Revolution of 50 years ago.
The Communist Youth League (CYL) has promised to despatch more than 10 million students to "rural zones" by 2022 in order to "increase their skills, spread civilization and promote science and technology," accord ... more |
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Robots to autocomplete Soldier tasks, new study suggests Adelphi MD (SPX) Apr 08, 2019
Smart phones autocorrect in texting, search engines autocomplete queries, and mapping applications redirect navigation in real-time to avoid slowed traffic. These ubiquitous AI-based technologies adapt to everyday needs and learn user habits by focusing on making the algorithm better, but Army researchers want to enhance AI by providing more information about the intent of the user.
New re ... more |
Peak break: China to add 'eco' toilet on Mount Everest Beijing (AFP) April 12, 2019
Climbers with pressing needs on Mount Everest will soon find an "eco-friendly" toilet at a Chinese campsite 7,028 metres (23,058 feet) above sea level in an ongoing campaign to deal with the peak's waste problem.
Decades of commercial mountaineering have turned Mount Everest into the world's highest rubbish dump as an increasing number of big-spending mountaineers pay little attention to the ... more |
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A polymer added to fuel could have saved the twin towers, researchers say Washington (UPI) Apr 4, 2019 Scientists at Caltech have developed a new type of polymer that prevents fuel from misting during an explosion. The breakthrough could decrease the amount of damage caused by industrial accidents and terrorist attacks.
Had the new polymers been added to the fuel of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, the Twin Towers might have survived the 9-11 terrorist attacks. ... more |
NASA Sees El Nino Conditions Prevail in the Central Pacific Ocean Greenbelt MD (SPX) Apr 12, 2019 An El Nino that began to form last fall has matured and is now fully entrenched across the Pacific Ocean. Changes in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) brought about by an El Nino affect the atmosphere, resulting in distinctive changes in the rainfall pattern across the Pacific Basin. These changes show up as anomalies or deviations in NASA's analysis of climatological rainfall.
In a typical ... more |
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27 killed, hundreds injured, in Nepal storm Kathmandu (AFP) April 1, 2019
A freak storm tore down houses and overturned cars and trucks as it swept across southern Nepal killing at least 27 people and leaving more than 600 injured, officials said Monday as a major rescue operation gathered pace.
The rare spring storm battered the rural district of Bara and adjoining areas late Sunday with high winds. Five children were among the dead, the home ministry said, as re ... more |
Malaysia revives massive Chinese rail project Kuala Lumpur (AFP) April 12, 2019
Malaysia said Friday a major Chinese-backed railway had been revived following a deal to cut costs, lifting a suspension slapped on the project when a corruption-plagued regime lost power last year.
The railway was among several infrastructure projects in Malaysia supported by Beijing but put on hold after the shock defeat of a coalition that had ruled the country for six decades.
Critic ... more |
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New model accurately predicts harmful space weather Los Alamos NM (SPX) Apr 10, 2019
A new, first-of-its-kind space weather model reliably predicts space storms of high-energy particles that are harmful to many satellites and spacecraft orbiting in the Earth's outer radiation belt.
A paper recently published in the journal Space Weather details how the model can accurately give a one-day warning prior to a space storm of ultra-high-speed electrons, often referred to as "ki ... more |
How plants defend themselves Munich, Germany (SPX) Apr 15, 2019
Like humans and animals, plants defend themselves against pathogens with the help of their immune system. But how do they activate their cellular defenses? Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now discovered that receptors in plant cells identify bacteria through simple molecular building blocks.
"The immune system of plants is more sophisticated than we thought," s ... more |
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