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HPAI H5 viruses of Eurasian origin continue to circulate in North American wild birds

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses of Eurasian origin continue to circulate and evolve in North American wild birds.

2 Apr 2015

Dartmouth-led project aims to address the food-energy-climate nexus

Dartmouth and the University of Maryland have received federal funding to study the environmental and financial benefits of converting methane gas from cow manure into electricity and heat on Vermont and New York dairy farms over the next 60 years.

1 Apr 2015

High levels of pesticide residues in fruits, vegetables can affect semen quality

Men who ate fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues—such as strawberries, spinach, and peppers—had lower sperm count and a lower percentage of normal sperm than those who ate produce with lower residue levels, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

1 Apr 2015

Challenges facing scientific community in the 21st century

Embracing revolutionary new techniques and answering questions about research funding are just two of the challenges facing the scientific community in the 21st century.

26 Mar 2015

After decades of debate, there is no generally accepted definition for ‘natural’ food product

After decades of debate there remains no generally accepted definition of a "natural" food product. Regulatory agencies have refused to settle the issue but may be under new pressure from consumer lawsuits, according to a new study in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing.

25 Mar 2015

TGAC plans to use miniaturised sequencing device to conduct live environmental surveillance

As one of the first research Institutes to take part in the MinION Access Programme (MAP) for portable DNA sequencing, introduced by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC)'s task force share their experience of the ground breaking trial so far.

From Oxford Nanopore Technologies 23 Mar 2015

New analysis of medieval cesspit in Jerusalem provides window into spread of infectious diseases

A new analysis of a medieval cesspit in the Christian quarter of the old city of Jerusalem has revealed the presence of a number of ancient parasite eggs, providing a window into the nature and spread of infectious diseases in the Middle East during the 15th century.

23 Mar 2015

Researchers find key step in understanding genetic mechanism of plants' environmental adaptability

A fundamental question pursued by plant scientists worldwide for the past decade has been answered by researchers led by the University of Sydney in Australia.

23 Mar 2015

New article highlights the problem of antibiotic use in lab experiments

Scientists should reduce antibiotic use in lab experiments - according to a researcher at the University of East Anglia.

20 Mar 2015

Virginia Tech researchers use genome-editing method to study lethal disease-carrying animal

Life science researchers at Virginia Tech have accelerated a game-changing technology that's being used to study one of the planet's most lethal disease-carrying animals.

18 Mar 2015

McGill researchers identify key mechanism by which environmental factors influence traits

Until now scientists have believed that the variations in traits such as our height, skin colour, tendency to gain weight or not, intelligence, tendency to develop certain diseases, etc., all of them traits that exist along a continuum, were a result of both genetic and environmental factors. But they didn't know how exactly these things worked together.

12 Mar 2015

Genetically modified soybean oil has fewer negative metabolic consequences than regular soybean oil

A new soybean oil genetically modified to be healthier than conventional soybean oil causes obesity, pre-diabetes and fatty liver in a nearly identical manner to that of regular soybean oil when part of a typical American high-fat diet, an animal study shows.

6 Mar 2015

Scientists confirm relation between levels of certain pollutants in the body and levels of obesity

A team of Spanish scientists, which includes several researchers from the University of Granada, has confirmed that there is a relation between the levels of certain environmental pollutants that a person accumulates in his or her body and their level of obesity. Subjects with more pollutants in their organisms present besides higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, which are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

27 Feb 2015

Garlic compound can help fight lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis

A chemical found in garlic can kill bacteria that cause life-threatening lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis, research suggests.

25 Feb 2015

Virginia Tech biochemists identify potential drug target against sleeping sickness

Virginia Tech biochemists are trying to deliver a stern wake-up call to the parasite that causes sleeping sickness.

24 Feb 2015

Rivers, streams could be a major source of antibiotic resistance in the environment

Rivers and streams could be a major source of antibiotic resistance in the environment. The discovery comes following a study on the Thames river by scientists at the University of Warwick's School of Life Sciences and the University of Exeter Medical School.

17 Feb 2015

California Strawberry Commission lists out 12 reasons to enjoy heart-healthy strawberries

February is Heart Health Month and just one of many reasons to add heart-healthy foods like strawberries to the daily diet.

17 Feb 2015

Report: Proposed SDGs may not achieve policy objectives without clearer, more measurable targets

The proposed UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - a universal set of goals to guide international development to 2030 - will struggle to achieve their stated policy objectives without clearer, more measurable targets, according to a new report released today by the International Council for Science and the International Social Science Council.

16 Feb 2015

SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics designated as FAO Reference Centre for bioinformatics

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has appointed SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics as the FAO Reference Centre for bioinformatics.

12 Feb 2015

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute funds 17 community projects to decrease impact of cancer on Oregonians

The Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University awarded $462,656 to 17 projects statewide as part of the first round of funding offered through its Community Partnership Program. The program's goal is to address community-identified needs to ultimately decrease the impact of cancer on Oregonians.