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Bill Gates, USAID Administrator Shah call for more investment in poor farmers to ensure global food security

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Foundation, and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah on Tuesday called for developed countries to invest in farmers in the developing world to help end global hunger, Agence France-Presse reports. Gates and Shah spoke at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs' Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security in Washington, D.C.

26 May 2011

UA, Sandia Labs to collaborate on engineering aspects of four critical environmental research areas

The University of Arizona and Sandia National Laboratories have agreed to collaborate on engineering aspects of four critical environmental research areas in a new partnership that will initially focus on research involving management of these resources in the Southwestern U.S.

25 May 2011

Opinion: Global food security requires 'results-driven development' approach

"As we work to develop solutions to the challenge of global food security, it's essential that we focus on results-driven development in both the public and private sectors," Chris Policinski, president and CEO of Land O'Lakes, Inc., and chair of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition's Business Advisory Council, writes on The Hill's "Congress Blog."

25 May 2011

Cooking pork needs lower temperatures now

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines released Tuesday it is recommended that pork be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees, 15 degrees cooler than the previous standard.

24 May 2011

New cancer study finds benefit in old therapy

Cancer patients who used a 5,000-year-old combination of gentle exercise and meditation experienced significantly higher wellbeing levels, improved cognitive functioning and less inflammation compared to a control group, new University of Sydney research has found.

24 May 2011

U.S. delegation to assess food security needs in North Korea

A U.S. delegation will visit North Korea this week to evaluate the country's food security needs, the State Department said, RTT News reports.

24 May 2011

Fungi help increase food-production without the need for massive amounts of fertilizers

The next agricultural revolution may be sparked by fungi, helping to greatly increase food-production for the growing needs of the planet without the need for massive amounts of fertilizers according to research presented today at the 111th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in New Orleans.

24 May 2011

Tobacco wars

According to reports, Australia is gearing up for the world's toughest laws on tobacco promotion but Health Minister Nicola Roxon denied Sunday the government's ultimate goal was a complete ban on smoking.

23 May 2011

Public smoking ban in NYC

Smoking has been banned from many parts of the U.S. over the last decade. New York City is now taking the war against tobacco a step further with a new law that goes into effect tomorrow, banning smoking outdoors - at beaches, boardwalks, parks, and pedestrian plazas.

23 May 2011

Zombie attack guidelines

According to a blog post, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has put together tips on how to avoid becoming attacked by zombies. A "Zombie Task Force" acting for the US Government has released official advice on how to survive an undead apocalypse.

23 May 2011

Experts discuss latest developments in goat, sheep and other non-cow milk sectors at IDF symposium

Over 250 experts from 37 countries gathered in Athens, Greece, this week for the International Dairy Federation's Dairy Science and Technology Week to discuss the latest developments in goat, sheep and other non-cow milk sectors.

23 May 2011

Global scientists rebuke coming decision on carcinogenicity of radiofrequency and microwaves

In collaboration with the International EMF Alliance (IEMFA), scientists from Europe, North America, Australia and Israel have sent an Open Letter to Dr. Christopher Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), calling for a postponement of the forthcoming meeting May 24-31, 2011 in Lyon, France, “Non-Ionizing Radiation, Part II: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field [includes mobile telephones],” at which determination of the carcinogenicity of cell phones and wireless technologies will be made.

22 May 2011

Physical characteristics, performance data predict rankings for high school football players

Sprint speed, height, and weight are the best predictors of how high school football players will be ranked by college recruiting scouts, reports a study in the May issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

21 May 2011

VOA News, MSNBC look at food security

VOA News looks at the relationship between food security and trade barriers. "The Global Harvest Initiative says improving food and agricultural trade flows in the coming decades will help counter the effects of changing weather patterns, population shifts and limited natural resources," VOA News writes.

19 May 2011

U.S. envoy to visit North Korea to assess food shortages

Robert King, the U.S. special envoy on North Korean human rights issues, will lead an official visit to North Korea next week to assess food shortages in the country, according to a Yonhap news agency article quoting a South Korean government source, Agence France-Presse reports.

18 May 2011

Japan quake, tsunami transform country into major aid recipient

"Until a few months ago Japan was the world's fifth biggest aid donor, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, lending or giving away $9.5bn a year," the Guardian reports. But the recent earthquake and tsunami have transformed the country "into a leading destination for international charity. In two months it has received what the Democratic Republic of the Congo is given in a year," according to the article.

16 May 2011

Immortality only appeals to 15% of people: Study

Results of a new ComRes opinion poll commissioned by Dying Matters, a coalition backed by several major charities which promotes discussion of end-of-life issues, shows that only 15% want to live forever.

15 May 2011

Tanning solariums exposing people to UV radiation six times the strength of midday sun: Study

According to the latest research, tanning sun beds can deliver wildly different doses of UV radiation, with some exposing users to levels up to six times the strength of the midday sun. Worst part of it that most users are unaware of this say experts. An audit of beds in Sydney and Melbourne found some deliver twice the dose of radiation as others classed in lower categories. The audits took place in Victoria and NSW.

15 May 2011

Nearly one third of the miners on a synthetic form of cannabis

New research has revealed that a synthetic form of cannabis is being consumed and has shown up in one in ten West Australian mine workers’ urine samples. The state's ChemCentre provides forensic testing for police and the State Coroner. They have been given the contract on an increasing basis by private companies in mining regions to test their workers for the substance, known as Kronic.

12 May 2011

Clinton calls for immediate action on global food shortage, food price spikes

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at a meeting of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome said that without immediate action, food shortages and volatile prices could spark global destabilization, the Associated Press reports.

7 May 2011