- Expert 'was refused access'
One of the UK's experts in the spread of infectious diseases said he had consistently been refused access to the UK government's information database about BSE, or "mad cow disease". In written evidence to the BSE inquiry, Roy Anderson, professor of epidemiology at Oxford University, said he was refused all …
- That certain chemistry
US scientists have found long sought proof that people release potent chemical signals that can have profound effects on other people. The research settles a 40 year debate about whether humans produce and can respond to "pheromones," molecules that are usually airborne and odorless and that influence, in other species, …
- Clinton backs bipartisan bill to introduce tobacco curbs
President Bill Clinton threw his personal authority behind an effort to persuade Congress to pass a bill on the tobacco industry in the 68 days of legislative time remaining this year. Mr. Clinton supported the introduction of the first bipartisan bill aimed at raising cigarette prices and regulating the industry …
- Row flares over 'cancer cure'
The Italian government is locked in a furious battle with the country's judiciary over whether an untested "cancer cure" should be provided free of charge by the national health service. If the ruling were upheld, the drug would have to be administered free throughout the country, costing the Health Ministry …
- Gene causing cataract found
Scientists at the Centre for Genetic Diorders, Guru Nanak University, have succeeded in localising a new gene on chromosome 22, which causes cerulean cataract with sutural opacities. The Centre had been working in collaboration with Dr Daljit Singh Eye Hospital for the past several years to trace the genetic factors …
- Light from tiny galaxy reveals most distant object ever seen from Earth
Light from a misshapen galaxy on the other side of the universe indicates that it is the most distant object ever seen from Earth, astronomers said. Using the world's largest telescopes, at the Keck Observartory in Hawaii, researchers said they noticed the unusual object while observing other objects in deep …
- New body to implement AIDS programmes
The formulation and implementation of AIDS control programmes in West Bengal from the ensuing financial year will be conducted by a new, registered and autonomous body in a bid to expedite efforts to contain the spread of the as yet incurable disease. Officially, about 1,200 people in the state have …
Random interviews under way to ensure accuracy of census
A high-level team of the Population Census Organization, Islamabad, paid surprise visits to Central, East and South districts and conducted random interviews of different families through the "Field Quality Check Form (FQCF)." One of the deputy census commissioner after tallying the FQCF outcome from the register of the enumerators left …
Evidence points to new strain
A new strain of adenovirus is suspected to have caused the death of 31 children in Sarawak last year. It was identified using classical virological methods by a team from the Institute of Health and Community Medicine of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak headed by institute director Prof Mary Jane Cardosa. Prof …
Drop in Air Itam Dam water level
The water at the Air Itam Dam can last for 85 days if the prolonged dry spell continues, the Penang Water Authority (PWA) said yesterday. However, Penangites could count on water from Sungai Muda in Kedah which supplies 80% of the state's daily demand. A PWA senior official said the …
- More evidence points to impact as dinosaur killer
Two new impact crater sites in Belize and Mexico add further evidence to the hypothesis that an asteroid or comet collided with Earth about 65 million years ago, subsequently killing off the dinosaurs and many other species on the planet.
- Another viral infection steadily rising
After HIV and Hepatitis B, which continue to wreak havoc with the lives of many unsuspecting people, an infection which can cuase serious short and long term complications and result in fatality in a large number of people is on steady rise. But the Government is yet to take any …
- There might be an old man on the moon after all
The recent discovery of "water ice" at the poles of the moon has spawned considerable debate regarding the prospect of there being life on the sole natural satellite of the earth. While starting that even at the poles on earth there is a mass of teeming life form, Dr Nirupama …
- Kalpasar only after Narmada
CM : Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel declared in Gandhinagar on Wednesday that the Rs 35,000-crore Kalpasar project would start only after the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project is completed, thus setting at rest all controversy regarding the two mega projects eating into each other's finances.
- Battle looms over passive smoking
Boston lawyers are mounting an assault on tobacco companies over alleged harm suffered by restraurant workers from second hand smoke. Advertisements appeared in Massachusetts papers seeking employees at restraurants or bars who had developed smoking related diseases. The lawsuit is modelled on a high profile case for flight attendants, which …
- Riposte to tobacco companies
Scientists urged the UK government to restrict smoking in public places, after concluding that passive smoking causes lung cancer and heart diseases. The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health, an independent advisory group, told the Department of Health that long term exposure to "environmental tobacco smoke" increases the risk of …
- Washing away the nitrates
In some rural areas the intensive use of nitrogen fertilisers has increased the concentration of nitrates in drinking water to dangerous levels. This cannot be dealt with by conventional water treatment techniques. The Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, has demonstrated a possible solution that involves passing the …
- A germ warehouse prospers in Maryland
They keep anthrax bacteria in the basement of a faded red brick building, not far from the yellow fever virus, the botulism bacteria and some of the hundreds of organisms that cause the common cold. In fact, there are samples of 85,000 different fungi, viruses, cells and genes and bacteria …
- Study suggests Homo Erectus brainier than previously thought
A controversial new study is challenging a fundamental traditional assumption of human evolution namely that Homo Erectus the most advanced version of our forefathers on Earth a million years ago was pretty much of a boob whose highest technology amounted to little more than rudimentary stone tools. Instead, Australian and …
- Holi colours can be a toxic eyeful
Every year, doctors come across hundreds of cases wherein spurious gulal causes health problems involving the eyes, skin and respiratory system - toxicity and allergy being the most common of them. According to Dr K.K. Aggarwal, vice-president of the project 'Deepankar' of the Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI), a …
