Life

Bill Gates again world’s richest man; Trump slips

by John BIERS Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates once again topped the Forbes magazine list of the world’s more than 2,000 billionaires, while US President Donald Trump slipped more than 200 spots, the magazine said Monday. Gates, whose wealth is estimated at $86 billion, led the list for the fourth straight year, and has been ranked as the richest person in the world for 18 of the […]

Climate change ‘makes deadly China pollution worse’

by Marlowe HOOD Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Global warming has boosted the frequency and severity of deadly air pollution peaks in northern China, scientists said Monday. Toxic particles in the air cause nearly a million premature deaths in the country every year, according to earlier research. “Climate change increases occurrences of weather conditions conducive to Beijing winter severe haze,” a team reported in the journal Nature Climate Change. In Beijing and other […]

Buffalo soldiers help Thai kids combat autism

They may not be the most advanced pieces of equipment in Thailand’s military arsenal, but parents and officers say “buffalo soldiers” are making strides helping autistic children come out of their shells. (AFP) https://youtu.be/IwhuUrimres      

SpaceX cargo craft released from space station to return to Earth

Reuters — The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft left the International Space Station on Sunday (March 19) to begin its journey back to Earth The resupply cargo craft was released from the ISS at 0411EDT (0911GMT) and was set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California after a five-hour journey, according to NASA. NASA says the cargo shift was carrying some 5,400 pounds (2,450 kilos) of gear and scientific samples for […]

Vast collection of Beatles memorabilia goes on auction in Paris

PARIS, France (Reuters) — One of the largest Beatles collections in France, including rare vinyl records, dolls and photographs, went on auction in Paris on Saturday (March 18) at the L’Hotel Drouot auction house. Among the 332 lots which were up for auction was the disc “Tony Sheridan and the Beatles 7: My Bonnie”, signed by Paul McCartney and George Harrison, with a 6,000 to 10,000 euros ($6,450 to $10,740) price tag. A lot of […]

First fluorescent frog found in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — The first naturally fluorescent frog was discovered recently in Argentina — almost by chance, a member of the team of researchers told AFP Thursday. Argentine and Brazilian scientists at the Bernardino Rivadaiva Natural Sciences Museum made the discovery while studying the metabolic origin of pigments in a tree-frog species common to South America. Under normal light the frog’s translucent skin is a muted yellowish-brown color with red dots, but when the […]

Indonesia summons UK envoy over coral reef destruction

by Dessy Sagita Agence France-Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia summoned the British ambassador Friday after a cruise ship on a voyage organised by a London-based company smashed into coral reefs in a popular tourist spot and caused extensive damage. Raja Ampat in eastern Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse marine habitats on Earth, and attracts intrepid travellers and divers to its palm-fringed islands surrounded by coral and fish. The accident happened this month […]

Scientists spin artificial spider silk

(Reuters) — A team of Swedish researchers from the University of Agricultural Sciences and the Karolinska Institute has discovered a way to artificially create one of the strongest, most tensile natural substances known to man – spider silk. Stronger than steel, weight for weight, spider silk also possesses properties which make it ideal for a wide variety of medical uses, but previous attempts to use captive spiders or to make it artificially have not produced […]

First fluorescent frog found in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — The first naturally fluorescent frog was discovered recently in Argentina — almost by chance, a member of the team of researchers told AFP Thursday. Argentine and Brazilian scientists at the Bernardino Rivadaiva Natural Sciences Museum made the discovery while studying the metabolic origin of pigments in a tree-frog species common to South America. Under normal light the frog’s translucent skin is a muted yellowish-brown color with red dots, but when […]

Miniature lab begins science experiments in outer space

HERZLIYA, Israel (Reuters) — Orbiting the earth at more than 500 kilometers (300 miles) per hour, a tiny satellite with a laboratory shrunk to the size of a tissue box is helping scientists carry out experiments that take gravity out of the equation. It was launched into orbit last month by India’s national space agency. Dubbed DIDO, the mini-lab was constructed by Swiss-Israeli firm SpacePharma, a Swiss-Israeli company, which on Thursday (March 16) announced that […]