Category: News

  • Time to Rethink Tax Policy for Diesel Fuel

    Paying for fuel to power our cars is never fun, especially when the price skyrockets quickly and comes back down oh so slowly. As we scan the different stations looking at the prices, taking in a momentary gasp, and then finally picking a station and filling up, we rarely think about the taxes that we…

  • New study of the Arctic Ocean finds alarming increase in acidity

    If you ever had a marine aquarium (or a swimming pool) you know that it is very important to keep the level of acidity (ph) within a narrow range for optimum results. In the case of the pool, to minimize corrosion of the metal parts in a heater and to reduce damage to the pool…

  • Tigers vs. Leopards: Who are you more afraid of?

    Besides the obvious stripes vs. spots, tigers and leopards are very similar – two top predatory cats that have the power and stealth to capture just about any prey. And if you were to find yourself face-to-face with one in the wild, the average person would probably be equally scared of both. But this is…

  • Organic September

    The Soil Association’s Emma Heesom talks to the Ecologist about what this year’s Organic September campaign is all about and how everyone can make a small change and a big difference… There are lots of different reasons why people choose to buy Organic produce – from reduced chemicals and pesticides to concerns about animal welfare…

  • Verizon Foundation Launches Second Innovative App Challenge for Students to Bolster Engagement in STEM Subjects

    The Verizon Foundation, in partnership with the Technology Student Association, has opened the 2013-2014 Innovative App Challenge, giving middle and high school students across the country a chance to develop a concept for a mobile app and bring it to market. The mobile app design competition aims to engage students in science, technology, engineering and…

  • Food and beverage dye going all-natural

    As consumers are becoming more health-conscious and aware of chemical additives and dyes in their food, many are starting to stray away from anything that contains “unnatural” ingredients, including food and drink dyes. At the 246th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), this concern was one of the many topics discussed…

  • Israeli Researcher Discovers Cell-Destroying Protein That May Help Eradicate Cancer

    “Killing these cancer stem cells is the holy grail of cancer treatments and therefore holds promise for complete eradication of cancer,” says Dr. Sarit Larisch of the University of Haifa. These are not words pronounced lightly; instead, they follow more than a decade of research that could give hope to cancer patients worldwide. Along with…

  • Are UK drivers more switched on to electric vehicles?

    It may come as a surprise to those who drive in the UK but a recent survey by Censuswide and Rexel has revealed that 41% of British drivers surveyed would consider the purchase of an electric vehicle or hybrid over the next five years. The survey also revealed a number of anomalies with regards to…

  • Snake Fungal Disease Hits U.S.

    A fungal outbreak in the eastern and Midwestern United States is infecting some populations of wild snakes. Snake Fungal Disease (SFD), a fungal dermatitis consistently associated with the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, is showing recent spikes in occurrence according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) and other diagnostic laboratories. So far, the…

  • Happiness found to be a good target of policy

    Everyone yearns to be happy. Some think obtaining the next hot gadget or cell phone will do it. Others the new hot sports car. For others, a warm bed and food for their family will bring happiness. But what does our yearning for happiness have to do with government policy? How can governments increase our…