Death toll rises, blackouts remain in Philippines after typhoon
Manila (AFP) July 21, 2014 -
The death toll is still rising and hundreds of thousands of homes are without power five days after Typhoon Rammasun's rampage through the Philippines, authorities said Monday.
Reports of fatalities from the typhoon, which struck the archipelago on July 16, continued to come in from isolated areas, bringing the number of dead to 97, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council ...
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The bend in the Appalachian mountain chain is finally explained
Rochester NY (SPX) Jul 22, 2014 -
The 1500 mile Appalachian mountain chain runs along a nearly straight line from Alabama to Newfoundland-except for a curious bend in Pennsylvania and New York State. Researchers from the College of New Jersey and the University of Rochester now know what caused that bend-a dense, underground block of rigid, volcanic rock forced the chain to shift eastward as it was forming millions of years ago. ...
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BYU professor helping to eradicate fatal sleeping sickness
Salt Lake City UT (SPX) Jul 22, 2014 -
A BYU ecologist is playing a role in the effort to curb a deadly disease affecting developing nations across equatorial Africa. Steven L. Peck, a BYU professor of biology, has lent his expertise in understanding insect movement to help shape a UN-sanctioned eradication effort of the tsetse fly-a creature that passes the fatal African sleeping sickness to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. ...
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Is the US National Flood Insurance Program Affordable?
Washington DC (SPX) Jul 22, 2014 -
There is often tension between setting insurance premiums that reflect risk and dealing with equity/affordability issues. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in the United States recently moved toward elimination of certain premium discounts, but this raised issues with respect to the affordability of coverage for homeowners in flood-prone areas. Ultimately, Congress reversed course and ...
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Scientists complete chromosome-based draft of the wheat genome
Manhattan KS (SPX) Jul 22, 2014 -
Several Kansas State University researchers were essential in helping scientists assemble a draft of a genetic blueprint of bread wheat, also known as common wheat. The food plant is grown on more than 531 million acres around the world and produces nearly 700 million tons of food each year.
The International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium, which also includes faculty at Kansas State U ...
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A new measure of biodiversity
Townsville, Australia (SPX) Jul 22, 2014 -
A new approach to measuring biodiversity has uncovered some biologically important but currently unprotected areas in Western Australia, while confirming the significance of the world heritage listed Wet Tropics rainforests in the country's north-east.
In a paper published in Nature Communications, scientists from CSIRO, University of California, University of Canberra, the Australian Trop ...
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European car market recovers, Peugeot picks up speed
Paris (AFP) July 17, 2014 -
The number of new cars registered in Europe grew for the 10th consecutive month in June, according to industry data published Thursday, adding to evidence the embattled sector is recovering.
Sales of new cars rose by 4.5 percent last month to 1.2 million units, the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA) said, as the market continues its battle to shake off a recent slump. ...
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