STOCKHOLM (AFP) – A 16-year-old Iraqi immigrant, who figured out a solution to a complex maths puzzle, was not the first person to come up with a successful formula, Sweden's Uppsala University said in a statement Thursday. Swedish media, including the website of the Dagens Nyheter daily, reported Thursday that Mohamed Altoumaimi had found a formula to explain and simplify the so-called Bernoulli... [read more]

Biofortified rice as a contribution to the alleviation of life-threatening micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries A good start is a food start!Dietary micronutrient deficiencies, such as the lack of vitamin A, iodine, iron or zinc, are a major source of morbidity (increased susceptibility to disease) and mortality worldwide. These deficiencies affect particularly children, impairing... [read more]

  Carol CampbellThe possibility that the swine flu virus — influenza A(H1N1) — could pass between humans through faeces could have important ramifications for developing countries, where millions live without proper sanitation, according to WHO director-general Margaret Chan. In her address to the 62nd World Health Assembly held in Geneva this week (18 May) she said that diarrhoea and vomiting... [read more]

Brunton makes a good range of flexible solar cells that use CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide) instead of the usual silicon. The Brunton Solaris 26 is a flexible solar charger that generates 26 watts but measures only 21.5” by 37.5″ and folds down to 11″ by 8.5” by 1”. Solaris chargers can charge a laptop or digital video camera. They can power a satellite or cell phone. It takes between... [read more]

A new optical recording method could pave the way for data discs with 300 times the storage capacity of standard DVDs, Nature journal reports. The researchers say this could see a whopping 1.6 terabytes of information fit on a DVD-sized disc. They describe their method as "five-dimensional" optical recording and say it could be commercialised. The technique employs nanometre-scale particles... [read more]

Nadia El-Awady* Blame for the turmoil in Egypt over swine flu can be laid squarely at the feet of the media and politicians, says Nadia El-Awady. The emergence of a new influenza virus — A(H1N1) or 'swine flu' — has thrown Egypt into a state of disarray. As rumours and conspiracy theories spread, 70 million people are blindly thrashing their wooden swords to ward off an unseen and ubiquitous... [read more]

Currently, diamond is regarded to be the hardest known material in the world. But by considering large compressive pressures under indenters, scientists have calculated that a material called wurtzite boron nitride (w-BN) has a greater indentation strength than diamond. The scientists also calculated that another material, lonsdaleite (also called hexagonal diamond, since it’s made of... [read more]

Intel Capital to invest in Jeeran and ShooFeeTV underline Intel’s commitment to extend region’s technological expertise World Economic Forum, Dead Sea, Jordan, May 17, 2009 – As part of its ongoing commitment to Jordan, Intel today announced that Intel Capital, its investment organization, will be investing in two digital content companies. The company also pledged to expand its World Ahead... [read more]

  Despite being one of the great green hopes for the future, electric cars still have a long road to travel before they can hope to replace their internally-combusted brethren. To illustrate this, AFP is today reporting that agreement has been reached on a ‘common plug’ for recharging the vehicles. In a few years drivers may find themselves pulling into filling stations and... [read more]

Solar-Powered Stadiumby Justin A couple of years ago, we wrote about a 1.3 megawatt solar-powered stadium in Switzerland. A new solar powered stadium has been built in Taiwan for the 2009 World Games in July. Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the stadium incorporates 8,844 solar panels on the roof. The roof will generate enough energy to power the building’s 3,300 lights and two giant... [read more]