Latest science news in Mathematics & Economics
More firms announce peanut-product recalls
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says more possibly contaminated peanut products, including snack tray items sold by 1-800-Flowers, are being recalled.
Review: Blockbuster's $99 video box disappoints
(AP) -- Blockbuster Inc. knows the days of the movie rental store are numbered, as video downloads over the Internet slowly start to replace DVDs.
States Push To Tax Web Sales
With the recession pummeling states' budgets, their governments increasingly want to fill the gaps by collecting taxes on Internet sales, which are growing even as the economy shudders.
A Drug Company Wishes on a Lot of Eyelashes
Also in today's links: human-cow hybrid embryos, morphing gel displays and more. read more
Plant life not a villain in methane emissions debate
(PhysOrg.com) -- A comprehensive investigation of plant emissions led by University of South Australia molecular biologist Dr Ellen Nisbet has put pay to the assertion that plants are producing...
The Caucus: E.P.A. Pick Vows to Put Science First
At a confirmation hearing, President-elect Obama’s choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency promises to end what the committee chairman has called a “deep and nightmarish sleep” under the influence...
Low-cost Strategy Developed For Curbing Computer Worms
A new, cost-effective strategy to limit the spread of worms through computer networks has been developed. The two-pronged plan compiles suspicious incoming activity from the network's computers to create an...
New Software To Improve Design Tools
Engineers have developed software that will let engineers design new products by simply sketching their ideas on a tablet computer.
On the record
Barack Obama's nominees for top federal positions are not speaking to the press until their appointments are confirmed, but they have spoken out before.
Sub-Saharan Africa news in brief: 1–14 January 2009
Bioprospecting rules threaten South African science, finding sleeping sickness gets easier, Egypt and Nigeria outperform South Africa, and more.
Europe's .eu Internet domain marks three millionth address
The European .eu web domain has picked up its three millionth customer since it was launched two and a half years ago, ranking it in the global cyber top 10,...
Google Releases Chrome 2.0 Alpha
(PhysOrg.com) -- With the full release of Chrome 1.0 in December, Google has just released Chrome 2.0 alpha that brings many noticeable improvements over Chrome 1.0. With this new alpha...
Half of pupils finish school without basic science grades
Half of pupils leave secondary school without a basic qualification in science and seven in ten do not have at least a C-grade language GCSE, figures released today show.
Google accelerates drive to sell more software
(AP) -- Google Inc. is offering financial incentives to expand the sales network for the software it sells to businesses while restricting the use of a free alternative in...
US Senate, House launch YouTube channels
The US Senate and House of Representatives have launched YouTube channels following a presidential election in which the video-sharing website played an influential role.
Toshiba in talks to buy Fujitsu's HDD business: official
Japanese high-tech giant Toshiba Corp. is in talks to buy rival Fujitsu Ltd.'s loss-making hard disk drive business, a company spokesman said Wednesday.
Standardising greywater treatment technologies
A new protocol for testing greywater treatment technologies in Australia could boost efforts to conserve the nation's water resources. CSIRO's Water for a Healthy Country Flagship and the Smart Water...
Sorting diamonds from toothbrushes: New guide to protecting personal information
Thefts of personally identifiable information (PII), such as social security and credit card account numbers, are increasing dramatically. Adding to the difficulty of fighting this problem, organisations often disagree on...
Anti-Smoking Advocate Is Named to Health Post
President-elect Barack Obama has chosen William V. Corr to be the No. 2 official at the Department of Health and Human Services.
New Soybean Variety Sets Sights On Japanese Soyfoods Market
A new small-seed soybean variety that was developed for the lucrative Japanese soyfoods market has been released by Agricultural Research Service scientists.
B.C. crib company issues massive recall over suffocation hazard
Vancouver-based manufacturer Stork Craft is voluntarily recalling more than a million baby cribs in Canada and the United States over a potential suffocation hazard.
First of new large hybrid trucks showcased in Moncton
The face of the large trucking industry may be changing after Peterbilt Motors rolled out one of the first hybrid models in Moncton.
This week's Web Winners: Investment help
Sophisticated investors were among victims of Bernard L. Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Avoiding financial scams must be even trickier than we thought. These sites might make it easier.
Snowy owls going hungry on P.E.I.
Driven south by a lack of food, there are about 10 times as many snowy owls as usual on P.E.I. this year, but they are not having much luck on...
God's Role in Presidential Inaugurations and Beyond
Barack Obama will place his hand on the Bible and swear an oath to serve the United States.
Stanford to energize Silicon Valley
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Stanford University President John Hennessy says the school's new energy research center will bring fresh ideas to the Silicon Valley.
Sony shock again? Slump may mean operating loss
(AP) -- Sony is sinking into its first yearly operating loss in 14 years as sales for digital cameras, flat-panel TVs and other gadgets took a hammering from the...
Stanford launches $100 million initiative to tackle energy issues
Recognizing that energy is at the heart of many of the world's tribulations—economic, environmental and political—Stanford is establishing a $100 million research institute to focus intently on energy issues, President...