Brazil unleashes GM mozzies to combat diseases
Reading Time: < 1 minuteA new batch of genetically modified mosquitoes was released in Brazil to combat mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. The GM mosquitoes contain Wolbachia bacterium which interferes with the reproduction of new offsprings, thus eradicating the population and the spread of diseases. According to the head researcher, Luciano Moreira, the effectiveness of the […]
What is the hottest place on earth?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDeath Valley’s name says it all — it is the hottest place on Earth. Death Valley currently holds the record for hottest air temperature ever recorded. The desert valley reached highs of 56.7 degrees in the summer of 1913, which would apparently push the limits of human survival. Average temperatures today reach 47 degrees during […]
New narratives necessary
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB) hosted in Vietnam recently set the pace for a ‘refreshing rethink’ in agribiotech CAN THO, VIETNAM: This year the High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB) took place, here, in Can Tho, Vietnam. This city which is the economic centre of the Mekong Delta was […]
What causes kidney stones?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe leading cause of kidney stones is a lack of water in the body. Stones are more commonly found in individuals who drink less than the recommended eight to ten glasses of water a day. When there is not enough water to dilute the uric acid (a component of urine), the urine becomes more acidic. […]
Who invented the cell phone?
Reading Time: 2 minutesThere once was a time when cell phones were rare and reserved mostly for professionals who could afford one. Today, it’s hard to imagine a world without them. Even if you don’t own one yourself, you probably see dozens of people talking on a cell phone every day. The rate at which we adopted the […]
Harmful algal bloom
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY FARHAN ZULKIPLEE We can see sometimes the ocean, river and lakes change colour from blue to red, brown and green. This phenomenon is caused by an algae bloom. Algae is a microorganism which will grow and proliferate when there are abundant nutrients in the water. It will rapidly multiply and changes the water colour […]
Biosafety, bioethics and biosecurity come under the radar in UPM hosted seminar
Reading Time: 2 minutesSERDANG: Biosafety, bioethics and biosecurity are big words even for scientists. The policies, regulations and their implementation still remain elusive to scientists and other stakeholders. To create awareness on these areas, last month the Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences of Universiti Putra Malaysia organised a seminar on these topics for scientists and post-graduate students. […]
Accupuncture proven to be effective for weight control
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) recently completed a clinical trial on the use of acupuncture for weight control. After an eight-week treatment, the participants’ average body weight decreased by 2.47 kg, with a weight loss of 7.2 kg for the most successful participant, whose Body Mass Index (BMI) […]
AirAsia unveils UPM livery on aircraft
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAIRASIA has marked its collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in a unique way when for the first time in the world, a university’s livery was painted on a plane. According to a news report by Bernama, the livery depicting the words “Universiti Putra Malaysia”, its motto “With Knowledge We Serve” and icon, a rain […]
Kenya will soon market GM baby’s breath flowers
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY SYAHMI IEKHSAN KENYA’S baby’s breath, a widely used adornment within bridal bouquets could potentially become Kenya’s first commercially cultivated genetically modified (GM) flower. In an article by Quartz Africa titled Colouring the Future, recently an Israeli company, Imaginature had submitted an application that is currently being reviewed by the Kenyan Biosafety Authority to further […]