Malaysian researchers discover unique lineage of Covid-19 virus in the country
Reading Time: 2 minutesKUANTAN: A consortium of researchers performing a whole genome sequencing of the prevailing Covid-19 virus in the country have discovered that the virus strains have [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] evolved from different lineages. The team from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) Kuantan and Makmal Kesihatan Awam Johor Baru were led by UMP’s Dr Hajar […]
Mexican entrepreneurs develop the world’s first animal cruelty-free leather
Reading Time: 2 minutesEVERY year more than a billion animals are slaughtered for their skins and hides to make clothing and accessories. Skin is ripped off from elephants, crocodiles, and snakes to make leather. Sheep are often beaten and mutilated to steal their wool and their skin for shearing. Goats are abused for cashmere and mohair. All these are […]
Anti dengue drug from rubber trees!
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE rubber industry, unlike many other commodity-related industries in Malaysia is booming with soaring demand for latex surgical gloves with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, if you think rubber trees are only valued for their latex or rubber elastomer here’s a surprise to marvel at. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] Scientists from the Malaysian Rubber Board […]
Popular cash crops can indirectly impact on fight against malaria
Reading Time: 2 minutesRESEARCHERS at the University of Sydney and University of São Paulo, Brazil, estimate 20 percent of the malaria risk in deforestation hot spots is driven by the international trade of exports including: coffee, timber, soybean, cocoa, wood products, palm oil, tobacco, beef and cotton. “What does this mean for affluent consumers?” asks senior author Professor […]
‘Eureka’ moment for scientists who saw beyond the oil
Reading Time: 6 minutesBY MAHALETCHUMY ARUJANAN SERENDIPITY in research is every scientist’s dream. For Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi and her co-researchers, it is not just serendipitous research but spontaneous thinking and capturing what missed the attention of many. Ravigadevi and team at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board were the first scientists in the world to make a major discovery […]
The mysterious, legendary giant squid’s genome is revealed
Reading Time: 2 minutesHOW did the monstrous giant squid — reaching school-bus size, with eyes as big as dinner plates and tentacles that can snatch prey 10 yards away — get so scarily big? Today, important clues about the anatomy and evolution of the mysterious giant squid (Architeuthis dux) are revealed through publication of its full genome sequence […]