(Reuters) — The closer a person lives to a source of pollution, like a traffic dense highway, the more likely they are to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia, according to a study by the University of Southern California (USC) that has linked a close connection to pollution and the diseases. In a mobile lab, located just off of one of Los Angeles’ busiest freeways, USC scientists used a state-of-the-art pollution particle collector capable of gathering […]
Life
Pope Francis speaks to students in Rome, gets an invite for INC evangelical mission
(Eagle News) — Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, visited for the first time on Friday, (February 17) the Roman Tre University, a public research university in Rome, Italy, where he met students who excitedly took the time to take various selfies with him and even briefly talked to one Filipino student who was handing him religious pamphlets and magazines of the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo). Pope Francis, the […]
American Girl’s first-ever boy doll goes on sale
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Mattel’s chubby-faced American Girl dolls got a new friend on Thursday (February 16) — a boy called Logan. Some 31 years after American Girl was introduced, the California-based toymaker released the line’s very first boy doll, as part of the brand’s attempt to better reflect a changing world. “In response to thousands of impassioned requests from fans for more options, American Girl is introducing a new series of contemporary characters […]
Climate study delivers dire warning on Alpine snow
PARIS, France (AFP) — The Alpine skiing season may be much shorter by century’s end, and limited to a smaller area, said a climate study Thursday warning of snow cover loss as high as 70 percent. Most climate models predict increased winter precipitation due to global warming, scientists wrote in the European Geosciences Union (EGU) journal The Cryosphere. But with temperatures rising too, the is likely to be in the form of rain rather than […]
Seagrass on decline, jeopardizing human, coral health: study
by Jean-Louis SANTINI Agence France-Presse BOSTON, United States (AFP) — Underwater meadows of seagrass offer important protection against pollution to both humans and coral reefs, but are in jeopardy worldwide due to climate change, sewage and agricultural runoff, researchers said Thursday. Places with healthy seagrass — where sponges, clams, small fish and other filter feeders thrive — can reduce bacteria that is harmful to both people and marine life by up to 50 percent, said […]
Brain damage in former players fuels soccer ‘heading’ fears
LONDON, United Kingdom (Reuters) — Scientists have found signs of brain damage that could cause dementia in a handful of former soccer players, fueling worries about the danger of frequent knocks from heading the ball or colliding with others on the field. The small study was the first of its kind, involving post mortems on six men who died with dementia after long careers playing soccer. All were skilled headers of the ball. The study, […]
An explosion of color at New York City’s Orchid Show
NEW YORK, United States (Reuters) — Bright pinks, golden yellows, vivid purples – a burst of colorful flowers brightens New York City’s concrete jungle. The New York Botanical Garden previewed its 15th Annual Orchid Show Thursday (February 16). This year’s theme is “Thailand” and thousands of colorful orchids are on display. The exhibition allows visitors to walk through a lush, wondrous, orchid-draped Thai garden anchored with examples of traditional Thai architecture. “Throughout the exhibition there […]
Museums around the Metro
QUEZON City, Philippines (February 17) – A great artist by the name of Pablo Picasso also once said that “Every child is an artist; the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” The same can be said about every other vocation. A child is so full of potential that they can be anything they want when they grow up. To give them that helpful nudge, a visit to the museum may […]
Yahoo notifies users of sophisticated breach methods
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Yahoo said Wednesday it was notifying some users that hackers may have been able to use a maneuver to break into their accounts without stealing passwords. The latest notifications were in response to the record breach disclosed late last year affecting an estimated one billion users — which involved forging of “cookies” or files used to authenticate users when they log into their accounts. The notification indicates the investigation […]
Tokyo collects old phones to recycle into 2020 Olympics medals
TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) — Over a hundred of people gathered at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building on Thursday (February 16) to donate their old mobile phones, which will be recycled into medals for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee hopes to gather as much as eight tonnes of metal from outdated mobile phones and small appliances. This effort, the first of its kind for the Olympics, will extract 40 kg of gold, 2,930 […]
New Facebook job-hunting features challenge LinkedIn
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Facebook on Wednesday began letting businesses in the US or Canada post jobs and take applications from jobseekers, posing a challenge to Microsoft-owned LinkedIn. The platform’s users will be able to find help-wanted posts at business pages on Facebook or by looking in a new ‘jobs’ bookmark on the leading social network’s mobile application. “Businesses and people already use Facebook to fill and find jobs, so we’re rolling out […]
Brain damage in former players fuels soccer ‘heading’ fears
LONDON, England (Reuters) — Scientists have found signs of brain damage that could cause dementia in a handful of former soccer players, fueling worries about the danger of frequent knocks from heading the ball or colliding with others on the field. The small study was the first of its kind, involving post mortems on six men who died with dementia after long careers playing soccer. All were skilled headers of the ball. The study, published […]