A new report by Oxfam, Investing for life: Meeting poor people’s needs for access to medicines through responsible business practices, urges pharmaceutical companies to lower retail prices for drug in emerging economies. At current levels, the drugs are not affordable by 85% of people who could benefit from them, and whose alternative is often death. …
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Lower stress and lower calories to live longer, again
New research again supports the notion that eating less and having lower stress are significant factors in extending longevity. In a study detailed in the journal Nature, US scientists from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, exposed nematode worms were exposed to 88,000 chemicals in turn and mianserin, an antidepressant drug, extended lifespan by …
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The Economic Consequences of Mr. Bush
The Economic Consequences of Mr. Bush by Joseph Stiglitz When we look back someday at the catastrophe that was the Bush administration, we will think of many things: the tragedy of the Iraq war, the shame of Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib, the erosion of civil liberties. The damage done to the American economy does not …
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Emperor Qian Long to King George III
This link came across my desk and I share it because of my ties to Hong Kong and fondness for China. It is the text of a famous letter from Emperor Qian Long sent to King George III at the height of Chinese civilisation in the 18th century. China entered into a 200-year period of …
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Weight influences self-esteem in young children because of social pressure
A study Girls shout out! Under ten and under pressure, published by Girlguiding UK and eating disorders charity beat, found girls associated being overweight with being bullied and sad, while families and friends make them feel happy and good about themselves. Girls as young as seven believe being slim and attractive will mean you are …
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Education should provide more support for experiential learning over academics in early years
Dr Lilian Katz, a professor of education at the University of Illinois, USA who addressed an international conference on foundation-stage learning at the University of Oxford, spoke out against plans to teach reading at pre-school and said there is a danger that children could be put off reading for life. She said: “The evidence we …
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Emotional intelligence at 6 months
According to new research, 6 month old babies can already assess someone’s intentions towards them, deciding who is a likely friend or enemy, even though they are barely able to sit up. Like all social creatures, humans are able to make rapid judgements of other people based on how they behave towards others, but the …
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Another reason earth is special – its moon is a cosmic rarity
The earth’s moon was created when an object as big as the planet Mars smacked into the Earth billions of years ago and the impact hurled debris into orbit, some of which eventually consolidated to form our Moon. A study by US astronomers published in the Astrophysical Journal reports that only 5-10% of planetary systems in …
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Making sense of the right to carry weapons
The US Supreme Court is to consider Americans’ right to bear arms for the first time in nearly 70 years. It has agreed to rule on whether a ban on handguns by the city of Washington, DC (since 1976) complies with the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it …
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Migraine brains are different
This is obvious to people that get migraines – the head hurts, a lot – but now scientists may be on the road to finding out what migraine is. A Neurology study, by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, have discovered that sensory areas of the brains’ cortex is thicker in people who develop …
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