Wednesday December 23, 2009

Dinosaur-killing impact set Earth to broil, not burn

Jeff Hecht
New Scientist

The asteroid impact that ended the age of dinosaurs 65 million years ago didn't incinerate life on our planet's surface – it just broiled it, a new study suggests.

The work resolves nagging questions about a theory that the impact triggered deadly wildfires around the world, but it also raises new questions about just what led to the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.
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Wednesday December 23, 2009

Mandelson: do your degree in two years

Richard Garner
Independent

Universities told to reduce length of courses as cash squeeze bites

Universities face a move towards two-year degree courses as the Government dramatically reduces higher education spending.

The announcement of the cuts, which will see £518m lopped off university funding next year, provoked an outcry from vice-chancellors, students, lecturers and opposition MPs last night.
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Thursday December 10, 2009

Dogs vs cats: The great pet showdown

Kate Douglas
New Scientist

THE world is divided into "dog people" and "cat people", each passionately believing that their preferred pet is superior. Until a decade ago, there was very little scientific evidence either camp could muster to support its claims.

Then animal behaviourists became interested in dogs and unleashed a pack of ingenious experiments testing canine capabilities and cognition. Recently, researchers have started doing similar work with cats. Could it be time for that showdown?
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Thursday December 10, 2009

UK should open borders to climate refugees, says Bangladeshi minister

Harriet Grant, James Randerson and John Vidal
The Guardian

Europe and US should also be responsible for millions who will be displaced by climate change, says Abul Maal Abdul Muhith

Up to 20 million Bangladeshis may be forced to leave the country in the next 40 years because of climate change, one of the country's most senior politicians has said. Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Bangladesh's finance minister, called on Britain and other wealthy countries to accept millions of displaced people.
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Thursday December 10, 2009

Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws

Jerome Taylor and Mark Hughes
Independent

Don’t use anti-terror laws to prevent pictures being taken, officers told.

Police forces across the country have been warned to stop using anti-terror laws to question and search innocent photographers after The Independent forced senior officers to admit that the controversial legislation is being widely misused.
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Thursday December 10, 2009

EU plans police exchange scheme

BBC News

The EU plans student-style exchanges for European police and judges in a new five-year blueprint to improve justice co-operation in the 27-nation bloc.

EU leaders are expected to approve the so-called Stockholm Programme at a summit in Brussels next week.

The funding arrangements and other details are yet to be worked out.
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