According to a new research study, weather plays a crucial role in the formation of the dead zones in the Great Lakes of North America.
Great Lakes like any other large lakes, natural or manmade have been affected by dead zones. These zones where fishes could not survive were thought to be caused by excess phosphorous triggering algae blooms which pollute the waters and rob it of the essential nutrients making it unfit for fishes. The algae blooms also rob the water of much of the dissolved oxygen .
However recent research revealed that excess runoff of phosphorous is not the only cause of the formation of dead zones. Researchers affiliated with the Carnegie Institution for Science found out that weather also played an important role in the formation of dead zones. Changes in regular weather conditions, low flow rates from tributary rivers and droughts also played a crucial role in the formation of these dead zones.
The US Red Cross has come under the scanner and asked by its parent group, International Red Cross to cease taking donations from Tobacco Companies. Tobacco has been indicted for causing many dreaded diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Major Tobacco companies are donating millions of dollars to the American Red Cross as a tax write off. This is tarnishing the image of American Red Cross. Donations taken from tobacco companies are often regarded as dirt money.
However abruptly stopping taking donations from tobacco companies is sure to affect the Red Cross kitty which are needed to finance providing clothing, shelter, and medical assistance to those in need across the US and around the world.
American Red Cross came into existence in 1881 by the efforts of its founder Clara Barton. Barton had served for the International Red Cross overseas before he established the American Red Cross.
The three year old ban on the sale of foie gras in California was struck down by a federal judge on Wednesday. The move has been welcomed by a section of California restaurants and was termed as “culinary freedom.”
Foie grasis prepared from the liver of a goose or duck which are finely chopped. However the process of fattening of the duck or goose, termed as ‘gavage’ has earned the ire of PETA. The fattening process involves force feeding the bird with a tube. The process has been considered as particularly hideous and animal rights activists display pictures of these helpless birds with tubes forced into their throats.
Wayne Pacelle, the president of said in a statement, “California lawmakers conducted a serious-minded debate about farm animal welfare in 2004, passing a bill to phase out the cruel force-feeding of ducks and the sale of foie gras if it comes from that inhumane process,”
A US soldier who has just returned from West Africa and was found dead near his Texas base where he has been posted was not infected with Ebola. Army officials have been awaiting the results of more conclusive tests after the initial screening which also showed that the soldier was not suffering from Ebola infections.
Post officials said in a statement said, “There is no evidence of a public health threat or EVD (Ebola virus disease) exposure to community or law enforcement officials involved in the current investigation of the death of a Ft. Hood soldier.”
The cause of death or the identity of the soldier has not been released. The soldier had recently returned to Fort Hood in central Texas on emergency leave, post officials said.
Every soldier who returns after a stint in West Africa have to monitor themselves twice daily and report his status to medical officials.
Killeen police spokeswoman Carol Smith told Reuters on Tuesday, “We are not saying Ebola at all. It’s just that because of the circumstances from West Africa, we are erring on the side of caution.”
A cold wave a sweeping across central and eastern USA for the last three days and meteorologists warned there was little relief in sight. Schools and educational institutions remained closed on Thursday. Bone chilling Arctic winds blow across Canada and further hit the U.S. Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with many parts around minus 10 Fahrenheit (minus 23 Celsius), the National Weather Service said.
National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Broyles said “While it looks like the high pressure responsible for the cold will last another day or two and then move to the east, another shot of cold air will be coming into the north-central states toward the weekend.”
Public have been advised to keep their pets indoors. Frostbite can take place with just 15 minutes of exposure to the frigid air. Driving is particularly treacherous in places which are facing blowing snow and icy roadways. Public have been advised to avoid driving in such conditions.
Aspirin is taken as a precaution to prevent heart attack or strokes. However there are many people who do not really need to take aspirin but are often prescribed by doctors and often aspirin ends up doing more harm than good.
Latest reports suggest that over 11% people take aspirin without any real need. The report suggests that when it comes to preventing primary cardiovascular disease, aspirin is heavily abused.
The Journal of the American College of Cardiology conducted a study which revealed that 72% people had mixed variables which should have been present when they use aspirin as a CVD preventative. The study included tens of thousands of subjects.
The rampant misuse of aspirin across the US has prompted experts to recommend aspirin only in persons who have significant clot related problem. This actually means persons who have suffered an ischemic stroke or heart attack. It also includes people who are at high risk to suffer from ischemic stroke or a heart attack in the next 10 years.
The black box of the ill fated Air Asia flight 8501 was located by divers early Monday. The black box will provide the answers as to why the plane crashed into the Java Sea two weeks ago, killing all the 162 persons on board.
The Singapore Navy Chief has informed that the plane fuselage of the ill fated Air Asia flight was located by the country’s naval vessels. Images of the aircraft’s wing and words on the fuselage were taken by remotely operated vehicle. The Indonesian authorities have been informed of the new find and the recovery operations have been started.
Ng said Wednesday, “The accident is a tragic event resulting in the loss of many lives. I hope that with the fuselage located, some form of closure can come to the families of the victims to ease their grief.”
The diver’s had earlier recovered the flight’s cockpit voice recorder from the sea floor. The cockpit voice recorder along with the data recorder was sent to Jakarta for study.
Responsibility for the deadly attack on the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo that killed 12 people was taken by the Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen. The target was chosen by the Qaeda leadership and the attackers were referred as two heroes of Islam. The news paper attack continued for three days which saw five more people being killed in what is now labeled as the French equivalent of the September 11, 2001 attack on the US.
The statement which was carried by the publication arm of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula based in Yemen indicated that the stack was carried out on Charlie Hebdo in retaliation for the frequent caricatures lampooning the Prophet Muhammad featured in the satirical magazine.
The statement also said that the attack was ordered by Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahri keeping in mind the vision of his predecessor, Osama Bin Laden.
The Qaeda statement said that “the one who chose the target, laid the plan and financed the operation is the leadership of the organization.”
The rancor about police conduct and race relations is still simmering and we have another trouble spot brewing-A South Carolina jury heard arguments on Wednesday in the murder trial of a former police chief who is accused of killing an unarmed man in 2011.
The police chief in Eutawville at the time of the episode, Mr. Richard J. Combs, was indicted for murder charge in early December. This was shortly before he was to stand trial for misconduct pertaining with the death of Bernard Bailey. Mr. Bailey had an outstanding warrant against himself and Mr. Combs tried to arrest him. Mr. Combs attempt to arrest turned into a fight at Mr. Bailey’s Truck and Combs lawyer argued that his client only tried to protect himself.
However the prosecutor David M. Pascoe Jr., contended that there was a simmering feud between Mr. Bailey and Mr. Combs about a traffic citation Mr. Bailey’s daughter received in March 2011.
Mr. Bailey, Mr. Pascoe said as he gestured toward Mr. Combs, was “murdered over a broken taillight, killed because of that man’s poor judgment.”
He further berated the shooting as “an absolutely senseless act of violence” connected to “a trumped-up warrant.”
Free climbing duo, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson created history and became the first to free climb the Dawn Wall.
It is 19 days since the duo set out to complete what is regarded as one of the most challenging climbs- the summit of the 3,000-foot rock known as El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson reached the top marking the first ascent of an infamously tricky and complicated section called the Dawn Wall.
The duos reached the summit at 6:00 P.M, EST and were treated to a thunderous applause from a group of 40 cheering friends and family members and a group of reporters. The group arrived after a 8 mile long hike around the backside of the mountain.
“This is not an effort to ‘conquer,’” Jorgeson said Tuesday on Twitter, from 2,000 feet (610 meters) up the side of El Capitan. “It’s about realizing a dream.”