Monthly Archives: April 2017


Murals of Wide-eyed Children Bring Havana Walls to Life

The gigantic black and white portraits of children started appearing on walls around a suburban neighborhood of Havana two years ago, the work of Cuban artist Maisel Lopez. The sober, finely painted portraits contrast with Cuba’s dilapidated buildings and pot-holed …


‘Genius’ TV Series Shows Drama of Albert Einstein’s Life

Philosopher, humanitarian and physicist Albert Einstein is the subject of new TV series “Genius,” which delves into the drama and passion of the man who developed the theory of relativity and helped initiate the U.S. effort to build an atomic …


WHO: Thousands Dying from Viral Hepatitis

The United Nations’ World Health Organization says millions of lives could be saved if people infected with viral hepatitis were tested and treated for these potentially fatal diseases. New WHO data from the just released Hepatitis 2017 report show an …


Catching Waves For Science

Catch a wave, and you’re sitting on top of the world. You’re also sitting on top of a unique biome. What does that do to our bodies? One surfer, who is also a chemistry graduate student, is trying to find …


Prince Home State Marks Death Anniversary With Celebrations

For Prince fans, Friday’s one-year anniversary of his shocking death from an accidental drug overdose will be a time for sadness and celebration.   At his Paisley Park home and recording studio-turned-museum, a full four days of events are on …


Film Explores Innovative Ways to Fight Climate Change

An award-winning documentary has captured the innovative ways farmers and others are trying to make the planet a greener, more sustainable place. Winner of the 2016 César for best documentary, the French equivalent of an Oscar, Tomorrow charts a road …


Poll: More Americans Than Ever Want Marijuana Legalized

Marijuana enthusiasts in the United States celebrate April 20 — or 4/20 — as an informal holiday, but this year they have something else to get excited about: New polling data show support for legalization of the drug is at …


Lagarde: IMF Can Cooperate With Trump Administration

The head of the International Monetary Fund says she “has every reason to believe” that the global lender can cooperate with the Trump Administration to support and improve global trade. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde spoke in Washington as economic …


Nigerian Anti-graft Activists Want Further Action From Buhari

Anti-corruption activists in Nigeria say the president’s suspension of two top officials is only a first step and must be followed up with more action. On Wednesday, Buhari suspended national intelligence agency chief Ayo Oke, who was linked to more …


Sport: Brady, Kaepernick Named to Time Most Influential List

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James were among seven sports figures named to Time Magazine’s annual list of the world’s most influential people, which was announced Thursday. While Brady and James have ample championships …


Lead Poisons Children in LA Neighborhoods, Rich and Poor

With its century-old Spanish-style homes tucked behind immaculately trimmed hedges, San Marino, California, is among the most coveted spots to live in the Los Angeles area. Its public schools rank top in the state, attracting families affiliated with CalTech, the …


Princess Cruises Fined $40 Million for Water Pollution

A federal judge in Miami fined Princess Cruise Lines $40 million Wednesday for illegally dumping oil waste into the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and for falsifying records. It is the largest such water pollution fine in U.S. history. …


Egypt Displays Restored Statue of Ramses II

Egypt has unveiled a massive granite statue of Ramses II, the most powerful and celebrated of the ancient Pharaohs, after completing its restoration. Standing 11 meters (36 feet) tall and weighing 75 tons, the statue was presented in a floodlit …


Komodo Dragon Blood May Offer a Novel Antibiotic

Komodo dragons, fearsome giant lizards found in Indonesia, may be a source of a potent antibiotic. If so, researchers say the agent could be an answer to the growing, global health problem of antibiotic resistance.   Huge, toothy and aggressive, …


South Africa’s Toxic Mining Legacy

[Mining is big business in South Africa. It is the world’s largest producer of chrome and platinum, and the second largest producer of palladium and zirconium. It is also the 5th largest producer of gold. But digging up all those …


Spinning the Flame May Lead to Better Cleaning of Oil Fires

Every now and then scientists stumble upon a discovery that opens up new possibilities for research and lead to solutions for existing problems. Researchers at the University of Maryland say a fiery phenomenon called blue whirl could someday help clean …