What's On?
August 31, 2008 : MoD to hold bearskin hat meeting
The Ministry of Defence is to meet an animal rights group to discuss alternatives to the bearskin hats worn by guards at Buckingham Palace.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has approached Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney to design a new shape for the 18in hat.
The charity has previously called for fake fur to be used, but said the MoD was not happy with prototype designs.
Baroness Taylor, minister for defence procurement, will meet Peta on Tuesday.
The MoD says it is open to alternatives to real bearskin, but that previous attempts to replace it with synthetic fur have failed because the material has not been durable or weatherproof enough.
BBC
August 30, 2008 : Farm pregnancy 'cuts asthma risk'
Living on a farm during pregnancy may help reduce the chance of the child developing asthma, eczema and even hayfever, say scientists.
The New Zealand researchers suggest that exposure to animals and the bacteria they carry may affect the foetus's immune system.
Writing in the European Respiratory Journal, they said exposure before and after birth halved the risk.
But experts warn some animals carry infections which may harm the baby.
The research, carried out at Massey University, adds to other studies which have suggested that living on a farm, with regular contact with animals, during the early years of life, could cut the risk of asthma and other allergic diseases.
BBC
August 27, 2008 : Gene therapy 'may repair hearing'
Gene therapy has the potential to restore hearing in mice, offering hope for humans too, US scientists suggest.
An Oregon team discovered gene transfer produced functioning hair cells that are essential for the inner ear to interpret sounds, Nature reports.
In people with normal hearing, cochlear hair cells convert sound into electrical signals, which are ultimately transmitted to the brain.
Once the cells are lost or damaged, they cannot be replaced naturally.
BBC
August 25, 2008 : Kids follow parents' lead on fruits and vegetables
Parents who want their preschoolers to eat their fruits and vegetables should probably practice what they preach, a new study suggests.
In a study of more than 1,300 families, researchers found that when parents boosted their own consumption of fruits and vegetables, so did their young children.
The findings, reported in the journal Preventive Medicine, point to the importance of parents "modeling" a healthy diet for their preschoolers. They also suggest that educating parents on nutrition early on could help address the problem of childhood obesity, the researchers say.
Reuters
August 24, 2008 : Stroke sufferers take virtual road to recovery
It may look like a futuristic video game, but this virtual reality treadmill could hold the key to rebuilding lives for stroke and injury sufferers.
A scientist at Portsmouth University has developed technology that can speed up recovery for patients by tricking them into believing they are moving more slowly than they actually are.
Moving images on a giant screen respond to patients' efforts on an adapted treadmill, encouraging them to move faster and further than they might ordinarily progress.
The Independent
Weblink (www.independent.co.uk)
August 21, 2008 : Six key species get woodland aid
A programme has been launched to help six key species flourish in woodlands across Scotland.
Forestry Commission Scotland's new biodiversity plan aims to create "stronger, more adaptable ecosystems".
It identifies the capercaillie, black grouse, red squirrel, pearl-bordered fritillary, chequered skipper butterfly and juniper as important species.
Environment Minister Mike Russell launched the plan at the Carrick Forest in Dumfries and Galloway.
He said Scotland's forests had a key part to play in protecting endangered species.
BBC
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