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Countries that fail to sign the Kyoto Protocol to combat global warming should be taxed on goods they export to Europe, members of the European Parliament said last week in a resolution on climate change. The idea is to negate the commercial advantages enjoyed by countries that do not invest in preventing warming.
Wonder drugs
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Cholesterol-lowering statins may have an unexpected benefit. Besides reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes, statins also appear to halve the risk of developing colon, liver, breast, prostate, lung, pancreatic and oesophageal cancers, according to the results of a study of half a million US veterans announced this week.
Thirst for oil
World oil consumption grew by 3.4 per cent in 2004 to 82.4 million barrels a day, according to Vital Signs 2005, a Worldwatch Institute report published on 9 May. China and the US account for nearly half the increase, now consuming 6.6 million and 20.5 million barrels a day respectively.
Aftershock websites
To help anxious Californians after an earthquake, the US Geological Survey will publish its aftershock predictions online. While the prediction system cannot forecast the initial quake, it uses patterns in the seismic waves that follow big quakes to predict when and where aftershocks are likely to strike.
Gates donates again
Billionaire Bill Gates promised on Monday to donate an additional $250 million to combat diseases that affect the poor. Gates said the money would double his contribution to the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative, which he set up in 2003. 鈥淲e have a historic chance to build a world where all people, no matter where they鈥檙e born, can have preventative care, vaccines and the treatments they need to live a healthy life,鈥� he said.