A new spacecraft that will give us an unprecedented view of the Sun has blasted off into space. Europe and Nasa’s Solar Orbiter was rocketed up to begin its journey to our star on Sunday night, with the aim of getting pictures of the kind never seen before. “We’re on ... Read More »
Lebanon’s financial crisis leaves its envied media industry in freefall
Agenda-setting newspapers and TV stations facing scramble to survive amid state dysfunction For nearly 80 years since its postwar independence, Lebanon has been a haven for regional media, giving a platform to journalism and entertainment that few other countries in the Middle East would dare to match. Its newspapers ... Read More »
Number of chinstrap penguins in Antarctica has fallen sharply: scientists
The number of chinstrap penguins in some colonies in Western Antarctica has fallen by as much as 77% since they were last surveyed in the 1970s, say scientists studying the impact of climate change on the remote region. The chinstrap penguin, named after the narrow black band under its head, ... Read More »
Coronavirus: death toll passes Sars virus as dozens more die in Wuhan
Wuhan hospitals need more staff and supplies as residents describe increasingly desperate conditions Dozens more people have died in the city at the centre of China’s coronavirus outbreak, where hospitals are severely undersupplied and understaffed and residents have described increasingly desperate conditions. Chinese state media reported 57 new deaths ... Read More »
This Chinese doctor tried to save lives, but was silenced. Now he has coronavirus
By Yong Xiong and Nectar Gan, CNN (CNN)On December 30, Li Wenliang dropped a bombshell in his medical school alumni group on the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat: seven patients from a local seafood market had been diagnosed with a SARS-like illness and quarantined in his hospital. Li explained that, ... Read More »
The Daily Star temporarily suspends print edition
The Daily Star BEIRUT: Lebanon’s English-language newspaper The Daily Star regrets to announce the temporary suspension of its print edition due to the financial challenges facing the Lebanese press which have been exacerbated by the deterioration of the economic situation in the country. The Daily Star’s website – http://www.dailystar.com.lb – ... Read More »
Global fears spread over coronavirus
The World Health Organization has declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, after an emergency meeting on Thursday. The decision came after cases of human-to-human transmissions were confirmed outside China, where the outbreak started. A first such case was confirmed in the United States on ... Read More »
Lungs damaged by smoking can ‘magically’ heal – study
Smokers can turn back time in their lungs by kicking the habit, with healthy cells emerging to replace some of their tobacco-damaged and cancer-prone ones, a study shows. Smokers have long been told their risk of developing diseases like lung cancer will fall if they can quit, and stopping smoking ... Read More »
Telescope captures most detailed pictures yet of the sun
First observations from Inouye telescope bring previously hazy star into sharp focus The sun’s turbulent surface has been revealed in unprecedented detail in the first observations by the Inouye solar telescope in Hawaii. The striking images reveal a surprising level of structure hidden within the churning plasma exterior, bringing ... Read More »
Coronavirus has killed 106 and infected 4,515 people, Chinese health authorities say
Chinese health authorities said Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak has killed 106 people and infected 4,515. The officials also said 60 people had been discharged. The majority of the reported cases are in mainland China, where local authorities have quarantined several major cities and canceled Lunar New Year’s events in Beijing ... Read More »