Words in the news

Eleven new Alzheimer's 'risk genes'

Scientists have identified 11 new genes linked to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The discovery was brought about by the largest study into the disease, and has used information gathered from more than 50,000 people across 15 different countries.  ..
Nov 25,2013

Monkeys 'talk in turns'

Recordings of monkeys calling to one another have revealed that they take it in turns to make sounds, in a pattern very similar to human conversation. Scientists from Princeton University recorded marmosets as they called each other. The animals would wait several seconds before responding.  ..
Nov 25,2013

Canadian wins Nobel Prize for Literature

This year's Nobel Prize for Literature has gone to the Canadian writer Alice Munro. She is highly praised for her short stories which focus on life in the part of Canada where she has spent most of her time.  ..
Nov 25,2013

Voyager 1 leaves the Solar System

The Voyager 1 spacecraft has become the first man-made object to leave the solar system. The probe was launched 36 years ago and has spent years hurtling away from the sun. Now a new analysis has revealed that the craft crossed into interstellar space in August last year.   ..
Nov 25,2013

Mexican soft drinks tax

The Mexican president, Enrique Pena Nieto, has proposed a higher tax on soft drinks to help tackle the country's serious obesity problem. Mr Pena Nieto described it as a health tax for Mexico, which has the second highest rate of obesity in the world.  ..
Nov 25,2013

China's language challenge

China's Ministry of Education has said that more than 400m Chinese are unable to speak the national language - Mandarin. The admission from officials came as the government started another push to unite China in terms of language.   ..
Nov 25,2013

Climate change 'spreads crop pests'

Global warming is helping pests and diseases that attack crops to spread around the world, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. Researchers from the universities of Exeter and Oxford found crop pests are moving towards the poles as regions warm.  ..
Nov 25,2013

World Athletics Championships

The World Athletics Championships have ended in Moscow with a third gold medal for Usain Bolt. The first of three big international sporting events hosted by Russia over the coming years was described by the head of world athletics as a "wonderful celebration".  ..
Nov 25,2013

China: Celebrities to promote virtue

The official in charge of the internet in China has called for celebrities to promote virtue among their followers on social media. The official, Lu Wei, said famous people should inform against any activities that could be harmful.  ..
Nov 25,2013

World's first lab-grown burger

Researchers are unveiling the world's first lab-grown burger in London today. The burger has been grown from stem cells taken from a dead cow. It has cost £215,000 to grow but researchers believe the technology will eventually reduce the cost of meat production and meet growing demand...
Nov 25,2013