The U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday declared access to safe, clean drinking water and sanitation to be a “‘human right’ in a resolution that more than 40 countries including the United States didn’t support,” the Associated Press reports (Lederer, 7/28)…

In an effort to prevent and control outbreaks of animal diseases and the associated costs, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday announced a new five-year initiative “to improve global response to disease outbreaks, implement effective prevention and containment strategies and manage risks,” PANA/Afrique en ligne reports (7/28)…

Nanotechnology refers to a broad range of tools, techniques and applications that simply involve particles on the approximate size scale of a few to hundreds of nanometers in diameter. Particles of this size have some unique physicochemical and surface properties that lend themselves to novel uses…

A passion fruit pathologist, a catfish breeder, and a pigeon pea researcher are among the 60 outstanding women agricultural scientists from 10 African countries who received a fellowship from African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)…

A yearlong beach study led by a team of University of Miami researchers suggests that swimmers at sub-tropical beaches face an increased risk of illness. The multi-disciplinary team examined the risk of illness that beachgoers face when exposed to recreational marine water at sub-tropical beaches with no known source of pollution or contamination. B.E.A.C.H.E.S…

Smog from peat fires around the city of Moscow has reached ten times above safe levels and is likely to kill hundreds of people, according to news reports issued earlier on Wednesday. Shrouding the spires of the Kremlin and onion domes of churches, and smelling sharply of cinder, the smog cloud has crept through doors and windows into Moscow’s homes, restaurants and offices…

A Pennsylvania dairy farm has agreed to abide by federal regulations that protect meat from illegal drug residues caused by the unapproved medication of cattle before slaughter, as part of a consent decree of permanent injunction obtained by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA action against H.B. Williams Inc., of Kingsley, Pa., and company owners Donna L. Williams, Jeffrey D…

A comprehensive national response to climate change should be informed by reliable data coordinated through climate services and a greenhouse gas monitoring and management system to provide timely information tailored to decision makers at all levels, says a report by the National Research Council…

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their collaborators have improved on an existing method for removing contaminants from storm water runoff. These findings could provide surface waters additional protection against runoff containing pollutants from point sources such as construction sites, storm waters and other urban landscapes…

Government scientists are reporting that eight of the most commonly used oil dispersants used to fight oil spills, such as the massive episode in the Gulf of Mexico, appear unlikely to act as endocrine disruptors - hormone-like substances that can interfere with reproduction, development, and other biological processes…