Human geography is mapped in the genes

A map of gene variations among European people closely matches a real geopolitical map of the continent

Popularity: 6% [?]

New brain cells are essential for learning

Mice that were genetically altered to lack new brain cells failed a test to learn and remember the location of a mouse hole

Popularity: 6% [?]

Sudanese accused of U.S. killing are extremists:lawyer

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Five Sudanese men accused of murdering a U.S. aid worker are religious extremists who plotted to attack foreigners at New Year’s Eve gatherings, Sudanese prosecutors told a court on Sunday.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Malaria’s big bang was sparked by switching hosts

Malaria didn’t evolve along with the animals it infects, say researchers – a shift in its evolution happened millions of years after vertebrates diversified

Popularity: 6% [?]

Something Wild Is Happening On Christmas Island

Driving south on Christmas Island’s lone north-south road, Tonga Fou and I are heading to the spot where, 50 years ago, the British military detonated a couple of thermonuclear weapons. Fou, 81, smokes USA Gold Full Flavor 100 cigarettes. As he runs a leathery hand across his forehead, he recalls his experience during one of the test explosions.

Popularity: 6% [?]

9 U.S. Presidents With the Worst Environmental Records

Some presidents have used their influence to promote environmental protection and good stewardship of natural resources. Others have not made the environment much of a priority, while a few have rolled back protections and allowed captains of industry to pollute and plunder at will.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Hurricane Gustav weakens in Gulf of Mexico

WASHINGTON/MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav weakened to a category three storm as it moved through the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico on Sunday after hitting Cuba.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Russia’s links to West scrutinized after Georgia

MOSCOW (Reuters) - European heavyweights Germany and Britain questioned Russia’s participation in Western institutions on Sunday, a day before EU leaders meet to decide what action to take over the Kremlin’s intervention in Georgia.

Popularity: 7% [?]

10 Most Curious States of Equilibrium

These simple experiments you can try at home. They are described in a book “La Science Amusante” by Tom Tit (pen name of Arthur Good) with illustrations by Poyet, published in Paris in 1890. (translated from Russian version by Avi Abrams)

Popularity: 6% [?]

Face transplant recipients don’t look like donors

Recent successes may help persuade more bereaved families to overcome taboos associated with donating facial tissue (full text available to subscribers)

Popularity: 6% [?]

Israel and Palestinians seek quick “understandings”

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will try to draw up a document of understandings with the Palestinians to present to Washington before his party names his successor next month, Israeli officials said on Sunday.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Thai PM’s allies hit street as debate begins

BANGKOK (Reuters) - More than 1,000 government supporters marched on Thailand’s parliament on Sunday as lawmakers began a special debate on street protests threatening to topple Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Google is Now Largest Investor In Geothermal Research

Google, which has an interest in affordable power to run its growing numbers of server farms, is heavily investing (through Google.org) in research into the development of geothermal power.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Lights out? Experts fear fireflies are dwindling

Preecha Jiabyu used to take tourists on a rowboat to see the banks of the Mae Klong River aglow with thousands of fireflies. These days, all he sees are the fluorescent lights of hotels, restaurants and highway overpasses. He says he’d have to row a good two miles to see trees lit up with the magical creatures of his younger days.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Government supporters mass in front of Thai parliament

BANGKOK (Reuters) - More than 500 government supporters gathered outside Thailand’s parliament on Sunday, police said, ahead of a special debate on street protests that have threatened to bring down Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Popularity: 2% [?]