Alphabet’s latest project is Birth Control for Mosquitoes
By Antonio Regalado From Biomedicine At one of Alphabet’s campuses in Mountain View, California, entomologists working behind the steel door of a bio-safety lab are breeding mosquitoes in a new effort by the search giant to create automated insect farms….
Cayman Islands Governor’s Conservation Awards
The National Trust in conjunction with the Governor’s Office are calling for nominations for the biennial Governor’s Conservation Awards. Finalists and distinguished guests will be invited to the awards ceremony on Tuesday, November 8th at Government House . The…
Carbon dioxide levels race past troubling milestone
From Science Daily Date:October 5, 2016 Source: NOAA Summary: Carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere passed a troubling milestone for good this summer and locked in levels of the heat-trapping gas not seen for millions of years. Carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere…
One in 10 children has “monkey-like” ‘Aids defence’
By James Gallagher From BBC A tenth of children have a “monkey-like” immune system that stops them developing Aids, a study suggests. The study, in Science Translational Medicine, found the children’s immune systems were “keeping calm”, which prevented them being…
More evidence for Zika virus link to damage beyond microcephaly
By Lisa Rapaport From Reuters (Reuters Health) – The mosquito-borne Zika virus can lead to extensive birth defects that go beyond microcephaly, a Brazilian study suggests. Researchers studied 11 babies diagnosed with Zika and found they had a range of…
Manatee in Caribbean repopulation scheme dies
AFP From Bangkok Post POINTE-a-PITRE – One of two manatees released into the Caribbean in August under a pioneering repopulation scheme has died of a suspected kidney infection, the Guadeloupe National Park announced Monday. Two manatees — Kai and Junior…
St. Martin and the Caribbean spread their wings for migratory bird celebrations on 16 October
From Soualiga Newsday The annual IMBD art is a key component of the program and highlights the annual conservation theme. Each of the 11 bird species featured on the 2016 poster represents the importance of protections for birds. The Carolina…
iNews Briefs & Community Events
Travel advisory update: Cayman Islands – hurricane Matthew to bring hazardous conditions From the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office – Latest update: Summary – Hurricane Matthew may bring hazardous sea and weather conditions to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman from…
Court documents reveal Oxitec’s Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes could cause increased numbers of different disease-carrying mosquitoes
WASHINGTON— Genetically engineered (GE) mosquito company Oxitec has admitted a major risk of its technology – reducing one mosquito species may increase the numbers of a second disease-carrying species. The information surfaced today when four environment and food safety groups…
Cayman Islands has a very dry 2016 so far
Rainfall data collected at the Owen Roberts International Airport from January through August 2016 confirms a very dry year. Only January 2016 provided rainfall totals greater than the 30 year average with the summer months May-August showing significantly below normal…