Science News 12th August

It has been a very eventful week in terms of science and wildlife news.
This is a round-up of the best of today's science news from the internet...
(I first published this summary online at:- squidoo-
http://www.squidoo.com/sciencenews12thaug09 )


"Yahoo is running a press release from ITN on suggestions that have been made by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs that a plant responsible for herbal "highs" should be banned due to the dangerous chemicals it contains and the risk of paranoia and panic attacks http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090812/tuk-call-for-natural-high-drug-ban-dba1618.html

The Times newspaper expands on this story, noting that "the marijuana-type high that users get from [this plant- ] "Spice" comes from a synthetic cannabinoid four or five times as potent as THC, the main psyschoactive substance in cannabis."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6792687.ece
Yahoo is also reporting that Somerset and Norfolk are being deluged by swarms of ladybirds http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090807/tuk-ladybirds-swarm-parts-of-britain-dba1618.html

and a notice advising about a spectacular meteor shower anticipated for tonight. The sight, which is due to the annual Perseid meteor shower is reaching its peak is expected to be visible in the UK, with the best views will in the northwest of Scotland , the north of England and the Midlands. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090812/tuk-meteor-shower-head-north-or-watch-on-dba1618.html

Meanwhile, the news section of Wikipedia's homepage today announces good news for
the critically endangered Slender-billed Vulture with the
the first successful captive breeding of the bird announced in India. The population of the Slender Billed Vulture, as well as those of the two other vulture species were devastated across the Asian continent by the use of Volterol (also known as "diclofenac")- a pain medicine used in cattle that is deadly to vultures. Birds died in vast numbers after feasting on the carcases of cows that had been treated with the medicine.
The success was due to joint efforts between the RSPB and the Zoological Society of London and the two chicks that hatched and are being independently cared for in Haryana and West Bengal.
The news was also published by the BBC's website at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8187533.stm

Finally, The Sun newspaper, which never shies away from a chance to show appealing animal photos, is building on the story, published just about everywhere yesterday of an elephant falling into a hole by reprinting the image, along with a series of 7 similar pictures
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2582636/Animals-that-have-got-stuck-in-tricky-situation.html