Software developed by computer scientists could help to quickly and accurately locate missing people, rapidly identify those suffering from malnutrition and effectively point people towards safe zones simply by checking their phones.

It is hoped the smartphone technology could potentially not only help save lives but could also ease the financial and emotional burden on aid organisations.

The largest system developed by Dr Gavin Brown and his team Peter Sutton and Lloyd Henning in the Machine Learning and Optimisation group at The University of Manchester is the REUNITE mobile and web platform.

In the aftermath of a major disaster, aid workers typically interview people who have become separated from their families.

Full Post…

The Eagle Ford spreads from Southwest Texas to the North East with pockets in the Dallas area. With a varying depth of 4,000 to 14,000 feet, the shale is most shallow in the northwest. The shallow areas have produced mostly oil while the deeper wells produce more natural gas.

Petrohawk Energy drilled the first productive well in the Eagle Ford in 2008 near Dallas. Since then, drilling permits have skyrocketed from 33 in 2008 to 1,229 in 2010. The Texas Railroad Commissioner said he believes that the shale could become the biggest economic driver in South Texas history. Full Post…

California’s “Medicare for all” bill goes before a key Senate committee today, the latest chapter in a long-running battle between universal health insurance supporters and business.

Senate Bill 810, introduced by San Francisco Democrat Sen. Mark Leno, would establish a California Healthcare Agency to run a single-payer health care system that would pool employer and employee payments. It would administer the money and negotiate rates with doctors, hospitals and other medical providers.

As a mammoth player in the industry, the thinking goes, a state-operated system would drive down medical costs and insurance premiums while improving access to care.

Full Post…

Beer drinkers rejoice: Your favorite brew may be healthier than you think.

For years, wine drinkers have indulged without guilt, reveling in the news that red wine can help protect against heart disease. Recent research shows that beer can also be good for what ails you, from reducing risk for broken bones to helping warding off diabetes and mental decline. It can even increase longevity, a large study suggests.

However, the key to tapping into beer’s benefits is moderation, meaning just one 12-ounce beer per day for women and two for men. Heavy drinking ups the threat of liver damage, some cancers, and heart problems. B

Full Post…