The scientific journal Nature’s article of “Cloning Comeback,” featuring Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk’s recent findings related to cloning, has drawn mixed reviews by global experts. The journal detailed an update on the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation led by Hwang. The former professor at the nation’s prestigious Seoul National University was derailed from his career after his articles on stem cells from cloned human embryos turned out to be fabricated. His fall had sent shockwaves througho

Jan. 16, 2014

Korean workers are not drinking enough water, according to a survey released Wednesday. The survey was conducted by Job Korea, and asked 769 working Koreans about their water intake. Four out of 10 responded that they do not drink water often. When asked about the reason for this, 45.8 percent said they were not in the habit of drinking water. About 35 percent answered that they were used to drinking other beverages, such as coffee or soda. Koreans are said to suffer from chronic dehydration, dr

Jan. 16, 2014

The Fair Trade Commission, the nation’s regulatory authority for fair competition, said Tuesday that it would draw up measures and revise patent-related laws to protect domestic tech companies from an increasing number of abusive practices by nonpracticing entities.The country’s toughened stance follows a global move against NPEs, known as patent trolls whose only purpose is to seek profit through patent infringement lawsuits against global tech giants.NPEs, which purchase and hold as many paten

Jan. 15, 2014

  Global 3-D printer makers are gearing up to expand in Korea this year to boost their services for manufacturing giants such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor and tap potential customers.3-D Systems, founded in 1986, is one of the global leading printer makers seeking growth in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, where Samsung and Hyundai Motor have been its key tech customers. “We intend to grow our base there,” Cathy Lewis, chief marketing officer of 3-D Systems, told The Korea Herald durin

Jan. 15, 2014

Camera module maker Haesung Optics, which supplies lens and camera modules to Samsung Electronics, will make inroads into the 3-D camera and retina recognition businesses in an effort to secure a new income source beyond its core smartphone parts. “After having meetings with officials from global firms such as General Motors, General Electric and Nokia at the CES, it became clear which directions Haesung should take down the road,” Yi Jason, managing director of Haesung Optics, told The Korea He

Jan. 15, 2014

Yulia Nelyubina is an internationally recognized chemist at the Russian Academy of Sciences. An overhaul of the academy pushed through by President Vladimir Putin may leave her homeless and further damage the country’s already bruised science establishment.The changes mean the academy will lose control of billions of dollars worth of real estate, which may cost Nelyubina her one-bedroom, rent-free apartment in a Moscow suburb. The perk, a vestige of the Soviet era, allows her and her scientist h

Jan. 15, 2014

NEW DELHI (AP) ― India is scrambling to protect its beleaguered tiger population after several big cats tested positive for a deadly virus, experts said. In the last year, canine distemper virus, common among dogs, has killed at least four tigers and several other animals across northern and eastern India, according to Dr. Rajesh Gopal of the government’s National Tiger Conservation Authority. The revelation is bad news for wild tigers ― already endangered by rampant poaching and shrinking habit

Jan. 14, 2014

STOCKHOLM (AP) ― Nine women in Sweden have successfully received transplanted wombs donated from relatives and will soon try to become pregnant, the doctor in charge of the pioneering project has revealed.The women were born without a uterus or had it removed because of cervical cancer. Most are in their 30s and are part of the first major experiment to test whether it’s possible to transplant wombs into women so they can give birth to their own children.Life-saving transplants of organs such as

Jan. 14, 2014

(123RF)Forbes has released a list of the top six vitamins that can harm your health. Several studies have found that there may be no benefits to taking supplemental vitamins. Here is Forbes’ selection of the top six vitamins you should avoid taking (unless recommended by your doctor).1. Vitamin CVitamin C does not prevent or cure colds. Megadoses of 2000 mg or more can increase the risk of kidney stones.2. Vitamin AIn a large study supported by the National Cancer Institute, smokers who took vit

Jan. 14, 2014

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) ― The six space station astronauts finally got their Christmas presents Sunday with the arrival of a privately launched supply ship that took an extra month to soar.The spacemen opened the capsule a day early and started removing items, as soon as the Orbital Sciences Corp. vessel was moored safely at the International Space Station. Packed inside were groceries, equipment and experiments, as well as eagerly awaited Christmas gifts from their families back home and s

Jan. 13, 2014

HONG KONG (AFP) ― The new year has revived old problems for Hong Kong as a murky smog blankets the usually glittering skyline, fueling complaints from locals and visitors alike, and raising pressure on the government to act.Tourists expecting to take holiday snaps from the famous Victoria Harbor waterfront have found it hard to distinguish Hong Kong’s trademark skyscrapers and mountainous backdrop, while residents are becoming increasingly worried for their own health.“It’s scary,” said Julie Cr

Jan. 13, 2014