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BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Hint of planet outside our galaxy

angels at home now
Hint of planet outside our galaxy

By Jason Palmer
Science and technology reporter, BBC News

The first planet to be seen outside the Milky Way may lie in Andromeda

Astronomers believe they have seen hints of the first planet to be spotted outside of our galaxy.

Situated in the Andromeda galaxy, the planet appears to be about six times the mass of Jupiter.

The method hinges on gravitational lensing, whereby a nearer object can bend the light of a distant star when the two align with an observer.

The results will be published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS).

The team, made up of researchers from the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) in Italy and collaborators in Switzerland, Spain, and Russia, exploited a type of gravitational lensing called microlensing.

The effect of large, massive objects between an observer and a distant planet or star can cause distortion or multiple images as the intermediary object's gravity bends the passing light. Microlensing, by contrast, occurs when a less massive object lies in the middle.

The technology is in place to truly see planets of Jupiter's mass and even less in other galaxies

Francesco De Paolis
INFN

There is a noticeable increase in the observed intensity of light coming from the aligned pair as the intermediate object focuses the distant one's light.

Because the effect depends on smaller objects that will be moving quickly relative to one another, microlensing events are fleeting, happening over the course of minutes or hours. Moreover, the mutual alignment of two small, far-flung objects with an observer on the Earth is exceptionally rare.

For that reason, dense collections of millions of stars, such as the Andromeda galaxy, are surveyed in order to detect them.

'Exceptional'

Francesco De Paolis of the INFN and his colleagues developed a computer model to determine the likelihood of detecting an exoplanet via a microlensing event in the Andromeda galaxy.

They modelled the "light curve", the variation in light that a microlensed star would exhibit if it were being orbited by a companion - another star or a planet.

Having determined the clues that a planet in Andromeda would show, they returned to a survey completed in 2004 by the Point-Agape collaboration of astronomers that showed an unusual light curve.

That event, the group says, matches up to its theory and can be attributed to a companion of a mass about six times that of Jupiter.

That suggests either a planet, or a small companion star such as a brown dwarf.

Stronger gravitational lensing results in multiple images

Unfortunately, given that microlensing events from a given pair of objects happens just once, astronomers cannot return to the planet candidate to confirm the idea.

But Dr De Paolis is encouraged by the possibility of detecting planets at such phenomenal distances.

"The interesting thing is that the technology is in place to truly see planets of Jupiter's mass and even less in other galaxies," he told BBC News. "It's an exceptional thing."

Armed with the new theory, the authors of the work are looking to secure time on a larger telescope to continue with their observations in the hope of finding more candidates.

With about 350 extra-solar planets already found in our galactic neighbourhood, Dr De Paolis said, it was likely that such candidates were abundant. The difficulty is in catching sight of one through a gravitational lens.

"It's not easy, obviously," he said. "The problem is that we don't know when a gravitational microlensing event is going to happen."

archbishop pacafist cnd member ?

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament - Trade Unions

to CND, I am researching certain instances, I wonder wether you could
indicate wether Mr. Toy Blair was a member of your organisation , also
wether he still is, and does your organisation have any comment on the
actions of him as one of your members, this would be appreciated so I can
assess the material I am writing for it's correctness.
Richard Thurgood/richimag

CND reply /thank you for your e-mail. I'm afraid that such information comes under
the remit of the Data Protection Act - we cannot disclose details
regarding members.
Sorry we could not be of more assistance with this enquiry - please feel
free to let us know if you have any other questions we can help with.

Trade Unions

Trade unions are vital to CND's campaign against the replacement of Trident and our long standing commitment to achieving the global abolition of nuclear weapons.

Today CND has national affiliations from UNISON, CWU, RMT, FBU, TSSA, ASLEF, NUM and UNITY.

Other unions, including the UNITE sections TGWU and AMICUS, and also UCATT, the NUT and the NUJ have voted to oppose the replacement of Trident

organic

> Andy Shaw here, long story short, the government are due to pass a law in
> the near future that will outlaw food supplements, force growth hormones
> into the food supply and could even eventually lead to the banning of
> 'organic' produce.yes I know it sounds mad. The EU are changing the law
> from the current way it is, i.e. 'if it's not on a banned substance list',
> then it's legal, to the Napoleonic way of, 'if it is not on an approved
> substance list', then it is illegal.
>
> We all know we want to do more with our diet i.e. eat better, and more
> quality foods.well when we finally get round to changing our dietary
> habits we would at least like to know that the choice of good, healthy,
> and most importantly SAFE food will be there waiting for us. Well not if
> this comes in.
>
> They want to irradiate food at source and bring in mass genetically
> modified food, of course neither of these will be the first things that
> will come out of the law which we will see but it is the thin end of the
> wedge. The media suppression on this subject is amazing and I hadn't even
> heard about it myself until January this year.
>
> Well the petition against this new law is due to end this Saturday on 5th
> September, as I write this 53,129 people have signed this. It is the 2nd
> largest outstanding petition in the country which is outstanding when you
> think that the media coverage is zero towards it.
>
> Here are the ful list of all government petitions so you can see how many
> have signed up now, it is the Margaret Rotherwell one:-
> http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/list/open?sort=signers
>
> If you want to read the full details about what it is and how it will
> seriously affect yours and your children's future then full details are
> below. If you don't want to know the full details but just want to sign
> the petition on the government website then simply go here:-
> http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Vitamins/ it takes about 50 seconds to
> join. I and your children will thank you for doing it.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Andy
>
> PS To the government your signature counts at least as a multiple of at
> least 1,000, i.e.for every email, letter, phone call or signature the
> government believes that there are at least 1,000 other people who simply
> couldn't be bothered to do anything. Going by that statistic the
> government should see that if Codex became public that nearly the entire
> population of the UK would disagree with it!
>
> PPS We are all too busy and won't get everything done today that we want
> to, but you could do this and maybe make a difference to your children's
> food for the future. If you are one of those that normally would think
> someone else will do it, hopefully you are right they will but if you are
> wrong then you are helping to commit us all to food that will harm our
> future and may shorten our lives.
>
>
> Here are my other rough notes and insight on this Codex Alimentarius
>
>
> If you already agree I suggest you go and sign up now and then do your
> research http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Vitamins/ , if you want more
> convincing then here are my notes and parts of the email I thought of
> sending to you as I researched it over the last 6 months:-
>
> As you may or may not know after losing over 10stone on a diet I became a
> life-long study of health I have found many truly disturbing truths which
> are almost impossible to believe regarding the indoctrination of our whole
> way of believing health and longevity to be. Don't worry I'm not going to
> go into them all here!
>
> What this is about is something small you can do that creates a big
> result. I'm going to ask you to do me a favour and your children and your
> friends and your family and of course yourself a favour and you'll be
> pleased to hear there is no cost. However, if you don't I can assure you
> there will be a cost to your life in the future.
>
> I've never got involved in any political situation or signed any petitions
> before as frankly I couldn't be bothered, didn't want to add my name to a
> list which I didn't know where it was going to be shown. Basically I had
> too much going on in my own life to really care that much.
>
> However, this time I have had to move into the light and possibly have
> people think I'm a loon or something for even suggesting what I am about
> to suggest to you. But frankly I couldn't live with myself if I didn't at
> least try as I have an advantage over most people and I have a large
> mailing list so I can speak to a lot of people at once. So if I didn't at
> least try then I would have trouble looking in the faces of my grand
> children as I sat idly by when I could have done something to stop
> something really horrible coming in.
>
> I can't remember who said it or exactly the wording, but bad things happen
> when those with the power to act do nothing, so here it is.
>
> The government are signing into power on 31st December 2009 (I believe
> this date has been put back now) the worst regulation there has ever been
> on food and we are stepping back to Napoleonic style law in doing so.
> After watching the video below I started my research and after about 40
> hours research I relented and HAD to sign the petition on the government
> website as I could not in good conscious not do so.
>
> I am going to ask you to do me and everyone you know including yourself
> the biggest favour of your and their future lives and sign the petition
> below. (takes approx 50 secs)
>
> http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Vitamins/
>
> But you owe it to yourself not just to sign up but to watch the video and
> get disturbed a little as this will make you send it to all you know as
> well.
>
> Here is a link to a video that explains what Codex Alimentarius is and how
> its implementation by the end of this year will change the lives of
> everyone you know forever.yet we have heard nothing about it from the
> media.
>
> I signed the petition when they had about 5,000 names on it in January,
> they now have 15,608. I delayed sending this email whilst I researched it
> so that I could speak to you with full knowledge of this subject before
> asking you to put your name to something.
>
>
> So What The Hell Is It Andy That Has Made You Ask For A Favour?
>
>
> This video has been done by Ian Crane someone like us who just got
> passionate about something being done wrong in our name. The video is
> quite long at 1 hour 29 minutes but after the first few minutes I figured
> it was wroth my time to watch it. It took me some 40 hours of research to
> conclude that it was worth your time to watch it as well, as I did not
> want to waste your time.
>
> It may seem like Ian goes on a little, but believe me it is worth
> listening to as there is some very good bits of history in it. And it gets
> a little conspiracy theoryish (well more directly than that) but it really
> is worth giving the benefit of the doubt to. He brings a bit too much
> other stuff in so dilutes his message.
>
> http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5800206429960925518
>
>
> Notes:-
>
> * Currently the law is anything not forbidden is permitted, in future it
> is changing to Napoleonic law, that anything not permitted is forbidden
> * Nutrients will be considered as toxins and we therefore need to be
> protected from them
> * Currently on their positive list, glucosumine is not allowed
> * Nutrients will become illegal if they have any impact on the body
> * Under new regs EVERY cow must have growth hormone
> * EVERY animal must be treated with anti-biotics and must have growth
> hormone
> * All food must be irradiated unless eaten locally
> * You will not know if the food has growth hormones in as the law will not
> have to mark it up
> * 106,000 deaths each year from properly prescribed medicines
> * 150,000 deaths each year by medical blunders
> * Only 5% of test subjects have to have some positive benefit following a
> medical test
> * 47,000 die from car accidents and 47,000 firearm incidents in 2002
> * Everyone knows that food has an effect on our behavoiur and our
> lifestyle. Why do you think so many of us now only buy organic farmed
> foods. We are all trying to be healthy. We all take that option, but what
> effect on our behaviour and lifestyle do you think the'll be when we no
> longer know what we are eating.
> * The US has given approval for clone animal food with no labelling on the
> food
> * This is the process of gradualism.yes we will have organic food in 2010,
> but will it still be there in 2040
> * The pharmaceutical companies have virtually bottomless pockets, and this
> will be important why???
> * Napoleonic law ceased to be in the UK in 1215 when the magna carta was
> signed. WTO will impose codex using Napoleonic law. We currently have
> common law, and how that works is that iunless something is specifically
> banned then its ok, where as napoleonic law is, unless something is
> speciffically mentioned in a piece of legislation then it is banned.
> * So the work and cost to get something onto the list is enormous as you
> can see the drug companies allready have to do a lot of work to get their
> drugs passed. So organic farmers and small health remedies coming from all
> over the world don't have deep pockets.
> * The testing process will be so long and so expensive to get something on
> the approved list that the only ones who can afford it are those with very
> deep pockets and a vested interest.
> * They tried to get this in in the US in 1994, and the US revolted against
> it though it was kept out of the national media. * So they turned their
> attention to Europe, and when Europe passes it on 31st Dec, they will have
> their mandate to enforce it around the world. As the legislation to stop
> it in the US only lasts until Codex is accepted in Europe, and it is being
> done under our very noses.
> * The British government has basically washed their hands of this and has
> accepted that they will do whatever they are told to by the EU. Which is
> actually what they have to do by law anyway.
>
>
> This is Codex Alimentarius Goals & Objectives from the National Health
> Federation
>
>
> - International (Global) Harmonistation
> - Abolition of Organic Farming
> - Introduction of GM food & Livestock
> - Removal of all ingredients labelling
> - Irradiation of food at source (I.E. hitting them with Gamma Rays
> killing virtually all vitamins and enzymes)
> - Restriction of all Natural Remedies
> o To include all supplements, herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic
> remedies, etc
>
> What this means is:-
>
> Codex Alimentarius =
>
> - Unlabeled GM + Processed Foods (Low Nutrient + Low Mineral + Low
> Vitamin values)
> - All Vitamin & Mineral Supplements to be of low (ineffectual)
> dosage
> - Herbs and other Natural Health Remedies to be labeled as Drugs
> - Homeopathic medicines will only be able to be prescribed by a
> Doctor
>
> The Eu said no to Codex, but in 2005 Codex and the World Trade
> Organisation went to the international court of justice in luxemberg and
> they actually overruled the EU, who said, get this out of here we don't
> even know what it is. But at the ICJ they actually brought about a law
> that forbids Doctors to give information about diseases being curable by
> nutrients. So it is ilegal for a Doctor to say that their condition may
> get better if they change their diet.
>
> http://www.bbc5.tv/news/story/robert-verkerk-codex-alimentarius
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxMjlAUeW2s
>
> http://www.revver.com/video/734473/codex-trailer-the-alternative-view/
>
> Dr Robert Verkerk
>
> http://www.anhcampaign.org/campaigns/codex

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Patients rejecting hospital food

Patients rejecting hospital food

Some patients were put off by how food looked, tasted and smelled

Many hospital patients are leaving their food unfinished because it is so unappetising, a report has found.

The Food Watch survey of 2,240 patients in England found more than a third had abandoned their food, and 40% have had food brought in by visitors.

Around 26% who needed help with eating did not receive any, it added and 22% found their meals too hot or too cold.

The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health is calling on the government to improve food standards.

Some 18% of those questioned said they did not always have their choice of meal, and 81% said they had no choice of meals in advance.

'Disappointing'

The report was conducted by Patient and Public Involvement Forums at 97 hospitals across England. Sharon Grant, chair of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, said the findings were "disappointing".

This survey is further damning evidence that many hospitals are putting lives at risk by failing to provide patients with basic care Gordon Lishman, Age Concern

"Proper nutrition is essential to recovery both physically and psychologically," she said.

"Patients have every right to expect food that is nutritious, served at the appropriate temperature, meets their dietary needs and help to eat if they need it."

"Not only will this impact upon a patient's recovery, but is a huge waste in terms of NHS money and resources," she added.

Ms Grant said the survey had revealed examples where the food was of a good standard, but the forums had been shocked by the comments from some patients.

She added the findings would be sent to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt in a bid to improve standards across the board.

Age Concern England director general Gordon Lishman said hospitals needed to urgently address the problem.

"This survey is further damning evidence that many hospitals are putting lives at risk by failing to provide patients with basic care.

"It's a fact that malnourished patients stay in hospital for longer, are three times as likely to develop complications during surgery and have a higher mortality rate."

But health minister Andy Burnham said hospital food had improved significantly over the past few years, although he said more action was needed.

He added: "Earlier this week the independent Healthcare Commission found that nearly all trusts (over 96%) were meeting the core standards on hospital food.

"Last year, the independent Patient Environment Action Teams found that 90% of hospitals were rated good or excellent for food standards compared to 17% in 2002."

prison food

Prison food 'beats NHS hospitals'

Researchers say hospital patients do not consume enough good food

Researchers have claimed the food provided in prisons is better than in NHS hospitals.

Experts from Bournemouth University examined the quality of food offered to prisoners and NHS patients.

They say people in hospital are losing out on nutrition because they are not being helped with eating or having their diet monitored.

A Department of Health spokesman said most patients were "satisfied with the food they receive in hospitals".

Professor John Edwards said about 40% of patients entering hospital were already malnourished, and this did not tend to improve during their stay.

"If you are in prison then the diet you get is extremely good in terms of nutritional content," he said.

"The food that is provided is actually better than most civilians have.

It's incredible that so many hospitals are failing to serve healthy meals. If prisons can serve good food then so can hospitals Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat

"There's a focus on carbohydrates. Then there's the way they prepare the food; it's very healthy. They don't add salt and there's relatively little frying of food - if you have a burger then it goes in the oven.

"Hospital patients don't consume enough. If you are using food as a means of treatment then it's not working.

"And from the work we've done we know that people who sit round a table eat a lot more, but this doesn't happen in hospitals."

Professor John Edwards: ''People often need help with eating''

His fellow researcher Dr Heather Hartwell said fruit and vegetables were made available in hospitals "but this doesn't mean it's eaten".

She also said that patients suffered because they may have no appetite as a result of their illness, and might also not get help with eating and drinking.

The research suggests further problems are caused because meals are likely to be at a set time, when patients may be having tests or treatment.

"Hospital cutbacks are also seen in areas like catering budgets, rather that elsewhere," Dr Harwell said.

"Hospital food services also need to be less fragmented and more joined up."

'Improve services'

Liberal Democrat shadow health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "This study highlights the experience of too many patients in NHS hospitals.

"While there is excellent care in many places, there are a lot of examples of what is in effect neglect of vulnerable people.

"It's incredible that so many hospitals are failing to serve healthy meals. If prisons can serve good food then so can hospitals."

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Good quality food for patients improves their health and their overall experience of services.

"The majority of patients are satisfied with the food they receive in hospitals, and we are working to improve services further."

"Clinicians have a duty to ensure patients get the appropriate treatment for any condition, including malnutrition.

"We have also introduced the concept of 'protected mealtimes' where all non-urgent activity on the ward stops, so that patients can enjoy their meals."

food surprises ?

Cost of food: Global roundup

Full coverage: The cost of food

CHRIS MORRIS, DELHI, INDIA

Ordinary Indians are facing significantly increased hardship because of the rise in the cost of food. The rate of price increases seems to have slowed, but many basic foodstuffs like rice and lentils are far more expensive than they were a year ago.

'Alarming' hunger in Indian states

And that means people on or below the borderline - hundreds of millions of people - are struggling to make ends meet.

In the most extreme cases, severe malnutrition is a life-threatening condition. There are about eight million children under the age of five in India who are in urgent need of therapeutic feeding and nutritional treatment.

But there are also tens of millions of children who suffer from chronic malnutrition which may not be immediately visible. They are deprived of many of the nutrients they need to lead healthy productive lives.

In India, the rise in the cost of food has not created a crisis, it has simply made a bad situation worse.

Rising inflation has received considerable attention in the Indian media, but the recent focus has been on the global financial turmoil, and its impact on Indian markets.

Chris Morris discovers why India's young people are the hardest hit by high food prices

That is of little immediate relevance, though, to the vast majority of people in this country. What matters is the price of vegetables, the price of flour, and whether there is any work to be had to buy the food they need.

Two thirds of India's population are forced to get by on less than two dollars (£1.15; 1.47 euros) a day. And the little money they do make now buys less food than it used to. Something has to give.

Return to map

CHRISTIAN FRASER, CAIRO, EGYPT

Inflation in Egypt is at a 16-year high with soaring food prices triggering violent protests in some areas of the country this year, prompting the government to raise public sector salaries by 30%.

But the pay rise was soon followed by increases in prices of fuel, which sent the cost of goods and services even higher.

An Egyptian family can spend as much as 80% of its income on food

Egyptian economist Samir Radwan says that while the levels of salaries and subsidies may have risen, "the government's liberalizing of some other commodity prices means the poor are actually worse off than they were before May".

Many poorer families in Cairo - some of whom spend 80% of their household income on food - have been making savings by cutting their meals from three a day to just two.

Egypt is also the world's largest importer of wheat, which explains why the country has been hit so hard by these international price rises. Finance Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali says a large part of the inflation in his country stems from the higher prices of imported goods. But he believes that, as the year progresses, things will start to look better.

Egypt is the world's largest importer of wheat, which explains why the country has been hit so hard by these international price rises

The wheat Egypt has, in the past, bought from Russia and Ukraine now looks much cheaper.

"Look at international commodity prices," he says. "Wheat used to be $480 a tonne, it has now fallen to around $200 a tonne. Corn is the same. Soybean the same. Edible oils the same. All of this is bound to translate here. We will see prices fall."

Return to map

JULIA CAESAR, LONDON, UK

Despite the UK's wide variety of shops competing for custom, many here are feeling the pinch. But, after nine long months of price rises, food inflation seems to be slowing down.

According to the BBC's Food Price Index compiled by Verdict, which tracks the cost of a typical trolley of UK food items, meat and fish products rose by 22.9% from January to August.

World Service food price index Global Hunger Index in full

General store-cupboard items, such as tinned foods, registered a 15% increase and seven items in the survey leapt in price by more than 40%. A pack of four croissants, for example, was 47.4% more expensive and a 125g packet of ham went up by 45.4%.

Another survey shows that fruit and vegetables have seen the biggest price rises - up by 30% at leading supermarket chains in the UK over the past year. Retailers are blaming poor crop harvests and high supply chain costs.
But at least the shoppers in the UK have choice and they are making the most of it, according to consumer research.

In the last 12 months, 41% of shoppers have switched to cheaper brands, with two-thirds searching for promotions and deals more often than a year ago. Hard discounters have become more popular too, forcing big-name supermarkets to compete more on price than they used to.

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MICHAEL BRISTOW, BEIJING, CHINA

Those in charge of the Chinese economy received some welcome news this summer - inflation fell to its lowest level in more than a year.

Earlier in 2008, prices - particular for basic food items such as pork and eggs - had been rising faster than at any time in the past decade.

Chinese people are sensitive to price rises for everyday items

Shoppers across the county complained that they had cut back on the kind of food purchases they make every day.

It was a worrying time for the Chinese leadership. As in other countries, inflation has sometimes led to street protests in China. In a keynote speech given to China's parliament, Premier Wen Jiabao said tackling inflation was top of the government's agenda.

But even in the midst of this bad news, Chinese officials said they were confident that they would get inflation under control.

They claimed the food price rises were the result of temporary supply problems and not because of long-term shortages.

That confidence now seems to have been well-placed. Beijing shoppers say prices are still going up, but more slowly than before.

A senior finance official recently predicted that inflation in China would slow to 3% in 2009 from a high of 8.7% earlier this year.

Having largely escaped the worst effects of the global financial crisis, economists are urging China to concentrate on turning that prediction into a reality.

And the government will need to, because Chinese people remain acutely sensitive to price rises, particularly for everyday items.

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LIZ BLUNT, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

It is easy to tell when one of the local "kebeles" in Addis Ababa is selling wheat - residents cluster outside hoping to be able to buy a sack of half-price grain and unemployed youngsters hang around hoping to earn a little money by carrying their sacks.

Wheat prices in Addis are higher than in other capitals

The "kebeles" are a leftover from communist times - part local government offices, part community centres, part instruments of social control. Now the Ethiopian government is using them to distribute subsidised wheat.

Food prices have more than doubled in the past year here.

It was easy at first to blame world prices, market forces and globalisation. But, with wheat prices in Ethiopia much higher than world prices, it looked as if there would be a lot of profit to be made by importing wheat, yet market forces show no sign of bringing down the price.

The government's attempts to flood the market have cost a lot but have had little effect. If you are lucky enough to be at the front of the queue when the wheat arrives, you can buy a 100 kilo sack for 350 birr (around $35; 25 euros).

But the markets are still selling wheat for 600 or even 700 birr per sack. Not surprisingly, much of the subsidised wheat is taken straight down the road to the market where it is sold for twice the price.

Perhaps merchants and farmers are being greedy, but more likely there is just not enough food in the country.

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JONATHAN HEAD, BANGKOK, THAILAND

Rice - the staple crop in this part of Asia - reached record prices this year. Even after falling back from highs of around $1000 (735 euros; £573) for a tonne of good quality rice, to $600-800, it is still double what was being paid last year.

Rising rice prices have not generated more cash for farmers

Yet the majority of farmers - who farm small plots of land of three hectares or less - have taken home very little of this bonanza. The reasons are complex, and vary from country to country, but they underline a simple fact: whereas driving up the price of other smallholder agricultural commodities such as coffee or rubber often does enrich those who work the land, it rarely works that way in the case of rice.

Many small rice farmers do not actually grow enough for their families to eat so they still have to buy rice at market prices. In Cambodia, for example, despite the government's pride in becoming one of the world's ten largest rice exporters, only a third of rice farmers produce any surplus they can sell - and one fifth of the population does not get enough to eat.

Farmers usually have no storage facilities, so they need to sell their rice the moment it is harvested World food prices: What happened?

This lead to a bizarre situation where the government planned to sell 1.6m tonnes of locally grown rice on world markets this year, but was also forced to ask the Asian Development Bank for a $38m food security aid package for Cambodians who could not feed themselves.

Thailand - the region's largest exporter - has done well out of rising prices, but its farmers have not as most of the profits have gone to the middlemen. Farmers usually have no storage facilities, so they need to sell their rice the moment it is harvested.

As prices started to ease from their highs in May, almost everyone in the region breathed a sigh of relief.

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DANIEL SCHWEIMLER, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

There is no doubt that food prices in Argentina are rising - you just need to ask any shopper. But to get an idea of just how much will depend on who you talk to.

Argentina's official statistics office, the INDEC, says inflation is under control, at around nine percent a year. But shoppers, independent economists, newspapers and even some staff at the INDEC say those figures do not reflect the reality. Prices, they say, are rising at more than 20% annually.

Government measures to control food prices have sparked strikes

About one third of the Argentine wage goes on food, and meat takes up a fair amount of space in the basket. Argentines are the biggest per capita consumers of beef in the world and the government has worked hard to keep the price down - negotiating with producers and restricting exports.

But soya has become the new Argentine beef. They aren't eating it but exporting it - mostly to China and India. The little cream bean was, until recently, fetching high prices on world markets and has been the driving force behind Argentina's economic recovery from the crisis it suffered seven years ago.

More and more land previously used for other crops or for pasture is being turned over to the lucrative soya crop, reducing supplies and pushing up prices.

Earlier this year farmers nationwide protested against government plans to increase export taxes, mostly on soya. The four-month protest and the worst drought in a century in Argentina's northern provinces have both had an effect in a country which produces nearly all its own food and imports little

population consequences ?

Food crisis hits developing world farms

By James Melik Business Reporter, BBC World Service

Roses have proved to be a particularly successful export for Kenyan farmers

Farmers in developing countries are struggling despite recent rises in the price of commodities they produce, the Fairtrade Foundation says in a new report.

The report, which interviewed farmers' groups in Uganda, Malawi, Nicaragua, India, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean, reveals that many families are spending up to 80% of their entire household budget on basic food items.

The rocketing cost of food, fuel and fertiliser prices have had a devastating effect on their livelihoods.

In some cases, families have been forced to cut out meals, take children out of school and reduce the amount of land they plant, the report says.

WHAT IS FAIR TRADE? Fair trade aims to address the injustices of conventional trade, which may discriminate against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables farmers to improve their position by receiving guaranteed prices for their goods Source: Fairtrade Foundation

Some farmers have even sold their land because they can no longer afford to farm it or buy fertilisers to keep up production.

But the report says that fair trade schemes could help ease their plight, with demand for Fairtrade products remaining strong despite the economic downturn.

'Hard times'

Some 450 million small farms around the world are home to one third of all humanity.

They are vital for producing food for local and national consumption, as well as earning crucial export income to boost wider economic growth and development.

These are hard times for consumers, but even harder times for producers Tomy Mathew, Indian farmer

But for many farmers, rises in the price of export commodities such as vanilla, coffee, tea or sugar have been outstripped by the dramatic increase in the cost of staple food.

Tomy Mathew, a farmer and founder of the Fair Trade Alliance of Kerala in India who represents more than 3,000 small farmers growing coffee, peppers, and spices, says the last few months have been very difficult.

"The price of rice has gone up 40% while the amount we receive for crops has remained the same or in some cases come down," he says.

Mounting debt means that farmers have to cut back on the type schooling or healthcare they can afford for their families.

"These are hard times for consumers, but even harder times for producers and Fairtrade is needed more than ever," he says.

Sainsbury's saves money by selling Fairtrade bananas and no other kind

Some critics however, maintain that offering a guaranteed premium for goods will deter farmers from implementing better production facilities and cost-effective measures.

Ian Bretman of the Fairtrade Foundation disputes that assumption.

"Unlike the European Union's agricultural subsidies, we only pay an agreed price for a product as long as there is a demand from the consumer," he says.

"Providing the demand is upheld, farmers are guaranteed an income regardless of volatile prices and that enables them to conduct their business better by planning ahead."

Growth market

In the UK, demand for Fairtrade product has bucked the global economic downturn by increasing 43% in the last 12 months.

Products selling under similar banners have been equally successful in Europe, Japan and the United States, but Mr Bretman is more excited about what has been happening in the southern hemisphere.

"South Africa has an established consumer market and the launch of Fairtrade goods sets a precedent for the rest of the continent," he says.

Peppers are among 4.500 items licensed to use the Fairtrade logo

Dismissing the idea that people who support Fairtrade objectives tend to be largely middle-class, middle-income shoppers, Mr Bretman says that the Co-op is not one of the most upmarket retailers, yet they stock 230 Fairtrade products.

There is also less difference in the premium price a customer pays for Fairtrade products than there once was.

"That is largely due to greater sales, which means savings can be made because of the cost efficiencies of higher volumes.

"Supermarkets also save money by only having one line of a particular product," Mr Bretman explains.

"Sainsbury's only sells Fairtrade bananas and some supermarkets only sell Fairtrade coffee," he says.

He agrees, however, that in the current economic climate, people might start looking to save money by switching to cheaper products.

"Public awareness has grown and more businesses have become involved, but we cannot be complacent," he insists.

Pointing out that Fairtrtade empowers both the producer and the consumer, he adds: "We have to state our case more strongly."

New product

One thing which has resonated with consumers is the choice of produce now available.

Apart from the more established and familiar products such as Fairtrade coffee, tea and chocolate, cotton has seen the greatest increase in sales recently along with nuts, honey and spices.

A farmer's cooperative in Palestine is the first to produce Fair Trade olive oil

More than 4,500 items are licensed to carry the Fairtrade logo and at the start of the Fairtrade Fortnight another was added - in the form of Palestinian olive oil.

It is the first olive oil to bear the logo and the first produce which originates in Palestine.

Almost 75% of Palestinians live below the poverty line as described by the United Nations.

Initially, 265 olive growers will benefit from the Fairtrade status, but the intention is to bring as many people as possible into the scheme.

Mahmoud Issa is typical of the olive grove owners who believe their lives will improve.

His family has been growing olives for five or six generations.

He hopes to earn enough money to ensure his children have a good education.

"But I hope they retain an attachment to the farm," he says, "so the tradition of growing olives continues in our family."

evolution formula

Mouse set to be 'evolution icon'

Matt Walker Editor, Earth News

Pale-coated deer mice usually live on sandy soils

A tiny pale deer mouse living on a sand dune in Nebraska looks set to become an icon of biology.

Within just a few thousand years, generations of the mice have evolved a sandy-coloured coat camouflaging themselves from predators.

Most striking is that these mice acquired the mutation for pale fur naturally, then rapidly passed it on.

That makes the fast-evolving deer mouse one of the best examples yet studied of "true" natural selection in action.

Deer mice are one of the most abundant and widespread mammals in North America.

Ours is a very complete story. We've been able to connect changes at DNA level to the ability of deer mice to survive in nature Dr Catherine Linnen

Usually the mice have a dark coat, which enables them to blend in with dark soils and avoid being seen by predators such as owls and hawks.

But at Sand Hills in Nebraska, pale-coated mice abound.

"We decided to investigate the striking contrast between mice living on the pale Sand Hills and mice living on darker soils just a few miles outside," says Dr Catherine Linnen of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US.

"We were also intrigued by the fact that Sand Hills had formed within the last 8,000 to 15,000 years, which implies the light colour of the Sand Hills mice became advantageous only recently."

Fair gene

Linnen and colleagues at Harvard and the University of California at Berkeley have now worked out exactly how the mice evolved so quickly.

They have published the details in the journal Science.

They discovered that the light coat colour is coded by a single gene, dubbed Agouti. This is expressed at a higher amount, and for longer, than the genes that code for dark hair.

Most animals known to quickly evolve new features do so by expressing a variation of a gene that already exists, rather than evolving a new type of gene altogether.

But the researchers found that the Agouti gene only appeared among wild deer mice in Sand Hills around 4,000 years ago, just a few thousand years after dark mice colonised their new home. That means it first evolved 8000 generations of mice ago.

The darker, more usual coat colour

They also ascertained that this new gene has since become very common among the Sand Hills mice.

"The light gene wasn't in existence, so the mice had to "wait" until a particular mutation occurred and then selection had to act on that new mutation," says team member Professor Hopi Hoekstra, also of Harvard University.

"It's a two part process. First the mutation has to occur and second, selection has to increase its frequency."

The researchers say it is the first time that it has been possible to document the appearance of a gene, its selection and subsequent spread through a population of wild animals.

And that has allowed them to estimate the "strength" of the natural selection pressure.

Having light coloured fur gives the paler Sand Hills mice a 0.5% survival advantage.

"It doesn't seem that much, but multiplied over thousands of individuals over hundreds of years, it makes a huge difference," says Prof Hoekstra.

"Ours is a very complete story," adds Dr Linnen.

"We've been able to connect changes at DNA level to the ability of deer mice to survive in nature."

Rival icon

In some respects, the dune-living deer mice are similar to the famous peppered moths of northern England.

For decades, the peppered moths (Biston betularia) have been heralded as one of the best-examples known of a wild animal adapting to its environment due to natural selection.

Originally, most peppered moths were lightly coloured, to blend with the lightly coloured bark of trees.

Due to widespread pollution caused by the Industrial Revolution, soot blackened the trees and newly conspicuous lightly coloured moths were picked off by predators, a selection pressure that triggered the rise of more dark coloured moths.

"In both species, changes in colour evolve rapidly due to selection by visually-hunting predators," says Prof Hoekstra.

But the study by Dr Linnen and Prof Hoekstra's team takes our undertaking of natural selection to a much deeper level.

The selection pressure on the moths was technically artificial, caused by pollution produced by people. Whereas the selection causing the pale mice is truly natural.

What is more, the scientists have found the gene responsible, and worked out exactly how long it took to evolve and take hold in the population.

"Despite the fact that the peppered has been an icon of 'evolution in action', we do yet know the genetic changes involved," says Prof Hoekstra.

"Once researchers find the pigmentation gene responsible for moth colour change, they can do the same types of analyses we have done. It will be really interesting to compare these estimates between mice and men."