Shorter Drives

#transport - U.S. motorists drove at least 100 billion fewer miles November 2007-October 2008 than in the same period a year earlier, according to U.S. transportation officials.

The Highway Trust Fund financed primarily by federal gas tax receipts, collected $31 billion in revenue October 2007-September 2008, $3 billion less than it collected in fiscal year 2007.

Source: UPI

Everest Deaths

#death - Most deaths on Mount Everest occur above 8,000 meters during descents from the summit in the so-called "death zone".

Researchers who analyzed the reported 212 deaths on the 29,000-foot mountain between 1921 and 2006 have concluded that high-altitude cerebral edema appears to be associated with an increased risk of death.

The American, British and Canadian researchers found that the overall death rate for climbers and sherpas (locals hired to assist climbers) over those 86 years was 1.3 percent (1.6 percent among climbers and 1.1 percent among sherpas). Over the past 25 years, the death rate for climbers descending via the longer Tibetan northeast ridge was 3.4 percent, and 2.5 percent on the shorter Nepal route.

Source: Washington Post

Largest Animal

#animals - There are estimated to the less than 25,000 Blue Whale's left in the world's oceans, no more than 11 percent of the 1911 Blue Whale population.

The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is believed to be the largest animal to have ever lived: even larger than the largest dinosaur. A member of the order Cetacea, the maximum recorded weight of a Blue Whale was 190 tonnes (209 tons) for a specimen measuring 30 m (100 ft) in length, while longer ones, up to 33.3 m (110 ft), have been recorded but not weighed.

Blue Whale populations have been severely depleted by whaling and approximately 360,000 Blue Whales are estimated to have been caught and killed in the Southern Hemisphere during the 20th century. Before whaling the largest population of Blue Whales was in the Antarctic, numbering between 202,000 and 311,000. A 2002 report estimated there were just 5,000 to 12,000 Blue Whales worldwide located in five or more groups. The Blue Whale population is generally accepted to have increased in recent years.

Source: Extreme Science, Wikipedia, New South Wales Government, The IUCN Red List

Obese Kids

#health - Up to 25 percent of all children in the United Kingdom will be obese by the year 2050, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF). This will make it much more likely that children will become obese adults, and run a far greater risk of developing coronary heart disease, the UK’s biggest killer.

The BHF is urging the Government to take action, in particular to bring in tighter regulations in the marketing of ‘junk food’ to children.

Source: The Guardian, Food4Thought

2008 US Election Turnout

#politics - 2008's US presidential election saw the highest voter turnout since 1960, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate at American University.

According to the Center's research, African-American turnout was a major factor in turnout increase, while college-educated and college-resident youth turnout also increased and played a major role in Barack Obama’s victory.Turnout increased most in the South, where Obama made inroads thanks to a huge black turnout, of any region.

However, the surge in election turnout was an 'Obama phenomenon' and does not necessarily mean higher political engagement.

Source: Boston.com, Center for the Study of the American Electorate

Less Anemic

#health - 7 percent of women and 4 percent of children in the USA have anemia, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results from a large, nationally representative trial, the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES), indicate that anemia rates are in decline.

Results of the study were published in the December 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Anemia is a condition in which there's a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells in the blood. Symptoms can include fatigue, chest pain and shortness of breath.

Source: Washington Post, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Richest Under 30

#music - R&B singer Beyonce Knowles has been named as the richest star under 30 - with an estimated $80 million (GBP55 million) in the bank.

The 27 year old star, topped the list of wealthy young celebrities compiled by Forbes magazine, just weeks after Knowles and her husband Jay-Z were named Hollywood's richest couple by the publication.

Pop superstar Justin Timberlake, 27, came second with earnings of $43 million (GBP30 million), followed closely by U.S. basketball player Kobe Bryant with $39 million (GBP26.8 million).

The top ten richest stars under 30 is as follows:

1. Beyonce Knowles - $80 million (GBP55 million)
2. Justin Timberlake - $43 million (GBP30 million)
3. Kobe Bryant - $39 million (GBP26.8 million)
4. LeBron James - $38 million (GBP26.1 million)
5. Roger Federer - $35.2 million (GBP24.1 million)
6. Keira Knightley - $32.2 million (GBP22.03 million)
7. Maria Sharapova - $26.1 million (GBP17.9 million)
8. Daniel Radcliffe - $25.1 million (GBP17.2 million)
9. Miley Cyrus - $25.1 million (GBP17.2 million)
10. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - $15 million (GBP10.3 million).

Source: Contact Music