NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

WORLD/ BIRDS NEAR CHERNOBYL HAVE SMALL BRAINS: Birds living around the site of the Chernobyl nuclear accident have 5% smaller brains, an effect directly linked to lingering background radiation. The finding comes from a study of 550 birds belonging to 48 different species living in the region, published in the journal PLoS One. Brain size was significantly smaller in yearlings compared to older birds. Smaller brain sizes are thought to be linked to reduced cognitive ability. The effect was most pronounced in younger birds, particulary those less than a year old. That suggests that many bird embryos did not survive at all, due the negative effects of their developing brain. Marsh Warblers, pictured above, are one of the species that showed the smaller brains. The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Norway, France and the US. In April 1986, reactor number 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded. After the accident, traces of radioactive deposits were found in nearly every country in the northern hemisphere. An exclusion has since been set up around the site of the accident. However, scientists have recenly been allowed inside to gauge the impact the radiation has had on the ecology of the region. Last year, the researchers published the results of the largest wildlife census of its kind conducted in Chernobyl, which revealed that mammals are declining in the exclusion zone surrounding the nuclear power plant.

WORLD/ PIGLETS SAVED AFTER NET CAMPAIGN: A campaign to save 3 endangered red river hog piglets has proven to be one of the shortest in history after the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland said they would do their "utmost" to find a new home for the trio. A spokesman said that they would do everything they could to relocate Ellis, Moses and Nelson after a local news program revealed they were under threat because there was a "surplus" of the species. The zoo previously claimed it had to carry out cullings recommended by a worldwide breeding program. 2 piglets, Sammi and Becca, were put to sleep after they were deemed "surplus to requirement". The announcement that the latest litter might be culled left charities and residents furious, sparking a national campaign. Thousands of people joined the Save The Hogs internet campaign. A campaign spokesman said: "I'm glad the zoo are rehoming them. Saying that, they tried and failed to rehome the last pair". The zoo spokeswoman said "We comply to the regulations and recommendations of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), however we always make every effort to rehome all animals wherever possible. We do appreciate this is a sensitive issue, but it is jointly a very complicated issue".

US/ BORDERS NEAR BANKRUPTCY: According to media reports yesterday, the bookseller Borders will soon file for bankruptcy. "It's pretty clear they will file for bankruptcy; it's just a question of when," said one analyst. "Borders at one time was an unbelievably impressive bookstore chain, people loved it. The day they go into bankruptcy will not be a happy day for publishers, authors and readers". About 10 days ago the President of Borders said  the company was "doing everything possible" to maintain relationships with vendors and publishers and viewed the refinancing as the most practical solution, but also noted that an in-court restructuring is a possibility.