FDA to allow radiation of spinach and lettuce
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health regulators have approved the use of ionizing radiation for fresh spinach and lettuce, saying the technique already approved for other foods can help control harmful bacteria and other pathogens.

Typhoon churns toward Hong Kong, south China
BEIJING (Reuters) - A typhoon that killed four people in the northern Philippines is headed for Hong Kong and will lash the city by Friday, weather forecasts said.

Iran plans manned space mission in 10 years
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran plans to send a manned rocket into space in the next 10 years, state television reported on Thursday, just days after the Islamic Republic announced it had put a dummy satellite into orbit.

Soggy storm Fay moves over Florida again
MIAMI (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Fay came ashore on the Florida coast for the third time in less than a week on Thursday, bringing more of the torrential rain that has flooded hundreds of homes.

Addiction drug reverses obesity in rats
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An epilepsy drug being tested for use in treating addiction can help obese rats shed weight, U.S. government researchers said on Wednesday.

Scientists urge U.S. to protect economy from climate
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Eight scientific organizations urged the next U.S. president to help protect the country from climate change by pushing for increased funding for research and forecasting, saying about $2 trillion of U.S. economic output could be hurt by storms, floods and droughts.

"Bigfoot" was rubber gorilla costume
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - No wonder Bigfoot failed a DNA test. Researchers said on Tuesday the hairy heap claimed by two men to be the corpse of the mythical half-ape, half-human creature was actually a full-body rubber gorilla costume.

Peru joins fray for treasure ship claimed by Spain
MIAMI (Reuters) - Peru has entered the battle for a multimillion-dollar treasure of gold and silver that Spain alleges a U.S. treasure hunting company looted from a Spanish warship sunk in 1804.

Stem cells could allow "blood farms," company says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Embryonic stem cells can be used to grow vats of red blood cells, which could lead to the creation of "farms" that could provide limitless sources of blood, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

Stem cell test to help treat bowel cancer
LONDON (Reuters) - Stem cell scientists have developed a new and more accurate way of spotting aggressive forms of bowel cancer, allowing for tailored treatment that should improve patients' chances of survival.