세계적인 인터넷 기업 구글에서 일하는 직원 1천여명 이상이 유독 물질에 노출되었다고 미국의 비영리 보도기관인 탐사보도센터 (CRI)가 23일 (현지시간) 보도했다.CRI가 보도한 바에 따르면 캘리포니아 마운틴 뷰에 있는 구글의 위성 사무소의 직원 중 최대 1천여 명이 지난 11월부터 올해 1월까지 삼염화에틸린 (TCE)에 노출되었다고 한다. 이번에 확인된 TCE의 양은 미국 환경보호청(EPA)의 기준치를 훨씬 초과한다.이번 사건은 해당 사무소에서 수리 과정의 일부로서 통풍시설을 일시적으로 해체하면서 발생했다. 이 지역은 TCE 농도가 굉장히 높기 때문에 정압(positive pressure)식 공기정화기를 지속적으로 가동하지 않으면 유독성 증기가 유입될 수 있기 때문이다.이 지역에는 1960∼1970년대에 많은 컴퓨터 칩 제조업체의 공장이 있었고, 당시의 산업폐기물로 인해 토양이 심하게 오염된 것으로 알려졌다. 연방당국은 1989년 이 곳을 오염물질의 정화와 방제 작업이 이뤄져야

스테고사우루스와 같이 등이나 꼬리에 있는 뿔이 있는 공룡들은 뿔의 존재로 인해 특이한 자세로 교미를 했을 것이라는 연구결과가 나왔다.베를린 자연사 박물관에서 일하는 과학자 하인리히 말리슨은 검룡 (검룡하목에 속하는 공룡의 총칭이다. 등에 뿔이 있는 종이 이에 속함) 중 하나인 켄트로사우루스의 컴퓨터 모델을 만들어 이 공룡이 어떤 식으로 교미를 했을지 연구했다.그 결과 검룡들은 동물들이 일반적으로 하는 자세로 교미를 하면 신체적 구조로 인해 수컷의 생식기관에 심각한 손상을 입을 수 있다는 점이 밝혀졌다.말리슨은 이와 같은 부상을 피하기 위해 검룡들이 사람과 유사하게 얼굴을 마주보고 교미를 하는 등 다양한 자세를 취했을 수도 있다고 말했다.프리랜스 과학 작가이자 “내가 사랑하는 브론토사우루스(2013)”의 저자이기도 한 브라이언 스위텍 역시 검룡들은 신체구조로 인해 암컷들이 꼬리를 높이 드는 것이 불가능하기 때문에 교미시 어려움을 겪을 수 있다고 지적했다.한편 일부 과학자들은 검룡 수컷

Sales of small cars in South Korea sank in the first two months of the year due to weak demand stemming from the country's protracted economic slump, industry data showed Monday.According to the data, a total of 28,711 small cars with engine capacities of 1.0 liter were sold in the country in the January-February period, down 8.2 percent from a year earlier.The overall domestic passenger car market, however, shrank at a lower rate of 2.8 percent during the cited period, the data showed, indicati

While U.S. officials say China may be rethinking its policy on North Korea, skepticism lingers about the possibility that Beijing will finally turn its back on the communist ally.Experts point out that China still has strategic, historical and ideological reasons to help North Korea stay alive."First, China's main interest in North Korea is not denuclearization; it is ensuring that the North Korean government does not fall," John Pomfret, a veteran U.S. journalist known for expertise on China is

Syria's Western-backed opposition plunged into disarray on Sunday as its president resigned and its military leader refused to recognize a prime minister recently elected to lead an interim rebel government.The chaos inside the opposition Syrian National Coalition threatened to undermine its bid to unite the forces battling President Bashar Assad and better organize the fight to oust his regime. It also could hamper support from the U.S. and other powers, who have hoped the Coalition would emerg

South Korean speed skaters Lee Sang-hwa and Mo Tae-bum both defended their world single distance titles in Russia on Sunday, becoming the first skaters from the country to win back-to-back world crowns.In the women's 500 meters at the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Sochi, Lee took the two-leg final with a combined time of 75.34 seconds. She finished both of her two races in first place.Wang Beixing of China was a distant second at a combined 76.03 seconds, followed by Olga

Cyprus secured a 10 billion euro ($13 billion) package of rescue loans in tense, last-ditch negotiations early Monday, saving the country from a banking system collapse and bankruptcy.“We've put an end to the uncertainty that has affected Cyprus and the euro area over the past week,” said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chairs the meetings of the 17-nation eurozone's finance ministers. In return for the bailout, Cyprus must drastically shrink its outsized banking sector, cut its budget, implement struc

President Park Geun-hye's nominee for South Korea's corporate watchdog offered to resign on Monday amid allegations that he has been holding secret overseas bank accounts to evade taxes.Han Man-soo, a law professor at Ewha Womans University, was appointed on March 14 to lead the Fair Trade Commission (FTC)."Controversy is arising over whether I am suitable for the job or not and even the schedule of the confirmation hearing has yet to be determined, which resulted in hampering the government fro

Controversial remarks by an editor from men’s Esquire magazine drew furious responses from women around the world.Alex Bilmes, the editor for the magazine’s British edition, expressed his opinion on how Esquire produces content featuring women.“The women we feature in the magazine are ornamental, that is how we see them,” he said at the Advertising Week Europe conference. “I could lie and say we are interested in their brains as well but on the whole we‘re not, they are there to be a beautiful o

The British pop group Girls Aloud announced via Twitter it is breaking up after a decade of performing together."Dear Alouders, we just want to say from the bottom of our hearts Thank you!! This tour has been an amazing experience and the perfect chance to say thank you for being on this journey with us through a decade," singers Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts tweeted on the Girls Aloud account Wednesday night."It has far exceeded any of our dreams a

South Korea's famous rock-ballad singer Kim Jang-hoon said Friday he hopes to build a memorial in New Jersey for Asian women forced by Japanese soldiers into sexual slavery during World War II, in cooperation with activists in other Asian countries with such victims."While planning a performance tour of U.S. cities this year, the idea of building a memorial like the Holocaust memorial came to mind," Kim told Yonhap News Agency by phone.Kim said he wants to make the new facility in New Jersey, U.

A skeleton stored away for decades in a closet at an Iowa hospital set to be demolished will be sent to the University of Iowa Medical Museum, officials said.Suzie Wood, executive director of development at Ottumwa (Iowa) Regional Health Center, said crews discovered the skeleton in a basement closet while cleaning out the 88-year-old facility last year in preparation for its upcoming demolition. The skeleton -- dubbed "Mr. Bones" -- is believed to have been stored there for 70 to 80 years, the

An 18-year-old girl in Britain was put behind bars on Thursday for sexually assaulting a younger girl, British media reported. The accused had allegedly made the victim believe that she was a boy.According to the Mirror, the plaintiff was sentenced to three years in prison at Wood Green Crown Court after she admitted to six incidences of sexual assault on a 16-year-old. She was also to be put on the sex offender registry for life.The schoolgirl -- who pretended to be a goth boy named Scott -- fi

South Korean stocks closed 0.11 percent lower Friday due to rising concerns over the eurozone fiscal crisis, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 2.11 points to 1948.71. Trading volume was low at 244 million shares worth 3.28 trillion won (US$2.94 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 426 to 370."While investors are taking a wait-and-see stance on the recovery of the U.S. economy, the crisis in the eur

The malicious codes that crippled networks of broadcasters and banks in Korea on Wednesday originated from a local bank computer, the nation’s communications regulator said on Friday.Government investigators previously said the cyber attack used an Internet protocol address based in China, suspecting that North Korea might be behind the attack. The malware could have spread from an internal private IP of Nonghyup, the Korea Communications Commission said after looking into the network system of

The National Assembly approved the government reorganization bills on Friday, opening the way for President Park Geun-hye’s plans to be implemented 26 days after her inauguration. Under the plans the government will be restructured to 17 ministries and three lower-level ministries, from the current format of 15 ministries and two low-level ministries. Of the attending 212 lawmakers at the Assembly’s plenary session held in the afternoon, 188 approved the bill, while 11 opposed and 13 abstained.T

Incumbent Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin will stay in office to replace controversy-ridden minister-designate Kim Byung-kwan, who resigned upon spiraling allegations, to lead the nation’s defense at a time of heightened security tension on the Korean Peninsula, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.Kim Byung-kwan’s resignation came 38 days after heavy opposition attacks against his alleged irregularities, leaving a sizeable dent on the credibility of President Park Geun-hye’s personnel appointment system. “A

A former Tennessee Titans cheerleader has been charged with molesting a 12-year-old boy at a friend's home in Murfreesboro.A grand jury indicted Elizabeth Leigh Garner this week on charges including sexual battery and solicitation of a minor. Garner denies the charge, WTVF-TV, Nashville, reported Wednesday.Garner allegedly followed the boy into a bathroom and fondled him.A police report states she said she was drunk and confused the boy with a man who was also at the house."That's just absolutel

Defense minister nominee Kim Byung-kwan on Friday offered to resign after coming under fire for a series of ethical lapses, including a link with a local arms broker, real estate speculation and stock asset disclosure."As the defense minister nominee, I apologize for causing trouble to the people," Kim said in a brief statement. "I am stepping down from the defense minister nominee post to help normalize government affairs."I wish the present security crisis will be successfully overcome and our

In a major step toward ending one of the world's longest, bloodiest insurgencies, the Kurds' jailed rebel leader called Thursday for a “new era” of peace that includes an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of thousands of his fighters from Turkey. Abdullah Ocalan's rebel group, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, has been waging a nearly 30-year battle against the Turkish government, seeking autonomy and greater rights. The fight has killed tens of thousands of people and the group is con