Asia, UK Challenge US Supremacy in Higher Ed

Harvard, Princeton top universities list

(NEWSER) - US News and World Report has released its latest college rankings, and it’s full of the usual suspects, with Harvard, Princeton, and Yale topping the list; not much has changed since last year . Among liberal arts colleges , Williams, Amherst, and Swarthmore lead the pack. The magazine also presents its best universities in the world : The UK is on top, with Cambridge at No. 1, followed by Harvard and Yale (don’t ask us why Yale beats Princeton worldwide but not nationally). More»

Metabolites differ across national, ethnic boundaries, could offer insight into disease

(NEWSER) - Urine does indeed hold metabolic clues, researchers have found, and could shed light on blood pressure and heart problems, the Times of London reports. "Metabolic profiling can tell us how specific aspects of a person’s diet and how much they drink are contributing to their risks for certain diseases"—something DNA research can't do, says one of the scientists involved. More»

S. Korean capital weathers biggest snowstorm in 70 years

(NEWSER) - Seoul residents are facing paralyzed traffic and canceled flights after the heaviest snowfall in more than 70 years dumped 10 inches on the South Korean capital today. Gimpo International Airport canceled 224 flights before resuming service this afternoon, AP reports. China and Japan are also coping with snowstorms, with an eight-inch snowfall near the Great Wall of China and a heavy snow blanket on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. More»

How one country ducked the economic downturn

(NEWSER) - Australia has weathered the financial crisis better than any other developed country. Last week its central bank raised interest rates, indicating its primary concern is now inflation, not growth. What were the keys? Phil Dobbie of BNET explains:

• Befriending China: Australia used to export much of what it made to the US and UK, but over the last decade much of that trade has shifted to China. In fact, some economists argue that Australia didn’t need a stimulus package—Beijing’s stimulus was enough.

From Brown to Bob Jones, 'what kind of douche do you want to be'?

(NEWSER) - In college, acting insufferable is pretty much a given. “The question for America's youth is: What kind of douche bag do you aspire to be?” asks GQ. The mag helpfully offers the top options.

1. Brown University: Peace Sign on My Mom's 7 Series Douches are limo liberals too good for grades.
2. Duke University: Original Douches. “Probably number one. But we'd rather not rank Duke number one at anything.”
3. Princeton University: Eating-Club Douches “invented affectations.”
4. Harvard University: Harvard Douches—need we say more?
5. Deep Springs College: Only Six People Know About It Douches inhabit a ranch near Death Valley.