Edio Ricci Giampietri yesterday received the National Energy Globe in Brussels, Belgium, considered the “Nobel Prize of energy and environment,” according to the daily newspaper La Nacion.

A researcher at the National Autonomous University at Heredia (UNA), the scientist received the recognition for his development of a solar oven to disinfect biocontaminated hospital waste. The energy-saving oven will treat liquids, gases and solids, including contagious materials, at extremely low cost.

“It’s the only apparatus that can completely sterilize this kind of infectious waste and still be environment-friendly,” commented physicist Alejandro Gutierrez, director of the International Oceanic Institute at UNA, who served as Ricci’s project coordinator.

How is the National Soccer First Division race going this year? Tighter than a sailor on an annual shore leave, that’s how!

In Group A, Saprissa tightened its hold on first place yesterday with its 1-0 shutout of Puntarenas while Alajuela blanked Santos 2-0 to tie Cartago for first in Group B. Everyone else in that group are also-rans.

To sum up the Wednesday scores, it was Heredia, consistent as usual this year after a rocky start last year, over Santa Cruz, 3-1, Perez Zeledon over Carmelita 2-1, Brujas and Cartago scoreless and a resurgent Liberia downing San Carlos 2-1.

For Cartago, a scoreless tie was bad news for the erstwhile leader of Group B. But the foggy city, as Cartago is nicknamed, is still tied with Alajuela for first with 24 points each.

The only goal in the Saprissa-Puntarenas game came late in the second period by Alejandro Alpizar on a pass from Try Bennett.

Top scorers are Saprissa’s Alonso Solis with 16, followed by Alajuela’s Rolando Fonseca (14), Heredia’s Leandro Barrios (13), Kurt Bernard of Puntarenas, Athim Roper of Brujas and Alejandro Sequeira of Caremlita, all with 12 each.