Meselson's work was described in an independent medical review as providing "compelling evidence that yellow rain might have a benign natural explanation".

Too much of it for a benign explanation.

But, American officials say, there was a benign explanation for the research.

Or maybe there's a less benign explanation for what one irate blogger called the "don't look butch clause."

Her representatives also said the coded letters could have benign explanations and refer to vitamins.

But even that benign explanation was hardly an august moment in the campaign for the most powerful governor's office in the nation.

This argument can also offer a fairly benign explanation for the recent decline in happiness, precisely because it has occurred among women.

American experts say a benign explanation for the research is that the Russians are trying to improve their own anthrax vaccine, which uses live germs.

There was a tense silence before the benign explanation became clear.

One teenager who was at the party gave a benign explanation.