LATEST NEWS
Space station's new urine recycler has glitches
22:49 21 November 2008
NASA is having problems with a new $250 million machine that recycles urine into drinking water
Bush to go out with a green bang?
THIS WEEK: 12:00 22 November 2008 | 3 comments
One of the George W Bush's final acts as US president could be to create the largest marine conservation area in the world
Planet imaged closer to star than ever before?
20:50 21 November 2008
A planet may have been imaged closer to its star than any photographed previously
Light opens up a world of sound for the deaf
THIS WEEK: 18:48 21 November 2008 | 1 comment
Infrared light can stimulate neurons in the inner ear as precisely as sound waves, a discovery that could lead to better cochlear implants
Invention: Personal life mapper
19:00 21 November 2008
A new patent application wants to have software reduce your life to easy-to-digest diagrams in 3D space
Experts plan 'doomsday vault' for frog sperm
18:21 21 November 2008 | 1 comment
Freezing the genetic material of amphibians, along with assisted reproduction measures, could help species avoid looming extinctions
Hairspray link to genital birth defects
17:47 21 November 2008 | 5 comments
Pregnant hairdressers may be exposing their unborn children to harmful chemicals that can lead to health problems in boys, a study suggests
Material slicker than Teflon discovered by accident
16:28 21 November 2008 | 14 comments
Coating moving parts with a novel material that is almost as tough as diamond and more slippery than Teflon could save energy and reduce wear
China's disappearing land puts food supplies at risk
15:45 21 November 2008
Over a third of the nation's land area is being scoured by erosion that threatens food resources and could make conflict more likely
Bush takes aim at the environment with late rule changes
15:01 21 November 2008 | 7 comments
The US president looks set to weaken protection for endangered species and relax gun laws in national parks before leaving office
FROM THE BLOG
Supreme Court gives away free airline seats
...but only for obese Canadians, who are now classified as 'functionally disabled'
HUMAN EVOLUTION
Were Neanderthals stoned to death by humans?
Changes in bone shape hint that Stone Age humans regularly threw heavy objects, while Neanderthals did not
FAVOURITE COMMENT
Ets Are Here
"Aliens are too clever to be obvious. If we can make things invisible with metamaterials (in theory) then imagine what billion year old technology can do. They're here and have been here for billennia. Maybe we should learn from Them how to tread lightly on the world and not trash it up." Adam
COMPETITION
Feedback Competition 2008: Glad Timings We Bring
Imagine three time travellers arriving, bearing gifts from the future. Tell us what the gifts would be, and win a bag of Christmas treats!
SHORT SHARP SCIENCE BLOG
Obama gives web post to wigwam-dwelling shaman
15:22 21 November 2008 - updated 16:53 21 November 2008
Barack Obama may not be a war veteran, but at least one member of his forthcoming administration has seen some epic combat.Kevin Werbach, who will lead a group in charge of overhauling internet regulation, is a warlike character who has...
Crazy green ideas
14:50 21 November 2008 - updated 14:52 21 November 2008
A new X-Prize competition is challenging people to come up with alternative energy ideas. Find out more in this video. Phil McKenna, New Scientist correspondent...
Are the obese 'functionally disabled'?
11:42 21 November 2008 - updated 13:20 21 November 2008
Obese people are "functionally disabled", according to a ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada yesterday. Several Canadian airlines were appealing against a decision that allowed obese people two seats on a flight for the price of one. The Supreme...
