October - 2005 Articles
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Live speech-translation technology unveiled
31 October 2005
Also on show is a directional speaker system delivering translated audio to just one person in a room and a way to project subtitles onto glasses
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New launch date for the Venus Express
31 October 2005
The European Space Agency will attempt to launch its probe two weeks late, after fixing a contamination problem – there is very little wiggle room left
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Pluto rocket suffers slight hurricane damage
31 October 2005
Mission managers do not think the mishap will affect the planned January launch date for NASA's New Horizons probe
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Gut reactions may rumble a liar
31 October 2005
The gut has a mind of its own – literally – so measurements of its activity could improve existing polygraph tests, researchers suggest
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Malaria vaccine possible within six years
31 October 2005
New trials of the most promising candidate will befunded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – malaria kills 2000 African children every day
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God goes to court in all but name
31 October 2005
The insider's guide to the court battle over Intelligent Design, and what US schoolchildren should be taught about the origin of life
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Bombers face detection by breathalyser
30 October 2005
A breathalyser has been developed that detects traces of the chemicals found in explosives when they are exhaled by people who have handled them
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Box of tricks takes surgery into the sticks
29 October 2005
A solar-powered "hospital in a box" fits into a Land Rover and can be taken hundreds of miles into remote locations, almost anywhere in the world
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Which way now?
29 October 2005
Eight careers you never knew you could do
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Lost?
29 October 2005
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What I wish I'd known
29 October 2005
The UK's top scientists offer a helping hand for graduates planning a career in research
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Real lives
29 October 2005
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Up, up and away
29 October 2005
A job working on fighter planes is a boy's dream come true. but Laura Williamson, who builds jet engines at rolls-royce, says it is high time more female engineers got in on the act.
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Masterclass
29 October 2005
How to write the perfect CV for a scientific role
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Creativity special: Natural talent
29 October 2005
Why do we find beautiful markings on animals that just hide in the mud. It seems that nature's extravagance knows no bounds, says Philip Ball
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Lager doubt
29 October 2005
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Bombers face detection by breathalyser
29 October 2005
A breathalyser has been developed that detects traces of the chemicals found in explosives when they are exhaled by people who have handled them
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Gizmo
29 October 2005
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Living where the sky falls in
29 October 2005
Why do we insist on living in the world's most dangerous natural disaster zones? We should learn the lessons of history, says Simon Winchester
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Keep a weather eye on those vanishing jellyfish
29 October 2005
The disappearance of the creatures from Jellyfish Lake in Palau may herald severe weather events caused by El Niño and La Niña
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Why are Titan's skies cloudy?
29 October 2005
Two teams of astronomers have hound short-lived clouds of methane on Saturn's largest moon – they last from hours to a day
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New clear material tougher than bulletproof glass
29 October 2005
The US air force is testing the material, which is lighter then the glass on armoured military vehicles, though it does not come cheap
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Pentagon's patent security clampdown eases
29 October 2005
Its post-9/11 grip on private inventions seem to be loosening – the number of patents barred as risks to US national security has halved in the last year
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Underwater observatory to spill ocean's deepest secrets
29 October 2005
The Neptune network will link an observatory to an array of sea-floor webcams, microphones, sensors and robotic rovers in the north-eastern Pacific
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Box of tricks takes surgery into the sticks
29 October 2005
A solar-powered "hospital in a box" fits into a Land Rover and can be taken hundreds of miles into remote locations, almost anywhere in the world
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Battle for the future of mobile broadband
29 October 2005
High-speed internet connection is heading for the wide open spaces, but just don't ask how best to log on
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Creativity special: The complexity of the universe
29 October 2005
As fast as it builds things up the universe is busy tearing them down. What lies at the root of this seeming contradiction, asks Paul Davies
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Creativity special: Oh look, a new cliché!
29 October 2005
It is hugely challenging to use a computer to model human creativity. The task has caused Douglas Hofstadter to ask himself some tough questions
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Creativity special: Ten top tips
29 October 2005
We can all be more creative, so the experts claim. But how? We asked 10 novelists, artists and scientists for their secrets
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Attack of the quantum worms
29 October 2005
You want a quantum computer? Then prepare to fight off the ultimate in malicious software
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What's in a cup of coffee?
29 October 2005
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For the record
29 October 2005
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Swallows and penguins
29 October 2005
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Animals aren't people
29 October 2005
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Fundamental fears
29 October 2005
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Fat is a moral issue
29 October 2005
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Lost embryos
29 October 2005
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Squirrel stew
29 October 2005
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A step to save a planet
29 October 2005
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Creativity special: Just got to write this down
29 October 2005
A sudden compulsion to write gripped neurologist Alice Flaherty – her hypergraphia transformed her approach to mental illness and creativity
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Creativity special: When the music takes you
29 October 2005
What do artists go through when they create, and does the process change them? We ask leading songwriters what inspiration feels like
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The creative mind: special report
29 October 2005
Everyone has it, some a lot more than others. The development of humans, and possibly the universe, depends on it. Yet creativity is an elusive creature. Ten New Scientist features hunt it down
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Creativity special: Looking for inspiration
29 October 2005
Where does creativity come from? What makes one person more creative than another? Helen Phillips finds her muse in brain anatomy, mood swings and down time
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Creativity special: Never give up
29 October 2005
Solving a tricky mathematical problem is a bit like supporting a mediocre football team, says Timothy Gowers. He explains why to New Scientist
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Creativity special: One culture
29 October 2005
What on earth have cubism and relativity to say to each other? Far more than you might think, as Arthur Miller explained to Amanda Gefter
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Creativity special: Where it's at
29 October 2005
Why are some places more successful than others at encouraging creative, economic growth? Richard Florida identifies the key factors
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Wildlife in the big bad city
29 October 2005
By welcoming birds and animals into the towns, are we offering them a comfortable new niche or luring them into a trap? New Scientist investigates
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The hole story
29 October 2005
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Thank your father for your lifespan
29 October 2005
The lengths of the telomere caps on the ends of our chromosomes influence how long we live – and it is our fathers that influence these dimensions
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Editorial: Creativity unites us all
29 October 2005
The creative process appears to follow much the same cognitive and emotional process, whether you are a scientist or an artist
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Astro-naughtiness could cause problems in space
29 October 2005
Out-of-this-world sex could jeopardise missions to the Moon and Mars, according to a top-level panel of scientists
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Pest-killing GM cotton still potent after all these years
29 October 2005
Genetically modified cotton plants are continuing to fend off the pink bollworm after eight seasons, much to researchers' surprise
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Ancient rare pine auctioned to saved it
29 October 2005
An auction of 292 Wollemi pines in Sydney, Australia, has raised over $1 million, which will be used to help conserve the trees and their habitats
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Sonar users versus whale protectors
29 October 2005
A dispute between environmental campaigners and the US navy over the effects of its sonar systems on whales has spilled into the courts
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Bird flu scares prompts snake oil production
29 October 2005
As anxiety over avian flu grows, entrepreneurs, spammers, quacks and rip-off merchants are reaping the benefits, with a range of bogus products
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Circumcision reduces risk of HIV
29 October 2005
A South African study found that circumcision reduced the rate at which heterosexual men became infected with HIV by about 60 per cent
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Feedback
29 October 2005
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Water wheels
29 October 2005
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Yo ho ho
29 October 2005
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Editorial: Darwin and dogma
29 October 2005
Caricaturing the conflict over intelligent design only helps creationists – many devout Christians see no conflict between natural selection and their religion
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60 Seconds
29 October 2005
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Pregnant pause over iron-pill risk
29 October 2005
Pregnant women who take iron supplements could put their children at risk of developing behavioural problems, a new study suggests
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Capturing a black hole's feeding habit
29 October 2005
Astronomers have wondered for years how black holes gulp down matter, but now a telescope in Chile has captured the process in detail
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Did prior infection save British from vCJD?
29 October 2005
The low death toll in the UK from the human form of mad cow disease is one of the great puzzles of recent years, but it may now be explained
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Riding out the menstrual cycle
29 October 2005
If you experience mood swings prior to menstruation, it may be because an emotional buffer zone in your brain is not working as it should
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Captive chimps show a selfish side
29 October 2005
In a lab experiment, chimps failed to lend a helping hand to their peers, even though doing so would not have inconvenienced them
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How selective logging wrecks the rainforest
29 October 2005
Advanced satellite analysis of the Brazilian rainforest reveals that logging is causing more than twice as much damage as previously thought
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Hidden fractals boost abstract art appreciation
29 October 2005
A technique to detect art forgeries using the maths of fractals may help pinpoint why we instinctively like some abstract paintings more than others
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Soundbites
29 October 2005
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Lake algae confirm global warming link
29 October 2005
Algal growth in remote Arctic lakes suggests that entire freshwater ecosystems are altering in response to climate change
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SSETI Express suffers power loss
28 October 2005
Europe's student-built spacecraft was put into standby mode just hours after launch – it is not yet clear whether the mission can be recovered
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Space station celebrates its fifth birthday
28 October 2005
After five years of habited orbiting, five former residents share their memories, many of which involve making repairs
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New image reveals Tadpole galaxy's halo
28 October 2005
The ring of new stars indicates the geometry of a titanic collision that shaped the galaxy – it was an almost head-on hit
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MIT professor sacked for fabricating data
28 October 2005
A New Scientist investigation reveals serious doubts are also being expressed over data published earlier in his career
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Beta is a hurricane in the making
28 October 2005
With near-ideal conditions for hurricane formation in the Caribbean, record-breaking Tropical Storm Beta is likely to intensify
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Metal shields and encryption for US passports
28 October 2005
The increased electronic security on the forthcoming RFID-chip passports is a response to fears of identity theft and invasions of privacy
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Post-mortem explains CryoSat's launch failure
28 October 2005
The failed take-off occurred after the rocket's second stage refused to shut down – the Rockot vehicle fleet has now been cleared to fly again
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Is IVF test the best for baby?
28 October 2005
Thousands born through IVF have undergone "preimplantation genetic diagnosis", but how risky is taking a cell from an early-stage embryo?
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US House passes bill to continue Soyuz flights
27 October 2005
Without the bill, the US cannot pay Russia for further flights to the space station, leaving one astronaut on the station looking for a ride
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The latest nanotech device: Venetian blinds
27 October 2005
A molecule that flips its arms like the slats on a blind might find uses in computer displays or windows that become tinted at the flick of a switch
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US spy agency's patents under security scrutiny
27 October 2005
The Pentagon appears to be clamping down on patents filed by the US National Security Agency on the grounds of national security
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New telescope snaps galaxy with one eye shut
27 October 2005
A huge new telescope in Arizona – which will have vision 10 times better than Hubble – takes a spectacular first shot
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Fattening up skinny toddlers risks heart health
27 October 2005
Children who are slim at age two and then rapidly put on weight are most at risk of adult heart disease
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Satellite menagerie flies into orbit
27 October 2005
An international constellation of instruments, including SSETI Express and Iran's first satellite, are successfully launched
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US drops nuclear "bunker buster" from budget
27 October 2005
Controversial plans to research deep-earth penetrating technology which would deliver nuclear warheads will not receive funding in 2006
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Space station orbit boosted by test
27 October 2005
Engineers successfully test fire the engines on a Progress cargo ship, following a failure earlier in October
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Bone marrow donors risk DNA identity mix-up
27 October 2005
As forensic databases grow and more people undergo bone marrow transplants, the risk of a miscarriage of justice increases
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Satellite to have virtual global ground station
26 October 2005
Amateur radio users around the world are being asked to download data from the orbiter – there is a prize for the fastest submission to mission control
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Friendship runs shallow in captive chimps
26 October 2005
Chimps failed to lend a helping hand to unrelated animals in their own social group, though they would have suffered no inconvenience by doing so
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Email and letter writing share fundamental pattern
26 October 2005
Analysis of how Darwin and Einstein replied to letters reveals the same mathematical rule as email replies, and perhaps a deeper biological pattern
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Bird flu anxiety spreads across Europe
26 October 2005
A Portuguese man is being tested for the virus, but scientist say the real area of concern remains Asia, where China has revealed new outbreaks
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The World's Best Space Sci-Fi Ever: Your verdict
26 October 2005
After weeks of frenzied debate, deliberation and voting by NewscientistSpace.com readers, the final results are in – and we have a clear winner
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Vast array of tiny antennas could talk to spacecraft
26 October 2005
Cheap technology found in wireless headsets could form a 500,000-strong "phased-array" transmitter for communicating with deep space probes
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Failed space station boost to be explored
26 October 2005
Russian engineers will test fire the engines on its Progress cargo ship, docked to the station, before a second attempt at raising the station's orbit
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Elephants may pay homage to dead relatives
26 October 2005
African elephants show great interest in the skulls of other elephants, reveal experiments, backing the notion they might visit their dead
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Six-seat spacecraft top of Russian space plan
25 October 2005
Its 10-year plan also includes preparation for a crewed mission to Mars and the completion of Russian parts of the International Space Station
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Invention: Wall-beating bugging
25 October 2005
This week's inventions include spy equipment that uses space technology to listen through walls, and photos with built-in backlights
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Kennedy Space Center escapes Wilma's wrath
25 October 2005
The key NASA facility, which houses three space shuttles, suffered only slight damage from Hurricane Wilma as it passed over the Florida peninsula
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Smart fire detector could slash false alarms
25 October 2005
A self-contained sensor system with a built-in neural network can tell the difference between burning toast and a burning building
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Hurricane Wilma turns away after lashing Florida
25 October 2005
The record-breaking hurricane is speeding across the Atlantic after causing widespread damage
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The word: Torino scale
25 October 2005
The city of Turin – Torino to the locals – is famous for a curious assortment of things, and one of them is a Richter-style scale for asteroid impacts
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Brain implants could control blood pressure
25 October 2005
Zapping a part of the human brain with an electrical current can change a person's blood pressure, new research finds
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Wired reef to spot polluters
25 October 2005
An ambitious project for a sensor network to map pollution and its effects on the Great Barrier Reef is to be launched
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Brain buffer' may control premenstrual moods
24 October 2005
An emotional buffer zone in the brain may not be working properly in women who experience monthly moodiness, a brain-scan study suggests
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Space elevators stuck on the first floor
24 October 2005
Despite some impressive feats, no one wins a NASA competition to develop the kit needed for robots to lift objects into space on super-strong tethers
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Venus mission delayed by contamination
24 October 2005
Fragments of insulation, probably from the launch vehicle, were found during final checks, postponing lift-off by at least a week
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Deadly H5N1 bird flu strain reaches the UK
24 October 2005
The virus was detected in a quarantined consignment of exotic birds, raising fears that imported pet birds could spread the disease
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Star search program used to trail whale sharks
24 October 2005
Researchers use a technique for pinpointing an object's location in the night sky to identify and track whale sharks in the Earth's oceans
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Chinese tourist pays $100,000 for space trip
24 October 2005
But neither of the touted vehicles for his 2007 journey – the Xerus rocket plane or a revamped Buran space shuttle – actually exist yet
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Wilma hits Florida, Alpha breaks record
24 October 2005
Hurricane Wilma arrives at the Florida peninsula, while Alpha is the 22nd tropical storm of the busiest season on record
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Alien life seems yet more likely
24 October 2005
Life's building blocks appear to lurk in every corner of the galaxy, according to new readings by the Spitzer Space Telescope
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No place for Nazis in medicine
23 October 2005
A Nazi war criminal's contribution to medicine is being slowly written out of the medical record – the term "Reiter's syndrome" is used less and less
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'Axis of evil' warps cosmic background
22 October 2005
A mysterious pattern in the cosmic microwave background has left some physicists wondering whether this key plank of big bang theory is flawed
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Asia focuses on the final frontier
22 October 2005
But what separates China from other aspiring space powers is its determined pursuit of human space flight
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For the record
22 October 2005
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Powdered metal: The fuel of the future
22 October 2005
The clean, green car of the future will cruise the highway on a tankful of powdered metal – welcome to the new Iron Age
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The empty
22 October 2005
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Rare prehistoric pine to be saved by sales
22 October 2005
Australia's recently discovered Wollemi pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest trees – but selling it at Sotheby's may be its salvation
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The future of Atlantic tsunamis
22 October 2005
It's only a matter of time before the Atlantic throws up more devastating waves, so America and Europe had better watch out
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The birth of a language
22 October 2005
What do deaf people do when they can't communicate with each other? Invent their own language, of course
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Resurrecting Lisbon after earthquake and flood
22 October 2005
In 1755, Lisbon was decimated by a huge quake, and many survivors died in the subsequent tsunami – one man had a vision for the city's reconstruction
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Scrap the database
22 October 2005
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Come out and talk
22 October 2005
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Asian star shoots for the moon
22 October 2005
With the wave of a magic wand, Singapore has burst onto the global R&D; stage. In 2001, the city state realised that the rest of Asia was starting to rival it for low-cost manufacturing and electronics, so prime minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the way forward lay in nurturing its science. Hey presto, an R&D; park called Biopolis was built and staffed within two years. The government has since attracted some of the world's top scientists with generous financial support and infrastructure, and in August, the R&D; budget for the next five years was doubled to S$12 billion (US$7.1 billion). It's a staggering transformation: a major new bioscience hub that has rocketed up from nothing. Gaia Vince finds out whether we are seeing a flash in the pan or a rising star.
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Soundbites
22 October 2005
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Walking on water
22 October 2005
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Catch the caller
22 October 2005
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Now you see them...
22 October 2005
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Cosy Kurzweil
22 October 2005
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Leap second launches
22 October 2005
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People power
22 October 2005
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When Memory Lane is closed
22 October 2005
Lee Ryan started off as an opera singer, but a single extraordinary encounter set her on a path to something very different
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New form of scrapie discovered
22 October 2005
A previously unknown form of the prion disease that affects sheep could derail EU plans to breed scrapie out of Europe's flocks
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Death Rays, Jet Packs, Stunts and Supercars, by Barry Parker
22 October 2005
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Seesawing gas kept Earth frozen for longer
22 October 2005
A puzzling shift in glacial cycles that occurred nearly one million years ago could be explained by fluctuating greenhouse gas levels
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Rare snapshot of symbiotic recruitment
22 October 2005
For evolutionary biologists it is a little green dream come true, as a predatory microorganism brings an algal helper on board
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Fast-tracked sexual promotion swells fish's head
22 October 2005
When subordinate African cichlid fish see a chance to move up, changes in gene expression appear in its brain within minutes, enlarging its head
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Fluid chip directs wandering sperm
22 October 2005
Men may hate asking for directions, or so the stereotype goes, but sperm are happy to be told which way to swim
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Gizmo
22 October 2005
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Are all human embryos equal?
22 October 2005
Two new ways of creating embryonic stem cells, that do not harm embryos that could in theory develop into babies, raise new questions
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'Axis of evil' warps cosmic background
22 October 2005
A mysterious pattern in the cosmic microwave background has left some physicists wondering whether this key plank of big bang theory is flawed
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A bug may help battle dengue
22 October 2005
Infecting the mosquitoes that carry dengue with a bacterium that shortens their lifespan may help tackle the disease, which strikes 100 million people per year
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US geologists rally against intelligent design
22 October 2005
The annual meeting of the Geological Society of America saw its members joining their biologist brethren in attacking the creationist challenge to evolution
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Antarctic ice slipping faster into the sea
22 October 2005
New research reveals the shrinking ice shelves could already be the principal cause of rising sea levels
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60 Seconds
22 October 2005
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Voices of History 2: Arts, science and exploration, British Library Audio CD
22 October 2005
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US science may be in crisis
22 October 2005
There is growing concern that complacency will lead to the US losing its global scientific pre-eminence within a decade
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Round Up
22 October 2005
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No going back
22 October 2005
Alan Colman, a creator of Dolly the cloned sheep, left the UK for Singapore in 2002. He is now CEO of ES Cell International, a world leader in stem cell technology. The company is generating cell replacement for type 1 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and plans to start developing its first therapeutic drug by 2007.
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Feedback
22 October 2005
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Backlash against free internet calls
22 October 2005
Many phone companies that own the wires connecting people to the internet are gearing up to block free phone calls that use VoIP technology
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Raptor inflicted death by a thousand bites
22 October 2005
The movie Jurassic Park shot velociraptor to fame, but in real life the dinosaur was an altogether different kind of killer
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Implant to allow the deaf to hear music
22 October 2005
The cochlear implant being developed in the UK will enable people to hear sounds over a wide range of frequencies
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Lonely island-trapped rat swims for freedom
22 October 2005
The single male rat, called Razza, was placed on a New Zealand island to see what happens when rats invade – he proved a slippery customer
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More perfume, less poisonous by-products
22 October 2005
Perfumes, paints and cosmetics could be manufactured without producing so much toxic waste, new research reveals
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Perils of sleeping in a fungal ecosystem
22 October 2005
If dribble, bed bugs and stale sweat are not bad enough, your pillow may be riddled with allergy-causing fungal spores
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New Noah predicts floods across the US
22 October 2005
Noah Diffenbaugh is a climate scientist predicting a least a doubling of both extremes of rain and drought across the US by the end of the century
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No place for Nazis in medicine
22 October 2005
A Nazi war criminal's contribution to medicine is being slowly written out of the medical record – the term "Reiter's syndrome" is used less and less
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Editorial: A chance to crack the oil addiction
22 October 2005
New legislation in the US may make it easier to build more oil refineries, but there are still radical ideas for clean energy waiting to be explored
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Wine whine
22 October 2005
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Making contact with alien life forms
22 October 2005
Abducted: How people come to believe they were kidnapped by aliens by Susan Clancy, reviewed by Chris French
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The Curies by Denis Brian
22 October 2005
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Keep up the search
22 October 2005
Both the religious right and the secular left want to restrict scientific research, says Timothy Ferris. Their intentions may by good, but it is always a bad idea
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Clear lenses
22 October 2005
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Light night
22 October 2005
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Editorial: Licence to cure bird flu
22 October 2005
Our defences against a possible bird flu pandemic are very weak but, finally, makers of the flu drug Tamiflu will consider letting others make it
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Disguised sea sounds give intruders away
22 October 2005
The sound of the ocean is being harnessed to create a covert message system for warning ports of intruders
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Out-of-this-world sex could jeopardise missions
21 October 2005
Romantic entanglements among astronauts could derail long-haul space trips, a top-level panel warns NASA, though they could alleviate boredom
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New diabetes drug may raise death risk
21 October 2005
A drug being assessed by the US Food and Drug Administration may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and death, researchers claim
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Cleaner, crazier cars on show in Tokyo
21 October 2005
Greener, smarter vehicles are the theme of the Tokyo Motor Show, along with high performance and simply wacky concept cars
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Crash site of Mars probe 'disappears'
21 October 2005
A sharper image of a site suggested to be Mars Polar Lander's final resting place bears no trace of the probe – researchers blame a trick of the light
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Bird flu breaking out all over
21 October 2005
It remains unclear if the virus has reached the European Union, but it is still spreading in China and could reach Africa
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Logging threat to Amazon much greater than thought
21 October 2005
Human activities are destroying Brazil's rainforests at twice the previously estimated rate, suggests the combined force of three NASA satellites
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Titan's methane clouds may spout from geyser
21 October 2005
The long streaky clouds on Saturn's moon may come from a surface source, new observations suggest, but it may also be an atmospheric effect
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Laws fail to stop India's organ trade
21 October 2005
India has a flourishing illegal trade in human organs because no one feels they benefit from the laws that govern transplants, a new report says
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Improved X-ray vision to stop nuke smugglers
20 October 2005
If terrorists ever get hold of nuclear material, detecting it in transit may be our best bet for averting disaster
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Dangerous contamination found in water on US planes
20 October 2005
An investigation of over 300 planes reveals that 15% of craft contained drinking water tainted with harmful bacteria
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Nano-electronics boosted atom by atom
20 October 2005
Tiny processors could perform better thanks to a technique enabling semiconductors to be doped with useful impurities one atom at a time
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Falcon dive-bombing starlings wins top photo prize
20 October 2005
The stark, evocative image wins this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year award – a hunted rabbit and a yawning fox also win prizes
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Hubble hints at sites for lunar bases
20 October 2005
New images from the space telescope provide a way of detecting useful minerals on the Moon, crucial if humans are to live there one day
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The ultimate meals on wheels: edible moon buggies
20 October 2005
Space agencies always want to reduce their rocket launch weight – an imaginative educational project suggests a solution
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Race is on to make bird flu drugs
20 October 2005
An Indian company says it will begin marketing a generic version of the antiviral drug oseltamivir, better known as Tamiflu
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Earthquake triggers humanity without frontiers
19 October 2005
The Himalayan earthquake mobilised volunteers from Pakistan and beyond. Physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy went with a team from his university in Islamabad
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Flotillas could outperform single space probes
19 October 2005
Fleets of simple probes could explore the solar system better than high-tech, high-risk rovers and orbiters, say a team of space scientists
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Hard times for the humble sperm
19 October 2005
Long term steroid abuse may destroy a man's sperm production, but even common lubricants can leave sperm in a sticky situation
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Windscreen repels armour-piercing bullets
19 October 2005
The material, being tested by the US Air Force, could replace existing bullet-proof glass on military vehicles, which is heavier and less tough
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Third Category 5 hurricane breaks record
19 October 2005
Wilma is the third top-intensity storm in 2005, breaking the North Atlantic record – it is also the most intense ever observed
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Operation to boost space station orbit fails
19 October 2005
An attempt to raise the station orbit by 10 kilometres was foiled when booster engines shut down prematurely
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Astrology is scientific theory, courtroom told
19 October 2005
The criteria used by an advocate of Intelligent Design to justify claims that ID is science would also include astrology, a landmark US trial hears
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Balloon beams broadband internet from stratosphere
19 October 2005
The untethered helium balloon sent data to the ground at over 1 gigabit per second – thousands of times faster than home broadband
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Invention: Eyeball electronics
18 October 2005
This week's inventions include eyeball implants that could better restore damaged vision, a multi-purpose explosives detector and a phone that wriggles to signal incoming calls
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Young women have flawed eggs too
18 October 2005
Older women are not the only ones prone to having faulty eggs – young women have genetic defects in about half of theirs too, new studies suggest
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Antarctic glaciers calving faster into the ocean
18 October 2005
The edges of the ice sheets are crumbling at an unprecedented rate, raising fears of a global surge in sea levels, glaciologists warn
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Intelligent Design proponents call their first witness
18 October 2005
A landmark trial in the US hears from a veteran public exponent of ID, who says it is good science requiring no "religious commitment"
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Mars rover bids farewell to Husband Hill
18 October 2005
Spirit heads downhill after spending over a month at the top analysing rocks – but the path below could be a slippery slope
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Bird flu discovered in Greece
18 October 2005
It is not yet known whether it is the deadly strain but, if confirmed, it marks the entry of H5N1 bird flu into the European Union
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Ravenous black hole enjoys star-studded banquet
18 October 2005
The inexorable spiral of gas and stars down the gullet of a giant black hole is captured in unprecedented detail
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Beefed-up rocket is key to China's space future
18 October 2005
The country must triple its launch power in order to reach its goal of establishing a space station, experts say
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Bird flu outbreaks expected in more countries
17 October 2005
The strain of bird flu killing people in southeast Asia is confirmed in birds in Romania and Turkey – the WHO warns it may spread further still
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Sea lilies caught creeping away from trouble
17 October 2005
Deep sea video footage reveals that the creature, normally rooted to the ocean bed by a stem, can also crawl away from predators
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Smash and grab raid on an asteroid
17 October 2005
An unsuspecting asteroid is in for a surprise that might just tell us all we need to know about the history of our solar system
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Arrival of new tropical storm equals record
17 October 2005
Wilma is the 21st tropical storm in the North Atlantic, tying with the record number set in 1933 – and the season is not over yet
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China's pair of spacemen land safely
17 October 2005
The Shenzhou VI craft and crew return from their five-day trip, prompting the announcement of a spacewalk mission in 2007
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Pocket Braille for people on the move
17 October 2005
The world's first portable electronic Braille display can be rolled up like a newspaper
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Two 'ethical' ways to harvest stem cells
16 October 2005
New techniques might offer a way to get embryonic stem cells without destroying an embryo
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How new words become part of a language
16 October 2005
A program that models how people invent words could give an insight into how the first languages evolved
-
Ancient noodle rewrites history
15 October 2005
A pot of noodles 4000 years old is shedding light on the hotly contested question of who invented them
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For global cooling, just spray
15 October 2005
Spraying water droplets into clouds to boost their whiteness could be a way to damp down global warming
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60 Seconds
15 October 2005
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Soundbites
15 October 2005
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Monkeyluv: And other lessons on our lives as animals, by Robert Sapolsky
15 October 2005
At what age do people become closed to new types of music? What makes gambling so addictive? Kate Douglas finds out why humans behave the way they do
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For the record
15 October 2005
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Kurzweil's dystopia
15 October 2005
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In a lather over badger brushes
15 October 2005
Shaving brushes made from the hair of protected badger species have been found on sale in Europe
-
Pakistan braced for another quake
15 October 2005
The earthquake that levelled parts of northern Pakistan came as no surprise to geologists, who say there might be another one soon
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Feathered flight, so good they did it twice?
15 October 2005
The unexpected discovery of a dromaeosaur in South America could change what we know about the evolution of flight
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Daily dose of coffee
15 October 2005
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Thanks to the military
15 October 2005
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Coal is still dirty
15 October 2005
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Polyontologias
15 October 2005
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For want of an emergency warning
15 October 2005
There must be a better way to get life-saving information to people who live in areas prone to natural disasters
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Egil's growing pains
15 October 2005
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Learn to experiment
15 October 2005
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Comet water for Mars
15 October 2005
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Cannabis times four
15 October 2005
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Let's stay at home
15 October 2005
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Tested on humans
15 October 2005
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Cervical cancer vaccine should also be given to men
15 October 2005
The new vaccine for cervical cancer can also stop men becoming infected with the human papilloma virus
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'Slumber gene' brings deep sleep
15 October 2005
The amount of restful sleep you get each night is at least partly down to your genes
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Slumber secrets
15 October 2005
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Noise fine-tunes nanoscale sensor
15 October 2005
A noise-sensitive silicon beam could be the basis of a new type of computer memory
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How new words become part of a language
15 October 2005
A program that models how people invent words could give an insight into how the first languages evolved
-
Green chemistry gets the Nobel nod
15 October 2005
The Nobel prize for chemistry rewarded the development of a 'greener' reaction
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Nuclear watchdog wins peace prize
15 October 2005
The International Atomic Energy Agency and its director jointly won the Nobel peace prize
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Sexual healing and the wildlife trade
15 October 2005
Western medicine is replacing traditional remedies to treat erectile dysfunction, which could save some endangered species
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Cheap cures for major diseases
15 October 2005
Four inexpensive drugs could eradicate some of the world's worst parasitic diseases
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Ask a silly question, the answer may surprise
15 October 2005
The Ig Nobel awards may seem ridiculous, but they carry a deeper message
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Climate change satellite is too good to lose
15 October 2005
Though the probe designed to study Arctic ice has crashed, it will almost certainly be rebuilt
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Great libraries take to the net
15 October 2005
The European Commission has unveiled plans to create a digital library of Europe's manuscripts
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Histories: The week the climate changed
15 October 2005
Twenty years ago, a conference in a sleepy town in Austria became the spark that lit today's burning concern about global warming
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The word: Technicolour
15 October 2005
It's nothing to do with Hollywood; technicolour could explain the structure of empty space
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Sea slugs solve the battle of the sexes
15 October 2005
Hermaphrodite sea slugs donate sperm only on condition that they also receive it
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The hardest path
15 October 2005
Despite affirmative action and diversity officers, women and ethnic minorities are still badly under-represented in science. Alison Motluk listened to the stories of four people who made it
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Feedback
15 October 2005
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A matter of taste
15 October 2005
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Gizmo
15 October 2005
-
For global cooling, just spray
15 October 2005
Spraying water droplets into clouds to boost their whiteness could be a way to damp down global warming
-
HIV drugs are the latest recruits in the fight against cancer
15 October 2005
Drugs used to boost immunity in people with HIV could also help the body kill off cancer cells
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I'm sweet enough
15 October 2005
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Power to the paranoid people
15 October 2005
Conspiracy theorists may drive scientists up the wall, but they keep a keen eye on official goings-on. We need them more than ever, says Debora MacKenzie
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How does he smell?
15 October 2005
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Fishy glow
15 October 2005
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Drawing the sting
15 October 2005
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Mars probe finds rare life on Earth
15 October 2005
Instruments designed to look for life on Mars have found rare microbes in an Arctic volcano
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Even a chatbot can turn nasty
15 October 2005
Artificial intelligence programs that learn by example can pick up some bad habits from internet users, much to the embarrassment of their owners
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Don't trust national stereotypes, especially your own
15 October 2005
There is no correlation between the perception of national traits and people's real characteristics
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Lassie and friends come to the rescue
15 October 2005
Maybe your favourite animal can do more for your health than make you feel good
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How to stop the destruction of Amazonia
15 October 2005
The Amazon may be out of the spotlight, but it needs help more than ever. And it's not too late to halt deforestation
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The blogger of Tehran
15 October 2005
In Iran, blogging is an increasingly popular way for people to speak their minds. Former vice-president Mohammad Ali Abtahi is no exception, and the Iranian people are relishing the opportunity to debate with him.
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More hobbit bones found
15 October 2005
Bones and artefacts found in Indonesia strengthen the case for a new human-like speces
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Skin-to-skin contact helps premature babies
15 October 2005
The technique of Kangaroo Mother Care benefits babies in many ways, and could even influence brain development
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Stand up and be counted
15 October 2005
NHS chief scientific officer Sue Hill has spent the past three years lauding a large group of scientists hardly anyone knew existed. Richard Fisher finds out why
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Light savers
15 October 2005
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On the front line
15 October 2005
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Atmospheric humidity increases global warming
15 October 2005
Water vapour is the main greenhouse gas, and levels of it in the atmosphere are on the up
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Fetal repair kit found in amniotic fluid
15 October 2005
Some of the cells in amniotic fluid could yield spare parts for babies
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Varied diet was reptile's success
15 October 2005
Elasmosaurs, the long-necked marine reptiles of the dinosaur age, did not live exclusively on fish as was previously thought
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Where the flying lizards got their lift
15 October 2005
Like aircraft today, pterosaurs used wing flaps to generate the lift they needed to fly easily
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All in the mind
15 October 2005
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Shuttle heat shield to get stronger tiles
14 October 2005
But the launch will not happen before May 2006, as it is still unclear why foam fell off Discovery's external tank during its launch
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Cell phone could identify its owner by their walk
14 October 2005
Whether you stride purposefully or shuffle in a shambolic manner, your unique gait could soon be used to secure your cell phone against theft
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Secret of drug-resistant bird flu unveiled
14 October 2005
The analysis raises questions about using low doses of the drug as a preventative measure, but is unlikely to mean it will be useless in a pandemic
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Bacterial genes could put plants on Mars
14 October 2005
A project to develop plants that could grow on Mars is harnessing the genes of microbes that live in the harshest environments on Earth
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Moving print adverts coming soon
14 October 2005
Concert tickets, magazines and cereal packets could feature interactive moving graphics by 2007
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Weightless space travel may suppress immune system
14 October 2005
Almost all the genes for a crucial part of the human immune system remain switched off in microgravity situations, a new study suggests
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Shenzhou VI adjusts orbit successfully
14 October 2005
Everything is reported to be running smoothly on China's second crewed spaceflight, and the crew have carried out numerous experiments
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Bird flu: kick-start vaccination or face the consequences
14 October 2005
The world needs a global action plan, and fast, if we are to stand any hope of stopping a flu pandemic
-
Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain
13 October 2005
New nerve cells have been shown to form in rats given a cannabinoid chemical, and this cell growth might even lower depression
-
Chinese spacecraft deviates from planned orbit
13 October 2005
The Shenzhou VI spacecraft, carrying a crew of two, has drifted closer to Earth than expected – an orbital correction is planned for Friday
-
Massive stars can grow near black holes
13 October 2005
Despite the extremely violent environment, new Chandra X-ray telescope data shows big stars can live and die close to the Milky Way's black hole
-
Instant messaging rivals join forces
13 October 2005
Microsoft and Yahoo's instant messaging programs will be made interoperable – the deal may boost internet telephony
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Deadly Asian bird flu has reached Europe
13 October 2005
Fears were confirmed on Thursday that the bird flu in Turkey is the same lethal H5N1 strain that spread across Russia from China this summer
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China's space success provokes mixed reactions
13 October 2005
The country's crewed mission shows it is serious about its space programme say experts – the rest of the world is watching
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Towering ice cliffs seen on Saturn's moon
13 October 2005
The closest pictures yet of Dione show a strange landscape covered with unusual features
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Why time keeps going forwards
13 October 2005
What keeps the cosmic clock surging onwards? Curious elliptical patterns in the sky might hold the answer
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A good day in space for China's taikonauts
13 October 2005
The two-man crew of Shenzhou VI have settled in and are busy conducting tests on themselves and their craft
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Survival trick of loose cancer cells
13 October 2005
Breast cancer cells have a way to avoid attack by the immune system as they travel around the body
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'Draconian' measures needed to stamp out polio
12 October 2005
A highly aggressive approach and a new vaccine are the only ways to rid the world of polio by the end of 2006 – a year later than hoped
-
Police deactivate network of 100,000 'zombie' PCs
12 October 2005
Three men are arrested in the Netherlands on suspicion of using a vast computer network for extortion and identity theft
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China's Shenzhou spacecraft – the "divine ship"
12 October 2005
The Shenzhou VI spaceship that launched two "taikonauts" into orbit on Wednesday is a retooled version of the Russian Soyuz vehicle
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Timeline: China's spaceflight history
12 October 2005
The country's second crewed launch is the culmination of a space programme that has grown steadily – if slowly – over nearly 50 years
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China launches two 'taikonauts' into orbit
12 October 2005
The Shenzhou VI flight is scheduled for nearly five days, far longer the 21-hour one-man flight in 2003, and the pair have a new orbital capsule to explore
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Found: the flying lizards' missing lift
12 October 2005
Despite their size, pterosaurs were able to take off from a standing start, and now we know why
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Invention: Phone jolt
11 October 2005
This week's inventions include a cellphone that knows just how violently to vibrate and a system that can spot military camouflage from a distance
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China's desert launch site boasts comforts of home
11 October 2005
Visitors can catch a matinee movie and grab a fast-food dinner in this sprawling oasis in the Gobi desert
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Computer gamers to compete for space trips
11 October 2005
Two companies are to offer the chance to win sub-orbital space trips for as little as $5
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Sound, smell and vision used to locate quake survivors
11 October 2005
Sophisticated sensing equipment and sniffer dogs are crucial to efforts to find survivors trapped beneath buildings destroyed in the earthquake that shook northern Pakistan
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Eating fish keeps older people brainy
11 October 2005
Enjoying a fish meal at least once a week could take three years off the age of an elderly person's brain – keeping it sharper and quicker
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New "hobbit" bones bolster separate species claim
11 October 2005
The discovery of more bones at the Flores site in Indonesia is helping archaeologists work out what the metre-tall hominins were like
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Space station crew and tourist land safely
11 October 2005
Gregory Olsen's holiday in space ended safely when he returned to Earth with the crew of the International Space Station
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China to launch second crewed spaceflight
11 October 2005
The mission is set for launch on Wednesday, and this time the country's two "taikonauts" will be in space for five days
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ESA considers rebuilding lost CryoSat satellite
10 October 2005
A "clone" mission would cost less than the original, and give scientists the data on the Earth's ice that could help them assess climate change
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Japan tests supersonic aircraft prototype
10 October 2005
The craft – touted as a successor to Concorde – is a step closer to reality after a 15-minute trip at twice the speed of sound
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Record-breaking cosmonaut set for return
10 October 2005
Sergei Krikalev is to return to Earth from the space station on Monday, with space tourist Gregory Olsen to keep him company
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Bird flu may have reached Europe
10 October 2005
With dead birds found in Romania and Turkey, fears intensify that the virus could invade the continent
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Death toll from Pakistan quake reaches 30,000
10 October 2005
Rescuers have yet to reach many of those in affected areas – the UN estimates 2.5 million people have been left homeless
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Mosquito with glowing gonads to help battle malaria
10 October 2005
The use of genetic modification to separate male and female mosquitoes could allow millions of sterile males to be released in malarial areas
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Volkswagen wins robotic race across the desert
10 October 2005
Not one, but four driverless vehicles finished the Grand Challenge, a huge leap forward from 2004
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Ice-scanning satellite crashes into North Pole
09 October 2005
A satellite intended to make precise measurements of the Earth's ice was destroyed on Saturday after the failure of its launch vehicle
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Ten years on, a rich haul of planets
09 October 2005
On the anniversary of the first discovery of a planet orbiting a Sun-like star, a tally of 160 others have been located. But are there any like Earth?
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Bone marrow stem cells repair failing livers
08 October 2005
Stem cells from patients' own bone marrow have been used to treat liver damage, improving liver function and general health
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Mystery of Mayan tablets solved
08 October 2005
Archaeolgists have finally discovered the origin of stone panels inscribed with Mayan hieroglyphs that began appearing on the antiquities market in the 1960s
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Hot new fuel for nuclear reactors
08 October 2005
A fuel pellet that is better at conducting heat than conventional pellets could make nuclear power cheaper and more efficient
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Medical implants could get bug-busting coat
08 October 2005
Chemists have bonded the antibiotic vancomycin to titanium, paving the way for infection-proof medical implants
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Robotic vehicles rev up for race across the desert
08 October 2005
The Grand Challenge for unmanned vehicles takes place in the Nevada desert on 8 October. 2004's race came to an ignominious end. Will contestants do any better this year?
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One right for all
08 October 2005
We treat animals how we used to treat human slaves. What possible justification could there be for that?
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Makeover for male swallows helps ensure partners' fidelity
08 October 2005
Female barn swallows will happily cheat on their mates, but they can be fooled into staying faithful if their mate is given a "makeover"
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Trailblazing eco-law may lose its teeth
08 October 2005
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Satellite will provide new test of global warming threat
08 October 2005
Using the most accurate radar instrument of its kind, CryoSat will reveal the rate at which Arctic sea ice may be thinning – shedding light on the potential effects of global warming
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Salting roads kills tadpoles
08 October 2005
A study in Canada shows that salt run-off from de-iced roads can harm wood frog tadpoles and other amphibian species
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Meteorites provide snapshots of the newly born Earth
08 October 2005
An analysis of elements in Antarctic meteorites gives clues to conditions on Earth more than 4.5 billion years ago
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How being slim may help our universe to survive
08 October 2005
According to the bizarre view of the cosmos known as braneworld, being skinny may allow the universe to avoid collilding with other worlds
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Horseshoe bats in the frame as source of SARS
08 October 2005
Evidence from China and Australia strongly suggests that the SARS virus came from horseshoe bats
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Gizmo
08 October 2005
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Microscopic holes are the secret of wood's resilience
08 October 2005
Trees like oak and beech show how tiny holes strengthen a material, and now researchers have devised a formula for the ideal size and distribution of such cavities
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Tenth planet finds a companion
08 October 2005
The discoverer of Xena has now found a moon orbiting it, which he has dubbed Gabrielle after the fictional warrior princess's sidekick
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Fundamentalists are just like us
08 October 2005
We are all capable of thinking fundamentalist thoughts. It's when like-minded people get together that the trouble starts
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Reconstruction of 1918 flu virus prompts warnings
08 October 2005
The virus that caused the deadliest global pandemic ever recorded has frightening similarities with bird flu
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Mixed ancestry helps to nail disease genes
08 October 2005
A technique called admixture mapping uses the genomes of people of mixed ethnic ancestry to pinpoint the likely location of genes for diseases such as multiple sclerosis
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Australians win Nobel for linking ulcers to gut bug
08 October 2005
The scientists weathered a storm of criticism from the medical establishment to prove beyond doubt the link between a bacterium and stomach ulcers
-
Greenhouse emissions break Kyoto vows
08 October 2005
Carbon dioxide emissions rose by 4.5% last year to 27.5 billion tonnes – a massive 26% higher than in 1990
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Physicists win Nobel for breakthroughs in optics
08 October 2005
The 2005 Physics Prize is shared for research into the quantum nature of light and harnessing lasers to make highly accurate measurements
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60 Seconds
08 October 2005
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Arctic ice shrinking as it feels the heat
08 October 2005
Ice cover in the Arctic Ocean has receded to a record low, despite an increase in clouds shading it from the sun
-
Bone marrow stem cells repair failing livers
08 October 2005
Stem cells from patients' own bone marrow have been used to treat liver damage, improving liver function and general health
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Round Up
08 October 2005
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The ice diet
08 October 2005
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Batty behaviour
08 October 2005
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Tainted tint
08 October 2005
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Cigarette butts go green
08 October 2005
The biodegradable cigarette butts are supposedly better for smokers as well as the environment
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Editorial: Where holy writ must hold no sway
08 October 2005
The slow march of religious intolerance threatens to undermine and even reverse two centuries of progress towards pluralist, enlightened democracies
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Editorial: Killer flu is back
08 October 2005
Rebuilding the 1918 virus was supposed to make the world safer. But has it?
-
Gorilla uses tool to plumb the depths
08 October 2005
In the first observation of a gorilla using tools in the wild, a female uses a stick to test the depth of water as she wades into a swampy pool
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Soundbites
08 October 2005
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Reality Wars
08 October 2005
After two centuries in the ascendancy, the Enlightenment project is under threat. Religious movements are sweeping the globe preaching unreason, intolerance and dogma, and challenging the idea that rational, secular enquiry is the best way to understand the world.
Over the next 12 pages, we report from the front line of this conflict. We investigate the roots, the aims and the capabilities of the religious fundamentalists and examine the likely consequences for science, culture and the environment. And we ask what can be done to halt the slide into a new age of unreason -
Blind faith in science
08 October 2005
Scientific fundamentalism is the belief that the world is accessible to and ultimately controllable by human reason...a profoundly unscientific idea
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Solids that can pass through solids
08 October 2005
Welcome to a world where teacups melt through saucers and everyone walks through walls
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Prints are fallible
08 October 2005
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Eyes can change
08 October 2005
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Keep a stiff upper lip
08 October 2005
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Book Review: Myriad monsters
08 October 2005
The Complete Guide to Life by Tim Haines and Paul Chambers
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We're still the same
08 October 2005
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Separate oxygen
08 October 2005
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No demon
08 October 2005
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End of the Enlightenment
08 October 2005
With new, radical religious movements on the rise globally, why is so much of the world bent on rejecting reason?
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Hiding from litigation
08 October 2005
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For the record
08 October 2005
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Viking on starboard bow?
08 October 2005
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The empathic ape
08 October 2005
One of the greatest challenges of our time is to extend to strangers the empathy we feel for family and friends – to draw people in other countries or on other continents into our circle of reciprocity. There are plenty of clues in our primate ances
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Feedback
08 October 2005
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Book Review: Naked genius
08 October 2005
The Unexpected Einstein by Denis Brian
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Sea, scenery and a biotech boom
08 October 2005
With the Appalachian mountains at one end of the state and the Atlantic Ocean at the other, North Carolina has plenty of scenic beauty. But biotechnology companies and scientists are attracted to some of its other qualities. The state has a well-trained biotech workforce, strong university research and low business costs. It also boasts inexpensive housing, extensive contract research and biomanufacturing facilities and a state government that has supported biotech since the 1950s. All in all it's the perfect climate for research and business, says Stacy Lawrence.
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The Word: Pathosphere
08 October 2005
Welcome to the vast and scary gene pool where pathogens meet and mingle, exchanging tips on virulence and antibiotic resistance
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Global warming in fiction
08 October 2005
New Scientist talks to the science fiction writer Kim Stanley about his latest book, Fifty Degrees Below, in which he continues his exploration of a world ravaged by climate change
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Personal carbon trade
08 October 2005
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Fox-hunting
08 October 2005
Kerri Smith, winner of the 2005 New Scientist/Wellcome Trust Science Essay Competition, chases after the genetics behind speech and language
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Enemy at the gates
08 October 2005
The campaign against science is well funded and meticulously organised. No wonder it is already winning battles
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In-flight internet shown off by Boeing
07 October 2005
And passengers were able to use cellphones in flight, while live TV news was beamed in via satellite – the plane's instruments were unaffected
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Malicious software turns PSP into a 'brick'
07 October 2005
The popular PlayStation Portable is the latest target for hackers, with the discovery of a "Trojan horse" program that renders the machine useless
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Cranberry and oregano make seafood safe to eat
07 October 2005
The curious mix of ingredients has a potent antimicrobial effect, killing a bacterium that can cause two-day bouts of stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea
-
Hurricane Stan strikes Central America and Mexico
07 October 2005
At least 225 people have been killed through floods and mudslides and at least 225,000 others have fled their homes after days of rain
-
Off-the-shelf mini satellites herald space revolution
07 October 2005
Miniature satellites are making what was once an exclusive playground for those with billion-dollar funding available to anyone with a modest research budget
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Japan's asteroid probe has steering trouble
07 October 2005
The second of the pioneering craft's three reaction wheels has failed and precious fuel is being used to compensate – the mission may be in danger
-
Penguins' pooping power scoops Ig Nobel prize
07 October 2005
How far penguins can shoot poop and whether people swim faster in syrup were among the sticky questions honoured by the awards
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Titan's bright spot revealed by Cassini
06 October 2005
The mysterious area, 400-km wide, could be methane fog or rain, carbon dioxide ice but is probably not a volcanic hot spot
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Long-necked sea monsters had shellfish desires
06 October 2005
Palaeontologists thought elasmosaurs just used their lengthy necks to catch free-swimming fish, but two new fossils show they were just for starters
-
Exploding the myth of cultural stereotypes
06 October 2005
Americans are pushy and the English are reserved, right? Wrong, says a new study, which reveals there is no truth in this sort of national stereotyping
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Ten years on, a rich haul of planets
06 October 2005
On the anniversary of the first discovery of a planet orbiting a Sun-like star, a tally of 160 others have been located. But are there any like Earth?
-
Robotic vehicles rev up for action
06 October 2005
The final line-up to for the 2nd Grand Challenge race is announced – the teams are hoping their autonomous vehicles do better than last year
-
SpaceShipOne donated to US flight museum
06 October 2005
The first private vehicle to reach space, has been donated to the US National Air and Space Museum – it will hang beside other historic craft
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Micro-organisms may be turned into nano-circuitry
06 October 2005
Researchers have developed several ways to convert simple, single-celled creatures into components that may prove useful in electronic circuits
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Book thrown at proponents of Intelligent Design
06 October 2005
US court sees how "devastating" early drafts of a controversial book on intelligent design contained creationist terms
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NASA closes on cause of shuttle foam loss
06 October 2005
The agency now believes workers may have accidentally nicked or nudged the foam when preparing the external fuel tank for launch
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Shock tactics to destroy torpedoes
06 October 2005
The US Navy is considering a defence system that will destroy incoming torpedoes by firing high-powered beams of shockwaves at them
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Red blood cells fitted with artificial tails
05 October 2005
The tails, made of a string of magnetic beads, thrash about in an oscillating magnetic field and could one day be used to carry drugs to the right spot
-
US scientists resurrect deadly 1918 flu
05 October 2005
Their stunning success in reconstructing the virus shows how a pandemic virus can evolve – but the work itself poses risks
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Robot lander will scout out the Moon
05 October 2005
The lander will attempt a precision landing using a retro-rocket and search for water ice that could be vital for a future manned mission
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Atom-swapping reaction wins chemistry Nobel
05 October 2005
Chemists' work on a type of organic reaction called metathesis means it is now used every day to make pharmaceuticals and advanced plastics
-
Mars-bound instruments detect Arctic microbes
05 October 2005
The discovery of living and fossilised bacteria in an icy volcano shows that the same equipment could detect life on Mars
-
Chronic disease is biggest global killer
05 October 2005
Heart disease, diabetes and others will kill far more people than all infectious diseases and starvation in 2005 – and most deaths are not in rich countries
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Sea's eerie glow seen from space
05 October 2005
Satellite data confirm sailors' tales of 'milky seas' that glow bluish-white at night and extend as far as the horizon
-
Twin telescopes cancel star's light
04 October 2005
Astronomers will use the technique to get a better look at dusty discs around stars – that could help in the search for Earth-like planets
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Invention: Personal crash alarm
04 October 2005
This week's inventions include a personal car crash sensor and a software smokescreen that disguises the text on a computer screen
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90% of US men over 60 now overweight
04 October 2005
And 70% of women in the same study are also now overweight, suggesting the US obesity problem may be worse than feared
-
Stellar explosion daubs galaxy in pastels
04 October 2005
A composite image from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory shows an intricate, wispy supernova remnant
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Physicists win Nobel for breakthroughs in optics
04 October 2005
The 2005 physics prize is shared for research into the quantum nature of light and harnessing lasers to make highly accurate measurements
-
Rocket racing gets ready for blast-off
04 October 2005
A new league will pit rocketplanes against each other on a virtual racetrack in the sky – computer gamers may also be able to take part
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Climate doesn't swing to the rhythm of the sun
04 October 2005
A study of Irish bogs has thrown doubt on claims that global warming is being caused by increased solar activity
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Satellite to provide new test of global warming threat
03 October 2005
Using the most accurate radar instrument of its kind, CryoSat will reveal the rate at which Arctic sea ice may be thinning – shedding light on the potential effects of global warming
-
NASA prepares to scrutinise shuttle fuel tank
03 October 2005
The agency's technicians will scan part of the external fuel tank for voids in spray-on foam, which could lead to chunks falling off during flight
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Pheromones may be used to herd alien fish
03 October 2005
Rapacious lamprey, which kill other fish by sucking out their bodily juices, could be corralled into traps using their own pheromones
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Australians win Nobel for linking bug to ulcers
03 October 2005
The scientists weathered a storm of criticism from the medical establishment to prove beyond doubt the link between a bacterium and stomach ulcers
-
Capsule carrying space tourist docks with ISS
03 October 2005
The millionaire and two astronauts are safely aboard the station, as NASA's chief warns that it may be some time before another US astronaut flies there
-
Moon discovered orbiting tenth planet
03 October 2005
The moon will help pin down the size and origin of the planet – and has been nicknamed Gabrielle, after the sidekick of a TV warrior princess
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Pill-sized camera gets to grips with your gut
02 October 2005
A robotic camera capsule is controlled by doctors and crawls around inside the gut taking pictures
-
Film review: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
01 October 2005
Robots kill their human owners in this thought-provoking animation, based on a classic Manga comic book series that inspired The Matrix
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Cosmic expansion is not to blame for expanding waistlines
01 October 2005
A physicist has worked out why some objects are stretched by cosmological expansion while others are not
-
NASA sets its sights on the moon
01 October 2005
Two years after President Bush made returning to the Moon a key objective, NASA has outlined where astronauts might land
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Cosmic expansion is not to blame for expanding waistlines
01 October 2005
A physicist has worked out why some objects are stretched by cosmological expansion while others are not
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Mission delayed
01 October 2005
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Vacuum energy: something for nothing?
01 October 2005
Is empty space really fizzing with energy? The answer may determine the fate of the universe
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Take greenhouse polluters to the cleaners
01 October 2005
Forget Kyoto. New Scientist spoke to Myles Allen, the University of Oxford academic who believes the only way to turn around global warming is to sue the pants off the oil companies
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War & Peace & War by Peter Turchin
01 October 2005
Why do some societies build great empires only to have them crash and burn? The key, finds Mark Buchanan, lies in how far people are willing to cooperate
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Histories: Gorillas, I presume
01 October 2005
Before 1847, the gorilla was unnamed and only known by rumour. The Reverend Thomas Savage described it to an incredulous scientific world
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They're happy and they know it
01 October 2005
Engineers are the happiest UK professionals. But looking at the job conditions abroad, should the UK engineer be smiling? Definitely, says Nadya Anscombe
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Hunting Arthur
01 October 2005
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Why we trust
01 October 2005
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The word: Rindler particles
01 October 2005
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Slimming for slackers
01 October 2005
Imagine being able to eat exactly what you like and yet staying magically svelte. Introducing a new set of bugs into your digestive system might do the trick
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Feedback
01 October 2005
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Editorial: Fighting for the right to teach evolution
01 October 2005
Evolution vs intelligent design is a battle we cannot afford to lose
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Mind work
01 October 2005
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Ups and downs of jetpacks
01 October 2005
Daredevil jetpack travel has never really caught on with commuters, and for good reason. But is all that about to change?
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The making of T. rex
01 October 2005
A lucky break transformed T. rex from an obscure fossil into the most famous dinosaur of all time
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Benefits of war
01 October 2005
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The autism industry
01 October 2005
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Time traveller
01 October 2005
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Practical miles
01 October 2005
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Keep that lip stiff
01 October 2005
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Twin fingerprints
01 October 2005
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Ivan and Katrina
01 October 2005
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Global techno-fix
01 October 2005
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I am me
01 October 2005
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10 steps to smugness
01 October 2005
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Planet formation
01 October 2005
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Noisy evangelists
01 October 2005
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For the record
01 October 2005
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Genius, teach thyself
01 October 2005
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Editorial: Vision is lacking in Bush's space programme
01 October 2005
The new plans to send to send humans to the Moon should offer more than footprints and flags
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China may lift ban on selling bones of captive-bred tigers
01 October 2005
The government argues that allowing the selling of skeletons collected since a ban on trade in tiger products was imposed in 1993 will help to fund conservation
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Aspirin stops bugs sticking to contact lenses
01 October 2005
The active ingredient prevents bacteria adhering to them and could eventually be incorporated into the lenses
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Genetic link to fragile hips
01 October 2005
A study of post-menopausal women has identified two genes that make women more vulnerable to hip fractures
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Structure exposes the evolutionary roots of language
01 October 2005
Structure not vocabulary holds the key to uncovering the origins of languages more than 10,000 years ago
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How an insect avoids sex with its ex
01 October 2005
Female crickets may mark their male conquests with scent just to avoid mating with them again
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Weed gains power to muster army of insect bodyguards
01 October 2005
Researchers engineer a common weed to produce a chemical that summons predatory mites to gobble up pests
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Penguins are not people
01 October 2005
A new film portrays penguins as paragons of virtue. But beware – modelling human behaviour on animals is fraught with danger
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Singers should rest their voices for three days after a gig
01 October 2005
Measurements suggest classical singers should rest their voices for as long as three days after a performance to avoid overstraining their larynx
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Iris scanning on the hoof
01 October 2005
Iris-recognition system is the first to identify people on the move. Existing systems take several minutes to complete a single scan
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The toaster that never burns the bread
01 October 2005
A toaster that uses radiation to detect when toast is burning has been given the go-ahead
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Pill-sized camera gets to grips with your gut
01 October 2005
A robotic camera capsule is controlled by doctors and crawls around inside the gut taking pictures
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Hydrogen generator could power electronic gadgets
01 October 2005
The portable device would supply hydrogen to the micro fuel cells of electronic gadgets
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Urgent call to end near-misses on runways
01 October 2005
Collision warning systems that rely on a response from air traffic controllers don't give pilots enough time to act
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Killer lakes in Cameroon may strike again
01 October 2005
Unless urgent action is taken there may be a repeat of the tragedies of the 1980s when sudden releases of carbon dioxide killed thousands
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Soundbites
01 October 2005
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Major highways are a hard cross to bears
01 October 2005
Grizzly bears' reluctance to cross roads in the northern US and southern Canada is putting their populations at risk as a result of genetic isolation
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Earth awaits verdict on new definition of 'planet'
01 October 2005
A working group of the International Astronomical Union is set to vote on the two competing definitions of a planet submitted on 23 September
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Parents put 'Intelligent design' in the dock
01 October 2005
Opening shots have been fired in the first court case to scrutinise whether this alternative to Darwinian evolution should be taught in schools
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First pictures of live giant squid in its natural habitat
01 October 2005
Using a cheap camera and fishing boat, two researchers have succeeded where international film crews have failed
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Stem well research
01 October 2005
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Fading star
01 October 2005
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Just a nip
01 October 2005
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60 Seconds
01 October 2005
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Worldwide obesity epidemic affects both rich and poor countries
01 October 2005
The WHO says 1 billion of the world's population are overweight, and it's not just rich westerners who are at risk
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Astronomers and engineers clash over leap seconds
01 October 2005
The International Telecommunication Union considers eliminating leap seconds, which are added to atomic clocks to account for the slowing of the Earth's rotation
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Government proposes cull of elephants in Kruger park
01 October 2005
South African government proposes a cull of elephants in Kruger National Park to protect ancient trees and species such as black rhino
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Protected fish plundered in 'unintentional' raids
01 October 2005
Despite a ban in 1995, fishermen are still catching the few fish that remain in the Grand Banks fishery off the Canadian east coast, preventing its recovery
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A tale of two hurricanes
01 October 2005
Comparing and contrasting hurricanes Rita and Katrina
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Gizmo
01 October 2005