In a not-so-startling discovery, scientists have supposedly demonstrated that yawning is contagious, especially between "self-aware or empathic people". The referenced author is perhaps taking things a bit far with the article's title. While I don't doubt yawning is indeed contagious, I question the study's findings; I catch yawns regularly, yet am described by many as the most empathically dimwitted person they've ever met. At any rate, aren't self-awareness and empathy mutually exclusive?  Read more »

We may found have a solution to this planet's growing waste problem. Soon, you'll be able to transform any organic material into a reusable, combustible fuel which - at least according to multi-national automobile conglomerates - is the most precious substance on earth (see previous post).  Read more »

As a long-time lapidarist, I find this quite exciting. I've long been fascinated by the geological processes which serve to create precious gems, but the prospect of being able to own C_d in any sizable quantity is not only cool, but rather practical.  Read more »

Well its that time of the millennium again: I'm sure most of you have heard about the Mars opposition, but for those who have not, the gist of it is that the radius of Mars' eliptical orbit is at its minimum, while Earth's is at its maximum (perhaps an oversimplification).  Read more »

For the public good, I hereby declare that this post will be the last to feature that most accursed of literary devices, alliteration.  Read more »

There is a rather interesting article showcasing another one of those primate studies - you know, the ones that purport to have found and explained a fundamental human characteristic in terms of some evolutionary link between primates and humans. Researchers seem to have no trouble painting a quaint, disney-esque caricature of human civilisation (never mind the electric probes).  Read more »

According to the NASA website, the Galileo spacecraft will shorlty be manoevured into a descent path which will send it plunging into the Jovian atmosphere. This will mark the end of a 14 year long mission ranked among NASA's greatest successes  Read more »

IEEE Spectrum has an interesting article on the future of high-powered microwave (HPM) weaponry, and its potential impact upon electrical systems and human organisms:  Read more »

According to a report here and a statement made by a Russian Space Forces official, the International Space Station may have suffered a minor collision with a piece of space debris. Astronauts awoke to the gut-wrenching sound of metal scraping against metal, which lasted for a period of about one second.  Read more »

They haven't decided on a name yet, but astronomers announce they've found another planet in our solar system. It's bigger than Pluto, orbiting at an angle 9 billion miles away from the sun.

Originally by Wired News: The Final Frontier, 12:23 PM

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The US space program is back in business as Discovery lifts off cleanly from its launch pad at Cape Canaveral. No one will rest easy, though, until the shuttle is safely home.

Originally by Wired News: The Final Frontier, 12:23 PM

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Searching for signs of damage to Discovery's heat-shielding skin, anxious specialists at the space agency pore over extraordinary images captured during Tuesday's launch.

Originally by Wired News: The Final Frontier, 12:23 PM

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The Discovery crew says farewell to the astronaut and cosmonaut who live at the international space station, close the hatches and undock the shuttle. They are scheduled to re-enter Earth's atmosphere Monday.

Originally by Wired News: The Final Frontier, 12:23 PM

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Toxicologists studying whether materials being invented by nanotechnology researchers can be hazardous to humans have been given a "screening strategy" by a government-sponsored panel.

Originally by NYT > Technology, 7:01 PM

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Astronomers from around the world have put forward a proposal that would increase the number of planets from nine to 12.

Originally by ABC News: Science and Technology, 9:15 PM

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