Prized mushroom collection returns to China

A Chinese scholar persecuted during the Cultural Revolution for smuggling a rare collection of mushrooms out of China before World War II was honored Saturday when the collection was returned more than 70 years later. Complete Story...

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Study: Man-eating lions consumed 35 people in 1898

The nightly attacks by two man-eating lions terrified railway workers and brought construction to a halt in one of east Africa's most notorious onslaughts more than a hundred years ago. But the death toll, scientists now say, wasn't as high as previously thought.

Can’t-miss holiday gifts for the traveler in your life

Like a tie for dad, a kitchen appliance for mom, or socks for the kids, there’s no shortage of holiday gift clichés for travelers. Wheeled luggage, ticket holders and inflatable pillows come to mind.

Scientists decode DNA of pig, a research favorite

An international group of scientists has decoded the DNA of the domestic pig, research that may one day prove useful in finding new treatments for both pigs and people, and perhaps aid in efforts for a new swine flu vaccine for pigs.

New group helps US monitor swine flu shot safety

Independent health advisers begin monitoring safety of the swine flu vaccine on Monday, an extra step the government promised in this year's unprecedented program to watch for possible side effects.

Fall back: Time to reset your biological clock

If you've been falling behind on sleep, this is the weekend to fall back into bed for an extra hour — and take advantage of the transition from daylight saving time to standard time.

Father of China's space tech program dies at 98

Qian Xuesen, a rocket scientist known as the father of China's space technology program, died Saturday in Beijing, the official Xinhua News Agency said. He was 98.

Nothing to sniff at: Clean smells inspire virtue

We’ve all heard the adage about cleanliness being next to godliness, but a forthcoming study in the journal Psychological Science may have empirically proved it.

Ask AP: Polluted water, neutralizing nuclear waste

Instead of figuring out where to put nuclear waste, why can't we just find a way to neutralize it so it's no longer hazardous?

Dangerous liaisons: Why we find vampires sexy

It’s official: there are now enough vampires flying around the pop culture landscape to fill Transylvania Stadium during homecoming.

Russia hopes nuclear ship will fly humans to Mars

Russia should build a new nuclear-powered spaceship for prospective manned missions to Mars and other planets, the nation's space chief said Thursday.

Fossilized skull of sea monster found on UK coast

British authorities say the fossilized skull of a giant sea monster has been found off England's southern coast.

2 parachutes malfunctioned in NASA test flight

Two of three parachutes malfunctioned in the test flight of a prototype moon rocket earlier this week, causing major damage to the booster, NASA said Friday.

How temperature data was analyzed

The Associated Press sought independent statistical analyses of global temperatures to determine if there is a true cooling of Earth's climate.

AP IMPACT: Statisticians reject global cooling

Have you heard that the world is now cooling instead of warming? You may have seen some news reports on the Internet or heard about it from a provocative new book. Only one problem: It's not true, according to an analysis of the numbers done by several independent statisticians for The Associated Press.

Latvian experts say meteorite crater was hoax

Scientists investigating a large crater initially believed to have been caused by a meteorite said a closer analysis Monday revealed it was a hoax.

Another Titanic expedition possible in 2010

The company that has exclusive rights to salvage the Titanic wants to make another expedition to the world's most famous shipwreck in 2010.

Disgraced cloning expert convicted in South Korea

A South Korean stem cell scientist once hailed as a hero for bringing hope to people with incurable diseases and creating the world's first cloned dog was convicted Monday on criminal charges related to faked research, but avoided jail.

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Experts map the body's bacteria
Source: BBC News

Scientists have developed an atlas of the bacteria that live in different regions of the human body. Some of the microbes help keep us healthy by playing a key role in physiological functions.

Scientists reverse engineer HIV, use it to deliver gene that cures two children of neurological disorder.
Source: Med Page Medical News

In what appears to be a first, European researchers have used gene therapy to arrest the progress of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD, a fatal brain disease.

Panel OKs climate bill with Republicans away
Source: tulsaworld.com

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed a sweeping climate bill and sent it to the floor for a vote even though the hearings were boycotted by Senator Jim Inhofe and all the Republicans.

Dark Red Spot Found on Kuiper Belt Object Haumae
Source: Technology Review

Unlike all other large Kuiper Belt Objects, which are covered in methane ice and so slightly red in colour, Haumea and its two moons are covered in water ice, giving them a blue tinge. Moreover, Haumea is much denser than water and so must have a rich rocky core.

Bird Kills the Hadron Collider, saves the universe
Source: the Mail online

Late last month there was an posting about the LHC breaking down yet again.

On Denialism and the role of science in America
Source: Slate

Good series of pieces about the Denialism book - my interview with its author will go up Monday. I have been talking about the book over here.

NASA monitors erratic space junk heading toward Space Station
Source: The Orlando Sentinel

EDITOR'S UPDATE : After studying the latest information on the trajectory of a two-inch piece of space debris that threatens to buzz the International Space Station, NASA has decided to order the six crew member aboard the outpost Station to take refuge tonight in two Russian Soy …

British scientists challenge government
Source: msnbc.com

Scientists who act as government advisers must be free to discuss their findings and recommendations in public, even if they disagree with government policies, top scientists said Friday.

Bright bacteria wins synthetic biology contest
Source: msnbc.com

Bacteria bright enough to see with the naked eye won the coveted BioBrick at this year's International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition.

Dead accident victim robbed by onlooker
Source: asbury park press

A Nigerian motorcyclist and his passenger were crushed to death after being hit by a tractor trailer and then robbed by an onlooker

Fluidic Energy Bets on Next-Gen Metal-Air Batteries
Source: Fast Company

Lithium-ion batteries will most likely power the next generation of electric vehicles, but Arizona-based startup Fluidic Energy is already looking further into the future.

No probe into H1N1 shots for execs - for now
Source: CBC

It won't be until after the H1N1 pandemic passes that the province looks into why and how some hospital board members got flu vaccine shots before many others in priority groups, according to Ontario's health minister.

Did Neanderthals have sex with modern man?
Source: msnbc.com

Extinct Neanderthals were the closest relatives we had, and tantalizing new hints from researchers suggest that we might have been intimately close indeed.

Climate Change Reconsidered: The 2009 Report of the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) Now Available
Source: Citizenlink

Is Global Warming Really Caused By Human Activity? Is It Worth The Global Economic Trouble The Theory Has Spawned? "2009 Climate Change Reconsidered: The 2009 Report of the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC)," Says No!

David Chalmers and the Singularity that will probably not come
Source: rationallyspeaking.blogspot.com

David Chalmers is a philosopher of mind, best known for his argument about the difficulty of what he termed the "hard problem" of consciousness, which he typically discusses by way of a thought experiment featuring zombies who act and talk exactly like humans, and yet have no …

Largest web-spinning spider on record found in South Africa - Times Online
Source: The Times

A spider larger than any other web-spinning species on record has been found in South Africa. The species Nephila komaci is a member of the golden orb weaver family, and was identified as a new species after being found in a nature reserve.

Shi Huang's New Manuscript Adding Weight to His Maximum Genetic Diversity Hypothesis
Source: Nature Preceedings

Abstract: Interpretations of molecular data by the modern evolution theory are often sharply inconsistent with paleontological results. This is to be expected since the theory is only true for microevolution and yet fossil records are mostly about macroevolution.

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