LATEST HEADLINES
Propelled by light: the promise and perils of solar sailing
21:30 11 November 2009 | 7 comments
Despite earlier failures, the Planetary Society is gearing up to test another solar sail in space in a year – executive director Louis Friedman explains why
Less loud sounds can still damage ears
THIS WEEK: 22:00 11 November 2009 | 3 comments
If the results in mice translate to humans, the laws that determine the noises workers can be exposed to may need to change
Suite of chatterbox genes discovered
18:00 11 November 2009 | 22 comments
A set of 116 genes influenced by Foxp2 could have coevolved to give humans language
Fair play: Monkeys share our sense of injustice
ESSAY: 18:00 11 November 2009 | 25 comments
Our instinctive reaction to displays of greed and conspicuous consumption has its origins in the primate world, says Frans de Waal
Mini ice age took hold of Europe in months
THIS WEEK: 18:00 11 November 2009 | 24 comments
Detailed studies of ancient climate have revealed that the onset of Europe's "Big Freeze", 13,000 years ago, was anything but glacial
Mars rover battles for its life
THIS WEEK: 18:00 11 November 2009 | 15 comments
NASA's veteran explorer Spirit faces its toughest challenge yet as it prepares to free itself from a sand trap where it has been mired for the past six months
In SUSY we trust: What the LHC is really looking for
COVER STORY: 18:00 11 November 2009 | 52 comments
Forget the God particle - the rebooted Large Hadron Collider will give us much greater revelations
Boys with ALD bring gene therapy in from cold
15:21 11 November 2009 | 2 comments
Two boys treated with a gene therapy for the brain disease X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy have fared so well that doctors are seeking more volunteers
Ultimate emergency call uses all open channels
NEWS: 14:04 11 November 2009 | 4 comments
A new satellite radio promises to use all known communication methods to raise the alarm when the owner is in a spot of bother
Backward star ain't from around here
12:51 11 November 2009 | 6 comments
The nearest neighbouring star to orbit the galaxy backwards appears to have come from a much brighter place
Alcohol and sports sponsorship don't mix
11:49 11 November 2009 | 10 comments
Psychologists claim that alcohol sponsorship tarnishes the image of sport and harms athletes' health
FAVOURITE COMMENT
Giant crack in Earth's crust
"You're a real crack-up." lame_guy (continues)
FEEDBACK
Why it's good to log out
How to harness malingering electrons, a quantum bifurcating footpath, and the importance of seeking medical attention if you snuff it
CULTURELAB
Welcome to a world run by geeks and gadgets
18:00 11 November 2009 - updated 19:46 11 November 2009
Cory Doctorow's entertaining novel, Makers, examines what might happen if the geeks ever have to take charge
Laughing all the way to the anti-bank
10:00 11 November 2009 - updated 13:29 11 November 2009
Conceptual artist Jonathon Keats has established the world's First Bank of Antimatter - a satire of today's economy
GEOLOGY
Plan to pierce heart of urban monster volcano
Next month, geologists will begin to drill into a huge volcano in Italy that has towns on top of it: is that a good idea?
SPACE
Will probe's fly-by unlock exotic physics?
All eyes will be on the Rosetta comet-chasing probe when it flies by Earth on Friday – a past fly-by revealed a mysterious speed boost that general relativity cannot explain
