Science
New fossils provide insights into early human evolution
By William Moore, 20 October 2009
After 15 years of painstaking study, the journal Science has published a series of articles on the fossilized remains of Ardipithecus ramidus, which is interpreted to be an early form of hominin, the group including humans and all human ancestors back to the evolutionary split with the last common ancestor with chimpanzees.
Newly repaired Hubble telescope releases first images
By Bryan Dyne, 23 September 2009
The first images from the repaired and upgraded telescope include a dazzling combination of planetary nebula, star clusters and galaxies.
Four hundred years since Galileo’s astronomical discoveries
By Hector Cordon,
15 August 2009
The International Year of Astronomy 2009 has been designated by the International Astronomy Union and UNESCO in honor of the 400th anniversary of the discoveries of Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler, two of the most important pioneers of modern astronomy.
More Science Articles
The Google Book Search copyright settlement and the future of information—Part 1
By K. Reed, 12 August 2009
The first of a two-part article on the Google Book Search settlement.
The Google Book Search copyright settlement and the future of information—Part 2
By K. Reed, 13 August 2009
The second of a two-part article on the Google Book Search settlement.
Subordinating science to religion
Obama names evangelical Christian to run National Institutes of Health
By Patrick Martin, 30 July 2009
In selecting Francis S. Collins as the director of the National Institutes of Health, President Obama has sent a clear political message that he is willing to subordinate scientific research to Christian fundamentalist dogma.
Forty years since the first Moon landing
20 July 2009
Forty years ago, two American astronauts became the first human beings to land on the Moon. This historic feat is all the more remarkable because manned exploration of Earth’s satellite inaugurated by Apollo 11 ended little more than three years later.
Hubble Space Telescope receives final upgrade
By Bryan Dyne, June 23, 2009
New instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope are currently undergoing calibration following the latest upgrade to the venerable scientific instrument.
Marx and Darwin: Two great revolutionary thinkers of the nineteenth century
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
By Chris Talbot, 20 June 2009
Marx and Engels immediately recognised the significance of Darwin’s theory when On the Origin of Species appeared 150 years ago, laying out a scientific conception of the process of historical evolution of the biological world.
The primate fossil “Ida”: the science and the hype
By William Moore, June 13, 2009
While the recently announced discovery of “Ida,” a remarkably well-preserved early primate fossil, promises insights into the evolution of later primate forms, including humans, the way it has been presented to the public distorts both its significance and the processes of biological evolution.
Walking, running, and human evolution
New insights derived from the hobbits of Flores
By William Moore, May 13, 2009
Recent research results suggest Flores hobbits are more distinctive than previously thought, providing new insights into human evolution.
Danger of major swine flu outbreak continues
By Perla Astudillo, May 12, 2009
The current swine flu virus may not mutate into a more dangerous form and the danger will then subside. Scientists, however, remain concerned that the virus is poorly understood and may be susceptible...
New space telescope to search for earth-sized planets
By Bryan Dyne, March 24, 2009
On March 6, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration successfully launched the Kepler mission, which will observe 100,000 stars in search of smaller, Earth-sized planets.
File-sharing trial against The Pirate Bay has wide-ranging implications
By Mike Ingram, February 20, 2009
What the Times of London described as the “internet piracy trial of the decade” is under way in a courtroom in Stockholm, Sweden, with protesters with megaphones camped outside the building. The t...
“Hobbits” of Flores: Implications for the pattern of human evolution
By William Moore, 16 February 2009
Recent developments in research regarding the so-called “hobbits” of Flores, Indonesia, may lend support to the multilineal or “branching” view of human evolution.
File-sharing trial against The Pirate Bay has wide-ranging implications
By Mike Ingram, February 20, 2009
What the Times of London described as the “internet piracy trial of the decade” is under way in a courtroom in Stockholm, Sweden, with protesters with megaphones camped outside the building. The trial of file-sharing site thepiratebay.org for copyright infringement is being followed by legal and technology experts all over the world.
Behind Apple’s decision to drop anti-copying measures in iTunes
By Mike Ingram, January 19, 2009
Apple’s decision to drop the anti-copying protection known as Digital Rights Management (DRM) has received a mixed response from consumers and music fans across the world.
First images taken of extrasolar planets
By Hector Cordon, 1 December 2008
In the last month, two teams of astronomers have for the first time directly imaged planets orbiting stars outside the solar system. This breakthrough is expected to foster further discoveries and deepen our understanding of what constitutes a planet and how they are formed.
Australian biotechnology company enforces cancer gene patent, restricting medical scanning
By Frank Gaglioti, 28 November 2008
Biotechnology firm Genetic Technologies has moved to enforce its patent over two critical genes implicated in the development of breast and ovarian cancer, shutting down genetic scanning on potential cancer victims in publicly funded facilities.
Behind the creationism controversy at Britain’s Royal Society
By Paul Mitchell, 17 October 2008
Last month, the Royal Society’s education director, Professor Michael Reiss, was forced to resign for advocating, at the very least, the teaching of creationism alongside evolution in school science classes.
Neanderthals and modern humans—a key to understanding human evolution
Part 1; Part 2
By William Moore, October 3, 2008
Two recent announcements of research into the relationship between Neanderthals and modern humans tend to add weight to the interpretation that the ancestors of these two human lineages parted genetic company quite a long time ago. Furthermore, these results support the view that human evolution has been characterized by numerous branches and many dead ends.
World’s largest particle accelerator begins operations
Scientists to gain greater understanding of the mysteries of the universe
By Dan Conway, September 25, 2008
On September 10, scientists at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, successfully sent a beam of protons around a 17-mile ring overlapping the borders of France and Switzerland. This marked the beginning of the largest, most ambitious science experiment in all of human history, the Large Hadron Collider. It is the product of the cumulative effort of over ten thousand scientists and engineers from more than 80 countries and 500 universities.
Mars Phoenix Lander provides conclusive proof of ice water on Mars
By Robert Stevens, August 9, 2008
The Mars Phoenix Lander landed on the planet on May 25. It has begun to return vital information taken from the soil samples, including the conclusive discovery of water ice, as it analyses the chemical composition of the planet.
A letter and reply on Mars landing
Einstein letter sold for record sum
Part 1; Part 2
By Ann Talbot and Chris Talbot, June 23, 2008
A two-part article on Albert Einstein and his views on religion.
Phoenix spacecraft lands near Mars polar icecap
By Patrick Martin, May 30, 2008
In the first successful powered landing on Mars in 32 years, the Mars Phoenix Lander touched down on the surface of the planet Sunday, May 26, near the edge of its northern polar icecap.
Britain: Science cuts threaten Jodrell Bank radio telescope
By Robert Stevens, April 17, 2008
The Labour government of Prime Mister Gordon Brown is pushing ahead with unprecedented cuts in the UK science budget, with many critical programmes and facilities now threatened.
US blocks scientific report on Arctic environment
By Niall Green, February 5, 2008
The United States has prevented the full release of a major new assessment of the impact of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic region.
