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40,083 articles from Guardian Unlimited Science

Aliens from outer space are safe to fly over Denver

Jeff Peckman's proposal to set up a commission to track UFOs is turned down by votersOn a bad election night for some of the crankier candidates, an eccentric proposal was also rejected in the polls when voters in Denver opted against an initiative to track aliens from outer space.The proposal, known as initiative 300, would have involved setting up a commission to monitor aliens and a website to...

Science saved my soul

This uplifting video captures how grand and beautiful scientific explanations for the universe, the world and life really areThis video captures how grand and beautiful scientific explanations are. Such explanations give people maturity through knowledge and the ability to understand what is around them rather than relying on the "godditit" explanations that reduce humanity to a blathering pile of...

Vision chip: 'People looked like ghosts'

Miikka Terho describes how he lost his sight and the learning process after surgeons fitted an electronic chip to restore it"I was 16 when I realised I couldn't see very well at night. I'd go out cycling with my friends and I'd be thinking, how the heck can they go so fast? I couldn't see a thing. I refused to believe it. I wanted to hide it, mainly from myself. I told myself I could still see. I...

Spacewatch: International Space Station timings and positions

As I write this, the Shuttle Discovery is due to be launched to the ISS, the International Space Station, at 19:52 GMT this evening. There is no opportunity to view it from Britain on its first orbit, but we do have a couple of chances to catch it tomorrow evening before it is due to dock with the ISS at 16:36 on Friday.Our predictions are for the ISS itself, with asterisks denoting the directions...


TUESDAY 2. NOVEMBER 2010


Egyptian Book of the Dead exhibition reveals secrets of lost civilisation

British Museum's show including objects on display for first time sheds new light on ancient beliefsPosters for a new show at the British Museum cheerfully posed the question: what happens after death? Visitors may hope it's a bit less stressful than the perilous journey depicted in the museum, taking them through a dark, terrifying underworld populated by vigilant baboons, an Ibis god called...

Mystery Bird: Yellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus

This lovely African bird is placed into the same family as a common European bird speciesYellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus, photographed at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa. Image: Dan Logen, January 2010 [velociraptorize].Nikon D300, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender, ISO 400, f/8, 1/125 sec.Question: This lovely African mystery bird is placed into the same family as another, very...

Today's Mystery Bird For You To Identify

This beautiful and tiny North American bird belongs to an avian group that was given its name in honor of the sort of nest they build.Mystery Bird photographed at Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]Image: Terry Sohl, 13 September 2006 [velociraptorize].Canon 20D, 400 5.6L.This beautiful and tiny North American bird belongs to an avian...

Meet Robonaut 2, astronaut assistant

Humanoid robot is heading for the International Space Station this week on final flight of shuttle DiscoveryAlmost 200 people from 15 countries have visited the International Space Station, but until now all of the crew have been human. This week, the station will get its first humanoid robot.Robonaut 2 (nicknamed, inevitably, R2) will ride with the final flight of space shuttle Discovery this...

Science Behind Bars

Now here's an innovative and fascinating project where a scientist has prisoners at a high-security prison helping her with some of her researchHere's an interesting Staple News story about a scientist, ecologist Nalini Nadkarni, a member of the faculty at The Evergreen State College who studies forests and prairies. She and her collaborator, environmental scientist Carl Elliot, a graduate...


MONDAY 1. NOVEMBER 2010