August 2006 in science

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Events in Science and Technology

August 25 2006

*An online software update delivered to the Ubuntu operating system makes its Graphical user interface non-functional. The update is retracted the same day. [http://www.techweb.com/wire/software/192300370 (TechWeb)]
*The European Space Agency lunar probe SMART-1 is predicted to end its mission on 3 September 2006 at 05:42 (UTC) impacting at 46.2º W, 33.3º S. on the Moon [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5306204.stm (BBCNews)] [http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=10 (ESA)]

August 24 2006

*At a meeting of the International Astronomical Union in Prague, Czech Republic, delegates vote to strip Pluto of its status as a planet. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/5282440.stm (BBCNews)]
*Research published in "Nature" shows that cells extracted from a human blastomere can be used to make embryonic stem cell lines, leaving the rest of the embryo intact. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5272648.stm (BBCNews)]

August 21 2006

*Japan suspends import of rice from the United States after reports that it may contain trace quantities of grains from LLRICE 601, a genetically engineered plant variant. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5271384.stm (BBCNews)]
*Astronomers observe the tell-tale signs of dark matter as a major constituent of galaxies by analysing pictures of a recent collision of two large galaxy clusters. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5272226.stm (BBCNews)]

August 20 2006

* The repair of Atlantis is completed successfully, which allows STS-115 to stay on schedule. [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-08-20T162536Z_01_N18413484_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPACE-SHUTTLE.xml&WTmodLoc=Home-C5-scienceNews-2 (Reuters)]

August 18 2006

* NASA announces it will attempt to perform a complicated repair to Atlantis antenna system while the space shuttle is standing at the launch pad. [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-08-18T211334Z_01_N18413484_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPACE-SHUTTLE.xml (Reuters)]

August 17 2006

* A genetic study is published in "Nature" that indicates that the DNA sequence of HAR1 in humans is very different from other primates and mammals. Since it is thought to code for a protein used during early brain development, the authors find it probable that these differences are important in the development of the human mind. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4797257.stm (BBCNews)] [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=sciencenews&storyID=2006-08-16T171759Z_01_L16583680_RTRUKOC_0_US-SCIENCE-EVOLUTION.xml (Reuters)]
* Pictures of NGC 6397 taken by the Hubble Space Telescope produce the first "lower" mass limit for the formation of hydrogen burning stars. The analysis is published in "Science". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5260008.stm (BBCNews)]

August 16 2006

*The Scottish Crossbill is finally confirmed as a unique species. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/4793863.stm (BBCNews)]
* The International Astronomical Union proposes a new definition for a planet to be voted on August 24 which will include Pluto, Charon, Eris, and Ceres as planets. [http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2318597 (ABC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4795755.stm (BBCNews)]

August 14 2006

* An international team of researchers demonstrate that sperm can be frozen for long periods and still be viable by using up to 15 year old mouse sperm to fertilize eggs. [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=sciencenews&storyID=2006-08-15T001249Z_01_HKG173450_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPERM.xml (Reuters)]

August 11 2006

* An analysis of data taken by the GRACE satellite and published in "Science" indicate that Greenland's ice sheet is losing mass at an accelerated rate. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4783199.stm (BBCNews)]

August 6 2006

* Researchers at Ohio State University use a new technique to measure the distance to the galaxy Messier 33. The obtained value is unexpectedly large, about 15 percent over the previously assumed value. A similarly large change to the Hubble constant would be needed, if this result should be correct. [http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0608/06universesize/ (SpaceFlightNow.com)]

August 2 2006

* The Federal Trade Commission rules that Rambus deceived DRAM companies by including its patented technology into JEDEC's SDRAM standards without disclosing that its technology was patented, and that Rambus violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by illegally monopolizing the DRAM market in this way. [http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/08/02/rambus_ftc_decision/ (TG Daily)]

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