Solar Power from the Moon -- Patrick Tucker  -- The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies   -- January 21, 2012
Lunar Development

The author looks at an ambitious Japanese proposal to install solar panels on the moon's surface and beam the resulting solar energy to stations on the earth.


Do Drones Undermine Democracy? -- Peter W. Singer  -- New York Times  -- January 21, 2012
Military Robots

Peter Singer argues that the use of armed robots in war is being perceived as a 'costless' alternative to other military means and that this perception could undermine democracy by precluding political debate over military actions.


Sun shoots a fastball at Earth, but minimal impact expected -- Brian Vastag  -- Washington Post  -- January 20, 2012
Solar Flares

A huge sunspot unleashed a blob of charged plasma Thursday that space weather watchers predict will blast past the Earth on Sunday. Satellite operators and power companies are keeping a close eye on the incoming cloud, which could distort the Earth’s magnetic field and disrupt radio communications, especially at higher latitudes.


China Targets 2013 for Launch of Lunar Landing Mission -- Stephen Clark  -- Space.com  -- January 20, 2012
China

Under a new five-year plan unveiled in December, China will continue to make methodical progress in human spaceflight, expand its satellite navigation system, explore the moon and seek space technology partnerships with developing nations.


China set to launch first caps on CO2 emissions -- Michael Marshall  -- New Scientist  -- January 17, 2012
China

Seven provinces and cities in China are to set caps on their greenhouse gas emissions, following a directive from central government. It's the first time the Chinese government has called for any absolute caps on emissions, having so far preferred softer "carbon intensity" targets.


When Breakthroughs Begin at Home -- Michael Nagle  -- New York Times  -- January 17, 2012
Genetic Engineering

A profile of several bio-hackers, who are part of a movement called DIYbio, short for do-it-yourself biology, which got its official start in 2008 with DIYBio.org, an online hub for sharing ideas.


Volunteers wanted for planet hunt -- BBC News  -- January 15, 2012
Astronomy

Members of the public are being asked to join the hunt for nearby planets that could support life. Volunteers can go to the Planethunters website to see time-lapsed images of 150,000 stars, taken by the Kepler space telescope.


Satellites help track pirate loot in Somalia -- Debora MacKenzie  -- New Scientist  -- January 13, 2012
Satellites

A satellite study has shown for the first time where Somali pirates are putting the proceeds of crime – and suggests where strategies against their banditry might and might not work.


'Biohackers' Get Their Own Space to Create -- Pui-Wing Tam  -- Wall Street Journal  -- January 12, 2012
Genetic Engineering

Silicon Valley has sprouted numerous "hacker spaces" in recent years, where software geeks get together to program and build new Web creations. Now there's a hangout for "biohackers," too.


New Study Ranks Countries on Security of Materials That Fuel Nuclear Arms -- William J. Broad  -- New York Times  -- January 11, 2012
Nuclear Proliferation

The 32 nations with materials that can fuel atom bombs are typically mum on security, which looks to the public like a closed world of barbed wire and armed guards. Now, for the first time publicly, experts have surveyed the precautions each country has in place and ranked the nations from best to worst.

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