From: "Wajenberg, Earl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: 20 May, 2004 7:52:53 AM PDT Subject: Science news clips
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3729487.stm
There's microbiology, which is the study of microscopic organisms, and cryptobiology, which is the study of organisms whose existence is controversial (e.g. Bigfoot and Nessie). Now there's cryptomicrobiology, which is the argument over whether or not nannobacteria (also spelled "nanobacteria") really exist. If they do, they may cause kidney stones and hardening of the arteries, and be smaller than some viruses.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3732321.stm
The British government is going to upgrade its rules for animal experimentation, in more humane directions.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040519063737.htm
Early results from a series of observations from the Chandra orbital telescope suggest that the "dark energy" pushing the cosmic acceleration has a constant density over time -- which looks like the work of an Einstein-style "cosmological constant. Among other consequences, this would prevent the universe ever ending in a "Big Rip" -- a theoretical cosmic catastrophe in which the universal expansion becomes so fast that even atoms are pulled apart.
Earl
