Topic: =/\= science stories of the day!

[stoneyface]

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/35573/20100714/gamma-ray-burst-blinds-nasa-satellite.htm

the other day, a gamma-ray burst originating 5 billion light years away temporarily blinded the swift observatory satellite. and a new black hole is born!

next.

http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/16/japans-ikaros-spacecraft-successfully-propelled-by-solar-sail/

in very very exciting news the japanese ikaros spacecraft (previously reported here for successfully unfurling a solar sail for the first time) has not taken the next step and has been successfully been PROPRELLED by the solar sail!!! as  you might guess from my excitement, this is a big big deal for intersteller space travel. this success makes the solar sail one more step towards viability! way to go scientist!

as a little side note: rumor states that the second falcon 9 rocket is now being built.