9877
submission
STFS writes:
A low cost, commercial rocket failed to reach space after an 'unexpected aerodynamic effect' a few seconds after liftoff according to a reuters.com report.
From the article: 'The telephone pole-sized rocket hurtled into clear skies with 50 items of payload — including a Ziploc bag of Cheerios, some cremated remains and several high school science projects — on a brief suborbital flight 70 miles (110 km) above Earth at 2:14 p.m. Central Time.'
Here is a video of the event.
9675
submission
STFS writes:
newscientistspace.com has a story about a team of French doctors who will attempt the worlds first zero-gravity operation on a human aboard an Airbus A300 dubbed "Zero-G".
The patient, according to forbes.com was chosen because of his experience with "dramatic gravitational shifts" as an avid bungee-jumper.
The operation will serve as a test for performing surgery in space.
8030
submission
STFS writes:
As reported several times before (and more) the Poincaré conjecture has now in all likelihood been solved.
The most recent addition to this mathematical drama pointed out an article in the New Yorker which seems to be causing quite a stir.
Harvard mathematics professor, Dr. Shing-Tung Yau, reports on his website that a letter, written by Yau's attorney, has been sent to the parties responsible for the New Yorker's article (including Pulitzer-prize finalist Sylvia Nasar). In the letter, Yau's attorney requests their "immediate assistance [...] in undoing, to the extent possible, the literally world-wide damage done to Dr. Yau's reputation [...]".
Dr. Yau will be giving a web cast (unfortunately it's scheduled in less than two hours at the time of this writing) in which he will discuss these allegations in detail. Further information can be found on his website.
