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Submission Summary: 0 pending, 3 declined, 1 accepted (4 total, 25.00% accepted)

PC Games (Games)

Anarchy Online free play extended and expanded

Submitted by
Hahnsoo
Hahnsoo writes "The MMORPG Anarchy Online's free play program has been extended for another year to 2008. The free play program includes the classic Anarchy Online game and will now also include the first expansion "Notum Wars". Anarchy Online is one of the few pay-to-play MMORPGs that allows an unlimited trial, with possibly the most expansive amount of content (the entire original game and now the first expansion) available for free. The freeplay program is subsidized by dynamically-changing real world advertisements displayed on unobtrusive billboards, which also display posters for in-game organizations and web fansites."
Biotech

The common vole is not so common

Submitted by
Hahnsoo
Hahnsoo writes "Research at Purdue University has shown that the vole (a common mouse-like rodent), of all things, is the fastest evolving mammal (at least, studied so far) and has some unusual genetic characteristics:
* The chromosome number in the different species of voles range from 17 to 64, unusual for species within a single genus.
* In one species, the X chromosome contains about 20 percent of the entire genome. Sex chromosomes normally contain much less genetic information.
* In another species, females possess large portions of the Y (male) chromosome.
* In yet another species, males and females have different chromosome numbers, which is uncommon in animals.
* Despite the genetic variation, all voles basically look alike, with little phenotypic differentiation.
The abstract of the study in the journal Genetica can be found here."
Biotech

Strange bacteria sustains itself without the Sun

Submitted by
Hahnsoo
Hahnsoo writes "A colony of bacteria found 2.8 kilometers below the Earth's surface in a South African gold mine is able to sustain itself without energy from the Sun. While sub-surface colonies of microorganisms utilizing sulfur (mostly near deep sea hydrothermal vents) is not new, this particular colony is unusual. The colony does it by relying on radioactive uranium to split water into hydrogen gas. Thus, instead of solar energy and photosynthesis, this species relies on radioactive materials and sulfur/hydrogen to facilitate its energy needs. There is some speculation about "life on other planets" in the article as well."

Consider well the proportions of things. It is better to be a young June-bug than an old bird of paradise. -- Mark Twain, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar"