Daily Link Splurge

Framed by Clouds Last Sunday's fading evening twilight featured a young crescent Moon along the western horizon. The young Moon also shared the sky with the lovely Pleiades star cluster and wandering planet Mercury. Framed by clouds in this serene skyscape from Selsey, UK, a similar twilight scene was visible around the globe. Emerging from the cloud bank below the Pleiades, the narrow sunlit lunar crescent is overexposed. Still, the Moon's dim night side is impressively clear, illuminated by earthshine. Bright, innermost planet Mercury lies near the bottom of the field. Mercury will remain near the Pleiades, low in the west after sunset over the coming days, an ongoing conjunction of planet and star cluster that will offer skygazers some excellent binocular views.

The Amazing Wheelchair... Controlled by the Power of Thought

Posted: 30 Apr 2009 05:51 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a wheelchair controlled by the power of thought. The robotic chair could revolutionise life for those with severe disabilities who are unable to use a conventional joystick. It works by creating a three-dimensional picture of the area around it, with a laser scanner. This is displayed on a screen in front of the user.

Scientists witness space's oldest event

Posted: 30 Apr 2009 04:20 AM PDT

Astronomers have spied a gamma-ray burst from the universe's infancy, making it the oldest event ever witnessed and shedding light on cosmic origins, say US and British scientists.

Debut for world's fastest

Posted: 30 Apr 2009 01:30 AM PDT

The fastest imaging system ever devised has been demonstrated by researchers reporting in the journal Nature.