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SciTech

Pentagon rushes to build cyber war arsenal: DARPA, the Pentagon’s agency that develops new technology for military use, is tasked with producing world-class cyber war capabilities. It’s America’s largest project since the agency was catching up with the Soviet space programme following the launch of sputnik in 1957.

Nuclear industry hails Russia-U.S. pact: A new pact with the United States has been hailed by the head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation, who says it opens huge possibilities for trade. The nuclear pact will allow commercial deals on civilian projects without the express consent of either government.

Book now! Space tourism the next big thing: A private Russian company has commissioned the Myasishchev Aerospace Bureau to design a tourist spacecraft. The bureau says it's working on a feasibility study for the spacecraft and the project is fully funded by the undisclosed firm.

Ukraine turns lard into fuel: The way to a Ukrainian's heart is lard, a traditional part of the country's national cuisine. But now it has a new use. It's being processed to become diesel for agricultural vehicles.

Russia inches towards mission to Mars: Air is crucial to human life, and the absence of a breathable atmosphere is one of the main obstacles to discovering other planets. Russian scientists have reproduced a gas mixture that human beings may breathe on the way to Mars and when on the Red Planet.

EU satellite for Galileo system launched: The European Union's second satellite for the Galileo navigation system has launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It will test technologies to be used in the Galileo system including an atomic clock which the EU says will be the most accurate in space.

Russian laptop batteries last 10 hours: Russian scientists have developed a laptop battery that can work up to 10 hours without recharging, according to RIA Novosti news agency.

Learning to breathe, minus oxygen: Four volunteers are learning to breathe in argon – a gas which planet Mars has got in plenty. It's part of a Russian project that, one day, hopes to send a manned crew to the Red Planet. A 10-day experiment is underway to find out if people can endure a lack of oxygen.

Happy landing! Space crew back on Earth: A Russian capsule carrying crew from the International Space Station has landed. Russian cosmonaut Yury Malenchenko, U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson and the first South Korean in space, Yi So-yeon, came down in the Kazakh steppe on Saturday, about 400km short of the intended landing site.

Russo-Brazilian fighter jets to reach for the sky: Russia and Brazil are to jointly develop a fifth-generation fighter jet. The two countries also plan to build space rocket vehicles.

Cosmonauts tuck into Korean cuisine: The team of the International Space Station have given their first interview since being joined by new crew members. The 17th mission crew arrived on board last Thursday after their rocket blasted off from Kazakhstan two days earlier.

Russia reveals space ambitions: Forty seven years after Yury Gagarin first went into orbit, Russia has unveiled ambitious plans to advance its space programme even further. A new launch pad will be built at Vostochny in the Amur region by 2015 and five years later a manned assembly complex in orbit will build spacecrafts to fly to the Moon and Mars.

Safe nuclear dump discovered: Russian geologists have discovered a new mineral which absorbs radiation from liquid nuclear waste. They are now striving to chemically clone it, in the hope it may help solve the problem of radioactive waste disposal.

Putin backs new space launch site: A new space launch pad is being planned for Russia's Far East. At a meeting of the country’s Security Council, attended by the outgoing and incoming presidents, Vladimir Putin highlighted the importance of developing the space programme. He pointed particularly to the construction of launching sites.

Soyuz spacecraft docks with ISS: The Soyuz spacecraft, manned by a Korean and two Russian cosmonauts, has docked with International Space Station. The new ISS crew is one of the youngest ever, and none of its members have travelled to space before.

Aerocar arrives...at 450km an hour!: Imagine a world where roads don’t exist, old-style cars are a distant memory and you can zip over 450 kilometres in one hour. A Russian designer believes aerocars are not far away. Aleksandr Begak has successfully tested a prototype more than 100 times.

Cosmonauts blast into space: Three cosmonauts have successfully blasted into space aboard Russia’s Soyuz rocket. The launch in Kazakhstan was on-time and without any obvious hitches. South Korea’s first person in space and two Russian cosmonauts are bound for the International Space Station.

Nanotechnology to boost space industry: The Russian Federal Space Agency is teaming up with state tech giant Rosnanotekh to promoting nanotechnology in the country’s key industries. With a budget of $US 5 billion, Rosnanotekh is poised to inject life-saving funds into Russia's long-neglected science departments

Soviet space shuttle on final voyage - to Germany: Russia's aging Buran space shuttle is being prepared for display in the German city of Speyer at the Technik Museum, which has bought the Soviet space programme relic for 10 million euros.

Countdown to blast-off: Soyuz undergoes final checks: The 17th mission to the International Space Station is just days away, with lift-off scheduled for Tuesday. Technicians at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan are meticulously checking the spacecraft before the journey.

Korean woman primed for Soyuz space mission: Preparations for Russia's 17th mission to the International Space Station (ISS) are underway at Baikonur Kosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Two Russian cosmonauts and the first ever Korean female astronaut are set to blast off into orbit in a Soyuz spacecraft on April 8th.

Aussies bury CO2 to beat global warming: Australia has launched a plant that pumps carbon dioxide into underground chambers in a bid to combat climate change.

‘Russian GPS’ veers off course: The Russian rival to the American GPS navigation system, GLONASS, won't be ready for at least another year, according to Russian newspaper Kommersant.

Shuttle forced into risky night landing: The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven have returned to Earth, but not before cloud cover forced them into a rare night-time landing. The 16-day mission to the International Space Station was judged a success.

Space history awaits Korean cosmonaut: The first ever Korean cosmonaut is starting final preparations before blasting into space with two Russians in a fortnight. Yi So Yong will be only the 49th woman in space.

Cyborg-boxing - the latest hit in Tokyo: Robots take to the ring in a technologically advanced competition in Tokyo. Engineers and enthusiasts build unique and complex machines for the twice-annual battles.

History books beckon for Korean cosmonaut: Cosmonauts are putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the launch of the next Soyuz shuttle to the International Space Station.

Robots can flex too: Scientists from six nations have gathered in Calfornia to show off the latest in robot technology, namely applications of electroactive polymers. They are special types of material, in many ways similar to organic muscles.

Mishap with U.S. satellite fixed: A U.S. communications satellite, which failed to reach its intended orbit, is now under control. However the Russian-launched satellite is reportedly in a lower orbit than intended. The American company which owns the satellite must now decide on its future.

Down with Windows! Russian schools turn to free software: A free online alternative to the Windows operating system is set to be introduced in schools in three Russian regions by 2009. If the pilot project proves successful, all schools across the country will make the switch a year later.

Space shuttle docks with ISS: The space shuttle Endeavour has docked with the International Space Station. The mission is to deliver the first part of a Japanese laboratory to the ISS.

‘Jules Verne’ sets off on pioneering voyage: The first ever European-built unmanned space craft has blasted off on a mission to the ISS. The ‘Jules Verne’, which carries crucial Russian fuel among its 21-tonne cargo, has been launched successfully from the Kourou cosmodrome in French Guyana.

Are ‘designer babies’ next?: A new law which could allow parents to create so-called “designer babies” is being considered by British politicians. But the complex bill, which is meant to reform outdated fertility legislation is causing controversy in certain quarters as religious and disability groups are concerned that imperfect embryos could be discarded.

Smart anti-terror nuclear transporter unveiled: Moving nuclear material is a dangerous job. Apart from a number of technical requirements, anti-terrorist measures also need to be put in place. Russia and the U.S. have developed a joint transportation system which can monitor every movement of such sensitive cargo to ensure security.

Putin & co-pilot Medvedev inspect new SU-35 jet: President Vladimir Putin plans to give Russia's aviation industry a boost. He has unveiled plans to create a national aviation centre during a visit to the country's main design facility in the city of Zhukovsky.

Liquid vests to repel bullets: Russian armour has been well-known for years. To create it the best scientists have been working in research institutes. Although modern ballistic vests can weigh up to 12 kilos, Russian designers say there’s another option. Armour filled with special gel can be light and even comfortable to wear.

Proton rocket takes Norwegian satellite into orbit: A Proton rocket has blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Bloodsuckers' banquet - leech therapy back in fashion: Leech therapy is making a comeback. Enthusiasts say they can cure illnesses as diverse as heart disease and depression, causing the medical profession to re-assess the healing powers of the humble leech.

Russian-born brainiac cracks 'insoluble' puzzle: A Russian-born scientist has solved a maths problem that had had experts scratching their heads for almost four decades. Using just a pencil and paper, Avraham Trahktman, who immigrated to Israel in 1990, cracked what is known as the Road Colouring problem.

Fifty children in battle to get life-saving medicine: At least fifty Russia children could face an early death because they don’t have access to the right medication. They suffer from Hunter's syndrome, a genetic disease found primarily in males. A drug does exist to treat the condition, but it is not available in Russia.