1st Chinese Woman in Space, Kickstarting Research Trips: KQED Science News Roundup

Liu Yang draws cheers as first Chinese woman set for space voyageJIUQUAN, China | Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:52am EDT JIUQUAN, China (Reuters) - China will send its first woman into outer space this week, prompting a surge of national pride as the rising power takes its latest step towards putting a space station in orbit within the decade.

Muller on Climate: It's All About ChinaMuller on Climate: It's All About China Forget California, says the outspoken Berkeley physicist. It's what China does that matters Despite some well-publicized recent conversions on climate matters, Richard Muller's reputation as a climate skeptic is well earned. In two books, one published and one forthcoming, the UC Berkeley physicist offers counsel on physics and Energy for Future Presidents.

E.P.A. Proposes Crucial Rule Limiting SootThe Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new national air-quality standards that would significantly reduce levels of fine-particle soot, a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the agency said on Thursday. The rule, to be announced on Friday, would reduce the range of fine particulates allowed in the atmosphere by roughly 17 percent, according to proposed levels described by Paul G.

Voyager space probe reaches edge of solar systemLONDON (Reuters) - The Voyager 1 space probe has reached the edge of the solar system, extending its record for being the most distant man-made object in space. According to a statement from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, the spacecraft is sending back data to Earth showing a sharp increase in charged particles that originate from beyond the solar system.

DNA bolsters Bulgaria's John the Baptist bones claimLONDON (Reuters) - Bulgaria's claim to have unearthed six bones belonging to John the Baptist has received a boost from scientists who have concluded after dating them and analyzing their genetic code that they could indeed be relics of the man who baptized Jesus.

News from The Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. Olympic track and field athletes will wear uniforms at the London Summer Olympics that Nike says could shave up to 0.023 seconds off 100-meter sprint times - a difference that could have elevated Walter Dix from bronze to the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.

UC Santa Cruz students try crowdsourcing research; Kickstarter used to raise funds - Santa Cruz SentinelFor cash-strapped college students, scraping together enough money to buy a burrito can be a chore. Now try coming up with the money to fund a research trip to Alaska.

Arctic oil drilling to get 24-hour U.S. monitoringFederal inspectors will be stationed around the clock on rigs that Shell plans to use in drilling up to five wells in Arctic waters near Alaska this summer, a top U.S. regulator promised Thursday. Director James Watson...