THEFT WAS STAGED
Last September pig farmers across the US feared they would be the next targets of bioterrorism, after a genetically modified, extra-lethal strain of a bacterium that causes pig pneumonia was reported stolen from Michigan State University at East Lansing. Now the US Department of Agriculture has revealed that the strain never existed. The 鈥渢heft鈥� was staged to hide the fact that $750,000 worth of research into a vaccine against pig pneumonia was never actually done. The university says a 鈥渇ormer employee鈥� may face charges.
ROSETTA鈥橲 NEW GOAL
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The Rosetta comet-chasing mission has a new destination. Rosetta missed the chance to rendezvous with its original target, Wirtanen, when its January launch was postponed. Now, after months of calculations, the European Space Agency says the only suitable target is 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, nicknamed 鈥淐hury鈥�. To meet the 5-kilometre-diameter comet in 2014, Rosetta must launch in 2004.
JAIL FOR POLLUTERS
Polluting the oceans would become a criminal offence under a directive being proposed by the European Commission. Ship owners and operators would face jail sentences for any marine pollution they cause under the directive put forward last week which could be in force within 18 months.