Hope for Hubble
The Hubble Space Telescope may not be doomed. NASA announced on 29 January that Harold Gehman, who led the Columbia disaster investigation, would review the decision to abandon the last Hubble service mission.
Crop ban looms
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A variety of genetically modified oilseed rape looks likely to be barred from Europe. Belgium鈥檚 Biosafety Advisory Council concluded that Bayer Cropscience鈥檚 herbicide-resistant rape might pose unacceptable environmental problems. If the Belgian parliament votes against approval, its decision will be binding in other EU countries.
Albatrosses off the hook
A global treaty designed to save tens of thousands of rare albatrosses breeding in the South Atlantic came into force on Sunday. Use of baited fishing hooks, which kill many birds, is now controlled in the region. The UK has come under fire for failing to ratify the treaty.
Just reward
Shuiji Nakamura has been awarded $189 million after successfully suing his former employer, Nichia Corporation, for not adequately rewarding him for inventing the blue light emitting diode. The blue LED is a crucial component in flat-panel displays and will be vital for the next generation of DVD players.
Carving recovered
A miniature sculpture of Isaac Newton, stolen from the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto on 17 January, has been recovered. The portrait was turned over to a Toronto lawyer on Saturday.
Death for gas attacker
The chemist who made the sarin nerve gas used in an attack on the Tokyo underground system in 1995 has been sentenced to death. Masami Tsuchiya is the 11th member of the Aum Shinrikyo cult to receive a death sentence, though none has yet been executed. The sarin attack killed 12 people and injured 5000.