Rare animals for sale
Thousands of the world鈥檚 rarest animals, including tigers, gorillas and chimps, are for sale on the internet, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare. In a single week IFAW found more than 9000 internet adverts offering live animals and animal products such as ivory and rhino hide, despite international regulations banning trade in endangered species.
Monster to Mars
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NASA鈥檚 giant Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 12 August. The 2-tonne orbiter carries six instruments to search for water under the Martian surface, study the planet鈥檚 geology and climate, and look for signs of life. It will reach the Red Planet in March 2006 and start its science operations in November.
Hooked on bronze
Tanning is addictive, according to a survey based on the questionnaires used to diagnose alcohol and substance abuse. Up to 53 per cent of sunbathers could be 鈥渦ltraviolet light tanning dependent鈥� says Richard Wagner of the University of Texas, Galveston, whose team interviewed 145 people on the city鈥檚 beaches.
Mouse mutations
The European Union has approved funding of a three-year research programme to test the function of almost every gene in the mouse genome. The 鈧�13 million project will generate 20,000 mutations in mouse embryonic stem cell lines, each with a different gene mutated. The lines will be available to researchers worldwide from a 鈥渂ank鈥� in Heidelberg, Germany.
Old space hand
Sergei Krikalev, now commanding the International Space Station, set a new record for time in space on 16 August when he logged 748 days in orbit, spread over six flights. He once spent a year on the Russian space station Mir after a return flight was cancelled.