Regal return
Monarch butterflies are bouncing back in style after an alarming slump in their fortunes (New 杏吧原创, 12 March, p 4). Mexico鈥檚 Federal Ministry for Environmental Protection announced last week that around 200 million are migrating south from North America, 10 times as many as made the 5000-kilometre trip last year.
Ariane-5 delayed
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Europe鈥檚 most powerful heavy-lift rocket, the Ariane-5 ECA, failed to blast off as scheduled last Saturday because of problems with equipment on the ground. The rocket, on its third flight, is due to launch two satellites weighing about 9.6 tonnes in total 鈥� its heaviest payload yet. On its maiden flight in 2002, the behemoth had to be destroyed when it veered off-course. The second launch, in February 2005, was successful.
Green fingers to blame
Gardeners are to blame for importing almost three-quarters of the non-native species and hybrids now growing wild in England, says a report published on 9 November by English Nature, ecological advisors to the UK government. It reveals that of 2721 non-native species and hybrids documented, 1798 (73 per cent) are plants that escaped from gardens.
Arctic reprieve
Oil companies will not be drilling in Alaska鈥檚 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge after all 鈥� at least, not yet. A week after the US Senate voted to authorise the controversial move, Republican leaders in the House of Representatives yanked the bill, fearing it would lose if brought to a vote. Its proponents are expected to try again later.
Wolf attack
A young man mauled to death last week in northern Canada was probably the victim of a wolf attack, police say. If so, he would be the first person killed by wolves in North America for many decades, although several non-fatal attacks have been reported in recent years.