Incredible shrinking orbit
NASA鈥檚 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has cut the size of its orbits by about half since it started 鈥渁erobraking鈥� around the Red Planet on 10 March. The MRO will keep on braking until early September to shrink its orbit further. By November, the probe will be ready to start its two-year long science mission.
Small wonders
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Let鈥檚 hear it for little primates. A new species of tarsier, Tarsier lariang, has been formally recognised. It lives in western central Sulawesi, and has unique colouring and a high-pitched mating song (International Journal of Primatology, vol 27, p 465). The tarsier follows three new species of mouse lemur identified in eastern Madagascar.
Stand up for evolution
Sixty-seven scientific academies around the world have signed a statement urging governments, teachers and parents not to tolerate the teaching of creationism in science classes. The InterAcademy Panel on International Issues warned on Wednesday that evidence about the origins and evolution of life is being 鈥渃oncealed, denied or confused鈥�.
What statins did next
Cholesterol-lowering statins can prevent cataracts too. Originally developed to combat heart disease, statins have since been discovered to treat a host of other conditions. Now the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people given statins are 40 per cent less likely to develop cataracts.
Out of step
Around three-quarters of 973 pedometers tested were out by at least 10 per cent when counting the number of steps taken, according to a survey in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The survey鈥檚 investigators say that cheap pedometers are so inaccurate they should not be used to gauge daily exercise levels, and that quality labels should be introduced to identify reliable meters.