Koala concerns
Australia鈥檚 cuddly koalas could face extinction within 30 years, according to the Australian Koala Foundation. There could be as few as 43,000 koalas on the Australian mainland, the foundation says. Previous estimates put the population at 100,000, and the IUCN鈥檚 Red List classifies it as a species of 鈥渓east concern鈥�.
Plant prints
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Every known plant species on the planet could soon have its unique DNA fingerprint logged. An agreement due to be signed by 50 nations at the International Barcode of Life conference in Mexico City on 10 November will lead to the first universal DNA barcode system for plants. This should help regulators spot illegal timber or bogus herbal medicines.
Coal to go
The last four coal power plants in Beijing may soon be closed, according to Chinese state media. The aim is to improve the city鈥檚 notoriously poor air quality. Gas-fired stations would supply electricity instead.
Sun power from orbit鈥�
Japan is gearing up to beam solar power down to Earth from space. The JAXA space agency says it is cooperating with companies such as Sharp and Fujitsu to develop satellites that harvest solar energy and beam it down to Earth using lasers or microwaves. The plan is to launch a 10-megawatt prototype by 2020.
鈥s solar sails unfurl
Will it be third time lucky for one ill-fated group鈥檚 hopes of launching a solar sail? Solar sails could propel future spacecraft using the power of sunlight. After failed launches of prototypes in 2001 and 2005, the Planetary Society 鈥� a US-based space advocacy group 鈥� plans another shot. Called LightSail-1, it could launch in 2010.