SCIENCE News, Jul 19, 2011

Last U.S. space shuttle leaves station Mon,18 Jul 2011 11:54 PM PDT Reuters - CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The last U.S. space shuttle departed the International Space Station on Tuesday, ending a 12-year program to build and service the orbital outpost, the primary legacy of NASA's shuttle fleet. Full Story

Space shuttle prepares to depart station for last time Mon,18 Jul 2011 11:45 AM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - The crew of NASA's final space shuttle mission closed the hatch to the International Space Station for the final time on Monday in preparation for the shuttle's last flight back to Earth. Full Story

Brain swelling may be common with Alzheimer's drugs Mon,18 Jul 2011 09:49 AM PDT Reuters - PARIS (Reuters) - Three patients treated with an experimental Bristol-Myers Squibb Alzheimer's drug have developed a type of brain swelling known as vasogenic edema, but the side effect may be common in Alzheimer's patients, researchers said on Monday. Full Story

Astronauts pack up for last shuttle ride home Sun,17 Jul 2011 03:29 PM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - The shuttle Atlantis astronauts finished packing more than 2 tonnes of old equipment and trash from the International Space Station into a cargo hauler on Sunday for the last shuttle ride back to Earth. Full Story

NASA probe enters orbit around asteroid Vesta Sun,17 Jul 2011 02:50 AM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - A robotic NASA science probe slipped into orbit around the potato-shaped asteroid Vesta on Saturday to begin a yearlong study of the second largest object in the asteroid belt. Full Story

NASA probe headed into orbit around asteroid Sat,16 Jul 2011 02:49 AM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - A robotic NASA science probe was scheduled to slip into orbit around the potato-shaped asteroid Vesta on Saturday to begin a yearlong study of the second largest object in the asteroid belt. Full Story

Astronaut welcomes China to space brotherhood Fri,15 Jul 2011 10:18 AM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - A U.S. astronaut on the final shuttle mission said on Friday China's first space station will be a welcome addition to the orbital brotherhood. Full Story

U.S. astronauts gird for post-shuttle era Thu,14 Jul 2011 03:10 PM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - Former chief astronaut Steve Lindsey announced his retirement on Thursday, the latest in a series of departures from the ranks of NASA's elite corps spurred by the end of the space shuttle program. Full Story

Atlantis crew unpacks, rocks out to "Rocket Man" Thu,14 Jul 2011 01:14 PM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - The crew of NASA's final space shuttle mission restocked the International Space Station with tons of supplies on Wednesday after waking to the music of Elton John. Full Story

Carbon dating technique to aid energy from waste Thu,14 Jul 2011 07:28 AM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - A new use for carbon dating will aid the production of energy from wood and waste, said a bio-energy group on Thursday after British regulatory approval of the new test. Full Story

Texas artist's work hurtling through space with Atlantis Tue,12 Jul 2011 04:12 PM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - It's a rare person who can say that her artwork is hurtling through space. Full Story

Spacewalkers pack gear for last shuttle home Tue,12 Jul 2011 01:59 PM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - A pair of spacewalking astronauts floated outside the International Space Station on Tuesday to pack up a broken cooling pump and tackle other tasks before NASA's last space shuttle heads back to Earth. Full Story

Billions of bugs wiped out on Dutch roads Tue,12 Jul 2011 10:33 AM PDT Reuters - AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch motorists kill about 133 billion insects a month, splattering bugs on their vehicles and eliminating important members of the food chain, according to a study released this week. Full Story

Space robot to practice refueling satellites Mon,11 Jul 2011 02:35 PM PDT Reuters - HOUSTON (Reuters) - With the end of the space shuttle program in sight, the U.S. government intends to stimulate development of private space transportation and also to lay the foundation for an entire new industry to service satellites in orbit. Full Story

Japan idled reactors could restart after stress test Mon,11 Jul 2011 04:05 AM PDT Reuters - TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's idled nuclear reactors could restart work if they pass the first stage of two-step post-Fukushima safety checks, the government said on Monday. Full Story

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