Robin McKie
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/ 24 February 2008

Warning of catastrophe from mass of ‘space junk’

The amount of debris orbiting the Earth has reached a critical level. Old satellite parts, solar panels and the odd astronaut’s lost glove now pose serious risks to space missions. A report from the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety is calling for stringent international laws to be brought in to avert a tragedy.

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/ 11 December 2005

Nasa studies real-life Rain Man’s brain

It took Kim Peek just more than an hour to read Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October. Four months later, when asked to give the name of the book’s Russian radio operator, Peek quoted the entire relevant passage. Studies of Peek’s abilities are being used by scientists to shed intriguing light on the human mind.