Court Orders U.S. to Stop Keeping Polar Bear Status on Ice [News]

A federal judge Tuesday ordered the Bush administration to stop dragging its feet on the fate of polar bears and decide by May 15 whether declining sea ice in the Arctic threatens their existence. The ruling marks a victory for a coalition of environmentalists--the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)--which sued to force the U.S. Department of the Interior to decide whether to protect the hoary Arctic predators under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which it had committed to do by January 9. [More]

Researchers Make Human Flu Antibodies at Record Speed [News]

A new method for swiftly producing proteins to fight infections could mean the difference between life and death during future pandemics. Researchers report in Nature today that they have perfected a way to manufacture monoclonal antibodies capable of destroying diseases such the avian flu, which have the ability to swap genes with human flu varieties and jump from birds to people. [More]

Albert Hofmann, Inventor of LSD, Embarks on Final Trip [News]

Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, inventor of LSD, died yesterday at the age of 102, just 10 days after the 55th anniversary of his notorious bicycle trip while tripping on "acid". Hofmann, who suffered a heart attack at home in Basel, Switzerland, was the first person to synthesize lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD, and the first human known to experience its mind-bending effects. [More]

The Monitor ep. 12--Autism and Video Games [The Monitor]

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Eye in the Sky Tracks Earth's Changes [Slideshow] [News]

Slideshow: View Earth's Changes

In September 2007 less sea ice covered the Arctic than at any point since the U.S. government began keeping records of its decline. All told, it covered 502,000 square miles (1.3 million square kilometers) less ocean than even the year before--a loss equal to an area the size of California and Montana combined. But what might be bad news for polar bears and other animals dependent on sea ice could be good news for the alga known as phytoplankton.

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Real-Life Iron Man: A Robotic Suit That Magnifies Human Strength [News]

The prospect of slipping into a robotic exoskeleton that could enhance strength, keep the body active while recovering from an injury or even serve as a prosthetic limb has great appeal. Unlike the svelt body armor donned by Iron Man, however, most exoskeletons to date have looked more like clunky spare parts cobbled together. [More]

The Aging Brain: Is It Less Connected? [Mind Matters]

Time can wreak havoc on the brain. Age-related cognitive decline comes with a wide range of symptoms, from memory loss to problems with concentration. But what causes these symptoms? What happens in the brain of people as they age? [More]