The Future of Space Exploration: Public or Private?
(various sources through 1 Mar 01)

The Space Age has been dominated by government missions. Although private companies have lofted many communications satellites, they have shown little interest in conducting research in space. That may change now. NASA is trying to lure businesses into space by emphasizing the profit potential. And a private consortium is going to launch a spacecraft with "solar sails" later this year.

• New NASA Budget Reins in Space Station Cost (Associated Press, 1 Mar 01)
• Group Hopes Sunlight Will Propel Spacecraft (Associated Press, 27 Feb 01)
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Computer 'Can Talk Like A Baby'
(BBC, 28 Feb 01) More Articles on Robotics & Artificial Intelligence...

Flying Will Be as Easy as Driving a Car
(London Observer, 25 Feb 01) More Articles on Energy & Transportation...

Software Agents That Evolve Language
(Feed mag, 21 Feb 01) More Articles on Robotics & Artificial Intelligence...

Space Probe Sputters En Route to Comet
(CNN, 21 Feb 01) More Articles on Space...

Awaiting Mir's Crash Down Under
(Wired, 19 Feb 01) More Articles on Space...

Shortage of Power Lines Looms
(Washington Post, 20 Feb 01) More Articles on Energy & Transportation...

Battlebot: The Future of Sports?
(C|Net News.com, 15 Feb 01) More Articles on Robotics & Artificial Intelligence...

Self-Repairing Material Developed
(Associated Press, 15 Feb 01 - free registration required)

Computer Scientists Can Fit the Entire British Library on a Credit Card
(Financial Times, 13 Feb 01) More Articles on Advanced Computing...

Do Volunteer Work for NASA from Home
(Space.com, 12 Feb 01) More Articles on Space...

Hong Kong Nanotech Researchers Think Small
(IDG, 7 Feb 01) More Articles on Nanotechnology...

Making Computers as Easy as Breathing
(Boston Globe, 4 Feb 01) More Articles on Pervasive Computing...

Electrical Signals from Human Cells Are Coupled to Silicon Chips
(New Scientist, 1 Feb 01) More Articles on Cybernetics and Bionics...

NASA Lands Spacecraft on Asteroid

For the first time, a man-made spacecraft has landed on an asteroid. On February 12, scientists guided the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft onto the surface of asteroid Eros, which the spacecraft had orbited for a year. Although there was some discussion of attempting to lift the spacecraft back off the surface, the researchers decided not to, because of a lack of fuel.

• OFFICIAL SITE: Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Mission
• Mission Extended for Surprisingly Sturdy Little Spacecraft (NY Times, 15 Feb 01 - free registration required)
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NASA Launches New Space Lab
(various sources through 15 Feb 01)

The Atlantis shuttle has carried into space the new laboratory module for the international space station. The lab, named Destiny, cost $1.4 billion, and is the most sophisticated lab ever to leave the ground. NASA's 100th spacewalk took place this week, as part of the effort to install the Destiny lab.

• Astronauts Play Dead Men Spacewalking (NY Times, 15 Feb 01 - free registration required)
• Shuttle to Carry First Lab to Station (Space.com, 23 Dec 00)
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Do computers and the Internet consume too much power? Researchers disagree on just how much electricity is used by information technology. A 1999 study ("The Internet Begins with Coal") supposedly showed that information technology accounts for 13 percent of the electricity demand in the U.S.  Government researchers have since proven that number to be vastly exaggerated.

• Experts Debate Net's Role in Power Crisis (USA Today, 25 Jan 01)

• Is the Internet Causing an Energy Crisis? (Inter@ctive Week, 18 Dec 00)

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World's Smallest Robot?

Researchers at Sandia National Labs have designed a tiny robot with heat sensors, a camera, a microphone and a chemical microsensor. It is pictured above, sitting atop a coin.

• The Incredible Shrinking Robot, Self-Contained and Untethered (NY Times, 22 Feb 01 - free registration required)
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First 'Avatars' Going Online
(various sources through 24 Jan 01)

An "avatar" is a virtual representation that allows you to interact with others in virtual reality. (The word comes from the Hindu term for the incarnation of a god.) Several companies are testing the first avatars compatible with the Web, which will let people from around the world interact with virtual embodiments of one another.

• Meet Your Virtual Double (BBC, 6 Nov 00)

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