[Science] Space Station Grapples With a Dragon, Again

Space Station Grapples With a Dragon, Again
http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/02/17161426-space-station-crew-brings-spacexs-dragon-cargo-craft-in-for-a-hookup?chromedomain=science&lite
At 5:31 am ET Sunday morning, International Space Station astronauts guided the Canadarm2 robotic arm to an earlier-than-scheduled grappling maneuver with the SpaceX Dragon capsule.

CITES meeting to deal with species 'extinction crisis'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21629176
New plans to protect elephants, rhinos and other species will be discussed at a critical meeting that begins in Bangkok on Sunday.

Researchers: Volcanic eruptions offset recent global warming
http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/researchers-volcanic-eruptions-offset-recent-global-warming/
The researchers warn that the 10-year climate data sets collected by this study are not extensive enough to identify climate change trends.

Sharks at risk of extinction from overfishing, say scientists
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/02/sharks-risk-extinction-overfishing-scientists
Sharks risk being driven to extinction due to overfishing, with almost 100 million killed each year, scientists have warned. Many species of shark need better protection to prevent their extinction within coming decades, researchers warned in advance of a ...

Wild Pollinating-Insect Numbers Dropping, Agricultural Crop Yields Following ...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2013/03/01/science-wild-pollinators-honeybees.html
Wild pollinating-insect numbers have been on the decline over the past century, primarily as a result of wide-scale habitat-loss and pesticide use.

First ever photo of alien planet forming
http://www.skynews.com.au/eco/article.aspx?id=850598
Astronomers have captured what may be the first-ever direct photograph of an alien planet in the process of forming around a nearby star.

NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity in Safe Mode After Computer Glitch
http://www.space.com/20034-mars-rover-curiosity-computer-glitch.html
A computer glitch on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has forced the robot to switch to a backup computer while engineers try to resolve the problem.

Inspiration Mars ship using human waste as a radiation shield: no really, it's fine
http://www.firstpost.com/world/your-ticket-to-mars-man-and-woman-preferably-married-wanted-for-expedition-645225.html
Dennis Tito is planning an ambitious private flyby of Mars for 2018 that will carry all kinds of logistical challenges during its proposed 501-day span, not the least of which is shielding the crew from radiation without consuming valuable resources.

Culver: Comets appear as 'long-haired stars' in sky
http://news.gnom.es/news/welcome-to-the-year-of-the-comet-we-hope
From time to time, an apparition appears in the night sky, which appears to the naked-eye observer as a “long-haired star” or a comet.

Exhuming Richard the Lionheart
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21639734
Scientists are examining the embalmed heart of Richard the Lionheart, who died in 1199. Dan Jones on the remarkable truths revealed by studying a centuries-old organ.

Close encounters of the three kinds
http://www.theday.com/article/20130303/ENT07/303039995
Last month brought some excitement in the way of space rocks falling to Earth, passing by Earth, or, as is periodically the case, supposedly threatening to snuff out all life on Earth.

NASA needs steady, long-term planning
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/01/first-craft-nasa-has-designed-to-take-astronauts-beyond-orbit-since-apollo-missions-will-take-test-flight-in-early-2014/
While NASA's future plans may be aimed at the far reaches of our solar system, its present-day concerns are firmly footed here on Earth.

Russian Duma Proposes Banning Exports of Meteorite Fragments
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/20372
The Russian Duma is proposing adding Chelyabinsk meteorite fragments to the federal list of items that are banned from being exported abroad.

Science fair inspires dozens of students
http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2013/03/students_put_science_to_the_te.html
SUMMIT - A group of dedicated educators hypothesized that a science and engineering fair would help engage and inspire local students.

Federal court upholds polar bear status as threatened species
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/01/184608/court-rejects-alaskas-bid-to-remove.html
SEATTLE - The federal law listing polar bears as a threatened species was upheld Friday by a federal appeals court, which rejected arguments that it is wrong to impose far-ranging and possibly costly protections for a species that remains fairly abundant in ...

New Dinosaur Species Was Crocodile Snack
http://www.voanews.com/content/dinosaur-boyd-new-species-utah-crocodile-snack/1613318.html
Scientists in Utah have uncovered evidence of a new species of plant-eating dinosaur that used to be a popular snack for prehistoric crocodiles.