China launches new global positioning satellite for COMPASS

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

A rocket carrying the fifth of a planned array of 35 orbiters blasted off from the Xichang space launch center in Sichuan, southwest China, the official Xinhua news agency reported.Beijing started a drive to end its reliance on the U.S. Global Positioning System in 2000, when it sent an experimental pair of positioning satellites into orbit.China’s necklace of satellites aims to provide navigation, time and short message services in the Asia-Pacific region before 2012 and will be capable of offering global navigation by 2020, Xinhua said.The system, codenamed “COMPASS,” will be crucial for the transport and oil exploration industries as well as for weather and disaster forecasting, telecommunications and public security, the news agency said.

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Russian Forest Fires Rage on;Causing Heat Wave

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Fierce  fire is burning in Russian forests. Around 238,000 firefighters and 226 aircraft were tackling the fires in 14 regions. Temperatures are forecast to top 100 degrees in the next few days.

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Trees ‘Farm’ Bacteria to Help Supply Nutrients

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Some trees growing in nutrient-poor forest soil may get what they need by cultivating specific root microbes to create compounds they require. These microbes are exceptionally efficient at turning inorganic minerals into nutrients that the trees can use.New research finds that some trees, such as oak (in picture) and beech, that grow in nutrient-poor forest soil may get what they need by cultivating specific root microbes to create compounds they require.

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Mars Rocks: Clues to Life 4 Billion Years Ago

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

A new article in press of the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters unveils groundbreaking research on the hydrothermal formation of Clay-Carbonate rocks in the Nili Fossae region of Mars. The findings may provide a link to evidence of living organisms on Mars, roughly 4 billion years ago in the Noachian period.

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