On:

A U.S. Geological Survey scientist says he was fired for his internet posting of politically sensitive maps illustrating the biodiversity of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge where President Bush wants to drill for oil.

?I had bad timing!? said Ian Thomas. He says the maps contained information that was already public. He has posted data about bird and mammal migrations, vegetation and ice formations, but when he posted a map of caribou calving areas in the refuge, it cost him his job.
read more

On:

NASA’s ACE spacecraft recorded a strong interplanetary shock wave at 0025UT on March 31st. The shock wave struck earth’s magnetosphere 30 minutes later. The leading edge of the wave was proton-dense and strongly magnetic.

These are characteristics that can lead to significant geomagnetic disturbances. The shock wave may be the first of two that will strike the earth in quick succession. Until the second passes the ACE spacecraft, its strength will not be known, but if it is as strong, the planet will be subjected to powerful and prolonged magentic storms. It is possible that the waves combined enroute and this will be the only one, but another wave is more likely.
read more

On:

Sunspot AR9393 is now the largest in ten years and is growing fast. The sunspot is presently thirteen times the size of earth. An eruption near the sunspot sent a coronal mass ejection toward earth earlier today. Forecasters estimate a 15 to 25% chance of a severe geomagnetic storm when the material reaches earth, probably on Friday.

The number of sunspots has reached 352, up from 224 earlier today.

The last time a magnetic storm caused severe damage was the memorable March 13, 1989 event, which shut down power grids and blew out huge transformers throughout the northern hemisphere.
read more

On:

Scientists have discovered that cat purring is a natural healing mechanism that probably created the legend that cats have 9 lives.

Wounded cats purr because it helps their bones and organs heal, say researchers who have analyzed the purring of different kinds of cats. This is why they can survive falls from high buildings. Exposure to similar sound frequencies is known to improve bone density in humans.

Cats? ability to survive and recover after falling from tall buildings is well documented. A study published in The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that out of 132 cats that fell an average of 5 ? stories, 90 percent survived, including one that fell 45 stories.
read more