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Within the Solar System, surfaces of the atmosphere less bodies are strongly influenced by factors often associated with the expression "space weathering" (*). Recent scientific evidence has shown that the aging process surface due to space weather has a very strong momentum (of the order of one million years) relative to the age of the solar system (about 4.5 billion years).

"Science and journalism - friend or foe?" gathered at the British Council's genuine friends of knowledge. They represent many fields including media, IT, architecture, education, psychology, theology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, linguistics and climate. The story of the event continues now with the second part, and this precedes the one dedicated to few of the email questions and aspects addressed by friends of the Science Newspaper.

The celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 involved 148 countries, a number that confirms that the IYA2009 network is the largest ever in science. Activities and events from these participating nations paint a picture of professional and amateur astronomers bringing the Universe down to Earth through countless projects, opening the eyes of the public to the wonders above.

Although we do not have instruments to measure the degree of boredom or the properties of time, one thing is for certain: the science cafe on the relationship between science and journalism lasted two hours. Two times more than the initial planned programme. The topics, the discussions between participants and video dialogues with partners from UK, Greece and Romania seem to have dilated time. In a pleasant way and for all those who were or wished to be present at this event. That's because we have received email requests from young researchers and science communicators from abroad.

University Open Days is one of the news that caught the attention of participants at the 2009 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities that took place in Brussels, Belgium, between 5-8 October. Open Days 2009's motto was "Global Challenges, European Responses" and attracted thousands of national and regional policymakers, experts and representatives from business, civil society and academia. Discussions focused around four main topics but the pride of place was the perspectives that can offer creativity and innovation. That's because the field of RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) is a matter of high priority for European regions. These were the topics that we addressed in a discussion with Luc Van den Brande, Committee of the Regions' (CoR) President.

Disarming the flu virus has become a key strategy in the battle against the flu. Scientists in Grenoble in France have made a breakthrough in research into how the virus attacks the human body.  Powerful X-ray imaging has enabled them to learn more about its main weapon  - a so called "knife"  used by the virus to access and hijack human proteins  which it needs to reproduce. Deprive the virus of its knife and the battle is won so the theory goes.

Imagine for a moment that you could peer into the future what would you look for? Perhaps in your excitement, you'll want to know how things will turn out tomorrow or even five years from now. As your glance moves from family to friends and business relations, the thrill continues with one delightful discovery after the other until all of a sudden and with a screech, you are stuck in traffic. You think to yourself for a moment:  "why didn't I look out for the traffic". This is the real world, welcome to Lagos.

Cancer. Obesity. Robot. Astronomy and peace. Premier League. Life and comet. These are the keywords for the week that has just passed.

Another week has passed. The Science Newspaper's editor wants to provide the readers with a very short brief from the subjects that were announced during the past week. Just for the benefit of the interested readers. Some of these made the headlines, some not; but that doesn't mean the latters are less important. Now, it's time for presenting the very first RESULTS & LINKS for the week July 20-26, 2009.

The 'New Zealand Virtual School' proposal, led by the 163 student The Catlins Area School, Owaka, has been shortlisted by the Ministry of Education to become one of five new national Trade Academies. The Virtual School would be the first of its type; delivering vocational training to young New Zealanders through online learning.

In a remarkable first for the UK, the European Space Agency (ESA) has touched down in Britain, heralding the start of a new space age and thrusting the sector forward for the next 40 years and beyond.

Dr. Eric Demoncheaux is Head of Science at Battle Abbey School, which lies on the historic site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, built by William the Conquerer. Eric gives us his highlights of National Science and Engineering week where our co-editor visited the school to meet some young scientists.

It has always been known that a good mother-child contact leads to healthier and happier babies and adults. But what would happen if we knew that early life nurturing affects our genes and can leave life long imprints in our genome? This is a research focus of Patrick McGowan and his colleagues at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal, Canada, who found that suicide victims with a history of childhood abuse are more prone to carry stable chemical modification on their DNA that will cause impaired response to stress later in life, published in a recent volume of Nature Neuroscience (McGowan et al., 2009).

The beginning of summer coincides with the sixth World Conference of Science Journalists, hosted in London, at Central Hall, Westminster from June 30 to July 2nd.  We spoke to Pallab Ghosh, President of the World Federation of Science Journalists and BBC Science Correspondent about this biannual global event.  We discussed  what news will be brought to your attention, why should science journalists attend, what are the expectations, and last but not least, the effect of the financial crisis in the area of science writing.

Scientists in the US used brain imaging techniques to localize the areas in the human brain that are activated when thinking about God and religion.  The results suggest that specific components of religious beliefs are mediated by known brain networks.  What techniques helped researchers to reach to this conclusion and if we are close to an instrument for measuring religious belief are just few of the questions discussed with Dimitrios Kapogiannis, first author of research that was published in PNAS.

Scientists in the UK have developed a new type of light bulb that could last up to 60 years. Researchers are developing an alternative to replace existing light bulbs which might last a lifetime, giving energy efficiency a bright future.
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In 1609 the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei used the telescope for the first time to comment on the sky, which meant a revolution in astronomy. People found with astonishment that the surface of the Moon has similar forms of relief to land (mountains, valleys, Crate, plains, etc.) Around the planet Jupiter rotating four natural satellites, now called Galilean satellites, it was found that on the surface of the Sun appear occasionally some dark spots, and not least in the Milky Way there are thousands and millions of stars. To mark the astronomical revolution that has radically changed the design of the human universe, the United Nations has decided that 2009 should be considered the International Year of astronomy and worldwide events are occurring to mark this astronomical anniversary. Activities are conducted under the aegis of the International Astronomical Union in partnership with UNESCO.

Mikhail Gorbachev launched a high-profile water initiative in the European Parliament on the 12th February calling for water issues to be included in UN Negotiations. A protocol for universal water rights and water-centred conflict prevention is the aim of an international "Peace with Water" meeting that has been held in the European Parliament in Brussels. It was organised by the World Political Forum, whose president is the former Soviet leader.  Mikhail Gorbechev called for large-scale water projects to be made "an engine for restarting the world economy on a new basis."

The Japanese Space Agency has developed a satellite to help scientists keep a closer eye on the level of gases, which contribute to global warming. It is called GOSAT - or Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite - and it is designed to greatly improve measurements of carbon dioxide and methane that are currently taken on the earth's surface. But there is only a limited number of ground based locations which take measurements and they are sporadically distributed around the globe.