Diamonds: bad for life
The planets circling some stars in our galaxy may be too diamond-rich for life. Our solar system is relatively carbon-poor; in carbon-rich regions of the galaxy planets may have a mantle of hard, brittle diamond that is incapable of flowing. As such, the plate tectonics important for life may not exist, Wendy Panero of Ohio State University in Columbus told this week's American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting in San Francisco.
Not listening for probe
The European Space Agency has given up trying to contact the Russian probe Phobos-Grunt, which is currently stranded in Earth orbit. ESA's tracking antennas have not heard from the probe in two weeks, and they are needed for other things.
Some endurance athletes who take part in marathons, triathlons and alpine cycling risk damaging the right ventricle of their heart, which pumps blood to the lungs. Five of 40 such ...