Archaeologists get a glimpse of life in a Sahara Eden - Los Angeles Times

Archaeologists get a glimpse of life in a Sahara Eden - Los Angeles Times:

A chance discovery by a team of American scientists has led to the
unearthing of a Stone Age cemetery that is providing the first glimpses
of what life was like during the still-mysterious period when monsoons
brought rain to the desert and created the "green Sahara."

The
more than 200 graves that have been explored so far indicate that,
beginning 10,000 years ago, two populations lived on the shores of a
massive lake, separated by a 1,000-year period during which the lake
dried up.

Rebirth of State Capitalism?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/08/democracy_a_flickering_star.html

Democratic capitalism, it would appear, now has a great new rival -- autocratic capitalism. In Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, nations are beginning to imitate the autocrats of China and Russia, even as some in the 1930s sought to ape fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.

Complete Neanderthal Mitochondrial Genome Mapped : Discovery Channel

Complete Neanderthal Mitochondrial Genome Mapped : Discovery Channel: "The remarkable feat, which has led to at least three major discoveries about the extinct stocky European individuals, represents a breakthrough for studies on the human family."

Clean Break :: GE demonstrates roll-to-roll organic LED manufacturing

Another advance on the road to cheap, effective, and efficient power and lighting. What's interesting is that the technology can also be used on other things like solar power or displays.

Clean Break :: GE demonstrates roll-to-roll organic LED manufacturing

AFP: Famed geneticist creating life form that turns CO2 to fuel

Craig Venter is working on developing bacteria that can generate fuel from waste products. If he pulls it off, it could be a major step in biofuel technology and achieving energy independence.

AFP: Famed geneticist creating life form that turns CO2 to fuel: "'We have 20 million genes which I call the design components of the future,' Venter said. 'We are limited here only by our imagination.'"

Solar Power to Rule in 20 Years, Futurists Say | LiveScience

Recent developments in the technology, such as the panels produced by Nanosolar and other research lead me to think that this may well be true:

Solar Power to Rule in 20 Years, Futurists Say | LiveScience

Iran fires rocket 'into space', plans satellite for '09 | The Register

Iran's announcements of scientific and technical achievement should be taken with a grain of salt, but if true this is a sign that space is within reach of more and more countries:

Iran fires rocket 'into space', plans satellite for '09 | The Register: "The Islamic Republic of Iran announced yesterday that it had fired a rocket 'into space' and transmitted footage of the launch on state media. The move drew instant condemnation from the Bush administration in America."