March 2009 in science

March 31, 2009 (Tuesday)

• E-mail spam has returned to normal levels (94% of all e-mail) following the McColo shutdown. (NYTimes)

March 30, 2009 (Monday)

• Microsoft is closing down Encarta, its digital encyclopedia. (CNet)
• Researchers uncover a way to easily detect Conficker infections on a network. (CNet)

March 27, 2009 (Friday)

• The nanopore method of DNA sequencing has been successfully tested in the lab for the first time. It is a candidate to dramatically speed up and reduce the cost of sequencing. (PhysOrg)

March 23, 2009 (Tuesday)

• A report by NASA concludes a plasma ball released from the Sun could cause $2 trillion in damage and kill millions in the developed world from the resulting long term power outage. A geomagnetic storm similar to the Carrington event of 1859 could bring down the electrical grid. (NewScientist)

March 17, 2009 (Tuesday)

• Fossilized remains of small dinosaur rediscovered in Canada. (SciAm)
• The Safe Quick Undercarriage Immobilization Device developed by the Engineering Science Analysis Corporation, offers police officers both a quick and safe way to end car chases. (PopSci)

March 12, 2009 (Thursday)

• Apple Inc. reveals new iPod shuffle with voice. (Reuters)
• Space debris threatens International Space Station, astronauts temporarily evacuated. (NASAspaceflight.com)

March 10, 2009 (Tuesday)

• North Korea warns airlines over satellite fears. (Reuters)

March 6, 2009 (Friday)

• NASA's Kepler spacecraft launches in search of Earth-like planets. (LATimes)

March 2, 2009 (Monday)

• A Tunguska event-sized asteroid buzzed past Earth at 72,000 kilometers. (NewScientist)

March 1, 2009 (Sunday)

• Researchers find safer way to make stem cells. (Reuters)

References