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Monthly Archives: March 2009

Super-laser fully operational at last

A video from the National Ignition Facility explains what the super-laser experiment is designed to do. (Other)After more than a decade of work and $3.5 billion, engineers have completed the world’s most powerful laser, capable of simulating the energy force of a hydrogen bomb and the sun itself.

Hubble-saving space shuttle moves to launch pad

Space shuttle Atlantis rolls atop the crawler transporter out to launch pad 39-a at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Atlantis is scheduled for a May launch to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. The space shuttle Atlantis moved out to its seaside launch pad in Florida early Tuesday to prepare for NASA’s long-delayed final flight to the iconic Hubble Space Telescope.

Dalai Lama condemns hacking of computers

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama visually corroborates with his hands as horns as he speculates that the Chinese government probably thinks of him as the devil at a press conference in New Delhi, India.The Dalai Lama said Tuesday that regardless of who is hacking into the computers of his Tibetan government-in-exile, the stolen information appears to go straight to the Chinese government.

Microsoft to shutter Encarta this year

Microsoft says it is shutting down its online encyclopedia, Encarta, in October and will stop selling Encarta software by June.

Take steps to avoid April 1st computer virus

The Conficker worm, a nasty computer infection that has poisoned millions of PCs, will start ramping up its efforts Wednesday to use those machines for cybercrimes. It’s unclear whether everyday PC users will even notice, but this is as good an excuse as any to make sure your computer is clean.

Sony cuts price of PlayStation 2 to $99.99

Sony Corp said it cut the price of its older video game console, the PlayStation 2, by 23 percent to $99.99, effective April 1.

Small-screen browsers get bigger role

Disney's Web site as shown using Safari, the iPhone's mobile Web browser, one of the reasons Apple's smartphone is so popular.At CTIA, the wireless industry’s trade show this week, expect chatter about the mobile browser “wars,” with Opera Mini, long popular in Europe, expected soon to have more of a presence in the United States and a test mobile version of Firefox underway.

Virginia fireball said to be meteor, not rocket

See stunning views of rocket launches and outer-space wonders from March 2009.A brilliant fireball in the Virginia sky on Sunday was likely a natural meteor event and not the remnants of a Russian rocket, scientists now say, a reversal from yesterday’s initial analysis.

Honda connects brain with robotics

A Honda Motor Co. employee wears a headgear with codes attached during a demonstration of Honda's new technology linking brain thoughts with robotics.Opening a car trunk or controlling a home air conditioner could become just a wish away with Honda’s new technology that connects thoughts inside a brain with robotics.

Unpaid bills? Good luck starting future laptops

As wireless carriers begin to subsidize computers that come with wireless Internet access, they’re faced with a quandary: What do they do if the buyer stops paying his bills?