Inspired by the recent news that astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope had discovered the all-carbon fullerene molecules floating in the cosmic dust between stars, SciScoop reader Nicole Anderson (PinkGlassWing) sent us a wonderful piece of scientifically inspired artwork to celebrate the discovery (Click image for large version): You can find out more about the discovery of buckyballs in space via the NASA website and in a forthcoming issue of SpectroscopyNOW.com

Yachting enthusiast Tony Hayward who allegedly headed BP in his spare time has been nudged out of his job with a golden handshake amounting to lots and lots of money and a mighty pension. He should've received a golden shower if you ask me, or better still been tarred and feathered like so many birds in the Gulf of Mexico. Hayward will be replaced by American Bob Dudley, the BBC reports. Meanwhile, vessels returned to the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a tropical storm to ... Read on and comment...

After months of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico following the fatal BP Deepwater Horizon accident (April 20, 2010), the company has at long last found a way to plug the leak. The cap was put in place earlier this week and valves were closed slowly on Thursday with a successful outcome. US President Barack Obama has called the work a "positive sign" and the company's shares jumped on the news (whoop-de-do!). All, I can say is, it was about bloody time and that BP ... Read on and comment...

The destruction of crops has always been a considerable problem. In particular, rice farmers of South East Asia are directly affected by heavy floods and damaging salt contamination every year, losing large amounts of harvest. Floods in this region are a direct result of torrential rains and overflowing rivers. At the forefront of research and development into newer, stronger crops that might resist such damage are the CGI (Clinton Global Initiative) and the IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) - the duo plans to provide a more ... Read on and comment...