'Bonehead' dinosaur leaves life clue
A head-butting dinosaur with a skull like a conker is helping scientists get a better picture of life 85 million years ago.
'Happiness index' of the world's mood goes online
A stock market-style "happiness index" that measures the mood of the world on any given day has been developed by US scientists.
'Extreme weather more likely' in UK as climate changes
The government's top scientific advisor has warned of greater variability in UK weather as a result of climate change
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Scientists will study asteroid to prevent future threats
Scientists will use a radar to study the 2012 DA14 asteroid, as it flies past the Earth tonight, to learn about its structure and composition.
They hope to use the information to help them plan in the event of another incoming space rock.
Video source: NASA
Scientists are looking at ways to 'nudge' an asteroid if it was a threat to Earth, as blowing it up would only result in debris falling to Earth, they said.
Tonight an asteroid will approach Earth, passing closer than ever before.
'Possible' to see the asteroid between the stars
Scientists have said it will be possible to see the asteroid as it flies past the Earth tonight.
It will appear as a faint dot of light, moving at a "steady rate" between the stars.
– Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular AstronomyIt'll be thousands of times fainter than Jupiter and 250 times fainter than the stars of the Plough.
The trick will be to find the area in advance and wait for it to come through. You can use the star maps to find exactly the right part of the sky. If you hold your binoculars steady you will see this tiny point of light crawling across your field of view in about seven or eight minutes.
It's not easy, but you will have the thrill of knowing you are seeing a little object in space the size of an office block.
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Asteroid will approach from 'underneath' the Earth
An asteroid will fly past the Earth tonight, entering the orbit of telecommunication and weather satellites.
This image shows the asteroid's movements, looking down from above Earth's north pole.
This image shows why the asteroid will not be visible to the northern hemisphere's observers, until very close to the Earth, because it is approaching from "underneath" the planet.
Asteroid to narrowly miss hitting the Earth
An asteroid big enough to destroy London will narrowly miss the Earth as it flies past tonight, according to NASA.
The 150ft-wide rock has no chance of hitting the Earth scientists say, but it will enter the orbits of more than 100 telecommunication and weather satellites, just over 17,000 miles away from the planet.
It is thought it will reach its nearest point to Earth at 7.30pm (GMT) tonight.
The asteroid, 2012 DA14, was discovered by a spanish observatory a year ago.
Scientists accused of 'cruel' tests on laboratory mice
Scientists have been accused of conducting "frenzied and irrational" tests on mice.
The welfare group Animal Aid said that genetically modified mice were often subjected to "terrifyingly cruel" laboratory treatment.
It said that animals had been poisoned with salt, injected with acid, and forced to inhale tobacco smoke.
In response to the claims, Sharmila Nebhrajani, chief executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said: "When researchers need to use animals, this is strictly regulated to ensure they do not suffer unnecessarily".
Star Trek actor William Shatner calls astronaut in space
A Canadian astronaut, known for tweeting images of Earth from orbit has been speaking to William Shatner, from space.
Chris Hadfield attracted the attention of the Star Trek actor, and many other Twitter followers, as he tweeted pictures of the Australian wildfires and New Orleans during the Super Bowl.
Shatner tweeted Hadfield, "Are you tweeting from space?", with former astronaut Buzz Aldrin taking part in the discussion.
In the chat, Shatner said: "It's such a pleasure to talk to you. I'm so moved to be able to speak to you."
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Scientists reveal humans are descended from a shrew
A painstaking study to trace the earliest mammal ancestor of human beings has resulted in the naming of the shrew.
Scientists believe the insect-eating creature evolved some 200,000 years after a massive asteroid impact led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
The shrew-like animal is the first example of a "placental" mammal - the largest branch of the mammalian family tree which includes dogs, cats, rodents, whales and humans.
Experts in the US recorded 4,500 physical traits for 86 mammalian species, including 40 that are now extinct, in order to build up a picture of how the creature would have looked.
Asteroid to pass closer to Earth than ever before
A 45 metre-long asteroid is set to pass closer to the Earth than any other near miss on record, according to NASA.
Read the full storyA guide to the phenomenon known as solar flares
This guide from Nasa explains what happens when the powerful magnetic fields in and around the sun reconnect, which could lead to a "solar superstorm".
'Solar-superstorm' could occur every one to 200 years
The last known large scale 'solar-superstorm' occurred in 1859, but is likely to occur every one to 200 years.
In the Carrington event, sparks were sent flying from telegraph pylons, causing fires, as energetic currents from the blast hit the earth.
Night skies were lit up by aurora displays, following a large solar flare.
At that time, there were no satellites in orbit or sensitive microchips in the path of the particles.
If an event of this scale were to hit today, the electricity grid could be affected, along with aircraft and navigation systems.
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