Astronaut Heaves Space Junk Into Orbit Zero gravity may make life difficult for astronauts aboard the International Space Station to go about their daily activities, but it also has some advantages—namely, giving the illusion of superhuman strength. U.S. astronaut Clayton Anderson recently had the chance to hurl an antiquated, 200-pound camera mount into space, because there won’t be room for it to return to Earth on upcoming shuttle missions. Next up: a 1400-pound ammonia tank. NASA says the garbage will burn up in 10 to 11 months, posing no harm to other orbiting systems. RESIDENT ASTRONAUT: NASA Outsources ISS Supply MissionsTECH WATCH: Moon Dust Threatens Astronaut SafetyU.S. Roadways No Longer the Safest The United States, once a leader in automotive safety, has fallen behind the pack and now ranks 42nd in per capita automotive deaths out of the 48 industrialized countries that keep track of such figures. Experts blame a lack of both proper training (for young drivers) and widespread safety legislation (regulating the use of seatbelts, cellphones and more).CAR BUYER’S GUIDE: How Safe Are SUVs?PODCAST: Inside the Art of Crash Testing Phoenix Airport Flunks Security Test While airport security would seem to be at an all-time high, reporters at a Phoenix ABC affiliate found that their local Sky Harbor airport had an egregious lack of security for employees. While regular passengers were subjected to the rigorous inspections that have become standard, employees were able to breeze through another security checkpoint without X-ray machines, metal detectors or even a quick search. Since the report, the Transportation Security Administration announced that the airport was in violation of its policies and will now force more rigid security for employees. PLUS: PM Investigates the Safest Seat on an AirplanePLUS: FAA’s GPS Plan Could Cut Flight DelaysNanogenerator Produces Electricity from Blood Flow Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a nanogenerator that produces electricity from ultrasonic waves, such as those produced by pulsating blood vessels in the human body. Although it can’t currently produce enough current to power much, with refinements the scientists hope it can be used to power medical devices inside the body.BREAKTHROUGH AWARDS: Using Viruses to Manufacture NanotechnologyANALYSIS: Cutting Through Nanotech Hype
