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"A survey of Chinese scientists who use Google much more than local search engines. China's roughly 380 million internet users. 78% of the scientists who responded to Nature's survey say that international collaborations would be affected to the same degree. Scientists in the 25-34 year age range were most likely to say that losing Google would significantly hamper their research."

"One of the world's largest research charities, the Wellcome Trust, is to support efforts by scientists to make their work freely available for all. The Trust is to establish a free, online publication to compete with established academic journals. They say their new title could be a "game changer" forcing other publishing houses to increase free access. More than 9,000 scientists are boycotting a leading paid-for publisher for restricting access to their papers."

A Dutch schoolteacher with no formal training in astronomy, Ms. van Arkel had joined tens of thousands of other Web volunteers to help classify photographs taken by deep-space telescopes. Stumped by the unusual image on her computer screen, she e-mailed the project staff for guidance. Staff members were stumped, too. And thus was christened the celestial body now known to astronomers worldwide as Hanny's Voorwerp (Dutch for "object"). Stories like Ms. van Arkel's are becoming more common, as the Internet opens up new opportunities for so-called citizen scientists. And as millions of people get involved in these participatory projects, scientists are grappling with how best to harness the amateurs' enthusiasm.

The young man in this video looks like he's riding a Segway. But Yusuf Akturkoglu was paralized after falling from a horse five years ago, and he's being mobilized by an amazing device invented by Turkish scientists. It's going to change lives. It's called the Tek Robotic Mobilization Device, and it not only allows people who can't walk get around more independently than any device has before, but it also helps them stand up on their own, which is crucial for maintaining basic health functions in people who have spinal cord injuries.

Scientists have developed a method through which people can control a robotic arm with their mind.

Satellite technology has enabled us to understand the importance of the oceans in storing heat energy and regulating climate. Research scientist Lee Lueng-Fu explains how a satellite was able to track the development of the El Nino affect for the first time. El Nino caused weather events around the world - droughts, bushfires, storms. The latest generation of satellites are now used to improve climate change models. Computer graphics of satellite images show effects of climate change.

"The researchers asked what could happen if a hacker could gain access to the network of a car, said Tadayoshi Kohno, a University of Washington computer scientist. He said the research teams were able to demonstrate their ability to circumvent a wide variety of systems critical to the safety of drivers and passengers. "

A new online mapping tool will enable scientists and the public to track outbreaks of animal diseases that might jump to humans.

"A device which can be worn like a watch could revolutionise the way blood pressure is monitored in the next few years, scientists say."

"Technology is not neutral," said Professor Sahami, who formerly worked at Google as a senior research scientist. "The choices that get made in building technology then have social ramifications."

The New Scientist's technology section has a lot of useful information, and a lot of it very easy to understand too. A useful source for articles for discussion, the technology section also breaks down into smaller topics like Computer Crime, Robotics, and Weapons. Some of the "Instant Expert" guides in here are well worth using in class, and some of the articles may also be suitable for Paper 2. (subscription required for some articles)

A Lifelike Prosthetic Arm, By Michael Rosenwald - May/June 2009 \nA new surgical technique, developed by scientists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, allows patients who have lost arms to use residual nerve signals to control a prosthetic limb. This video shows three patients testing a prototype limb being developed by DARPA. The patients can perform complex tasks, including picking up a cup, grasping a cracker without breaking it, and putting a spoon in a cup. \n

ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)