Today’s physics news: Friday, 31 July 2010

Michael Gove’s academy plan under fire as scale of demand emerges
Only 153 schools apply to become academies – despite education secretary’s claims that more than 1,000 had done so
Guardian
Independent  

Mars site may hold ‘buried life’
Researchers identify rocks that they say could contain the fossilised remains of life on early Mars.
BBC 
 
Scientists at war over Government funding
An unseemly spat has broken out between two of the most distinguished bodies representing Britain’s scientists and engineers over where the cuts should fall in the forthcoming review of the Government’s science budget.
Independent 
 
‘Straintronics’ debuts in graphene
‘Wonder material’ has yet another wondrous property
Physics World 
 
Satellite quantum communication circles closer
A trick used in 3D-movie theatres could enable totally secure quantum communication with satellites
New Scientist