Today’s physics news: Tuesday, 22 September 2009

US student sends balloon into space

A student from Massachusetts Institute of Technology has used a second-hand camera, a GPS-enabled phone and a balloon to gain pictures from the edge of space and capture glimpses of the Earth’s curvature.  The ease with which the student has obtained the images has led to comparisons with costly NASA experiments. Images from the experiment have been compiled into a film and put on YouTube.
The Guardian
The Telegraph

Dawkins vs. libel and bad science

Talking at the Lib Dem conference, Richard Dawkins, popular science author and former Professor for Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, condemned UK libel laws, stating that our libel laws give too much power to the plaintiff (the aggrieved) which makes it difficult for scientists to criticise quackery.  Dawkins cited the case that the British Chiropractic Association has brought against Simon Singh.
The Guardian

UN climate change meeting

As a UN climate change summit in New York gets underway, papers are suggesting that India and China will bring new zeal to the discussions.  The FT reports on a call for more ambitious climate targets from the Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, which includes companies such as Starbuck’s and British Airways, to create a level, eco-friendly playing field for global firms.
BBC News
The Guardian
Financial Times

University and Colleges Union calls for clarity on fees

Following the Lib Dem U-Turn on fees and the Confederation of British Industries’ call for higher fees, the University and Colleges Union (UCU) has called on all political parties to clarify their position on fees.  UCU represents university lecturers.
The Telegraph
The Guardian

EdExcel Chief quits

It has been announced that the MD of EdExcel, Jerry Jarvis, will be resigning.  He has been a controversial figure during his tenure; this summer he announced that A-levels needed to be recalibrated after 27 years of grade inflation and was the first major figure to warn of problems with the government’s new diplomas. 
Tne Guardian