Today’s physics news: Science budgets, Curiosity zaps Martian rock and the value of Apple

Here’s today’s roundup of  physics news.

How generous is the science budget, really?

In this blog post, Richard P Grant gives a break down of the UK government’s science budget since 2010 and compares it to the other leading research-intensive countries. Grant finds that although the UK are seventh in the world, by % GDP, for R&D investment, the UK government only invests £4.6 billion into this, which he claims is not very generous, as Vince Cable has protested, compared to money spent on defence, pensions, central government spending and overseas aid.

The Guardian

Nasa’s Curiosity rover zaps Mars rock called Coronation

Nasa’s Curiosity rover has zapped its first Martian rock. The robot fired its ChemCam laser at a tennis-ball-sized stone lying about 2.5m away on the ground. The brief but powerful burst of light from the instrument vaporised the surface of the rock, revealing details of its basic chemistry.

BBC

Apple becomes the most valuable company of all time

Apple – the world’s most valuable firm – is now the most valuable company of all time, with a market value of approximately $623bn (£397bn). The consumer gadget and computer maker has now surpassed Microsoft’s record of $620.58bn set in 1999. However that figure is not adjusted for inflation.

BBC