Today’s physics news: Thursday, 13 January 2011

In today’s news round-up: giant green space blob captured by Hubble, Google offers $50,000 prize in search for young Einsteins, ethereal quantum state stored in solid crystal and more.

Giant green space blob captured by Hubble
Hubble scientists have zoomed in on a mysterious green object, revealing it as a blob of gas about the size of the Milky Way.
Times

Astronomers reveal ‘most distant’ galaxy cluster
Astronomers have revealed the most distant cluster of galaxies ever observed, caught at a never-before-seen stage of development.
BBC

Google offers $50,000 prize in search for young Einsteins
Google has announced the launch on an online global science fair allowing any student with an internet connection and a Google account to enter a competition with a $50,000 (£32,000) prize.
Independent

Hefce at arm’s length still fears government’s controlling hand over budget
Concerns have been raised about the “level of control” being exerted by the government on the Higher Education Funding Council for England as an “arm’s-length” public body.
THE

Grants: fewer, larger, for longer
Research councils plan to further concentrate funding on top institutions.
THE

Nature’s open-access offering may sound death knell for subs model
The launch by Nature Publishing Group of a high-volume open-access journal spanning the natural sciences is being tipped to accelerate the extinction of subscription fees in science publishing, and could also prompt the closure of many specialist journals.
THE

Ethereal quantum state stored in solid crystal
Delicate quantum entanglement has been captured within solid crystals – such traps could make quantum computing and communication more practical
New Scientist