Space Pictures This Week: Frosty Mars, Mini Nile, More

Photograph by Mike Theiss, National GeographicThe aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, illuminates the Arctic sky in a recent picture by National Geographic photographer Mike Theiss.A storm chaser by trade, Theiss is in the Arctic Circle on an expedition to photograph auroras, which result from collisions between charged particles released from the sun's atmosphere and gaseous particles...

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Conn. Shooter Adam Lanza: Quiet, Bright, Troubled

Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old who killed 20 kids and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school Friday, was very bright, say neighbors and former classmates, but he was also socially awkward and deeply troubled."[Adam] was not connected with the other kids," said family friend Barbara Frey. A relative told ABC News that Adam was "obviously not well."READ full ABC News coverage...

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Today on New Scientist: 14 December 2012

Global cuteness increased by discovery of new loris Three new species of Bornean slow loris have been discovered, quadrupling the world's cuteness indexTime-travelling 3D tour shows birth of Eiffel Tower Watch an ultra-realistic 3D reconstruction that lets you experience Paris through the agesWarning, speedsters: you can't fool quantum radar A technique borrowed from quantum cryptography could...

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I'll answer crime questions in neutral country: McAfee

MIAMI: Anti-virus software pioneer John McAfee said in a TV interview Friday that he was willing to answer questions about the murder of his neighbor in Belize in a neutral country.McAfee, who insists he is innocent, also admitted that he was worth "less than" US$5 million -- a day after saying he was broke -- though it was unclear how he would access that money."I've said in any neutral...

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Google Maps rides to iOS users' rescue (week in review)

Apple's Aussie adventure led to this disclaimer.(Credit:Victoria Police)Google Maps returned to the iOS platform this week, but that was not enough to rescue Apple's map app rep.Banished from Apple's iOS earlier this fall, Google Maps returned to the mobile platform in the form of a standalone app. The official Google Maps app returned to Apple's App store Thursday evening with turn-by-turn navigation,...

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Pictures: Unspoiled Rivers

Photograph by David Doubilet, National GeographicA bushman paddles a canoe along the Okavango River, southern Africa's fourth longest waterway. The Okavango starts in Angola and 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) later drains into Botswana's Moremi Wildlife Reserve, where it creates an unusual landlocked, delta-like oasis in the Kalahari Desert.This oasis, protected by the reserve, is a near-pristine...

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More Than 20, Mostly Kids, Killed at Grade School

More than two dozen people, mostly elementary school children, were shot and killed at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school this morning, federal and state sources tell ABC News.The massacre involved two gunmen at a Connecticut school this morning, prompting the town of Newtown to lock down all of its schools and draw SWAT teams to the school, authorities said today.State Police...

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Violent beauty at the end of an Alaskan glacier

Flora Graham, deputy editor, newscientist.com(Image: Jon Cornforth/Caters)You can almost hear the crash of ice on water in this image of an ice sheet shearing off the Chenega glacier in Prince William Sound, Alaska. But when photographer Jon Cornforth pressed the shutter, it was eerily silent."I saw the birds erupt in flight before I even saw the ice falling," says Cornforth. "I heard the actual...

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Golf: US 2014 Ryder Cup captain Watson wants Tiger on team

NEW YORK: Eight-time major golf champion Tom Watson, named on Thursday to be captain of the 2014 US Ryder Cup squad by the PGA of America, said that he sees Tiger Woods being on that team.Citing the 14-time major champion's hunger for victory, Watson said a healthy Woods would be a certainty on the 12-man US lineup by virtue of a captain's selection even if he is unable to qualify on points."I...

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Nook HD tablets now available at Walmart

Consumers looking for a Nooktablet can now pick one up at Walmart.The retail outlet is selling the Barnes & Noble tablets at their usual prices. So the Nook HD tablet will run you $199 for the 8GB version and $229 for the 16GB model. The Nook HD+ will cost you $269 for the 16GB edition and $299 for the 32GB model.All four versions and their related accessories are available through Walmart's online...

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