Technology Hijacking the terrorists Boeing is patenting a system designed to deter hijackers (US 2004/0162670). In future, it suggests planes would have an extra autopilot system that would take over and land the aircraft at the nearest predetermined landing site in the event of a hijacking. If sensors detect a breach of the cockpit door, or the air crew … 51¶¯Âþ
Humans Westminster diary THE director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, reckons it is time to abandon the notion that it is morally reprehensible for some countries to pursue nuclear weapons, yet morally acceptable for others to rely on them (51¶¯Âþ, 10 July, p 17) . Speaking at the Carnegie International Non-Proliferation Conference in Washington … Opinion
The origin of Harriet THE world's oldest known living animal is Harriet, a giant Galapagos tortoise living in the Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, who recently celebrated her 173rd birthday. But Harriet has a better claim to fame than that. She is widely thought to have been plucked from her island home by none other than Charles Darwin, who … Features
Sorting out the families On the Origin of Phyla By James Valentine, University of Chicago Press, $55, ISBN 0226845486 THE most important event in the history of life is still a mystery. In rocks of the Cambrian age, laid down in the sea more than 520 million years ago, animal fossils suddenly become abundant, and within a few million … Books & Arts
Feedback THE time has come for Feedback to humbly offer Stephen Hawking some advice. In July, the physicist told 51¶¯Âþ that he didn't know what to work on now that he has sorted out the black hole information paradox. So we turned to the collective brain of our readers and asked for problems profound enough … Regulars