Arthur's Seat

"GM study shows potential harm"

Or does it? Reading the headline on the BBC site you could be forgiven for thinking that this study of UK field trials had found that GM crops only had harmful effects on the environment. Within the report is the comment that the authors of the report concluded that:
...the picture was complex and there were circumstances in which GM might be beneficial as well.
Indeed; while you are contemplating the way in which this story was presented have a read of Dick Taverne's article in today's Scotsman.

Innovation

Lynne Kiesling over at Knowledge Problem is a great advocate of innovation - particularly in energy (and knitting).
She has written extensively about hybrid powered vehicles, and so this recent UK invention should appeal.

"An area the size of Wales"

It was often said at the time of the invasion of Iraq that it was a country "the size of France." Last month, as we watched the elections in Ukraine, that country was also identified as being France-sized. This was done to give us idle westerners a handy reference tool to allow us to fully assess the situation.
In this particular form of measurement, the most used comparator is, however, not France, but Wales. Click here for a ready reckoner.

A lake of tar

Fantastic and amazing. Salut, Huygens.

Bon voyage, Huygens

Huygens has succesfully separated from Cassini and is bound for Titan, with a landing due on 14 January. Bon voyage.

See you later, alligator

At Arthur's Seat we take a keen interest in Edinburgh's flora and fauna. This specimen must have made an interesting house guest.