Strange new lifeform is blooming – “But it’s also the abode of some very hardy fungi which researchers believe aren’t just tolerating the severe radiation, but actually harnessing its energy to thrive…”

Britain’s first bionic hand – “The i-Limb, which he uses on his left hand, relies on electrical pulses that run through the remaining muscles of the arm when they are flexed. Sensors on the surface of the skin pick up the pulses and trigger movement in the hand…”

Scientists find complete dinosaur fossil – “Young dinosaur skeletons are hard to find in good condition because they often are destroyed by weather decay or because they were torn apart by predators. The latest find would be a major step toward discovering the growth and development of dinosaurs, Yokoyama said…”

SHEC Labs Takes First for Most Efficient Solar Concentration – “Solar Hydrogen Energy Corporation (SHEC) Labs has launched themselves into first place for the world’s most efficient solar thermal technology developed so far…”

Harmony thrives in Pacific isolation – “It is one of the world’s most remote islands but has a community spirit that is almost utopian, reports Huw Cordey from Anuta in the Pacific…”

USA is Now the World’s Largest Generator of Wind Energy – “The statistics are in for the first half of 2008 and they show that USA, for the first time, generated more wind energy than Germany. This “milestone” wasn’t expected to be reached until late 2009…”

Nukes Are Not the Best Way to Stop an Asteroid – “Nuclear weapons could be used to stop earth-bound asteroids, but in most instances, they are not the best option, said Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart during a public lecture this Wednesday in San Francisco…”

Incredible Fish Armor Could Suit Soldiers – “The armor of the fish, Polypterus senegalus, is so effective because it is a composite of several materials lined up in a certain way, the engineers state in a their analysis detailed in the July 27 issue of the journal Nature Materials…”

Scientists develop tobacco plant which turns red when it detects landmines – “A plant that can detect landmines has been developed by scientists. The genetically-modified tobacco plant has a gene that triggers a red plant pigment found in tomatoes and apples…”

Can The New iPhone Revolutionize Radio? – “Two free applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and another program that costs only $4.99, make it possible to listen to live radio on the iPhone from anywhere, including a moving car. “

[See previous IR]