40925631
submission
Aglassis writes:
Eurogamer has reported that famed D&D and computer game designer Colin McComb is working on a spiritual sequel to Planescape: Torment. The game will be set outside of the Planescape campaign setting due to an inability to come to an agreement with Wizards of the Coast. The lead designer on the original game, Chris Avellone, has apparently given his blessing.
70970
submission
Aglassis writes:
NASA investigators have determined that a software update performed in June of 2006 may have doomed the 10 year old spacecraft. Apparently the software error caused the solar arrays to drive against a mechanical stop which then forced the spacecraft into safe mode. Unfortunately, after that the spacecraft's radiator was pointed at the sun which overheated the battery and destroyed it. Contact was lost with the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft in November of 2006. NASA will form an internal review board to formally determine the cause of the loss of the spacecraft and what remedial actions are needed for future missions.
35764
submission
Aglassis writes:
The Cassini spacecraft recently observed a hurricane-like storm on the south pole of Saturn. What makes this storm particularly interesting is that this is the first time that a clearly defined eyewall has been seen outside of the Earth in the Solar System. Neither the Great White Spot of Saturn nor the Great Red Spot of Jupiter have had an observable eyewall. NASA, JPL, and the Space Science Institute have released a short movie of the motion around the eyewall (mirrored at YouTube).
20679
submission
Aglassis writes:
The governent of the UK is opposing a propective European Commission directive (PDF) (an amendment to the Television Without Frontiers Directive) that would require sites such as YouTube or Myspace and potentially bloggers who post videos on websites based in Europe to aquire a broadcast license for broadcasting a 'television-like service.' This is to require the websites to comply with EU regulations involving advertisements, hate speech, and child protection. Is regulating the fledgling European video market a wise idea to make it comply with other EU directives or is it just going to hurt European businesses and oppress bloggers?
