Shuttle returns, fights statistical space beer

Will be back for the last timeSpace shuttle Endeavour completed its last space mission, which included four spacewalks and install a $ 2 billion, £ 15,000 Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, which already contains data. The shuttle returned to Earth this morning, touching down at Kennedy Space Center and then shuttle Atlantis, Orlando Sentinel reports, such as Atlantis "crept slowly toward the final turn on the launch pad."   All eyes are now on Atlantis, which is scheduled for launch on 8 July on the final mission of the space program of 30 years.  (Scott Powers, Orlando Sentinel)New doubt Cast on the study of chronic fatigueA 2009 paper in the journal Science connected a retrovirus called XMRV in chronic fatigue syndrome.  Now the Science Editors ask authors to retract the article, after Science has published two follow-up documents and "editorial expression of concern" that undermined the Association.  The Association more likely because of contamination, said Bruce Alberts, editor-in-Chief of science. The authors say would be "premature" retracting. (Amy Dockser Marcus, The Wall Street Journal)
Extinction and its discontentsThe New York Times journalist and blogger Andrew Revkin has an interesting post on a statistic that is derived from a study published in the month of may, the journal Nature, which concluded that common calculations used to predict the species extinction rates are too high.  The authors say that they have the mathematical proof, but that does not deny that the loss of species is still in progress. Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm calls the paper a farce. This post contains comments by Pimm and a response given by the author of the study Stephen Hubbell.   (Andrew Revkin, Dot) BrewedSpecifically beer space for astronautsHis astronaut ice cream for adults. A microbrewery Australian claims that has developed "a full body brew that can be enjoyed in space". This looks at how it is designed both for taste, that changes in space, but also to prevent wet burps – has explained here.  The beer is made with reduced carbon dioxide to reduce this side effect so delicious. (Lisa Mullins, Public Radio World International)

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