In contrast to the looming 30-year trend of overall diminishing ice growth, the Arctic Ocean is again showing signs of a return to large ice packs. In 2008, first year ice coverage grew significantly. It set a record covering 73% of the entire Arctic basin. Because most of this was first year ice, and therefore thin, it was more prone to melting during the summer months. And while that did happen, the amount of first year ice is still large, possibly indicating the beginning of a trend.

A Norwegian University of Science student named Vadim Makarov has discovered a vulnerability in what was previously thought to be unbreakable quantum encryption. He is using a form of high intensity laser light to intercept the encrypted data stream covertly. While quantum encryption is regularly used to secure Swiss bank transactions, as well as their much publicized 2007 election results, Makarov claims it's easily hacked. He claims to have developed a black box device which he says, "turns the equipment into a puppet-box that an eavesdropper can control."

Yale University researchers have discovered that in many places around the globe, switching from high energy incadescent light bulbs to energy saving varieties (such as Compact Fluorescent Lighting, or CFL) actually increases the amount of Mercury released into the atmosphere. The report has to do with a number of factors, including the type of power generation used by the region. It's turning out that the fight against global warming is not the same for everybody.

In what's being heralded a "groundbreaking poll," statistics experts have put together a survey where the questions are about small things. #1 - Do you know about nanotechnology? #2 - Do you know about synbio? In response to #1 nearly half of the U.S. adults polled knew nothing about nanotechnology. And 9 out of 10 knew nothing about synbio. While both of these are major technology initiatives often published on web sites, newspapers and TV shows, it appears that general public awareness is still very low.

Researchers at Temple University have created a $200 device which makes diesel engines look far more attractive. It is a fuel thinner which creates smaller droplets: When injected into a diesel engine they burn more efficiency. Studies show fuel economy increasing by 19% in regular automobiles while, at the same time, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. A Mercedes-Benz 300D sedan saw a 19% increase in highway driving, from 32 mpg to 38 mpg. A 15% increase was seen in city driving. But, is another diesel additive really what we need?

Mathematicians at UCLA discovered the 45th known Mersenne prime with almost 13 million digits. The discovery makes the group eligible for a $100,000 prize, which was promised for discovering the first prime with more than 10 million digits.

With the current state of our economy, it’s a no brainer that many of us could use an extra $10 million. Here is one way to get your hand on this amount: The Department of Energy is holding a competition that envisions a new generation of light bulbs: The L Prize will reward an individual or organization with a prize money of $10 million, who creates a viable solid-state LED replacement for the standard 60 watt incandescent bulb. A second prize will also be awarded for any company creating a replacement for a PAR 38 halogen reflector lamp.