31 JANUARY: A reproductive biologist in Melbourne wants to grow human sperm
in mouse testes. If it works, some infertile men might become fathers. But will
the 鈥測uk鈥� factor halt the project?
25 APRIL: Make sure you water the plants before you go on holiday. A
researcher in Southampton plans to use pot plants as sensors for burglar alarms.
Intruders change the plants鈥� electrical capacitance.
6 JUNE: Dave Caulkins, a computer network manager in California, plans to
bring in the millennium in with a bang. His goal is to convert redundant nuclear
missiles into gigantic fireworks.
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20 JUNE: Astronomers are horrified by a Russian plan to reflect sunlight to
Earth from an orbiting mirror. Their protests fall on deaf ears 鈥攖he
latest plan is for it to be deployed in February.
1 AUGUST: Hell really is hotter than Heaven, say two Spanish physicists who
applied the laws of physics to the scriptures with the help of a bishop. But
even paradise is a blistering 232 掳C.
31 OCTOBER: Feeling peckish? The TurboChef oven, soon to be unleashed on
consumers, can cook a turkey in minutes. It works by shrouding food in a
fast-moving layer of hot air while bombarding it with microwaves.
