This week in Science

Satellite re-enters, debris site unclear

HOUSTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) — A decommissioned 6-ton satellite fell to Earth late Friday and early Saturday, NASA said in a news release.

Diseased fish found in Australian harbor

GLADSTONE, Australia, Sept. 24 (UPI) — Commercial and sport fishing has been banned in a stretch of the Queensland coast in Australia because of red-spot disease and an unidentified parasite.

Rare giant armadillo caught on camera

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 23 (UPI) — A rare giant armadillo, twice the size of more familiar species, has been photographed in central Brazil, scientists say.

Natural nanostructure can sequester carbon

EVANSTON, Ill., Sept. 23 (UPI) — U.S. chemists say a class of natural nanostructures made of sugar, salt and alcohol can capture and store carbon dioxide while being carbon neutral themselves.

Endangered red foxes seen in California

BRIDGEPORT, Calif., Sept. 23 (UPI) — Wildlife researchers in California say new findings prove Sierra Nevada red foxes, although greatly endangered, are slightly more common than thought.

Solar system may have had extra planet

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 23 (UPI) — A computer simulation of our early solar systems suggests it once had an extra planet, a U.S. researcher says.

Plant that ‘plants’ its own seeds found

SALVADOR, Brazil, Sept. 23 (UPI) — A new plant that bends over to deposit its seeds in the earth has been discovered in northeastern Brazil, scientists say.

Levels of human impact on wildlife studied

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 23 (UPI) — Researchers say they have found limits at which trails in some of Canada’s most popular national parks can be used by humans before animals avoid those areas.

NASA looks to lasers to speed data

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) — NASA says it’s looking at lasers to speed up the transmission of high-resolution images from distance spacecraft like those now on Mars.

New material promises better batteries

BERKELELY, Calif., Sept. 23 (UPI) — Scientists in California say a new material could allow lithium-ion batteries in cellphones, laptops and the newest electric cars to store more energy.

Earthquake test has vehicles on bridge

RENO, Nev., Sept. 23 (UPI) — U.S. researchers say their simulation of an earthquake on a bridge using full-size vehicles could produce important data to be used for new design standards.

Compounds give hope of AIDS prevention

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 23 (UPI) — U.S. researchers say a new class of compounds that stick to the coating of the HIV virus can stop it from infecting cells, a possible step to better treatment.

Australia seeks return of ancient remains

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 23 (UPI) — The Australian Embassy in Sweden says it has requested the return of skulls and skeletons of seven indigenous Australians held at Stockholm University.

Japan announces launch of spy satellite

TOKYO, Sept. 23 (UPI) — Japan says it has launched a spy satellite into orbit, the fourth since North Korea launched a missile over the Japanese island of Honshu.

Weather good for insects this year in Fla.

TITUSVILLE, Fla., Sept. 23 (UPI) — An unusually warm wet summer has led to an abundance of cockroaches, palmetto bugs, ants and other insects on Florida’s Space Coast, experts say.