SYDNEY – Scientists using DNA have catalogued and described 100 new species of sharks and rays in Australian waters, which they said on Thursday would help conservation of the marine animals and aid in climate change monitoring. More than 90 of the newly named species were identified by scientists in a 1994 book “Sharks and Rays of Australia” but remained scientifically undescribed.

Cargo reaches space outpost after hurricane delay

MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian cargo ship docked at the International Space Station on Wednesday following a four-day delay after hurricane Ike forced evacuation of U.S. mission control in Texas last week, Russian media reported. The Progress M-65 cargo ship successfully coupled with the multibillion-dollar orbit outpost at 2243 Moscow time (4:43 p.m. ET), local news agencies quoted officials from Mission Control in Korolyov, outside Moscow, as saying.

Russia to help Cuba build space center

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Moscow is ready to help Cuba develop its own space center, Russia's space agency chief said on Wednesday after talks in Caracas with Venezuelan and Cuban officials, Itar-Tass news agency reported. Russia has stepped up efforts to develop closer links with both countries, which are ideological enemies of Washington, including sending Russian strategic bombers on a mission to Venezuela this month.

Australia issues first license to clone human embryos

SYDNEY (Reuters) – The Australian government has issued its first license allowing scientists to create cloned human embryos to try and obtain embryonic stem cells. The in vitro-fertilization firm Sydney IVF was granted the license and reportedly has access to 7,200 human eggs for its research.

Companies seek alternatives to plastic chemical

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Health worries about a chemical found in many plastic products have created opportunities for companies catering to the growing market for products made without bisphenol A. But the plastics and food packaging industries, which defend the safety of bisphenol A or BPA, argue that particularly for certain uses there are no alternatives that can do everything BPA can do.

Evolution fine but no apology to Darwin: Vatican

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican said on Tuesday the theory of evolution was compatible with the Bible but planned no posthumous apology to Charles Darwin for the cold reception it gave him 150 years ago. Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, the Vatican's culture minister, was speaking at the announcement of a Rome conference of scientists, theologians and philosophers to be held next March marking the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's “The Origin of Species.”

Medvedev wants Russia to set Arctic seabed borders

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered his officials on Wednesday to draft a law marking out Russia's borders in the Arctic, where it is competing with the West for control of vast energy resources. Medvedev did not specify where the borders should lie but Russia has claimed large swathes of territory and any unilateral action would breach a deal between the five Arctic Sea countries to let the United Nations rule on their rival claims.

Scientists discover 120 million year-old ant

BERLIN (Reuters) – German biologists have discovered a new species of ant they believe is the oldest on the planet, dating back around 120 million years. Researchers from Karlsruhe's Natural History Museum found the 3-millimeter-long (0.118 inch) insect in the Amazon rainforest in 2007, and hope it will shed light on the early evolution of ants.

Sharks released off Sydney beach for study

SYDNEY (Reuters) – A Sydney aquarium released seven sharks bred in captivity and tagged with acoustic tracking devices into the waters off a city beach on Tuesday to study if it is feasible to breed sharks to restock dwindling wild numbers. The two-year-old wobbegong, or carpet sharks, measuring up to 80 cms in length, are bottom-dwelling sharks and regarded as harmless but