Quick photo-break: Ed Morana is an amateur astronomer, and one of his specialisms is trying to capture images of the International Space Station when it transits the moon as seen from Earth. So why not go take a look at his latest effort, the first since the new ISS solar panels were deployed?

So, you liked the look of those self-contained penthouse apartment-pods, but there’s a shortage of roofspace in your area, or maybe you’d prefer to live in wide-open spaces? If so (or you just happen to need a semi-permanent structure made from sustainable materials), the reusable KITAHAUS pod could be just the ticket. If the spot you place it on becomes a little more permanent, you can even wire it into grid mains electric and plumbing. I wonder if this is really a major advance, or just ‘pre-fabs for the new millenium’?

Stemming bleeding is a major part of medical surgery – it’s not just critical, but consumes a lot of time and effort too. Which is why surgeons are getting excited by a new invention in the form of a clear gel which, when rubbed onto wounds, staunches bleeding rapidly. The gel is made up of a solution of peptide proteins that can rapidly self-organise into sheet-like structures at the nanoscale, and if the results it has been producing in rodent test subjects can be replicated with humans, surgery will be changed forever. In the meantime, maybe we should be looking at using spiderweb dressings to prevent infections and promote healing?

A diet that includes plenty of fresh greens is considered essential for keeping your health up to scratch. So prospective Lunar colonists will be relieved to hear that they will likely have access to locally-grown salad produce, thanks to the NASA ‘Salad Bowl’ project. The research has been aimed at developing ways of growing planet-side plants in the sort of conditions that a colony on the Moon would have to make do with.

How the (once) mighty have fallen. After filing for bankruptcy a few months ago, Tower Records is being liquidated by its latest buyer after having failed to adjust to the paradigms of a changing market. That’s not to say that the future of retail outlets is looking all bad – it seems that the secret is to keep things small-scale, specialised and customer-focussed, like the ever-increasing number of independent bookstores springing up across the States.