That ‘dark matter’ stuff is still causing headaches for cosmologist and astronomers, not to mention layman science geeks like myself. And here’s more fuel for the fire; this article on ‘dark energy’ discusses a number of ideas pertaining to black holes, but also mentions the theory that the entire universe itself may be a ‘dark energy star’. My head hurts.

They’re more like cages, really, but at an atomic scale. Scientists have discovered a new configuration of atoms of gold that forms an enclosed space in a similar way to ‘buckyball’ carbon. That makes the Au16 cluster the smallest metal cage possible; now the boffins intend trying to trap other molecules in the cages.

OK, so there’s no mash-ups yet to tell you where to get a good burger or refuel the FTL drive. But the latest three-dimensional map of the known universe is the biggest and most detailed yet, and may help to pin down that ‘dark matter’ stuff that may or may not make up a huge percentage of everything.

For obvious reasons, toxic substances are a no-go area for new medical methods. But everyone wants a piece of the nanotube action, so researchers at the University of California have been coating them with synthetic polymers that mimic molecules found in the human body. A big step along from sugar-coating the pills.

Japanese footwear company Asics have developed a new training shoe that they believe will help astronauts maintain muscle-tone in zero gravity conditions. Even if they don’t have that effect, it’s still a great ploy for marketing to the geek dollar.