The search for ‘exosolar’ planets, Earth-like bodies in other star systems, is starting to pick up pace. A large part of the problem at the moment is the light from the parent stars of potential planets making them hard to spot. A daisy-shaped star-shade, designed by a team at the University of Colorado, may make it possible to screen out the starlight and allow detailed analysis of planetary features, such as atmospheric content and surface topography, via spectrographic methods.

According to Bruce Schneier, “the fundamental problems in computer security are no longer about technology; they’re about applying technology,” which is why a conference dedicated to the the economics of information security has a lot to say about where IT security is going.

Want to stop terrorism? Find the terrorists wives. Or maybe give them a small business loan. Both would probably be most effective.

NetworkWorld’s 10 cutting-edge network research projects you should know about is worth reading for a peek at what’s happening to electronic networks large and small in the next few years.

The SmartCar will be distributed in the United States beginning in 2008. It’s going to sell like hotcakes in San Francisco, where some people pay more for a garage than an apartment.