Seems like a bit of a gimmick to sell their software, but if you’ve got a spare 10 minutes Posit Software’s online brain speed calculator might be a lark. A word of warning: those of us who use Macs apparently think too fast for the test to measure: it’s Windows only.

There’s something slightly ironic in seeing a command and control government like China using the market to try and address environmental problems like deforestation. Chinese restaurant-goers will probably see an increase in food prices as a 5 percent tax on disposable chopsticks is implemented. And car buyers will have to pay more for those high prestige big-engined cars.

The SpaceX Falcon 1 did not make it to orbit.

The SpaceX Falcon 1 launch is being liveblogged at Out of the Cradle, or you can catch the webcast video of the launch here.

Astronomers from Boston University have produced a new map of the gas clouds that produce new stars deep in our galaxy. In addition to granting insights into how stars like our Sun were created, the data will help us understand the mechanics and structure of the Milky Way in more detail.