No, not a new Beefheart bootleg. Boffins at the UK’s University of Reading have discovered that cloudy days are more likely to occur when the cosmic ray flux is high. [NewScientistSpace]

A group of astrophysicists from Bonn have found supporting evidence for the existence of a tenth ‘planet’ in our Solar System, way out in the Kuiper Belt. And apparently, it’s bigger than Pluto. [EurekAlert!]

Engadget reports on a self-contained biometric lock from Tychi Systems, that can be fitted to any normal door that can handle a latch lock.

SF author Pam Noles posts eloquently on the subject of race in Science Fiction, and the betrayal she felt when le Guin’s Earthsea stories were transferred to the big screen with an all-white cast. [BoingBoing]

Rocketing toward first flight: Gary Lantz of Rocketplane Limited talks to Out of the Cradle about sub orbital launches and how close Rocketplane Limited is.