Marauding pirates could soon find themselves up against a new long-range laser weapon, designed to leave them blinded, bewildered and all at sea.
Although the laser will not necessarily repel determined aggressors, it should let them know that they have been spotted while still at a distance and that their quarry is ready for them.
A gene mutation linked with impulsivity and possible violent outbursts has been discovered in Finnish men convicted of violence and arson.
The mutation, in a gene called HTR2B, prevents production of the serotonin 2B receptor, a key docking point in brain cells for the neurotransmitter serotonin. One consequence could be depletion of serotonin in the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain involved in providing restraint and foresight into the consequences of actions.
IF YOU are pouring yourself one of the fine beers brewed at Europe's Trappist monasteries this holiday season, spare a thought for the Cistercian monks behind your tipple. Their beer sales suffer at the hands of breweries trading falsely on the monastic name.
Winding up the service – which has helped snare killers such as Soham murderer Ian Huntley and Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright – would see the country lose its position as world leader in crime-scene investigation, they suggest.
The UK's justice system will take a "backward step" if the government closes its Forensic Science Service, experts have said. The warning comes in a letter to the Times which was signed by 33 leading forensic scientists.
They say the move would see the UK lose its position as the world leader in crime-scene investigations. The Home Office said it was confident the move would not adversely affect the criminal justice system.
It has decided to break up the service, which makes an operating loss of £2m per month.
