Helen Gavaghan

Astronomy takes off: Next week, NASA plans to launch the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit, turning it into the world's most powerful optical telescope. Once up there, it will look back through 14 billion years of the history of the Universe

Gene therapy: the struggle for acceptance

Technology

Technology: America cuts its launchers down to size

New row over plans for US space station

Japan may help US to 'explore' Mars and the Moon

Technology

Technology: California cleans up its cars with methanol

Protest groups move to halt space mission . . .

. . . while experts ponder Ariane explosion

Americans deprived of contraceptive choice, says report

European nations want action now on global warming

NASA moves to defuse space station row

Bush rejects scientists' call for action on global warming