“We’re just very proud to build this, do some testing and demonstrate to America that we’re moving beyond the space shuttle onto another generation of spacecraft.”

Don Pearson, project manager for the Post-Landing Orion Recovery Test, comments on the unveiling of a full-size mock-up of NASA’s new space vehicle on the National Mall in Washington (Reuters).

“These ancient lions were like a supersized version of today’s lions, up to 25 per cent bigger than those we know today and, in the Americas, with longer legs adapted for endurance running.”

Ross Barnett, of the University of Oxford’s Department of Zoology, discusses his research on the skulls of cats (Daily Telegraph).

“What is going on has an adverse effect on our work.”

Cosmonaut Gennady Padalka says diplomatic squabbles are preventing Russians on the International Space Station from using American toilets or sharing their food (AP). [Hat tip – NASA Watch]

“It was like nothing we’d ever seen before.”

Owen Gilbert, a grad student at Rice University, discusses his research on a giant colony of clonal amoebas (NY Times).