Ten NatGeo News Stories You Might Have Missed in 2010

Drug-filled Mice to Kill Snakes

Photograph by George Grall, National Geographic

Dead mice packed with drugs were airdropped into Guam's dense jungle canopy—part of a new effort to kill the invasive brown tree snake (pictured in a file photo) on the U.S. Pacific island territory, scientists announced in September.

The unusual measure earned an editors' pick for one of this year's most overlooked stories, "Drug-filled Mice Airdropped Over Guam to Kill Snakes."

Published December 6, 2010

Bigger Mouse Testes Win Out

Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Stock

When competition for females is fierce, males of some species (such as the male field mouse, pictured) have evolved bigger testes to trounce their rivals, a study confirmed in March.

Get the details in one of 2010's most overlooked stories: "Bigger Testes Can Offer a Competitive Edge."

Published December 6, 2010

Cosmic String Simulation

Image courtesy Cambridge Cosmology Group via Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Unusually short but intense "fireballs" in the distant universe might be created by the plucking of invisible cosmic strings—ultradense flaws in space-time—a study found in August.

This computer simulation of cosmic strings originally appeared with the story "Space-Time "Wrinkles" Igniting Odd Gamma-ray Bursts?"

Published December 6, 2010

Space Shuttle Atlantis' Final Flight

Photograph courtesy NASA

Astronauts Michael Good (left) and Garrett Reisman peek through the windows of Atlantis's rear flight deck during the space shuttle mission's third and final spacewalk on May 21.

During the 6-hour, 46-minute spacewalk, Good and Reisman installed fresh batteries and performed a few maintenance tasks on the International Space Station.

See the full gallery: "Space Shuttle Atlantis: Final Flight in Pictures."

Published December 6, 2010

Solar Power in Haiti

Photograph courtesy Robert Freling, Solar Electric Light Fund

Following the success of a ten-kilowatt photovoltaic system installed last year at its health center in Boucan Carré (pictured, some of the panels), nonprofit Partners In Health is expanding its use of solar in Haiti, NatGeo News reported in March.

With Haiti's infrastructure in tatters following a devastating January earthquake and funds being raised around the world, many believe it is an ideal time to deploy new power for the impoverished Caribbean country.

Read the full story: "Solar Power Brings Light to Quake-Darkened Haiti."

Published December 6, 2010

Satellite Map Reveals Older Universe

Diagram courtesy WMAP Science Team, NASA

Our universe is about 20 million years older than thought, according to the most accurate measurement yet made of the universe's age, researchers announced in February. The data are the latest from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), a satellite launched in 2001 that has been mapping what's known as the cosmic microwave background radiation.

Pictured, hot and cold spots in WMAP's cosmic microwave background data are compared with computer simulations.

Read more: "Universe 20 Million Years Older Than Thought."

Published December 6, 2010

Giant Squid Before Plastic Surgery

Photograph courtesy and copyright Gunther von Hagens, Institute for Plastination

This giant squid (seen after dissection) is one of two that were plastinated in Germany in March before their public debuts.

Plastination, which replaces fat and body fluids with silicone, has been carried out on a giant squid before (picture), but the two newly plastinated squid are "the most lifelike specimens yet," said New Zealand squid expert Steve O'Shea.

See more pictures: "Giant Squid Get Extreme Plastic Surgery."

Published December 6, 2010

Kashmiri Vendors on Shrinking Lake

Photograph by Ami Vitale, Getty Images

Kashmiri vendors sell flowers and vegetables at an early morning market on the shrinking Dal Lake in a file photo.

The livelihoods of people who rely on the lake—including those who run the region's tourist houseboats—are at risk from pollution and declining water levels, experts said in June.

Get the full story: "'Venice of Asia' Canals Disappearing."

Published December 6, 2010

Great Shale Gas Rush in Pennsylvania

Photograph by Scott Goldsmith, National Geographic

Natural gas drill rigs seem to rise from the farmland in rural Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania, in a file picture. The giant Marcellus shale formation lies just underneath.

Within the past three years, scores of energy companies proved that by combining and supercharging some old oil industry technologies, they could blast fissures through the shale to yield sizable amounts of natural gas—prompting a great shale gas rush that was the basis for an October multimedia package.

Get the full story: "Natural Gas Stirs Hope and Fear in Pennsylvania."

Published December 6, 2010