A bubble of plasma could shield astronauts from radiation during long journeys through space, researchers are suggesting. If the idea proves viable, it means heavy metal protective panels could be replaced by a plasma shield of just a few grams.

According to a recent report from SITA (Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques), online plane ticket sales will make up 28% of all airline ticket sales in 2006, up from 20% in 2005. This means that of the 2 billion airline passengers worldwide, approximately 560 million use the Internet to make their bookings.

Retail stores of the future will provide self-checkouts, traditional attended checkouts and mobile self-scanning terminals with actual proportions tailored to store patterns, but pay-points remain a hot spot for innovation.

In a radical departure from conventional lens-based optics, U.S. scientists have developed sophisticated optics made of webs of light-detecting fibers.

U.S. scientists say dementia may rob a person of memory and focus, but the ability to offer advice about life’s big questions seems to be preserved.

A new HotTopics report from Outsell estimates that click fraud represents a $1.3 billion-a-year advertising revenue loss — this includes $800 million wasted on fraudulent clicks plus $500 million held back from pay-per-click (PPC) advertising spending.

Vodka is the most popular liquor among Americans, who last year spent about $10.8 billion on it, according to data from the Distilled Spirits Council, an industry trade group.

YouTube, the leader in Internet video search, said on Sunday viewers have are now watching more than 100 million videos per day on its site, marking the surge in demand for its "snack-sized" video fare.

A chinese man bought two dozen Barbie dolls to keep his whining eight-year-old daughter quiet, but it only meant howls of protest from his wife instead.