Thomson Scientific today announced the results of a study analyzing Australian institutions' research influence and scientific output.

In the September/October issue of Science Watch, Thomson Scientific analyzes data from its Australian University Indicators 1981-2006 to evaluate universities and research institutions based on total citations and impact -- the average number of citations per paper.

The study ranks institutions by impact and total citations across 21 fields as well as overall output and impact.

From 135,000 to 90,000 years ago tropical Africa had megadroughts more extreme and widespread than any previously known for that region, according to new research.

Learning that now-lush tropical Africa was an arid scrubland during the early Late Pleistocene provides new insights into humans' migration out of Africa and the evolution of fishes in Africa's Great Lakes.

"Lake Malawi, one of the deepest lakes in the world, acts as a rain gauge," said lead scientist Andrew S. Cohen of The University of Arizona in Tucson. "The lake level dropped at least 600 meters (1,968 feet) -- an extraordinary amount of water lost from the lake.

Many consumers take precautions against identity theft, but what about medical identity theft? In addition to financial peril, victims can suffer physical danger if false entries in medical records lead to the wrong treatment.

“The crime occurs when someone uses a person's name and sometimes other parts of their identity -- such as insurance information -- without the person's knowledge or consent to obtain medical services or goods,” said Laurinda B. Harman, PhD, RHIA, associate professor and chair of the health information management department at Temple University’s College of Health Professions.

Is using a Wii too much workout for you? Developers at the University of Washington may have something you like better. Designed for people with disabilities, their new software lets users control a computer cursor without any tactile involvement. Early tests suggest that an experienced user of Vocal Joystick would have as much control as someone using a handheld device.

"There are many people who have perfect use of their voice who don't have use of their hands and arms," said Jeffrey Bilmes, a UW associate professor of electrical engineering. "I think there are several reasons why Vocal Joystick might be a better approach, or at least a viable alternative, to brain-computer interfaces." The tool's latest developments will be presented this month in Tempe, Ariz.

There hasn't been an emergency on the launch pad that required the use of an emergency evacuation system for astronauts but, to be safe, NASA has updated earlier systems of escape for Launch Complex 39B, hosting the new Orion spacecraft and Ares I rocket of the Constellation Program, which were basically cables running from the spacecraft’s crew level to an area near a bunker, to one with rails. And linked cars. 380 feet above the ground.

Yes, it is the most spectacular roller coaster around, and we will never get to ride it.

Kelli Maloney, lead designer for the launch pad escape system, said requirements call for astronauts to be able to get out of the spacecraft and into the bunker within 4 minutes.

If you grew up on a farm, the first thing you were taught about fertilizer is that you can't use waste from anything that eats meat. Cows okay. Humans bad.

Researchers in Finland disagree and say that human urine is virtually sterile, free of bacteria or viruses and naturally rich in nitrogen and other nutrients.

Urine fertilization is rare today though they say it was common in ancient times. Maybe in Finland.