A nearby star appears to be circled by six planets, including one "Super Earth" world that orbits at distances that could allow the existence of oceans, astronomers report.
Astronomers had earlier reported that three planets closely orbit the star, HD 40307, which is about 43 light years away (one light year is about 5.9 trillion miles). Now in the forthcoming Astronomy & Astrophysics journal report led by Mikko Tuomi of the United Kingdom's University of Hertfordshire, the team reports three more planets larger than Earth — but not as big as Jupiter — likely orbit the star.
Habitable zone 'Super Earth' candidate planet detected
2012 Election: Gay marriage, recreational pot, porn win
Voters for the first time approved legal gay marriage in at least two states and voted to legalize recreational pot in Washington and Colorado.
In California, voters rejected an initiative that would have required labeling of most food with genetically engineered ingredients but approved Measure B, legislation to require actors in adult films to use condoms.
The measure, which garnered more than 55 percent support from voters Tuesday, is intended to promote public health and to protect porn actors from sexually transmitted diseases, although opponents said it would force the adult film industry to relocate from the San Fernando Valley.
Ballot Question 300: Longmont fracking ban storms to victory
As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, the ban — Ballot Question 300 — was leading 16,798 votes to 11,544 and had widened its margin of victory with every report, according to the Boulder and Weld county clerk's offices. That gave ban supporters about 59 percent of the vote.
“Are you kidding?” screamed ban supporter Teresa Foster as results came in to a watch party held by Our Health, Our Future, Our Longmont. “Awesome! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
Alex Baer: Things We'd Rather Not Think About
Late on election night, there are plenty of things everyone would really rather not think about -- not after such a long, grinding, 4-year campaign.  And that's probably a good indication that we should think of them.  Now.  Even if we get queasy.
I dunno about you, but my own private version of Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue managed to leak out and stain my innermost thoughts, even now, fully tired, and my guard down.
After brushing aside all the shouts of Peanuts! Popcorn! Hot Dogs! Cold Drinks! and ducking around vendors and crowds, I found myself standing alone, under a huge banner, overhead:  Step Right Up and Make a Prediction for the Big Day (TM).
Standard & Poor's misled investors - Australian court
Australia's Federal Court has ruled that credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) misled investors before the global financial crisis.
S&P gave its safest credit rating, AAA, to complex and risky securities, which later lost most of their value.
In what is regarded as a landmark ruling, the court ordered S&P and the bank which arranged the product, ABN Amro, to pay damages to investors.
S&P said it planned to appeal against the decision.
Alex Baer: A Weary Nation
On one side, a hope-and-change machine started up, despite signs of sputtering, stuttering, and stalling out from time to time.  But, it always responded well to CPR, then would get right back on track, going down the center of the road.
On the other side, a blockade machine was built.  It swerved hard right all the time, otherwise working flawlessly, halting all forward progress with random exclamations of "NO!" and "One term only or else!" and "Over our dead body!"
That was four years ago.  Feels more like forty.
Hurricane Sandy’s Unmistakable Message
While politicians play for votes and ignore the evidence of a rapidly changing climate, Mother Nature has made the consequences heartbreakingly clear.
Four days after 24-year old Jake Vogelman was killed by a hurricane-toppled tree, NYPD detectives came to his house with his personal effects: a black leather wallet still wet from the rain and a watch that was still working
Hearing in NC sifts evidence against Army general accused of sex-related crimes, other charges
U.S. Army prosecutors offered the first details of a rare criminal case against a general, alleging in a military hearing Monday that he committed sex-related crimes involving four female officers and a civilian.
A hearing on evidence in the case against Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair opened Monday at Fort Bragg, home to the 82nd Airborne Division. Officials said the Article 32 hearing, similar to a grand jury proceeding in civilian court, was expected to last at least two days.
Israel 'planned Iran attack in 2010'
Israel's prime minister and defence minister ordered the country's military to prepare for a strike against Iran's nuclear installations two years ago, according to a television documentary.
But the order was not carried out after it met with strong opposition from two key security figures, the military chief of staff and head of the Mossad, claimed Uvda (Fact), broadcast yesterday.
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