The Week
Into the Blue Yonder
The Shuttle Discovery last week took off on a beautiful day in what at first blush appeared to be a seamless shot into space. Alas, NASA would soon discover that just two minutes after liftoff, a fat chunk of foam broke from Discovery's external fuel tank. As the astronauts orbited and docked with the international space station, engineers back on Earth analyzed photos to determine if the shuttle's fragile protective tiles had sustained damage that might create danger during the astronauts' return. The mission, while stunning, had failed to provide the boost the space agency so desperately needed: Just a day after the launch, NASA suspended all future shuttle flights until it figures out and fixes the flaws.
A Change of Heart On Stem Cells
In a stunning reversal, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist last week broke with the White House to support a bill to expand federal funding for embryonic-stem-cell research. "The limitations put in place in 2001 will, over time, slow our ability to bring potential new treatments for certain diseases," said Frist, a heart surgeon. "Therefore, I believe the president's policy should be modified." Scientists believe that research on human-embryo cells, which can morph into different types of body tissue, could lead to cures for ailments such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and juvenile diabetes. But the issue is politically touchy, because embryos must be destroyed to extract the cells. President Bush in August 2001 said the government would pay for research only on already established stem cell colonies. It was believed that 78 lines would be eligible, but only 22 qualify. A House-passed bill would allow research on stem cells from frozen embryos left over from fertility treatments that would otherwise be discarded.
"Cure today may be just a theory, a hope, a dream," Frist said, insisting that his view is consistent with his strong antiaborton beliefs. "But the promise is powerful enough that I believe this research deserves our increased energy and focus. Embryonic-stem-cell research must be supported."
Closing the Net In London Town
An intense manhunt paid off big-time last week when police captured three of the four men suspected of trying to bomb the city's subways and buses on July 21. The fourth was nabbed in Italy. The botched attack, which came exactly two weeks after four deadly suicide bombs killed 56 people, had sparked fears that these four suspects--and perhaps other unknown cells--might try to pull off more bombings. The arrests helped reassure jittery Londoners and provided a major boost for beleaguered London security forces, which have been criticized for intelligence lapses and for shooting and killing an innocent Brazilian man entering a subway car. A suspected ringleader, Haroon Rashid Aswat, was also apparently arrested by authorities in Zambia, underscoring the likelihood that this latest attack was directed by terrorists from abroad.
In Egypt, police were trying to track down the culprits in three massive explosions that ripped apart a hotel and a market in the popular resort of Sharm al-Sheikh. Authorities believe Egyptian militants were behind the attack that killed at least 64 people.
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