
Forget the cloak and dagger. You want to be at the forefront of the spy game? Just load up Google Earth. A couple of days ago, the Federation of American Scientists posted images and an interesting analysis of a new kind of Chinese nuclear-propelled ballistic missile submarine, the picture of which cropped up in late 2006 on Google Earth. Check out the pictures and proposed layout of the so-called Jin-Class sub, and revel in the irony: people used to get thrown in jail for looking at this kind of data without a security clearance. Progress, indeed. —Martha Harbison

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The 6th annual Invention Awards are here, from an inflatable tourniquet to a better lobster trap to spring-loaded hocket skates. This issue is all about the celebration of invention.
Plus: Making synthetic biology breakthroughs in a garage, building a constantly-moving ping-pong table, and a ridiculously overpowered barbecue.
I find that so funny, I dont know why.
Why is Martha always so interested in another guy's missile?
from Oceanside, CA
China wants to be the 21st Century Genghis Khan and we need to be the 21st Century Romans.