You may have noticed that, as of Friday, there are a few new additions to the rules in the About section of PPX. We posted to the forums about the rules change, but we wanted to post here as well, to make sure all users are aware of the new policies.

PPX was established for two purposes: 1) to let PopSci readers and other interested players actively participate in making predictions about the future of science and technology and 2) to generate the most accurate data possible about these predictions. We hoped to accomplish these two goals without imposing too many rules and restrictions on the market, but weve observed trading behaviors that make it clear that a more explicit anti-manipulation policy is necessary for maintaining a fair and fun environment for all PPX members.Please read the About page for a summary of the revised rules.  These rules are now being actively enforced. Thanks for your patience as we continue to grow and develop PPX. --The PPX Staff

We're sorry to report that PPX is temporarily out-of-service due to a network-wide problem. Our technical team is working hard to rectify the issue. We estimate that it will be back online in an hour or two, and we apologize for the inconvenience! —The PopSci.com Team

Due to a technical issue, we're not going to activate the "price-freeze" feature on PPX until Friday, July 6. So from now until that day, trades will continue to happen in real time, with no opening-bell effect. Please make a note of the schedule change.

On Monday, telecom entrepreneur and X-Prize Foundation trustee Anousheh Ansari became the worlds first female space tourist when she launched into orbit aboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft headed for the International Space Station. Shes also one of just four private citizens of both sexes ever to hitch a ride to the cosmos. Why the small number? Well, the price is prohibitive, of course, but bucks alone wont get you a ticket—theres a waiting list to clear, health requirements to meet, and six months of training to ace before youre allowed to hang out at ISS with the cool kids from NASA. Ansari cleared all the hurdles, saying she hopes her journey will inspire girls—especially those from her native Iran—to study science.

So far, Space Adventures, the group that launched Ansari and fellow space rookies Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth and Gregory Olsen, is the only tourism company sending random rich folks into orbit, but plans are underway to have Richard Bransons much-ballyhooed venture, Virgin Galactic, up and running by 2007. Ansari is reported to have paid about $20 million for her journey to the Space Station (twice the amount of the 2004 purse for the Ansari X-Prize Cup), but Virgin Galactic will offer flights for the low, low price of 100,000 (about $188,000).  The cost difference is probably due to the fact that the space-station trip is a 10-day affair, while Virgins flights will last just three hours.

If Bransons plan runs according to schedule, Ansari wont be the only female tourist in space for long. A host of other would-be rocket divas including Angelina Jolie and Sigourney Weaver have sent down payments to Virgin for the opportunity to leave Earths atmosphere. Just one caveat, ladies: a couple months back, Virgin Galactic representative Will Whitehorn said that breast implants "might well explode" if subjected to the G-forces of takeoff.  Mythbusters supposedly debunked that rumor, but no one has tested it yet in actual space. What I want to know is, which enhanced celeb is gonna be first to find out what happens? Whaddya say Pam Anderson—you're the adventurous type. Want to step up and set a space record?    —Megan Miller