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Disappointment among financiers about the slow pace of the West's recovery from recession is understandable, but they should not be so surprised; who but they are helping to reinvest the world's capital internationally?
The chance that Québec will separate from the rest of Canada grows as time passes without persuasive steps to keep the country together, but science is unlikely to be a casualty of separation.
The Solar System proper seems safe from external calamity for the next 50 years, but there is a danger that a close encounter with α Centaurus A/B could shake loose a shower of comets on the Earth.
New product developments to watch for include a whole chromosome painting system, a second-generation robotics system, a pocket-sized torch for use in the darkroom and two new gel documentation systems.
Many scientists find bench work unrewarding after some years spent in the laboratory and if there are no prospects of promotion— especially in the research environment — they may consider moving to a technical sales career.
