At http://phys.org/print267984703.html … we learn that Curiosity Rover has found an old streambed on the surface of Mars. This story, recommended by Lawrence Dixon from a NASA news flash is featured everywhere from the Daily Galaxy to Science Daily, Space Daily, and the NASA web site itself. We learn that Mars is mostly blanketed by a reddish-brown dust but there are the odd differences which the Rover is designed to explore. What it has found are rocks containing what looks like stream bed gravels – which indicate water was once flowing at the surface, perhaps a stream. Yet, they are talking about a stream several feet deep so we can expect some further updates on this story in the weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, at http://phys.org/print268303471.html … electrically charged particles and surface modification – as applied in nano technology. Might the same apply to the wider and bigger world?