United States space and biological experts have warned that sex in space will bring real Earthly problems not pleasure, for men and women heading to the moon and Mars. The resulting pregnancies could put long-range missions in chaos. A panel of scientists reported to NASA that interplanetary passion could cause biological and logistical chaos to its latest plans to send humans on long missions. Locked in tight corners and compartments in spaceships for years, surrounded by the starry everlasting night, astronauts' thoughts are bound to turn to romance, states the report, on risk strategy. Close encounters of the human kind could have profound consequences, it adds. Without space agency prophylactic supplies for the necessary precautions, zero-gravity transgressions could lead to zero-gravity pregnancies. "Pregnancy in space is a real issue," said one report author, Professor Lawrence Palinkas, of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. "We have to think now about how to deal with sex in space. Astronauts are human. We have no authenticated stories of sex on missions so far, though there have been near things, I suspect. "On a six-month space-station simulation mission, Canadian astronaut Judith Lapierre became the unwanted recipient of the attentions of a love-struck Russian cosmonaut after a New Year's Eve party was celebrated with vodka shots. Lapierre was pulled out of range of the observation cameras and given a deep kiss. On this occasion, she resisted. "He was aggressing my personal space," she complained later. However, future approaches might be more warmly accommodated, the report implies. However, keeping such acts private is likely to wane on even the most resourceful astronautic couple. Spacemen and spacewomen have their biological readings measured constantly. A passionate moment of any kind is likely to spike readings back home at mission control.

An anonymous person puts a personal ad in the New York Times for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, leaving the mayor with a lot of explaining to do with his girlfriend, state Banking Superintendent Diana Taylor. Bloomberg, who is 63 and divorced, says, "I can tell you that the banking superintendent would be annoyed if it was me, and it is not me. "

A recent discovery by researchers could settle the age-old debate between the Chinese and the Italians over who invented noodles. A 4,000-year-old clump of yellow noodles was discovered inside an overturned bowl in western China. The noodles were made from a dough of two local varieties of millet. The bowl is sealed with clay, preserving the noodles.

Almost 10,000 Girl Scout members and volunteers will gather in Atlanta tomorrow for the opening ceremony of the 2005 Girl Scout National Council Session and 50th Convention celebration. The event, which is held once every three years, brings together the diverse membership of the organization for a variety of activities, workshops and speakers focused on transforming Girl Scouts for the 21st century while retaining the original vision of founder Juliette Gordon Low. As part of its commitment to remaining the best personal leadership program for girls, Girl Scouts is crafting a unified core business strategy to better position itself for the decades ahead.

Almost 10,000 Girl Scout members and volunteers will gather in Atlanta tomorrow for the opening ceremony of the 2005 Girl Scout National Council Session and 50th Convention celebration. The event, which is held once every three years, brings together the diverse membership of the organization for a variety of activities, workshops and speakers focused on transforming Girl Scouts for the 21st century while retaining the original vision of founder Juliette Gordon Low. As part of its commitment to remaining the best personal leadership program for girls, Girl Scouts is crafting a unified core business strategy to better position itself for the decades ahead.