It takes nine pounds of butter to make a gallon of biodiesel and New York State Fair officials say they will turn a 900 pound butter sculpture into 96 gallons of biodiesel fuel when the fair is over. The butter sculpture was a tribute to New York state dairy farmers and was set up as a centerpiece at the fair. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry college scientists will make the butter into biodiesel at a facility on campus and use it to fuel their vehicle fleet.

The government of Canada's Manitoba province is offering local homeowners and homebuilders cash, tax credits, refunds and grants if they use geothermal energy in homes and buildings. Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Jim Rondeau announced the incentives for Manitobans as part of a national program to reduce Canada's greenhouse gases and reduce energy bills of consumers.

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have been able to hide three-dimensional objects by using artificially engineered materials that redirected lights around the object. The discovery is one step closer to hiding people and objects from visible light. The researchers, led by Xiang Zhang, used metamaterials that deflected light, radar or other waves around an object such as water flowing around a smooth stone in a river.

A retired American astronaut said he is sure there is alien life in the universe and that governments have covered up their knowledge about it for decades. Edgar Mitchell, who holds the record for the longest time spent on the moon, more than nine hours, made the statement during an interview on British radio.

The school board here decided Friday to fire a science teacher accused of burning a cross on a student's arm and teaching creationism in his class. The board, however, will give John Freshwater, 51, of Mount Vernon Middle School two weeks to appeal the decision to end his contract and argue his case before the firing is made official on July 7.