Stephen Hawking says that humans should colonize space and other planets. Well, of course we should!

Imagine having a bright blue or purple apple for lunch. It may soon be a possibility. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) researchers have located the gene that controls the colour of apples - a discovery that may lead to bright new apple varieties.

With Virgin Galactic due to take off at the end of 2008, the rush in on to be amongst the first space tourists, with 65,000 around the world applying. A Chinese businessman has been selected, with a Chinese woman yet to be selected.

New research shows the rate of increase in carbon dioxide emissions has more than doubled since the 1990s and efforts to reduce emmissions have failed, with four years of unprecedented growth.

Now that a voice over IP (VOIP) broadband telephony service for Australian consumers  is on the shelves of major retailers Dick Smith Electronics, Powerhouse and Tandy, the question remains will consumers take to it.  engin Voice Box from ASX listed Mobile Innovations Limited (MOB) allows home users to make calls to, and receive calls from any landline or mobile phone over a broadband Internet connection.

We got a range of letters from some pretty disillusioned IT professionals in response to our story "Get the nerds out of here say recruiters", which is listed here and also appeared in our Chatroom column in Next at The Age and SMH.

Hardware and software distributor, Ingram Micro Australia, has appointed Matt Sanderson to the new role of product director. Sanderson has been with Ingram Micro UK for more than nine years, where he most recently held the position of general commercial manager. Prior to working with Ingram Micro, Sanderson worked for a computer manufacturer and software reseller in the UK.
           

Specialist business telecommunications company, PowerTel Limited, has appointed Paul Broad as managing director. Broad had been managing director of EnergyAustralia since 1997 and was a non-executive director of PowerTel from August 1998 until May 2004. He led EnergyAustralia's entry into the national competitive energy market in 2001. Before joining EnergyAustralia, Broad managed the Sydney Water Corporation and the Hunter Water Corporation. Broad will join PowerTel at the end of November this year.