Was there life on Mars?

Was there life on Mars? Planet's rocks 'may hold evidence of buried lifeforms'


Researchers have discovered rocks that could contain the fossilised remains of ancient life on early Mars. The team made their discovery in the ancient rocks of Nili Fossae on the planet’s surface, which they say are almost identical to rocks in the Pilbara region of north-west Australia where some of the earliest evidence of life on Earth has been preserved. The findings could mean that is...
Area of Mars Identified as Good Place to Look for Evidence of Past Life




A spot on Mars called Nili Fossae that is rich in clay mineral-rich rocks could be a prime spot to search for the fossilized remains of Martian life that may have existed 4 billion years ago, a new study suggests. In the study, scientists used an instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to study clay-carbonate rocks on the Martian surface leftover from an ancient red planet era known as the Noachian period.

Life on Mars? Prime spot for Martian fossils identified.

A spot on Mars called Nili Fossae that is rich in clay mineral-rich rocks could be a prime spot to search for the fossilized remains of Martian life that may have existed 4 billion years ago, a new study suggests. In the study, scientists used an instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to study clay-carbonate rocks on the Martian surface leftover from ancient red planet era known as the Noachian period.

Russian planemakers eye global markets

News

The Superjet 100 was created by an international joint venture

Desperate to shed its Soviet Union image as a manufacturer of clunky airliners, Russia is eager to become a significant player in the global civil aviation market.

So is this lofty goal achievable?

The mighty nation is pinning its hopes on two new aircraft projects and its reputation as a trusted arms exporter.

But first, it will need to win over sceptics in the home market.

Not a single new Russian civil aircraft engineering project has been successfully turned into a mass-produced plane during the past two decades since the USSR ceased to exist.

And domestic-made planes that used to offer the only means of air transport have suffered a heavy defeat in a battle with foreign flying machines. According to some estimates, foreign-built aircraft now carry out about 75% of all flights by Russian airlines.

'Likely delays'

The collapse of the entire aircraft building infrastructure that was built up during the Soviet era was accelerated by a desperate lack of funds during the 1990s.

So the newcomers have arguably started from scratch, gradually, painstakingly building the foundations for what they hope will be a solid aerospace industry.

The Russian aviation industry is controlled by a state-owned corporation

And at last they have something to show for their efforts.

At last week's Farnborough air show, Sukhoi's regional Superjet 100 was shown and flown, while another flagship project, the MS-21, was displayed in form of a cabin mock-up.

Several contracts and memorandums of understanding worth billions of dollars to deliver both planes in future were signed.

But critics point out that intention to deliver does not equate ability, predicting painful delays before the first planes are actually delivered to carriers.

Besides, mutter the sceptics, the Russian planes face fierce competition, not only from the world's leading aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus, but also from smaller players such as Japan's Mitsubishi, Brazil's Embraer and Canada's Bombardier, as well as from rival newcomer Comac, the Chinese player.

Private partners

Sukhoi is well known as a producer of fighter jets, but the Superjet 100 project is its first in commercial aviation.

The plane has been created by a joint venture, majority owned by Sukhoi. Italy's Finmeccanica and a number of other foreign and Russian firms are also involved.

Russia is an established exporter of military aircrafts

"Superjet will be built in more than just tiny numbers, which is a triumph, considering the fate of all other post-USSR civil aerospace programs," says Richard Aboulafia, vice president at Teal Group, an aerospace industry consultant.

The project seems to have succeeded, he says "where the Westernised TU-204 and IL-96 and others have failed".

Mr Aboulafia believes that the success is the result of private sector companies' involvement.

"Government-owned industries do an extremely poor job at meeting commercial market needs," he says.

A hundred planes

But Roman Gussarov, editor of industry website Avia.ru, says that there are still a lot of problems with the Superjet 100.

"So far, Superjet's parameters are not the ones promised by Sukhoi at the beginning," he explains.

"Sukhoi thought that they would be able to achieve necessary results without composite materials," he says, highlighting the planemaker's inexperience in creating commercial aircrafts.

Deliveries to launch customer Aeroflot, Russia's flagship carrier, have been delayed, mainly because of engine certification problems.

But Russian officials hope that the plane will be delivered later this year.

Sukhoi has managed to secure orders for or intentions to buy more than 100 Superjet planes at $31.7m (£20.3m) per plane according to official prices - enough to break even according to company officials.

Hardy plane

Building planes suitable for Russia's climate and terrain is challenging.

RUSSIA BUSINESS REPORT

Continue reading the main story

Russia Business Report is a new television programme for BBC World News. Every month we take a look at the latest trends in the Russian economy and business world.

Watch the next programme on Saturday, 31 July at 0430 GMT and 1730 GMT and on Sunday, 1 August at 1030 GMT and 2330 GMT.

• Russia Business Report

Soviet planes, though infamously poor in many regards, were hardy beasts designed to cope in tough conditions.

For example, many of Russia's rough airfields cannot accommodate aircraft with low-slung engines.

That is why, says Mr Gussarov, Russia's regional aviation really needs the MS-21, another potential brand new aircraft that has been designed in and is set to be built in Russia.

The plane, scheduled to start flying in 2016, has been developed by a number of Russian companies that are part of a consortium led by Irkut.

Old ways die hard

But the MS-21's eventual success or failure may not be determined by its engineering qualities alone.

Both Irkut and Sukhoi, as well as other Russian design engineering bureaus and aviation firms, are part of the state-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) formed in 2006.

"Russia's aerospace industry has been forced back into the world of state ownership and five year plans," says Mr Aboulafia.

He believes that this approach works for addressing military markets, "but it is disastrous in commercial markets."

"Unless UAC is put back in private ownership, or unless it is rescued by Western companies that know how to meet market needs, the MS-21 will go nowhere," says Mr Aboulafia.

Mr Gussarov thinks that "it might be good that design engineering bureaus compete in the global market, rather than with each other".

On the other hand, he says, in the USSR many "amazing products" were created as a result of the competition between the bureaus.

Military contacts

In terms of gaining a share of the global market, Russian commercial planes could get help from their military counterparts' reputation abroad.

The MS-21 is scheduled to start flying in 2016

Indeed, Indonesian company Kartika Airlines is among those who plan to buy the Superjet 100 planes, while Malaysia's Crecom signed a contract for the supply of the MS-21 planes.

Both Indonesia and Malaysia have been traditional markets for Russian military aircrafts, and Malaysian Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was present at the contract signing ceremony in Farnborough.

Iran is another perspective market, as the country cannot rely on buying Western planes, because it is concerned that sanctions might make it difficult to acquire components.

Meanwhile, all eyes are now on Aeroflot, which has ordered 30 Superjet 100 planes, as it is the only big airline to sign a contract.

"So far, the only orders they have received outside of Russia and other post-USSR states have been from highly speculative customers," says Mr Aboulafia.

Even the motivation behind Aeroflot's order has been questioned.

Aeroflot recently said it was going to buy several dozens of aircrafts from Airbus and Boeing, only to be told off by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for not buying "Russian technology".

"That will not do," said Mr Putin.

When the Superjet 100 is finally introduced on Russian regional routes, global aviation players will be watching.

Aeroflot's experience in dealing with the plane could prove defining for the future of both the Superjet and other potential Russian projects.

Flood deaths pass 400 in Pakistan and Afghanistan

The BBC's Aleem Maqbool says whole villages have been washed away

More than 400 people have been killed and 400,000 displaced by monsoon flooding in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Most died in north-west Pakistan, while across the border in Afghanistan at least 60 were killed.

Several rivers burst their banks, washing away villages, roads and bridges. Some power supplies have been cut to prevent more electrocutions.

Officials say the floods are the worst the region has experienced in more than 80 years, and further rain is forecast.

'No drinking water'

Nearly half a million people have been displaced and hundreds are thought to have drowned, with more killed in landslides or crushed by collapsing buildings.

Analysis

Continue reading the main story

Lyse Doucet BBC News, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

---

There is gridlock at the main approaches to all roads leading south. Long and growing queues of brightly painted lorries, oil tankers, packed passenger buses and family cars have formed behind the toll booth leading to the main motorway.

But the bridge along this route was badly damaged by the force of the heaviest monsoon flooding since 1929. We have witnessed scenes of devastation and sorrow all along this road.

Whole villages of simple mud-brick houses were washed away by the torrents. One man whose daughter was also carried away by flood waters angrily blocked the motorway for more than an hour, demanding help from the government.

Countless others huddled in silence at the water's edge, sitting on metal cases and bundles of clothes - all the worldly goods they could carry when disaster struck.

The government's disaster team, including military helicopters, have started air-lifting people to higher ground and boats are being deployed. But more rain is forecast and the number of victims continues to grow as water levels rise.

Transport and communication links have been badly affected, even away from the worst-hit areas, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said an estimated 400,000 people were still stranded.

He told the Associated Press that 408 people had died in his province alone, describing it as the worst flooding since 1929.

And 25 people are said to have been killed over the past three days in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

Muzaffarabad residents told the BBC there was no electricity or drinking water in parts of the city.

The meteorological department said 312mm (12in) of rain had fallen over the last 36 hours in the north-west - the largest amount for decades.

KP's provincial information minister, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, said nearly 400,000 people had been forced to flee.

Livestock perish

The provincial government has declared an emergency.

While the north-west of the country has borne the brunt of the flooding, the south-western province of Balochistan has also been hit hard, and some crops in Punjab province were reportedly ruined.

Continue reading the main story

• In pictures: Pakistan floods

The BBC's M Ilyas Khan says there was some respite from heavy rainfall on Friday, but more is forecast across much of Pakistan over the weekend.

Our correspondent says that those hit hardest by the flooding are mostly the rural poor who live in flood-prone areas because they cannot afford safer land.

Pakistani TV channels broadcast footage of vehicles, livestock and people being swept away by powerful torrents.

The army says all available troops have been deployed for relief work.

Those living in low-lying flood-prone areas have been advised to move to higher ground.

Airline officials said the weather was likely to have contributed to the plane crash in Islamabad on Wednesday in which more than 150 people died.

Taliban threat

The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says that in Afghanistan's south-eastern Khost province and the eastern province of Laghman the Afghan National Army has been assisting some people, but locals are saying much more help is needed.

However, our correspondent says that providing assistance is hampered by the rural, mountainous terrain, a lack of good roads and the fact the Taliban is still active in the affected areas.

Much of the arable land and crops on which the locals rely have also been destroyed, our correspondent adds.

Chernobyl zone shows decline in biodiversity

Scientists say contamination in the Chernobyl exclusion zone has affected biodiversity

The largest wildlife census of its kind conducted in Chernobyl has revealed that mammals are declining in the exclusion zone surrounding the nuclear power plant.

The study aimed to establish the most reliable way to measure the impact on wildlife of contamination in the zone.

It was based on almost four years of counting and studying animals there.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

The truth is that these radiation contamination effects were so large as to be overwhelming”

End Quote Tim Mousseau University of South Carolina

The scientists say that birds provide the best "quantitative measure" of these impacts.

They report their findings in the journal Ecological Indicators.

The research team say that their census of species in the zone - which was carried out for more than three years - provides more evidence that contamination has a "significant impact" on biodiversity.

Professor Timothy Mousseau from the University of South Carolina, US, and Dr Anders Moller from the University of Paris-Sud, France, worked together on the project.

From 2006-2009, they counted and examined wildlife including insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Their previously published work revealed some of the negative impacts on birds and on insects of the low-level radiation that still contaminated the exclusion zone surrounding the power plant.

The new data on mammals and reptiles shows what Professor Moussaeu described as a "strong signal" of reduced biodiversity in these groups too.

Migrating birds may be more sensitive to the effects of radiation

The research team compared the abundance of species in the exclusion zone with similar types of habitats in the area, which were not contaminated.

"The truth is that these radiation contamination effects were so large as to be overwhelming," Professor Mousseau told BBC News.

During their census work, he and Dr Moller have also examined the effects of radiation contamination on the animals. They say that these impacts are particularly obvious in birds.

In their studies on barn swallows, the team observed birds with tumours on their feet, necks and around their eyes.

"We think they may be more susceptible, after their long migrations, to additional environmental stress," explained Professor Mousseau.

Poison or haven?

Scientists in the Ukraine criticised the conclusions. Dr Sergii Gashchak, a researcher at the Chornobyl Center in Ukraine was not available for comment on this latest paper.

But he spoke to BBC News last year and dismissed the team's previous findings on insects and birds. He said that he drew "opposite conclusions".

"Wildlife really thrives in Chernobyl area - due to the low level of [human] influence," Dr Gashchak told BBC News.

"All life appeared and developed under the influence of radiation, so mechanisms of resistance and recovery evolved to survive in those conditions," he continued.

But Professor Mousseau said the evidence of an increase in biodiversity in the region is "purely anecdotal".

"This is the first paper that provides quantitative, rigorous data that the mammals really are significantly affected by contamination," he told BBC News.

"That said - it's not a bad idea to set this place up as a wildlife haven - it's a natural laboratory where we can study the long-term consequences of this kind of an accident."

Some reports suggested that the lack of humans was beneficial for wildlife

Dr Mousseau also criticised a recently made documentary film called Chernobyl, A Natural History, which has been promoted by a French production company as showing how nature has "recolonised" the exclusion zone in the absence of man.

Professor Mousseau said: "If society is ever to learn more about the long term environmental consequences of large scale accidents - and Chernobyl is just one of several - it is important that we all take our responsibilities seriously."

Afghan leak

Afghan leak: Wikileaks' Assange denies 'blood on hands'

Julian Assange says there is no evidence US informants have been harmed

The founder of the website Wikileaks has rejected US claims he has blood on his hands after releasing 90,000 leaked classified documents on the Afghan war.

Julian Assange told the BBC there was no evidence that any informants had died as a result of the leaks.

He accused the Pentagon of trying to distract attention from the thousands of lives being lost in the war.

The White House has appealed to Wikileaks not to publish another 15,000 documents it is thought to hold.

The US denied Mr Assange's assertion that he had asked the US government to help vet the documents to protect lives.

Mr Assange told the BBC's Newshour programme that the US government had presented no evidence that innocent people or informants had been harmed by the leaks.

And he directly addressed comments made by Adm Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, who sharply criticised Wikileaks.

"One must consider why the Pentagon is focusing on the hypothetical blood that it says might be on our hands - although there is no evidence of that - compared to the 20,000 lives that have been lost in Afghanistan that are documented and exposed by our material," Mr Assange told the BBC.

'Abuses exposed'

Mr Assange said Wikileaks had sought to engage the White House in its efforts to vet the material before it was released.

He has pledged to continue the release of documents.

Pfc Bradley Manning has been described as a "person of interest" in the Wikileaks Afghan document leak

"We will not be suppressed," he said. "We will continue to expose abuses by this administration and others."

The documents, which Wikileaks has dubbed the Afghan War Diary, were first described in news reports late on Sunday.

Among other revelations, they describe previously unreported civilian deaths, they claim members of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency have backed the Taliban in Afghanistan, and state that the Taliban has used surface-to-air missiles to down coalition aircraft.

On Thursday, Adm Mike Mullen expressed his outrage over the leaks at a press conference.

"Mr Assange can say whatever he likes about the greater good he thinks he and his source are doing, but the truth is they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family," he said.

That was followed on Friday by a plea from White House aide Robert Gibbs for whoever possessed the Afghan files not to release any more.

"It is important that no more damage be done to our national security," he said on NBC's Today show.

Meanwhile, a soldier accused of leaking video of a deadly helicopter attack in Iraq has been transferred to a base in the US.

US Army Pfc Bradley Manning is to stand trial on charges he gave video of the attack - in which a Reuters photographer was killed - to Wikileaks.

The Pentagon is also investigating whether he handed over the 90,000 classified documents.

The army said on Friday that Pfc Manning, 22, had been moved from Kuwait to Quantico Marine Base in Virginia where he will be held pending trial.

The Pentagon has said investigators were extending the helicopter attack video investigation to find out whether Pfc Manning was involved in the leak of the Afghanistan documents. A spokesman described him as a "person of interest".

Soham killer Huntley to sue over throat slash attack

Huntley's throat was slashed in March in an attack by an inmate

Soham murderer Ian Huntley who killed schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman is to sue the Prison Service after he was attacked by an inmate.

The 36-year-old former school caretaker's throat was slashed in March at Frankland Prison in County Durham.

Huntley, who murdered the 10-year-olds in 2002, will claim the service has failed in its duty of care towards him.

But a Ministry of Justice spokesman said the compensation claim would be "vigorously defended".

Earlier this year the then Justice Secretary Jack Straw said the government had "absolutely no intention" of paying compensation to Huntley over the attack.

Related stories

• Huntley claim 'would be resisted'
• Huntley attacked by jail inmate
• Huntley overdose inquiry launched

At Commons question time it emerged he could be awarded up to £20,000 if a claim for negligience is successful.

In September 2005 Huntley was scalded with boiling water at Wakefield Prison.

He had been in the health care wing of the West Yorkshire jail at the time of the attack.

In 2008 Huntley was moved to HMP Frankland, a Category A high security men's prison.

Suicide attempts

While at Frankland he was attacked and slashed across the throat by a prisoner who was said to have been armed with a razor blade.

It is believed that Huntley has tried to commit suicide three times since his conviction in December 2003.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman confirmed the legal action by Huntley who is understood to be claiming £20,000 for injuries suffered and a sum - put at £60,000 in one report - for failure to uphold the duty of care.

"Ian Huntley is bringing a claim against the Ministry of Justice following an assault by another prisoner," the spokesman said.

Huntley was a caretaker in the Cambridgeshire village of Soham when he enticed Holly and Jessica into his home.

The girls were killed and their remains hidden.

He was convicted with his then girlfriend Maxine Carr who had worked as a teaching assistant at the school.

She was found guilty of perverting the course of justice but has since been released and given a new identity.

US economic growth slows to 2.4%

Advertisement

Consumers fear the recovery will be very slow and painful

US economic growth slowed between April and June, with GDP growing by an annualised rate of 2.4%, the US Commerce Department has said.

This compares with an annual rate of 3.7% in the previous quarter.

The second quarter figure is a first estimate, and could be revised either up or down in the coming months.

There are growing fears about the strength of the US economic recovery, particularly concerning the country's high unemployment rate of 9.5%.

Despite the slower rate of growth, economic adviser to the White House Christine Romer said: "This solid rate of growth indicates that the process of steady recovery from the recession continues.

"Nevertheless, faster growth is needed to bring about substantial reductions in unemployment."

Upward revision

Mardell's America

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

About 200 people come through the doors of Philadelphia's City Hall every day and Judge Annette Rizzo says it is like a petri dish where the development of the city's economy can be examined in minute detail”

End Quote

Mark Mardell BBC North America editor

---

• Read Mark's thoughts in full

A large increase in imports and a fall in sales of goods such as cars partly explain the slowdown in GDP growth, while personal consumption grew at a slower rate than in the first quarter.

These factors more than offset an increase in spending on property construction, as Americans looked to take advantage of tax credits for home buyers that expired during the quarter.

The Commerce Department also revised its previous estimate for growth in the first three months of the year up sharply, from 2.7% to 3.7%.

"The economy entered the second quarter with plenty of momentum, but exited with very little," said Nigel Gault, chief US economist at IHS Global Insight.

The US economy has now grown for four straight quarters.

'Weakening environment'

The second quarter GDP growth figure was slightly lower than analysts' expectations.

As a result, the main Dow Jones index fell more than 100 points in early trading, before swiftly recovering to 10,427.57, 40 points down on the day.

"This number will cast a pall on today's trading," said Jack Ablin at Harris Private Bank.

He also expressed commonly-held fears that growth could slow further as government stimulus measures are withdrawn.

"My sense is that we're operating in a weakening environment without the help of a lot of stimulus. If the stimulus package was a box of doughnuts dumped on the economy, we only have one or two doughnuts left in the box."

The US pumped hundreds of billions of dollars into the economy during the downturn to try to stimulate demand.

Earlier on Friday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the US might have to increase its stimulus spending to support the recovery.

It said the US "economic recovery has been slow by historical standards" and warned that "the outlook remains uncertain".

"Thanks to a massive policy response to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, the US economy is recovering, but further decisive policy action will be needed to address the policy challenges stemming from the crisis," the IMF warned.

Michael Jackson Doctors Won't Be Charged In Singer's Death

1. 

Seven doctors who treated the late Michael Jackson will not be charged in the singer's death. According to The Associated Press California officials said Wednesday (July 28) that they will not file charges against the doctors who were under scrutiny as part of an investigation launched by the state's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

Jackson passed away in June 2009 after suffering cardiac arrest. His personal doctor Conrad Murray — who was not one of the seven doctors included in the investigation — has been charged in his death and pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter after allegedly giving the star the potent anesthetic propofol.

"I am very disappointed," said Brian Oxman, an attorney for Michael Jackson's father Joe Jackson. "The misuse of medications by Michael Jackson in the last years of his life was excessive and to fail to bring that to the public eye is ignoring reality." Oxman is serving as Joe Jackson's lawyer in a wrongful death suit against Murray.

Bureau spokesperson Christine Gasparac told the AP that one of the doctors who was under investigation was refered to the California Medical Board for prescribing drugs to one of Jackson's aliases, however, a spokesperson for the board did not confirm the referral. A spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Agency told the AP that it has also dropped its investigation into Jackson's doctors.

Murray lawyer Ed Chernoff has maintained that the doctor did not administer a fatal dose of propofol and has suggested that either Jackson gave himself the anesthetic or another person may have supplied thee star with the dose. However, an anesthesia expert has said the possibility of Jackson administering the drug himself is unlikely.

A preliminary hearing in the Jackson manslaughter case is slated for August and Murray faces a sentence of up to four years in jail.

Black Eyed Peas Rock 'Good Morning America'

1. 
   
   

NEW YORK — "Good Morning America" drew its biggest crowd to its Summer Concert Series in Central Park Friday morning (July 30) for a performance by the Black Eyed Peas.

The audience was brimming with excitement as the group's musicians — all clad in robotic outfits and carrying futuristic-looking instruments — took the stage. Robin Roberts and Sam Champion arrived onstage to a small intro from the band. Dancers, dressed in black-and-white full-body spandex costumes, then marched on stage, followed by the four main Peas. The "Boom Boom Pow" beat kicked in and the crowd yelled with excitement, saluting them with a wave of handheld digital cameras as the dancers moved in robotic, choreographed movements. The group's tight performance -- featuring some stellar vocalistics from Fergie -- concluded with a "Good Morning, New York City!" from Will.I.Am.

After a short intermission, the group was interviewed, although mic problems rendered some of their answers unintelligible. Will.I.Am said the group was "up late last night recording," which was met with a roar from the audience, and news was shared that the group's "I Gotta Feeling" was the first song to hit the 6-million mark in digital downloads.

Roberts then asked, "You wanna rock that body?" and the group broke into the song by that name. Fergie flirtatiously teased the cameras as dancers came onstage, dressed like silver robots. After the song had finished Will.I.Am continued singing to himself: "It's a nice day in the park, I want to be outside with my friends" to a soft, reggae rhythm as the audience joined in. When asked about it, Will said, "It was the first thing that came to my mind and I just went with it. Inspiration comes to my mind, I just open up to the melody."

After Juju Chang — clad in one of the dancers' costumes as a joke — came on stage, "I Gotta Feeling" kicked in, and the group performed it amid smoke effects and more seductive dancing from Fergie.

After the Peas left the stage, the crowd chanted for One more song! and Will replied, "I guess we could do one more song." The group launched into an apparently improvised song as Will rapped about the park and the audience; Apl.De.Ap and Taboo followed with raps of their own, then Fergie, who didn't rap but freestyle-sang over the beat. Will.I.Am weighed in again — "I don't wanna leave, leave, leave" — rapping faster and faster as his bandmates yelled "Speed it up!" And with that, the group's performance concluded.

Photos

1. 
2. 

1. 
2. 

True Blood Outsells The Sopranos!

In the battle between vampires vs. mobsters, the vamps win!

Sales for the first season DVD of HBO's True Blood have officially sold more than The Sopranos season one DVD.

The hit show, produced by Alan Ball, have sold 1.3 million copies, which is 37 percent more than the 943,000 DVDs of “The Sopranos” first season.

The show has even outsold HBO's Sex and the City, which sold 426,000 copies of its season one DVDs.

We're pretty sure a shirtless Alexander Skarsgard might have something to do with that

Leighton Meester Turns on the Glamor

Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester looks adorable with no makeup and completely casual ... and also with the full Blair Waldorf treatment. Filming in Paris, Meester was spotted fresh-faced near the Musée D'Orsay, then with deep coral lips and precisely lined eyes a day later.

Which look to you think suits her best?

Happy Birthday, Chace Crawford!

Christopher Chace Crawford, better known as simply Chace Crawford, or as Nate Archibald on Gossip Girl was born 25 years ago today. A very happy birthday to the actor!

We look forward to seeing him and those signature man-bangs in Season Four of our favorite show as well as in future film projects, as his career is clearly promising.

Scroll through some of our favorite Chace Crawford pictures below and leave a comment with birthday greetings for the Gossip Girl star on this sweltering 18th day of July!

Sorry for the mug shot inclusion ... but it's a handsome one, no?

Blake Lively Wants You to Be The One

Blake Lively Wants You to Be The One

We share this video partly because Gossip Girl star Blake Lively appears in it, but also because the message is so important. Blake, Sandra Bullock, Dave Matthews and many other stars are coming together to encourage Americans to stand up for the Gulf Coast.

The "Be the One" campaign strives to emphasize that everyone can truly make a difference with an individual contribution - whether it is giving money, time or even just raising awareness - in helping the region recover from the catastrophic BP oil spill.

Check out the PSA below, it's pretty moving:

Be the One

Happy Birthday, Taylor Momsen!

Taylor Momsen: From Little Jenny Humphrey to Pretty Reckless frontwoman.

Gossip Girl cast member Taylor Momsen turns 17 today.

The youngster has always been at the center of controversy because of her character Jenny Humphrey, but in recent weeks has taken things to an entirely new level.

Whether she's offering TMI on personal details, going out of her way to bash Miley Cyrus and Disney, or writhing around in a racy music video, two things are clear:

1. She certainly gets people talking
2. She doesn't care what they say

Is she refreshingly candid in the way she speaks her mind? A talented star whose art you enjoy in several genres? A spoiled brat with no respect? All of the above?

That's all in your interpretation, but we'd like to wish Taylor a happy birthday. Do the same by leaving comments below! We can't wait to see her back on our favorite show - she will be conspicuously absent this fall - and learn what the Return of Little J entails ...