The year 2006 in science and technology included many events, some of which are listed below. Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Science The scope of this article is limited to empirical sciences. ... By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a level of technological mastery sufficient to leave the surface of the planet for the first time and explore space. ...

Astronomy

• January 25 - The discovery of the planet OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb through gravitational microlensing is announced by PLANET/RoboNet, OGLE and MOA
• February 1 - The trans-Neptunian object 2003 UB313 is found to be larger than the planet Pluto.
• February 13 - The recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi erupts. The last outburst happend in 1985.

January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb is an extrasolar planet orbiting the star OGLE-2005-BLG-390L, which is situated 21,500 ± 3,300 light years away from Earth, near the center of the Milky Way galaxy. ... Gravitational microlensing is an astronomical technique used to find planet-sized bodies indirectly by means of their gravitational interaction with light. ... The Probing Lensing Anomalies NETwork (PLANET) collaboration coordinates a network of telescopes to rapidly sample photometric measurements of the magnification of stars in the galactic bulge undergoing gravitational microlensing by intervening foreground stars (or other compact massive objects). ... The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) survey. ... Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA) is a collaborative project involving researchers from New Zealand and Japan that aims to observe dark matter, extra-solar planets, and stellar atmospheres from the Southern Hemisphere via microlensing. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... A trans-Neptunian object (TNO) is any object in the solar system which orbits the sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune. ... 2003 UB313 is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) believed to be larger than the planet Pluto. ... Adjective Plutonian Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 0. ... February 13 is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... RS Ophiuchi is a recurring nova in Ophiuchi. ...

Biology

• January 12 - World Health Organization researchers announce the discovery of a mutation in the H5N1 virus that makes the virus more adapted to humans and to the nose and throat than the lungs.

January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... WHO emblem The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... Wikinews has news related to: Avian Flu H5N1 is an Influenza A virus subtype capable of causing a viral illness in many species, including humans. ... The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A bacteriophage virus A virus is a submicroscopic parasitic particle that infects cells in biological organisms. ...

Environment

• January 19 - Australian researchers at the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research centre in Hobart, Tasmania, publish experimental data that matches models of increasing sea level rising. [1]

January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. ... Emblems: ? (please edit) Motto: Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Slogan or Nickname: The Apple Isle Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Governor Premier Const. ...

Space exploration

• January 15 - The Stardust spacecraft successfully completes its primary mission of returning samples of cometary and interstellar dust to Earth. Its sample return capsule touches down safely inside its intended landing area in Utah, close to the Army Dugway Proving Ground.
• January 19 - The NASA spacecraft New Horizons launches successfully from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and leaves Earth's orbit shortly afterwards on its journey to Pluto
• February 2 - NASA's public affairs office is accused of censoring the comments by James Hansen of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. [2]
• March 24 - The maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket ends in failure.

January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... An artists rendering of Stardust (NASA image) The Stardust capsule with cometary and interstellar samples landed at the U.S. Air Force Utah Test and Training Range at 10:10 UTC (15 January 2006) in the Bonneville Salt Flats. ... An Ariane 5 expendable launch vehicle lifts off with the Rosetta spacecraft on March 2, 2004. ... Comet Hale-Bopp For other uses, see Comet (disambiguation). ... Interstellar cloud is the generic name given to accumulations of gas and dust in our galaxy. ... Earth is the third planet in the Solar system. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 13th 219,887 km² 435 km 565 km 3. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... An Ariane 5 expendable launch vehicle lifts off with the Rosetta spacecraft on March 2, 2004. ... New Horizons is a NASA unmanned mission to fly by Pluto and its moons. ... The Bumper V-2 was the first missile launched at Cape Canaveral on July 24, 1950. ... Earth is the third planet in the Solar system. ... Adjective Plutonian Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 0. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Goddard Institute for Space Studies building. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 455 km 530 km 13. ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in Leap years). ... The Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) is a space-transportation startup company whose stated goal is to improve the cost and reliability of access to space ultimately by a factor of ten. It is based in El Segundo, California. ... Envelope Length 21. ...

Science ethics

• January 27 - The University of Tokyo announces that Kazunari Taira has produced irreproducible results [3]

January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The University of Tokyo (東京大学; Tōkyō Daigaku, abbreviated as 東大 Tōdai) is generally ranked as Japans most prestigious university, as well as a leading university in the world. ...

Awards

• Abel Prize in Mathematics: Lennart Carleson