Bad Omens for Banks?

News from KeyCorp suggests U.S. banks' loan losses may worsen. Is the credit crisis hitting a second, even scarier phase?

A Toast to Alcoholic-Beverage Stocks

S&P thinks issues in the distillers and vintners group will continue to outperform the broader market. Its top-shelf pick: Brown-Forman

Sony PlayStation 3 (40GB; as Blu-ray Disc Player)

Game console system doubles as a great Blu-ray Disc player, too.

Sony PlayStation 3 (40GB; as Blu-ray Disc Player)

Game console system doubles as a great Blu-ray Disc player, too.

Stocks End Higher in Volatile Session

Enthusiasm over a better than expected durable goods report was dampened by a bounce in oil prices

Bacteria "Feed" on Earth's Ocean-Bottom Crust

Seafloor bacteria on ocean-bottom rocks are more abundant and diverse than previously thought, appearing to "feed" on the planet's oceanic crust, according to results of a study reported in this week's issue of the journal Nature. The findings pose intriguing questions about ocean chemistry and the co-evolution of Earth and life.Once considered a barren plain dotted with hydrothermal vents, the seafloor's rocky regions appear to be teeming with ... More at http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111587&govDel=USNSF_51 This is an NSF News item.

Miyamoto: I've Changed as a Designer

He's one of the most influential and well-known game designers in the industry, but Miyamoto's approach to game design has changed in recent years

Methane Release Could Cause Abrupt, Far-Reaching Climate Change

An abrupt release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from ice sheets that extended to Earth's low latitudes some 635 million years ago caused a dramatic shift in climate, scientists funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) report in this week's issue of the journal Nature.The shift triggered events that resulted in global warming and an ending of the last "snowball" ice age.The researchers believe that the methane was released gradually at first ... More at http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111554&govDel=USNSF_51 This is an NSF News item.

Hold the Old Lace: Arsenic and Iron Material Is a Remarkable Superconductor

It may not be what Cary Grant had in mind when he uncovered his elderly aunts' recipe for doing away with lonely bachelors in the classic film, "Arsenic and Old Lace." But superconductors discovered a few months ago by scientists in Japan are displaying remarkable properties that present real mysteries to materials scientists.The new class of materials that exhibit superconductivity at relatively high temperatures contain no copper-oxygen layers. Instead they ... More at http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111606&govDel=USNSF_51 This is an NSF News item.

Movers: AIG, Keycorp, Ford, UAL, Learning Tree, Borders

Wednesday's stocks in the news

Billy the Kid

Born in New York City, Billy the Kid (also known as William Antrim and William H. Bonney) moved west and became one of the most famous outlaws in American ... more

Analyst Actions: AIG, Keycorp, WebMD

Jan Swammerdam

Dutch scientist Jan Swammerdam's microscopic studies of insects repudiated the notion of spontaneous generation and formed the basis for modern entomology. He had a medical degree ... more

S&P Picks and Pans: Ford, UAL, US Airways, Bear Stearns, U.S. Cellular, Coca-Cola Enterprises

Analysts' opinions on stocks in the news Wednesday

Image gallery: 10 essential (and free!) security downloads for Windows

These 10 great freebies will keep you safe from prying eyes and bad guys.

Image gallery: 10 essential (and free!) security downloads for Windows

These 10 great freebies will keep you safe from prying eyes and bad guys.

Traveling With a MacBook Air, Part 1

What's it like to take Apple's sexy new ultraportable on a cross-country business trip?

Traveling With a MacBook Air, Part 1

What's it like to take Apple's sexy new ultraportable on a cross-country business trip?