A NASA handout photo taken on April 8, 2009 shows the 3,776-meter-high Mount Fuji Volcano on the island of Honshu in Japan, It is one of the world�s classic examples of a stratovolcano. The volcano�s steep, conical profile is the result of numerous layers of lava and debris from explosive eruptions, including ash, cinders, and volcanic bombs, that built up over time. The steep profile is possible because of the relatively high viscosity (stickiness) of the lava typically associated with stratovolcanoes. The high viscosity leads to thick sequences of lava flows near the eruptive vent that build the cone structure. Getty Images logo Getty Images 4 months ago

A NASA handout photo taken on April 8, 2009 shows the 3,776-meter-high Mount Fuji Volcano on the island of Honshu in Japan, It is one of the world�s classic examples of a stratovolcano. The volcano�s steep, conical profile is the result of numerous layers of lava and debris from explosive eruptions, including ash, cinders, and volcanic bombs, that built up over time. The steep profile is possible because of the relatively high viscosity (stickiness) of the lava typically associated with stratovolcanoes. The high viscosity leads to thick sequences of lava flows near the eruptive vent that build the cone structure.

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  1. In this image provided by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory the surface Saturn's moon, Enceladus, captured by Cassini on its Nov. 2, 2009, flyby of Enceladus. The camera was pointing toward Enceladus from approximately 14,000 kilometers (9,000 miles) away.
  2. Ben Shelef, left, and David Bashford of the LaserMotive discuss their entry into the $2 million Space Elevator Games after the device was weighed-in at the end of the day at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  3. Thomas Nugent, left, and Jordin Kare of the LaserMotive team talk about their entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  4. This handout photo from NASA shows the KC Space Robots robot climbing a cable suspended from a helicopter, not shown, in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  5. This handout photo from NASA shows the LaserMotive robotic climber nearing the goal on a cable suspended from a helicopter, not shown, in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  6. A member of the University of Saskatchewan dozes off after spending most of the night preparing the team's entry into the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  7. Photovoltaic cells, temporarily protected by colored plastic, are seen below as Andrew Williams of the University of Saskatchewan works on his team's entry into the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  8. This handout photo from NASA shows David Bashford, right, lead of the LaserMotive team, preparing their robotic climber entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. After three years without a winner in a NASA-backed competition to develop the science fiction space elevator concept, the team from Seattle on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 collected $900,000 after its laser-powered robotic machine raced up more than 2,950 feet (nearly 1 kilometer) of cable dangling from a helicopter.
  9. This handout photo from NASA shows David Bashford, right, lead of the LaserMotive team, preparing their robotic climber entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  10. KC Space Pirates team member Dan Leafblad is reflected in the mirror of the laser used by his team in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  11. Photovoltaic panels, which convert laser light into electrical energy similar to solar panels, are seen on the bottom of the LaserMotive entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  12. An electric motor powered by photovoltaic cells below provides the lifting force for the LaserMotive entry into the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  13. Team leader David Bashford, right, prepares the LaserMotive robotic climber during the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  14. This handout photo from NASA shows Dan Leafbflad, left, and other members of the KC Space Pirates preparing their robotic climber entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  15. This handout photo from NASA shows Brian Turner, left, and Dan Leafblad preparing the KC Space Pirates robotic climber for its run in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  16. CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - OCTOBER 28: NASA's Ares 1-X test rocket lifs off from launch pad 39-b at the Kennedy Space Center October 28, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA has designed the Ares to be the replacement to the aging space shuttle fleet.

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  1. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (R) listens to explanations as he visits a pharmacy in Kiev, November 9, 2009. Yushchenko on Sunday dismissed the idea a January election should be delayed because of flu fears and appeared to accept there would be no more IMF funds forthcoming until after the vote.
  2. Children look into the coffin of a person killed after heavy rains brought on by Hurricane Ida, at a church in the village of Verapaz, near San Salvador, November 9, 2009. Hurricane Ida roared through the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, where important oil fields are located, after triggering floods and mudslides that killed 124 people in El Salvador. Ida was expected to weaken gradually on Monday as it heads toward some of the oil and gas production facilities in the central Gulf, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
  3. French dairy farmers drive their tractors to slow down the traffic on November 9, 2009 in Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, central France, prior to a meeting with representatives of industries of the milk sector to end a dispute over prices. The European Union on Monday announced on October 19, 2009 a major aid package to crisis-hit dairy farmers, as hundreds of milk producers demonstrated throughout Europe calling for help. The placard (L) reads in French 'Farmers are angry'.
  4. Residents stand along a damaged road after heavy rains brought on by Hurricane Ida, in the village of Verapaz, near San Salvador, November 9, 2009. Hurricane Ida roared through the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, where important oil fields are located, after triggering floods and mudslides that killed 124 people in El Salvador. Ida was expected to weaken gradually on Monday as it heads toward some of the oil and gas production facilities in the central Gulf, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
  5. French dairy farmers drive their tractors to slow down the traffic on November 9, 2009 in Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, central France, prior to a meeting with representatives of industries of the milk sector to end a dispute over prices. The European Union on Monday announced on October 19, 2009 a major aid package to crisis-hit dairy farmers, as hundreds of milk producers demonstrated throughout Europe calling for help. The placard (L) reads in French 'Farmers are angry'.
  6. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (R) visits a pharmacy in Kiev, November 9, 2009. Yushchenko on Sunday dismissed the idea a January election should be delayed because of flu fears and appeared to accept there would be no more IMF funds forthcoming until after the vote.
  7. Survivors of a landslide of rocks and mud caused by the passage of Hurricane Ida attend the wake of some of the victims at the Catholic Church of San Isidro, some 74 km east of San Salvador on November 9, 2009. At least 124 people have been killed in El Salvador by the severe flooding and landslides. Hurricane Ida is now a category two storm packing top wind speeds of nearly 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour as it heads towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.
  8. Survivors of a landslide of rocks and mud caused by the passage of Hurricane Ida attend the wake of some of the victims at the Catholic Church of San Isidro, some 74 km east of San Salvador on November 9, 2009. At least 124 people have been killed in El Salvador by the severe flooding and landslides. Hurricane Ida is now a category two storm packing top wind speeds of nearly 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour as it heads towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.
  9. Survivors of a landslide of rocks and mud caused by the passage of Hurricane Ida attend the wake of some of the victims at the Catholic Church of San Isidro, some 74 km east of San Salvador on November 9, 2009. At least 124 people have been killed in El Salvador by the severe flooding and landslides. Hurricane Ida is now a category two storm packing top wind speeds of nearly 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour as it heads towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.
  10. XIAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 9: Medical workers help students filling forms before to inject A/H1N1 flu vaccines in a middle school on November 9, 2009 in Xian of Shaanxi Province, China. China's State Council said on October 28 that the country faces 'severe challenges' in the prevention and control of A/H1N1 flu, following a student from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics died of the virus, the fourth victim in Chinese mainland. A nationwide H1N1 flu vaccination campaign has been started in many regions across the country.
  11. Palestinian fishermen sort through their catch after pulling in their nets at the beach in Gaza City, Monday, Nov. 9 2009.
  12. Palestinian fishermen pull in their nets at sunset at the beach in Gaza City, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
  13. A Palestinian fisherman pulls in their nets at sunset at the beach in Gaza City, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
  14. Palestinian fishermen pull in their nets at sunset at the beach in Gaza City, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
  15. An exiled Tibetan woman lights candles during a protest against alleged human rights violations by the Chinese government in Tibet, in Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009.
  16. From left, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Polish President Lech Walesa hold a black and white picture showing cars and people at the border crossing after the Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989, in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, during the commemorations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov.9, 1989.