Science

The open pit mine at Molycorp Minerals' rare earths mining and processing facility in Mountain Pass, Calif. The mine is expected to produce 40,000 tons of rare earth minerals each year after a $500 million expansion project. Courtesy of Molycorp Minerals hide caption

At the Cleveland Clinic, technician Larry Raber and physician Mei Lu practice the ultrasound technique to measure CCSVI in patients with MS on medical student Claudiu Diaconu. Cleveland Clinic Center for Medical Art & Photography hide caption

The SpaceX Falcon 9, carrying a Dragon capsule, lifts off the launch pad at Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral on Dec. 8, 2010. NASA hide caption

These primitive tools were found on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, outside the range of Neanderthals. Researchers say humans may have left Africa earlier than previously thought, crossing what is now the bottom of the Red Sea. Science/AAAS hide caption