Nation in brief

Telescope finds signs of 'dark energy'

WASHINGTON - Astronomers Tuesday announced new evidence that the mysterious force known as "dark energy" is causing the universe to expand ever more rapidly, perhaps eventually leading to cosmological "loneliness," in which galaxies grow so far apart that space will appear empty.

The new observations, using NASA's orbiting Chandra X-ray Observatory to focus on distant galaxy clusters, supported earlier findings suggesting that dark energy is what Albert Einstein called the "cosmological constant," a gradual and predictable expansion of the universe that will result in total isolation in 100-billion years or so.

"This is clear and direct evidence that the expansion of our universe is accelerating," Cambridge University astronomer Steven Allen, leader of the Chandra study, said at a news conference.

Despite the new observations, Allen and others acknowledged that the strength of dark energy may not be constant. Other theories suggest that dark energy is weakening, sucking the universe toward an eventual cosmic collapse known as "the big crunch," or that it is growing stronger, accelerating the universe's expansion until it flies apart in a "big rip."

And cosmological doomsday, if it happens at all, will not occur for "tens of billions of years," said astrophysicist Michael Turner of the University of Chicago and the National Science Foundation.

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Tuesday narrowly defeated a proposal that would have delayed the next round of domestic base closings until the Pentagon determines what it wants to do with its overseas facilities.

The 49-47 vote was a victory for the Pentagon, which opposes any delay in next year's round of base closings. The proposal, by Sens. Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was made as an amendment to a bill authorizing $422.2-billion in defense programs next year.

The House this week will consider a two-year delay in base closings as part of its version of the defense bill. Last year, the White House threatened a veto if the plans were delayed.

Base closings have long been a politically charged issue in Congress, where lawmakers fear the economic damage that could occur in their states and districts.

The two versions of the bill will have to be reconciled eventually by House and Senate negotiators. The bills only authorize defense programs; the actual spending would have to be approved in separate appropriations bills.

WASHINGTON - More than 160,000 insulin infusion sets are being recalled because of problems that the California manufacturer says may have led 200 diabetics to be hospitalized for elevated blood-sugar levels.

Diabetics who use the Paradigm Quick-set Plus brand should contact Medtronic MiniMed immediately to exchange any unused infusion set for a free replacement, the company said Tuesday. Call toll-free 1-800-MINIMED, or check the Web site at www.min

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