Never-before-seen Optical Alignment in Space

Hubble finds a double Einstein ring

NASA probe does Mercury fly-by

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A car-sized NASA probe zoomed about 126 miles above the rocky, crater-scarred surface of Mercury on Monday, becoming the first spacecraft since 1975 to fly past the closest planet to the sun. ( Mercury )

La Gioconda

BERLIN (Reuters) - German academics believe they have solved the centuries-old mystery behind the identity of the "Mona Lisa" in Leonardo da Vinci's famous portrait.

( Smile though your heart is aching; Smile even though it's breaking. When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by. If you smile through your fear and sorrow, Smile and maybe tomorrow, You'll see the sun come shining through for you.  )

Stolen paintings returned home

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Stolen paintings by Pablo Picasso and Candido Portinari returned home to applause on Wednesday while police tried to find out who masterminded the robbery.

The paintings, worth millions of dollars, were recovered Tuesday when a suspect led police to a house on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, said chief police inspector Mauricio Lemos Freire.

( Recovered Art )

Study suggests a Mediterranean diet wards off asthma, allergy

LONDON (Reuters) - Children of women who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits and vegetables while pregnant are far less likely to develop asthma or allergies later in life, Greek researchers said on Tuesday.

( Achoo! )