These lightshows of dying stars have been seen since ancient times, but modern astronomers use details of their light to probe the Universe's secrets.

BBC: Supernova 'Mingus' could shed light on dark energy

He used photons (in the form of carefully calibrated pulses of laser light) to probe atoms.

ECONOMIST: The 2012 Nobel prizes

The schemes were originally brought to the light by the Thompson probe.

CNN: By Jackie Koszczuk and Dan Carney, CQ Staff Writers

Once the hole has been blasted open with hot water, a probe carrying an ultraviolet light will be lowered to sterilise its upper section.

BBC: Key tests in search for life in frozen Antarctic lake

Indeed, Questcor will have to wade through and survive lots of challenges in light of the Aetna factor, and the government probe.

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And it would also give us insight into what would be needed to think about even sending a probe to Alpha Centauri some 4.37 light years distant.

FORBES: Jump-Starting A Mission To Interstellar Space

Nonetheless, Mr O'Keefe and Mr Koptev have given the green light to a programme to build a US-Russian space probe for the exploration of Mars.

BBC: Mars rover (Nasa)

The Scottish government said it would probe any new leads surrounding the Lockerbie bombing in 1988, should information come to light following the developments in Libya.

BBC: David Cameron: Remember Colonel Gaddafi Libya victims