U.K. consumers, who have some of the highest personal debt levels in Europe, are bound to start watching their spending more closely this year, and many economists expect interest rates and taxes will gradually start to rise, which will crimp spending further.
Mars-bound pioneers will be exposed to radiation levels that could effectively retire astronauts under NASA's current standards, scientists reported Thursday.
Nonetheless, crude is still at price levels that are significantly higher than historical averages, suggesting that exploration and production companies are bound to get plentiful new contracts to drill for oil and natural gas.