Science said: The Opportunity rover found the salty rippled sediments of a

Science said: “The Opportunity rover found the salty, rippled sediments of a huge shallow sea; the Spirit rover discovered rock once so drenched that it had rotted. Their finds mark a milestone in humankind’s search for life elsewhere in the universe.”Water in its liquid state is almost certainly essential for the evolution of extra-terrestrial life. If it can be shown that life originated and evolved independently on another planet in the same solar system then it would suggest that life elsewhere in the universe was more common than was thought.Opportunity bounced down on the vast Martian plain of Meridiani Planum on 25 January, 22 days after its identical twin rover, Spirit, landed on the other side of the planet. Scientific proof that water once flowed on Mars has been voted the breakthrough of the year according to journal Science.

Every Labour MP has just been sent a booklet, showing them how to make political capital out of Gordon Brown’s forthcoming Child Trust Fund.Launched next month, the Chancellor’s policy is regarded as a vote-winner. “I can think of cheaper ways to buy votes: for starters the flipping babies aren’t able to vote for another 18 years.”pandora independent.co.uk. So MPs are required to seek out the first child born in their constituency after it takes effect, and present it with a bottle of House of Commons champagne.”Obviously, we have to pay for this ourselves,” grumbles one backbencher. But that seems to have been forgotten now: according to Henman’s personal internet site, he gratefully turned up on the night, and collected the gong in person.* They don’t miss a trick, those cheeky government whips. It’s from Bernie Ecclestone, who has commissioned a festive cartoon showing him surrounded by car manufacturers and representatives of the other bodies with which he has recently fallen out.The diminutive Formula One magnate, pictured is in the middle, playing with a load of juggling balls. I’ve been working on Mary Poppins for two years, but I’m rather looking forward to adapting my own work this time.”The project is being produced by BBC Drama’s Gareth Neame, who made the fruity costume drama Tipping the Velvet .Fellowes’s wife, Lady Emma is already looking forward to casting an eye over the script.”I’ll lock myself in my bedroom with the dogs and unplug the phones and read it straight through in bed,” she tells me.* THE FIRST notable celebrity Christmas card of the year flutters down Pandora’s chimney. The unfair dismissal case of Elaine Day – the PA Charles described as “so PC she frightens me rigid” – resumes in February.* FOR ALL its cutbacks, the BBC is still capable of pulling in the big hitters.The Oscar-winning society superstar Julian Fellowes – whose Mary Poppins musical oppened in the West End on Wednesday – is adapting his novel Snobs for the small screen.”It’s very early days on the scripts, but I think it’ll work well on television,” he tells me “It’s going to be in three parts.

“I’ve just spoken to him and he asked me to stress that he’s had a very happy time.”There’s no respite for the Prince’s personnel department, though. “The Prince rarely eats lunch these days, and Gary, who is a talented and creative cook, got bored of having so little to do.”Meanwhile, Clarence House confirmed Robinson’s departure “He’s spent seven great years here,” said a spokesman. The Prince of Wales has lost yet another member of his household staff with the departure of his trusted head chef, Gary Robinson

* It’s gone past the stage of looking like carelessness. Yesterday IndigoVision soared 9.5p to 82p after it disclosed the purchase of 100,000 shares at 73.5p each by three of its directors.

Leading the way was Oliver Vellacott, the chief executive, who picked up 90,000. In October, IndigoVision boasted of falling losses and said it was moving towards break-even.. * It’s gone past the stage of looking like carelessness. Although it is unclear who is behind Luxor, the firm made a name for itself by picking up a chunky stake in Ashtead when it looked as if the group was about to collapse That investment paid off in a big way. The tool hire group not only survived but has seen its shares soar 440 per cent this year. Yesterday profit taking sent the shares down 2.5p to 79p after it unveiled strong interim results.Petrel Resources crashed 51p to 46p on fears it has lost out to rivals in its bid to secure oil concessions in Iraq.