A recent survey from Nielsen/Net Ratings revealed that for the first time ever, the number of Americans connecting to the Internet over a broadband (DSL or cable) connection exceeded the amount of Internet users connecting via modem.  The data, taken in July, shows that 51 percent of U.S. online users connect via broadband, a significant jump from 38 percent a year ago.

The broaband penetration varies by age group, with the highest numbers being registered with the younger population.  This growth was attributed to many reasons, including the drop in service rates, with many users being lured by lower monthly DSL fees (e.g. Qwest's monthly DSL fee is $26.99, SBC offers DSL at $26.95 per month, whereas Verizon charges $29.95).  Cable is still king, however, amassing a much higher market share than DSL.  However, in Q2 2004, DSL took the lead in new customers against cable for the first time (895,000 new additions versus 830,000).   

However, for a good reality check, the U.S. numbers are still lagging behind other regions in the world, including Europe and Asia.  In Japan, for instance, broadband was used by 91 percent of home Internet users in Japan during June, according to Nielsen data.

Two important discoveries about the Red Planet were made earlier this week by the NASA twin rovers.  The Spirit rover found additional signs that water might have once existed in Mars.  The rover's twin (Opportunity) discovered a field of dunes inside a crater.

The robotic vehicles landed in January and first uncovered signs in March that Mars had water at one point in its history. The Spirit rover has now explored nearly two miles across the plains of its Gusev Crater landing site and into an area called the Columbia Hills. The rover recently found indications water had changed an outcropping of bedrock dubbed Clovis, NASA scientists claimed. The research indicates that the interaction with liquid water changed the composition of the rock - a fascinating proof that water might have once existed in Mars.