BBC: A panel of independent experts has officially begun its inquiry into the "Climategate" affair. The experts, headed by Sir Muir Russell, will investigate how e-mails from the UK’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU) appeared on the web. They will also consider if the e-mail exchanges between researchers show an attempt to manipulate or suppress data "at odds" with scientific practice. The panel hopes to present "preliminary conclusions by spring 2010". Speaking at the …