Washington, January 10 : A study on sparrows has revealed that the male Swamp Sparrow adjusts its vocal when faced with a hostile situation.

Adrienne DuBois, a graduate student at the University of Miami (UM) College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biology, says that the bird's ability to emit such songs as are physically difficult to produce during hostile situations suggests that it uses sophisticated vocal performances as signals in aggressive communication.

London, Jan 10 : Three Canadian men have claimed a new record for the fastest trek across Antarctica to the South Pole.

According to a report by BBC News, Ray Zahab, Kevin Vallely and Richard Weber said they had completed the 1,130 km (700 miles) journey in 33 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes.

The Canadians' journey took them from Hercules Inlet on Antarctica''s Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole.

Washington, Jan 9 : A new study has revealed that adolescents are increasingly experiencing both individual and vicarious discrimination online, which in turn triggers stress, depression and anxiety.

Brendesha Tynes, a professor of educational psychology and of African American studies at the University of Illinois, reckons that with teenagers increasingly tethered to the Internet, more consideration should to be given to race-related online victimization not only as an Internet safety issue, but also as a public health concern for parents.

Washington, Jan 9 : A new study has predicted that a powerful solar storm in the future could shut down the United States for months together.

According to a report by Fox News, the study, from the National Academy of Sciences, outlines grim possibilities on Earth for a worst-case scenario solar storm.

Damage to power grids and other communications systems could be catastrophic, the scientists conclude, with effects leading to a potential loss of governmental control of the situation.

London, Jan 9: A new research has predicted that floods will become commonplace by the year 2080, especially across the UK.

The research, led by Dr Hayley Fowler, of Newcastle University, predicts that severe storms - the likes of which currently occur every five to 25 years across the UK - will become more common and more severe in a matter of decades.

Looking at `extreme rainfall events', where rain falls steadily and heavily for between one and five days, the study predicts how the intensity of these storms may change in the future.

The Assamese school students were greatly impressed by NASA astronaut Edward Michael Finke, who onboard the ISS today. The man spoke to the students in their native language while an extraordinary live interaction from the space lab was being conducted.

When asked whether he could speak Assamese, Mike Finke, who is married to an Assamese Renita Saikia, said, “Moi alop kobo paru.” (I can speak a little)