Washington, September 27: A new study has determined that cities are being unfairly blamed for most of humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions and this threatens efforts to tackle climate change, as cities are part of the solution and not the problem.

The study, which appears in the October 2008 issue of the journal Environment and Urbanization, says cities are often blamed for 75 to 80 percent of emissions, but that the true value is closer to 40 percent.

Washington, September 27 : American scientists have determined the structure of a light-transmitting compound that can one day be used in high-efficiency fibre optics, and in sensors to detect biological and chemical weapons from long distances.

The achievement stems from the efforts of researchers associated with the U. S. Department of Energy''s Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University, who used the uniquely suited Chemistry and Materials beamline of the Center for Advanced Radiation Sources (ChemMatCARS) at the Advanced Photon Source.

Washington, Sept 27: An insight into how horses move and breathe may help scientists in developing ways to improve muscular horse health, and a different approach to breathing devices for humans.

London, September 27 : Scientists have discovered one of the best-preserved Dasornis fossil skulls buried in clay on the Isle of Sheppey, an island off the northern coast of Kent, England, which suggests that giant prehistoric geese, that were the size of a small aircraft, once flew over Britain.

According to a report in the Telegraph, Dasornis, which had a 16 feet wingspan and sharp teeth, lived 50 million years ago and was related to present-day ducks and geese.

Once, it skimmed the waters that covered what is now London, Essex and Kent, snapping up fish and squid with its bony-toothed beak.

Washington, September 27 : A new study has looked at the hypothetical scenario of what legacy humans will leave in the rocks 100 million years hence.

Conducted by Jan Zalasiewicz, a lecturer in geology at the University of Leicester, UK, the study takes the perspective of alien explorers arriving on earth - their geologists study the layers of rock, using the many clues to piece together its history over several billion years.

Zalasiewicz’ research unravels the story of moving and changing continents, rising and falling oceans, ice ages, and evidence of life going back many millions of years.

Washington, September 27: NASA data has shown that for a four-week period in August 2008, arctic sea ice melted faster during that period than ever before.

Each year at the end of summer, sea ice in the Arctic melts to reach its annual minimum. Ice that remains, or “perennial ice,” has survived from year to year and contains old, thick ice.

The area of arctic sea ice, including perennial and seasonal ice, has taken a hit in past years as melt has accelerated.