Washington, Sept 23 : Green plants and animals enjoy a relatively close evolutionary relationship than previously thought, a new study by an East California University biologist has revealed.

Plants, fungi and animals are all in a group called the eukaryotes – distinguished by their advanced cellular machinery. But some eukaryotes, most notably the fungi, have long been considered more closely related to animals than plants are.

Washington, Sept 23 : Scientists at the University of Leicester have discovered a natural fruit-based extract that dramatically improves the growth and probiotic qualities of ‘friendly’ bacteria, such as the lactic acid bacteria, which are found in the most widely-advertised health supplement drinks.

There is currently a great deal of interest in the health-associated properties of probiotics, also known as ‘beneficial’ or ‘friendly’ bacteria, and prebiotics, the food needed for the growth of probiotic when inside our bodies.

New York: Merck, US pharmaceutical company has stopped examinations of an anti-AIDS vaccine after an analysis proved it ineffectual.

The conclusion is seen as a delay for the cause of battling the wide-reaching AIDS outbreak as the vaccine known V520 was primarily billed as predicting.

Washington, Sept 23 : Climate change is accelerating the spread of dengue fever throughout the Americas and in tropical regions worldwide, a new study by a Harvard Medical School researcher has revealed.

The study said more rainfall in certain areas and warmer overall temperatures was providing optimal conditions for mosquitoes –which spread the virus that causes dengue – to breed and expand into new territories.

Washington, Sept 23 : A German-American research team of biologists and geochemists has discovered hitherto unknown anaerobic bacteria in marine sediments, which need only propane or butane for growth.

Ethane, propane butane, and methane are the major constituents of natural gas. Biological processes may lead to the degradation of these hydrocarbons in underground petroleum reservoirs and other geological habitats.

Billionaires in United States have made more money this year as per the Forbes list of 400 wealthiest Americans. While there are some new entrants to the list, the top positions are mostly held by familiar faces. The entry vault was raised by US $300 million.

Washington: Scientists had discovered many ways to stimulate the body’s own anti-aging protections maybe with a pill, which could battle various diseases at a time.

The study, which is published in the journal ‘Cell’, helps explicating why animals fed very light foods live a longer life, but it also provides new ways to aspire to reproduce the outcomes of these diets using a pill in place of hunger.

Washington, September 22 : A new study has shown that language impairment may affect a child’s ability to understand and retell a script-based story.

The study, involving a researcher from the University of Alberta, is the first to look into the relationship between language skills and children’s ability to understand things.

When a person experiences an event frequently, for instance going to a restaurant, he remembers the kinds of activities that are part of such event. This is called a ‘script’.

Washington, Sept. 22 : The news that the official kilogram – a cylinder cast made 118 years ago from platinum and iridium -- has been losing mass, about 50 micrograms at the last check at a storage facility near Paris, has prompted two U.S. professors – a physicist and mathematician to look for other ways to define the kilogram better.

The official kilogram is known as the "International Prototype Kilogram or “Le Gran K”.

Washington, September 22 : A Queen’s researcher has suggested that women’s desire to marry and have children is governed by the genes they inherit from their maternal ancestors, rather than the new found newfound economic independence.

Lonnie Aarssen, a Biology professor who specializes in reproductive ecology, believes that though many women have become more inclined to making their career instead of starting their families, this trend will change in future.

Washington, Sept.22 : A mysterious illness has hit a number of residents living near the Lake Titicara in Peru following the crashing of a rare kind of meteorite.

Peruvian researchers have confirmed the origins of the object after studying samples of it at a laboratory in Lima.

Residents, according to the National Geographic, have complained of headaches and nausea, spurring speculation that the explosion was a subterranean geyser eruption or a release of noxious gas from decayed matter underground.

Washington, Sept.22 : A renewable energy source designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is contributing more to global warming than fossil fuels, a study has suggested.

Measurements of emissions from the burning of biofuels derived from rapeseed and maize have been found to produce more greenhouse gas emissions than they save. Other biofuels, especially those likely to see greater use over the next decade, performed better than fossil fuels but the study raises serious questions about some of the most commonly produced varieties.

Washington, Sept 22 : Researchers have patented a synthetic version of the drug heparin, called Recomparin, that is less complex chemically and easier to produce than previous forms.

Heparin has loads of advantages such as it helps in preventing clots from forming and restricting the flow of blood during and after procedures such as kidney dialysis, heart-bypass surgery, stent implantation and knee and hip replacement. The annual worldwide sales of the drug are estimated at 3 billion dollars.

Washington, Sept. 22 : The news that the official kilogram – a cylinder cast made 118 years ago from platinum and iridium -- has been losing mass, about 50 micrograms at the last check at a storage facility near Paris, has prompted two U.S. professors – a physicist and mathematician to look for other ways to define the kilogram better.

The official kilogram is known as the "International Prototype Kilogram or “Le Gran K”.

Washington, Sept.22: NASA has made a decision to restart an astronomy mission that will have greater capability than any existing instrument for detecting black holes in the local universe.

The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NUSTAR), will expand understanding of the origins and destinies of stars and galaxies.

NASA had stopped the study effort on the NUSTAR mission in 2006 due to funding pressures within the Science Mission Directorate.

Washington, September 22: A study of mice by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center has uncovered about 350 genes related to female fertility, opening the door to much wider study in the poorly understood field of infertility.

“This study gives us a way to begin to understand the causes of female infertility. It gives us a much more complete list of candidate genes to explore. Before, we didn’t even know where to look,” said Dr. Diego Castrillon, assistant professor of pathology and senior author of the study.  

Washington, September 21 : The ghost-writer who worked on former American football star O. J. Simpson’s book ‘If I Did It’ has revealed that he himself holds the ‘Naked Gun’ star guilty for his wife’s murder.

Pablo Fenjves says that right before he had started co-writing the book, he had told Simpson that he always believed he was responsible for the murders.

"He knew that I thought he was guilty," Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

The writer also said that he is not surprised that Simpson has lately been accused of staging an armed robbery in a hotel suite in Las Vegas.

"It really doesn't surprise me that he thinks the rules do not apply to him," he said.

New York, Sept 21 : Rehabbing actress Lindsay Lohan has denied reports that she ruined the marriage of a British heiress.

Stephanie Allen accused Lohan of sleeping with her musician husband Tony at Cirque Lodge clinic in Utah, where the actress is undergoing treatment.

However, Tony said that he is just good friends with the starlet.

“We're great friends. We share a common affliction, and we just talk about life sometimes,” New York Daily News quoted Tony, as saying.

Washington, September 21 : ‘Star Wars’ creator George Lucas is struggling to clinch a broadcast deal with TV channels for his spin-off animated series ‘Clone Wars’.

The movie mogul has so far created 40 of the 100 episodes of his programme.

He has very clearly said that his production is not for a kids channel.

Lucas has also said that he wants a prime time slot for his programme.

Washington, Sept 21: Kim Kardashian has been selected as Playboy’s December cover girl by chief Hugh Hefner.

Earlier it was widely reported that Kim did a photo shoot for Playboy, and now Usmagazine.com has exclusively confirmed that she has indeed been selected as the cover girl by the magazine.

A source also revealed that Kardashian’s pics will be one of the longest Playboy has done.

“Kardashian's 12-page pictorial will be one of the longest spreads Hef has done in a long time,” Usmagazine.com quoted a source, as saying.