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.

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.

Washington, September 27: NASA and the U. S. Chess Federation (USCF) are teaming up to host the first public chess match between International Space Station astronaut Greg Chamitoff and the inhabitants of the Earth, beginning Monday, September 29.

Key players in the game will be the kindergarten through third grade U. S. Chess Championship Team and its chess club teammates from Stevenson Elementary School in Bellevue, Washington.

The K-3 champions will select up to four possible moves on Earth’s turn. The public then will vote on the move transmitted to orbit.

Washington  - US stocks were mixed Friday as investors awaited congressional approval of a 700-billion-dollar financial rescue plan.

The Standard & Poor's 500 broad-based index rose 4.09 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 1,213.27. The blue chip Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 121.07, or 1.1 per cent, to 1,1143.13. The high tech Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 3.23, or 0.2 per cent, to 2,183.34.

The S&P 500 was down 3.3 per cent on the week and the Dow slipped 2.2 per cent.

Washington  - Ten of the world's richest countries have pledged 6.1 billion dollars to help poor countries deal with the effects of global warming, the World Bank said Friday.

The money will be part of two new investment funds to be run by the World Bank and other development banks to finance projects that help poor nations cut their greenhouse-gas emissions and tackle some of the already-existing consequences of a warming planet. Countries will get the funding through a combination of loans and grants.

Washington  - Congress wrestled Friday across political divides over a deeply unpopular giant financial industry rescue plan as majority Democrats insisted that Republicans get on board before putting it to a vote.

The White House pulled out all the stops, sending its representatives to Capitol Hill where negotiations continued over the controversial 700-billion-dollar life raft for Wall Street.