Washington, April 27 : Drinking diet soda may reduce the risk of forming kidney stones, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that the citrate and malate content in commonly consumed sodas may be sufficient to inhibit the development of calcium stones.

Increased alkalinity is proven to augment citraturia, a known factor for calcium stones. Malate increases the amount of alkali delivered.

Washington, Apr 26 : The general public's ability to correctly identify wanted fugitives is as low as 7 percent, according to a new study.

Researchers from University of Arkansas conducted a series of field experiments designed to test prospective person memory. When people look at a photo of a wanted person or a missing child in order to spot that individual in the future, they are engaged in prospective person memory.

London, Apr 26 : The United States made it clear to Pakistan that it will attack Taliban militants in the Swat valley if the Pakistani Government failed to stop their advance towards Islamabad.

A senior Pakistani official said the Obama administration intervened after Taliban forces expanded from Swat into the adjacent district of Buner, 60 miles from the capital.

Washington, Apr. 26 : With the Taliban inching precariously closer to Islamabad, and fears of a takeover of the country by the insurgents getting stronger, the United States has expressed serious concern about Pakistan's nuclear arsenal getting into the hands of the Taliban.

Washington feels that Pakistan's nuclear armaments are in safe custody for the time being, but it is worried about the weapons of mass destruction getting into the hands of the extremists after they topple the democratic set up in the country.

London, Apr 26 : iPods and mobile phones may soon become theftproof, thanks to the unique sounds made by our ears.

Southampton University researchers have discovered that they can identify individuals from the faint sounds made deep inside the human ear. And, therefore, by using this technology they''re developing security devices.

Personal music players could be fitted with antitheft devices that detect "acoustic fingerprints" so they only work when they are being used by the registered owner.