Washington, Mar 18 : The two Republican congressional committees have announced that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would speak at a June joint fundraising dinner, one of the biggest Republican gatherings of the year, but she has still not confirmed her participation for the event.

Palin's spokesman said that congressional Republicans were mistaken in announcing the governor would headline the Republican gatherings of the year, the Senate-House dinner in Washington, D. C.

Washington, Mar 18 : US lawmakers of Irish origin would be off quaffing Guinness and downing bangers and mash on St. Patrick's Day.

Senator Claire McCaskill can't stop raving about the only place she sees fit to have a real Irish breakfast on St. Patrick's Day.

Browne's Market in Kansas City is "not really a bar, but a neighborhood market and deli gathering spot that's very Irish and wonderful," Politico quoted McCaskill, as saying.

Washington, Mar 18 : Madonna is working on the last album in her contract with record label Warner Bros., and it will again be a compilation of her hits.

The `Material Girl' will reportedly record new songs this summer, which will be meant specifically for the forthcoming release.

The swansong album, which is currently untitled, is scheduled for a release in September.

It will be her first hits album after 2001''s GHV2, reports Contactmusic.

Madonna has previously released the `Immaculate Collection' in 1990.

Washington, Mar 18 : Scientists have developed a new technique for growing slimmer copper nanorods, a breakthrough that can pave the way for advanced integrated 3-D chip technology.

The researchers have found a new method to grow slimmer copper nanorods, which can be used as a low-temperature bonding agent for holding together the layers of next-generation 3-D integrated computer chips.

Washington, March 18 : North Carolina State University researchers have used the natural glue that marine mussels use to stick to rocks, and a variation on the inkjet printer, to devise a new way to make medical adhesives that can hold key to faster healing from surgeries.

The researchers say that the their technique may help replace traditional sutures, and lead to faster recovery times and increased precision for exacting operations like eye surgery.

Sutures and synthetic adhesives have been in use for joining tissue together in the wake of a surgery.

Washington, March 18 : Israeli scientists have developed a new device enables plants to send a text message when they need a drink.

According to a report by Fox News, Israel Agricultural Ministry plant physiologist Dr. Eran Raveh and his earth-scientist partner Dr. Arie Nadler spent seven years perfecting the hammer-shaped sensor that gauges moisture levels in plants and trees and sends real-time alerts to mobile phones or computers when water levels are low.

"The idea behind creating the sensor was to cut irrigation costs by up to 50 percent," Raveh told Fox News.

The sensor helps cut water usage and avoid unnecessary and damaging over-irrigation by providing accurate water-level feedback.