Tehran - Feb. 23 : Iran''s first nuclear power plant is all set to undergo a critical series of tests beginning Wednesday before it starts its full-scale operation later this year, Iranian state radio has aired.

Bushehr plant is a symbolic facet of Iran''s controversial nuclear program. The United States, Israel and some European nations had charged Iran for trying to produce nuclear weapons. However, Iranian leaders have maintained that the country''s nuclear ambitions are peaceful, the Washington Post reports.

London, Feb 23 : Bringing robots closer to humans, scientists have now unveiled humanoid and dog robots that develop unique personalities when they interact with humans in a "robot nursery".

Created by Lola Canamero from the University of Hertfordshire, these robots have learnt social tricks and were unveiled at the Science Museum in London this week.

Now, the researchers are also planning to make an emotional robotic head called Erwin, which communicates using basic facial expressions.

Washington, Feb 21 : Scientists are using the phenomenon of gravitational lensing, which they call "Einstein''s telescope", as a scientific "instrument" in their quest to determine the makeup of the universe.

The University of Chicago''s Evalyn Gates''s new book, "Einstein''s Telescope: The Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe", explains how it works.

Although based on Albert Einstein''s general theory of relativity, the effect is easily demonstrated.

Washington, Feb 21 : Hopes for the discovery of Atlantis by Google Ocean have been shattered, with the criss-crossing lines near the Canary Islands that were presumed by scientists to be a `grid of streets', turning out be boat mapping lines.

Atlantis is believed to be an island civilization sunk by an earthquake and floods around 9,700BC - nearly 12,000 years ago.

Google Ocean captured an image showing a grid that features a rectangular perimeter of the seabed, a possible location for Atlantis.

This particular region, 620 miles off the west coast of Africa near the Canary Islands, is a location for the legendary continent seemingly suggested by the ancient philosopher Plato.

IT major Vishal

London, Feb 20 : Scientists have found a unique way of harnessing energy - hamsters fitted with electricity generating jackets!

The jackets are strapped to the animals as they run on their cage wheels, capturing the biomechanical energy they release as they exercise.

Developed by Dr Zhong Lin Wang of Georgia University''s Nano Research Group, the jackets are fitted with wires plugged into a nanogenerator that produces energy when they are bent and stretched.

The study showed that one hamster could produce small amounts of AC power - around one twentieth of the output of an AA battery.