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A little brown bat discovered near North Bend, Washington has been confirmed to have White-nose syndrome (WNS). The case has come as the first recorded happening of this shocking bat disease in western North America. The US Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center has verified the presence of this disease.

In other affected areas, WNS has spread at a quite fast pace in bats, killing over six million useful insect-eating bats in North America since it was documented for the first time roughly 10 years back. WNS isn’t known to be dangerous for humans, pets, livestock or other wildlife.

A lot of scientists have come forward to contribute to the expanding body of research predicting rising sea levels in the coming time. When it come to studies on climate change, it is possible to encounter set of statistics that could oppose another.

Such is the case of the findings of two US climate scientists, who suggested that the actual prediction of rising sea levels is in reality double as compared to the most recent estimates.

Moreover, the two researchers have said that earlier climate models have underestimated the likely sea level rise in the next century, and the Antarctic ice sheet meltdown. According to them, the accurate estimates may indicate disaster for low-lying cities.

Media reports have confirmed that President Obama and Premier Xi Jinping of China will sign the Paris Agreement on climate change on April 22. The United Nations accord will be open for the first time for government signatures on that day.

The announcement has come as a statement of joint resolve by the two biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the world, though it is doubtful that whether the United States will be able to meet its obligations mentioned in the agreement.

Modern zoologists still haven’t totally understood the cladistics and evolution of modern arachnids. But, now they have reached a step closer with the discovery of a fossil that has been named as ‘the almost spider’ by some senior research team members.

It is the fossil of an ancient arachnid dating back to 305 million years. They share a number of similarities with the present day spiders, but are behind in one main feature: spinnerets. With the help of spinnerets, the spider turns their silk into webs, and dubbed as Idmonarachne brasieri, the ancient arachnid doesn’t have them. The name given to it is after the Greek myth Idmon, who was the father of Arach.

In the states which had limited access of an abortion-inducing pill, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded access to it through its guidelines issued on Wednesday. Women in states like North Dakota, Ohio and Texas are exempt from the 16 years old FDA regulations which doctors have been following.

The new rule announced on Wednesday claimed that women seeking the pill could use that for 70 days after the start of their most recent menstrual period, up from 49 days under the previous guidelines. FDA also made the prescription for pills easier to get and also reduced the dosage of the medication, called mifepristone, from 600 milligrams to 200 milligrams. The new guidelines are update to the old rule being followed since 2000.

Actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg has started a new medicinal marijuana startup called Whoopi & Maya with her cofounder Maya Elisabeth, who’s been running medical marijuana company Om Edibles since 2008. Whoopi will serve as chairperson, while Maya will be the CEO of new venture. They have shared that the company will launch four products infused with cannabis for women to get relief from menstrual pain.