February 2016 breaks past records for average temperature

February this year was the hottest February so far since the time record-keeping started. Climatologists have called global warming and an El Niño weather event in the Pacific, responsible for the rise in the temperature in February 2016.

As per NASA-released data, February’s average worldwide temperature was 1.35 degrees Celsius, or 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit, higher compared to normal for February. The margin has been recorded as the largest ever recorded one for any month opposite to a baseline of 1951 to 1980.

Scientists in Chile Create Chicken Embryo with dinosaur legs

Scientists in Chile have come up with a chicken embryo that created dinosaur-like feet after genetic manipulation. It has highlighted the evolutionary relation between theropod dinosaurs and birds.

Alexander Vargas, one of the six researchers at the University of Chile, said that the study, that appeared last week in the journal Evolution, has shown that by stopping early maturation of a leg of the chicken embryo, the leg takes the shape similar as that of dinosaurs' legs used to have.

On Tuesday, while speaking to AFP, Vargas said that the outcome was a chicken embryo with dinosaur legs. He explained what amounts to reverse evolution.

Flock of 10 pigeons flying around London to make people more environmentally aware

A flock of 10 pigeons is flying over London with an aim to make city residents aware of air pollution. The flock, dubbed as the Pigeon Air Patrol, is revealing pollution levels throughout London on Twitter.

The idea is to raise awareness among London residents regarding environment. The idea was conceived by DigitasLBi, a global marketing and technology company. Last year, it also won #PoweredByTweets challenge at social network Twitter.

The pigeons selected for the initiative have small backpacks fixed on them to analyze the level of air pollution in an area. Plume Labs, a company headquartered in Paris, designed the lightweight backpacks for the pigeon flock. Sensors in those backpacks measure levels of nitrogen dioxide and ozone in the environment.

Scientists find origin of strange ‘fairy circles’ spotted in Australia

‘Fairy circles’ have been baffling researchers since a long time. Until now, researchers were trying to understand the scattering and patterns of Africa’s puzzling circles, but now Australia's outback has revealed some of these strange and barren patches.

The mysterious fairy circles were first spotted by scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). They noticed the dots on earth’s surface in pictures taken near Newman, Australia. The regularly-patterned circles were similar to barren patches previously spotted in Africa.

The surprising and interesting thing about the dots was that they were spread over a vast area with great regularity, said Stephan Getzin, an expert at the UFZ and lead researcher of the new findings.

Scientists Claim they’ve found ‘pregnant’ T. rex that died in Montana 68 million years ago

The remains of a pregnant Tyrannosaurus rex that had died in ancient Montana about 68 million years ago may provide hints into how to identify male and female theropods, or bipedal meat-eating dinosaurs.

In a new study, researchers said they looked at the organic components in the dinosaur’s bone structure and after verify details of the fossil, reached at the conclusion that the T. rex was pregnant. The bone structure had survived for tens of millions of years since the predator’s death.

Mary Schweitzer, an evolutionary biologist at North Carolina State University and study lead researcher, said the T. rex was discovered in 2000 by Bob Harmon, a paleontologist at the Museum of the Rockies in Montana, Hell Creek Formation.

Everyone needs to join battle against Alzheimer’s, say top Researchers

A report written by Lancet Neurology Commission will guide politicians and policy makers about the challenges of Alzheimer's disease. The paper will be brought forth today to provide expert recommendations and information about the disease. The report will be published in the April issue of the journal Lancet Neurology. The 78-page report is a coordinated effort of 30 internationally leading researchers.

The report, which has plans that could help fight Alzheimer's disease, will be presented today on 15th March during the Brain Awareness Week 2016 at a workshop hosted by the European Parliament in Brussels. Professor Bengt Winblad, Centre for Alzheimer Research at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, is lead author of the report.

Pages

News in Focus

Hindustan Copper Share Price Target at Rs 715: Anand Rathi Research

Anand Rathi has reiterated its BUY call on Hindustan Copper, holding a 12-month, DCF-based target of Rs 715 against a market price of Rs 572 — an upside of roughly 25 percent.

VIP Industries Share Price Target at Rs 430: Motilal Oswal Financial Services

Motilal Oswal Financial Services has reiterated a BUY on VIP Industries, setting a target of Rs 430 against a market price of Rs 311, an upside of about 39 percent.

Colgate-Palmolive India Share Price Target at Rs 2,500: Motilal Oswal

Motilal Oswal Financial Services has reiterated a BUY on Colgate-Palmolive India, setting a target of Rs 2,500 against a market price of Rs 1,965, an upside of about 27 percent.

Jubilant FoodWorks Share Price Target at Rs 625: Motilal Oswal

Motilal Oswal Financial Services has upgraded Jubilant FoodWorks to BUY from Neutral, setting a target of Rs 625 against a market price of Rs 494, an upside of about 27 percent.

The SEBI Rs 10,000 Revolution: How Lower Minimums are Democratizing Corporate Bonds in India

The Indian capital markets are witnessing a quiet revolution that promises to reshape the investment landscape fundamentally.

Can You Hold Multiple Life Insurance Policies at the Same Time? Insurance Sector Review

Holding several life insurance policies is legal and common in India. As life changes through marriage or a new home, initial cover often falls short.