Washington, July 30 : Researchers at the University of Illinois in the US, have devised a method to evaluate substrate surfaces by using a series of killer laser pulses.

Referred to as surface-enhanced Raman scattering, the technique will help to detect deadly fumes in subways, toxic gases in chemical spills, and hidden explosives in baggage.

It functions by adsorbing molecules of interest onto rough metal surfaces, typically enhancing the Raman spectrum by a million times.

Hot spots can occur, however, where the electric field enhancement can be a billion or more.

Sikar (Rajasthan), July 30 : Believe it or not, you may soon be able to purchase a microlight plane in the budget of a luxury car!

An aviation company based at Sikar in Rajasthan has assembled a two-seater microlight aircraft which can take-off and land from a stretch of just 300 feet, and can traverse 15 kilometres using one litre of normal petrol.

Manufactured by a newly formed company, West Wind Aviation, it will be available to the customer at around rupees 35 lakhs (Rs. 3.5 millon) only. The company is in the process of setting up an assembling hangar in Sikar.

This aircraft can touch a cruising speed of 200 knots per hour.

Washington, July 30 : NASA''s Phoenix Mars Lander have discovered visible changes in Martian ice, with cracks appearing in a distinctive hard-surface feature called "Snow Queen".

The feature visibly changed sometime between mid-June and mid-July, close-up images from the Robotic Arm Camera show.

The visible change is that cracks as long as 10 centimeters, or about four inches, have appeared.

Also, a seven-millimeter (less than one-third inch) pebble or clod not seen there before has popped up on the surface, and some smooth texture on Snow Queen has subtly roughened.

London, July 30 : It has a beating heart, a breathing belly and appears to react emotionally to the way it is treated – no it is not a human being but a mechanical robot ‘with feelings’.

Scientists have developed Heart Robot, which relaxes when it is shown kindness and flinches at anger. 

Heart Robot has sensors that respond to movement, noise and touch. Cuddle him, and he seems to soak up the affection. His limbs become limp, his eyelids lower, his breathing relaxes, and his heart beat slows down.

Dell has decided to come back to the MP3 player market.

However, the company has not disclosed much information about its plans.

Several Dell functionaries said that the company has been creating a digital music player, which will hit market by September.

The company also said that the device would cost below $100.

Introducing the player together with an online download service and related software would be part of a plan that Dell Chief Executive Michael Dell hopes will take the company into a wider range of consumer markets than it has served earlier.

Toshiba Corporation is all set to end the mobile digital satellite br