Washington, Dec 18: A team of anthropologists has claimed to have solved the `hobbit' mystery, by concluding that fossilized skeletons resembling a mythical "hobbit" creature represent an entirely new species in humanity's evolutionary chain.

Discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2003, controversy has surrounded the fossilized hominid skeletons of the so-called "hobbit people," or Homo floresiensis ever since.

Experts are still debating whether the 18,000-year-old remains merely belong to a diminutive population of modern-day or represent a previously unrecognized branch in humanity's family tree.

Washington, Dec 18 : New evidence has emerged that suggests human-induced climate change began not 200 years ago, but thousands of years ago with the onset of large-scale agriculture in Asia and extensive deforestation in Europe.

The prevalent view is that the invention of the steam engine and the advent of the coal-fueled industrial age 200 years ago marked the beginning of human influence on global climate.

But now, using powerful simulations on the world's most advanced computer climate models, scientists have determined that man started manipulating climate thousands of years ago.

Washington, Dec 18 : Jennifer Aniston is urging studio bosses to make a movie adaptation of `Friends' soon before the cast are all "geriatrics".

Ever since the popular sitcom has ended in 2004, rumours of reunion and big screen adaptation have been making rounds.

But Aniston has insisted that the six cast members would jump at the chance to play their characters again for the movie, as long as they don't turn `too old'.

The actress herself will turn 40 in February.

Washington, Dec 18: Women prefer mates who're recognized by their peers for their skills, abilities, and achievements - and not those who use coercive tactics to subordinate their rivals, finds a new study.

Infact, women found dominance strategies of the latter type to be attractive primarily when men used them in the context of male-male athletic competitions.

The research has been published in the journal Personal Relationships.

Jeffrey K. Snyder, Lee A. Kirkpatrick, and H. Clark Barrett conducted three studies with college women at two U. S. universities.

Washington, Dec 18: US President George W Bush has said that his efforts to protect American people are "paying off," and added that he didn't compromisehis soul to become a popular guy.

In an interview with FOX News, President Bush said: "I've been a war-time president. I've dealt with two economic recessions now. I've had, hell, a lot of serious challenges. What matters to me is I didn''t compromise my soul to be a popular guy."

Washington, Dec 18: Even after the suicide of former American idol contestant Paula Goodspeed, judge Simon Cowell has refused to tone down his level of criticism on the show.

Although Cowell insists that Goodspeed's death has hit them "like an express train", he is adamant he would not have judged her differently when she auditioned- because it is necessary for viewers to hear his honest opinion.