Washington, Dec 12 : A team of scientists at the University of Pittsburgh and the U. S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Pittsburgh has demonstrated a molecular chain reaction on a metal surface – a nanoscale process with sizable potential in areas from nanotechnology to developing information storage technology.

The researchers said that a single electron caused a self-perpetuating chain reaction that rearranged the bonds in 10 consecutive molecules positioned on a gold surface.

As each molecule''s original bond was broken by the reaction, the molecule rearranged itself to form a new molecule.

Melbourne, Dec 12 : Lad’s mag Zoo Weekly has raised the offer it made to Federal Youth and Sports Minister Kate Ellis to strip for a photo shoot for their men’s magazine.

The mag is now offering 31-year-old Kate Ellis, who is Australia''s youngest Federal MP and who the mag considers as Australia''s sexiest MP, a free holiday on top of the
30,000 dollars they had initially offered.

London, Dec 12 : Dannii Minogue has been snubbed by X factor supreme Simon Cowell as he refused to confirm her future on the show.

When the Aussie singer was asked if she would return as a judge next year, she said: “I don’t know. Ask Simon”, reports the Mirror.

However, Cowell looked upwards and – in an obvious attempt to avoid answering – said: “Has anyone looked at the ceiling?”

Later, Simon said: “If you had asked me this same thing last year about Sharon Osbourne I would have said I’m assuming it’s going to be the same panel.

VWashington, Dec 12 : Singer Enrique Iglesias treated one of his female fans at a recent London concert with a steamy smooch.

The singer, who is dating tennis star Anna Kournikova, was performing at the city''s O2 Arena in Greenwich as part of the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball, reports Contactmusic.

Maria Carroll, 17, from Essex, England, was personally serenaded by the pop star - after he plucked her from a crowd of thousands during his hit track ‘Hero’.

Washington, Dec 12 : Engineers at U. Va.''s Center for Biomechanics are creating a new "virtual" dummy, which will live entirely within computers and will be more realistic than any physical dummy ever subjected to a crash test.

For decades, automobile manufacturers have been crashing test dummies to gain insight to how various auto safety systems protect — or fail to protect — people during car accidents.

However, those dummies are made of plastic and steel, not tissue and bone. They can teach only so much.

Washington, Dec. 12 : Indian Americans have launched a signature campaign to demand that Pakistan be declared a terrorist state.

A Daily Times report says that copies of one of several petitions are being kept at scores of condolence meetings and candle light vigils being held across the US to honour the memory of those who were killed in the Mumbai terrorist attacks last month.