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For the initial life on Earth, the magnetosphere of our planet has probably provided important protection against the stellar attack, making possible the evolution of our flourishing biosphere.

Researchers have studied a nearby young sun-like star known as Kappa Ceti, and after analyzing it they have now realized how fortunate the inhabitants of Earth are to have such an efficient magnetic field.

Kappa Ceti is present just at a distance of 30 light-years in the constellation Cetus and as per astronomers estimations it is 400-600 million years old.

In an interesting genetic modification project, researchers said the genes of a chick can be altered to lengthen its legs to dinosaur-like proportions. But, there is no need to worry about the ‘dawn of the dinosaurs’ as these ‘dino-chicks’ have so far failed to hatch.

According to a press release, the aim of the project wasn’t to come up with dinosaurs for commercial or non-scientific purposes, just like the case of 'Jurassic Park' series.

It could recall the work done by researchers who have grown human-like ears atop rats, but the motive behind this forced cross-species experiment is entirely different.

Ceres grabbed special attention of earthlings last year when NASA’s Dawn spacecraft beamed back images showing its strange, bright spots. These planetoid freckles gave rise to debate in scientific community while astronomers and general public started predicted what these weird things are.

Now, a study has found that the mysterious dots on the largest object in the asteroid belt are changing. It supports the idea that light coming from the sun is turning ice into vapor in the region where these dots are located. The new observations are based on data collected from earth-bound telescopes.

Until recently, mysterious circular patches known as ‘fairy circles’ had been spotted in Namib Desert in Namibia, Africa. But now, researchers have seen these strange circles scattered across the Australian outback as well.

A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America has found the origin of these baffling structures. A research team led by Stephan Getzin of Department of Ecological Modelling at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) found that the fairly circles could be due to grass organizing itself in this pattern.

Fossil hunters digging the soil near a creek in north-central Illinois have come across a remarkable discovery — Tully monster. They have found the preserved remnants of a prehistoric creature, which appears to be having a long, arm-like appendage extending from below with a pincer-like mouth and its wide-set eyes pointed towards stalks.

Scott Lidgard, a paleontologist at Chicago’s Field Museum, said the Tully monster, which is Illinois’ official state fossil, beyond doubt was “very, very bizarre”.

Lidgard is responsible for handling of the museum’s collection of 1,800 Tully monster fossils, which is the largest collection across the globe.

UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals recently announced success of its cannabis-derived drug in clinical trials. The company’s market value doubled overnight after it made an announcement that revealed success of cannabis-derived drug Epidiolex in reducing seizures in children with a rare form of epilepsy.

The study was first of four final-stage Phase III epilepsy trials, results of other trails are yet to come this year. The study involved 120-patients, who were given Epidiolex. The patients were found to have fair reduction in monthly convulsive seizures that was 39%, more when compared with 13% of reduction with placebo intake.