Washington, September 24 : A new study has shown ammonia emissions from seabirds to be a significant source of nitrogen in remote coastal ecosystems, contributing to nutrient enrichment (eutrophication) and acidification in ecosystems.

While most ammonia emissions originate from domesticated animals such as poultry and pigs, seabirds are the most significant emitters of ammonia to the atmosphere in remote regions.

A recent study, “Temporal variation in atmospheric ammonia concentrations above seabird colonies”, has shown how emissions may vary between seabird species, with a higher proportion of ammonia volatilized from bare ground nesting birds compared to burrow nesters.

Washington, Sept 24 : Women who’re not comfortable revealing their age should stay miles away from University of Illinois-developed computer software that reveals a person''s age just by looking at his or her face.

But, unlike age-guessers at carnivals, who look at a person''s body, the software works by examining only the person''s face.

"Age-estimation software is useful in applications where you don''t need to specifically identify someone, such as a government employee, but would like to know their age," said Thomas S. Huang, the William L. Everitt Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the U. of I.

Washington, Sept 24 : US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has reportedly said that the US was justified under international law in conducting unilateral military operations inside Pakistan to protect American troops.

He also said that the US State Department must have consulted appropriate international laws before going ahead on launching unilateral strikes on Pakistani soil.

Washington, Sept 24 : A new study on a deadly cancer in dogs, called hemangiosarcoma, may not only help the canines, but will also have implications in finding the treatment for human form of the disease.

The study, jointly conducted by Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute, is good news not only for pet owners but the human connection also brings hope.

The study was aimed to see what drugs can be developed to treat this disease. In turn, this research may ultimately benefit people with similar cancers.

Washington, Sept 24 : The US has denied a Pakistan claim of shooting down an unmanned American drone in South Waziristan last night.

“No such thing occurred,” one senior US official said while denying the reports, reported The Telegraph.

Earlier, reports had quoted Pakistani intelligence officials as saying local Taliban groups had shot down a drone on Tuesday night.

A Pakistani TV channel reported security forces had discovered the remains of the drone near the Afghan border. The channel said that the local Pashtun tribesmen claimed to have shot down the machine.

New York, Sept 24: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is scheduled to meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick here today on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

Dr. Singh reached New York last night on the first leg of his 10-day visit to the United States and France.