United States

Plants take an ''uphill hike'' as temperatures rise

Washington, Feb 11: A new research has indicated that as summer temperatures rise due to global warming, plants can take a hike to higher elevations, in order to bloom.

The research, from the University of Arizona (UA) in Tucson, US, reported plants flowering at higher elevations in Arizona's Santa Catalina Mountains as summer temperatures rise.

The flowering ranges of 93 plant species moved uphill during 1994 to 2003, compared to where the same species flowered the previous ten years.

During the 20-year study period, summer temperatures in the region increased about 1.8 degree Fahrenheit (1 degree C.).

Saudis V-Day celebration ban drives red roses to black market

Saudis V-Day celebration ban drives red roses to black marketWashington, Feb 11 : With the religious police in Saudi Arabia banning the celebration of Valentine''''s Day, the prices for red roses have gone up along with other items on the black market. The BBC reports that the ban applies to the sale of any gifts that is involved with the romantic holiday, with shopkeepers saying that they have been warned to remove all red items from their stores.

Pak tells Holbrooke it wants more aid from the U.S.

Pak tells Holbrooke it wants more aid from the U.S.Islamabad, Feb. 11: Pakistan expects more from the United States in return for its cooperation against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and this message was amply conveyed to President Obama's Special Envoy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke during his meetings with the leadership here.

If you want to see a comet go ‘green’, wait for Feb 24!

Washington, Feb 11 : On February 24th, sky gazers will be treated to the spectacle of a rare green comet, as it would be make its closest approach to Earth that day.

According to a report in Discovery News, the comet, found by Quanzhi Ye, a meteorology undergraduate student at China's Sun Yat-Sen University in July 2007, has vivid green hues.

The color is caused by gases spewing off the comet nucleus as it heats up during its trip toward the sun. The gases glow green in sunlight.

Quanzhi Ye made the find in July 2007 while studying a picture taken by a Taiwanese astronomer working at the Lulin Observatory, for which the comet was named.

It became visible this month.

Pak tells Holbrooke it wants more aid from the U.S.

Islamabad, Feb. 11: Pakistan expects more from the United States in return for its cooperation against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and this message was amply conveyed to President Obama's Special Envoy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke during his meetings with the leadership here.

Statements issued by both Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani after their respective meetings with Holbrooke, emphasized the need to "expedite" a new, multi-billion dollar U. S. aid package, and "the importance of enhanced cooperation in defense and intelligence sharing."

Holbrooke said only that he was there "to listen and learn the ground realities of this critically important country."

Women send more expressive text messages than men

Washington, Feb 11 : When men and women talk through technology, it''s the ladies who're more expressive, that's the conclusion of a new study.

Researchers at Indiana University have found that when men and women text message each other in a public, interactive dating market, it is the women who use more non-standard, expressive language techniques.

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