Hotter sun

The sun has been more active in the last 70 years than it has been for the previous 8,000 years, according to an analysis of tree rings containing radioactive chemicals. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute, Germany, say in Nature that the recent hypertemperature, which will decrease within a few decades, doesn?t contribute to global warming.

Designer cat

A California-based biotechnology company, Allerca, has started taking orders ($250 as deposit) for a hypoallergenic cat for pet lovers prone to allergies. The genetically engineered feline, expected to be available from 2007, is the first of the lifestyle pet series. Scientists at Allerca has been able to suppress the gene-producing allergen proteins.

Longer life

Studies have indicated that a natural enzyme, Sir2, mediates longevity in yeast, worms and rats. Findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicate that the same holds true in fruit flies. Now, scientists are searching for drugs that may capture the life-prolonging benefits of extreme diets by directly stimulating Sir2 production in fruit flies.