HATFIELD (England) - IN THE search for Earth-like planets, astronomers zeroed in on Tuesday on two places that look awfully familiar to home. One is close to the right size. The other is in the right place.

European researchers said they not only found the smallest exoplanet ever, called Gliese 581 e, but realised that a neighbouring planet discovered earlier, Gliese 581 d, was in the prime habitable zone for potential life.

WASHINGTON - POSTMENOPAUSAL women who have breastfed a child have a lower risk of heart attacks, stroke and cardiovascular disease, a study released on Tuesday found.

The study of 139,681 postmenopausal women found that those participants who breastfed for at least one month had lower blood pressure, better cholesterol and less frequent diabetes.

PARIS - TSUNAMI waves unleashed by the collapse of a volcano on the Caribbean island of Dominica would hit the highly populated coast of nearby Guadeloupe within minutes, according to a new study.