Each dolphin makes its own unique whistle, and close friends or family will reply with the same sound. The findings, published today (July 22) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest the dolphins use the whistles like names. Past research showed individual , but it wasn't clear that other members of their group learned that whistle.

"These are learned individual calls animals can sometimes copy to label or address one another," said study co-author Stephanie King, a marine mammal scientist at the University of St. Andrews in the United Kingdom.

The findings also reveal parallels between dolphin whistles and human language acquisition. []

"As humans, we are able to learn new sounds, and dolphins andcan also learn new sounds," King told LiveScience.

Signature whistles

Dolphins use an amazing repertoire of buzzes, whistles and clicks to communicate with each other and hunt for prey. Past studies revealed that dolphins had signature whistles, and they used those whistles as personal calling cards to invite other dolphins to play.

But it wasn't clear that these sounds truly functioned as names that others could use to call to them. To see whether that was the case, King and her colleague Vincent Janik, also of the University of St. Andrews, used underwater recorders to track the signature whistles of bottlenose dolphins in St. Andrews Bay off the coast of Scotland.

The team then played thoseback to the owner of that whistle as well as to other dolphins. Dolphins repeatedly called back when they heard their own "name," as if to reply to a friend's call. Stranger dolphins didn't reply, but friends in the same group possibly mother and calf or males with strong alliances occasionally called back using the same exact whistle.

Dolphins probably call back in response because "there's a strong motivation to reunite with those individuals," King said.

The findings suggest that dolphin signature whistles act somewhat like names, and that other dolphins can learn them. Scientists knew dolphins could learn specific vocalizations in captivity, but this is the first time they've shown this ability in wild dolphins.

Whereas human babies are given a moniker at birth, dolphin infants may essentially grow into their names; they likely begin making a unique whistle, and over time, that whistle becomes their "name," King said.

As a follow-up, the researchers want to see whether dolphins can learn other sounds in similar ways.

Follow Tia Ghose on and . Follow LiveScience ,  & . Original article on .

The acquisition, if consummated, would dramatically boost the media efforts of the Internet search company, which is trying to ramp up original programming and earn subscription revenue as opposed to advertising income.

The "Sunday Ticket" service allows NFL fans to watch a wide variety of football games outside of their local markets.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and league officials called on Google, Facebook Inc and several other key Silicon Valley companies in recent days, as part of efforts to improve their content, NFL spokesman Alex Reithmiller confirmed on Wednesday. He did not elaborate.

But the tech blog cited sources saying Google CEO Larry Page and YouTube content chief Robert Kyncl specifically discussed acquiring the rights to the popular Sunday Ticket package with Goodell and his delegation.

Google's YouTube last year expanded its stable of original content by promoting and investing in hundreds of dedicated channels, hoping to shed its image as a repository for grainy home videos and to start putting out quality content to boost advertising sales and earn subscription revenue.

The NFL has proven to be a savvy media-rights negotiator in years past, and now controls one of the most lucrative sports-TV operations in the country. News of Google's interest could pile pressure on DirecTV as its lock on the package expires after the 2014 season.

"I've always been pretty skeptical that rights holders of significant events are going to put those events on digital platforms. The leagues love to float the idea that its a possibility because it creates a sense of more competition and accelerates prices," said John Skipper, president of the Walt Disney Co's ESPN sports network.

YouTube's "sites are not built for appointment viewing. You go there to watch archival content. You go there for information to do some task, to search, to do email."

Still, a content tie-up between the popular NFL and Google could have ripple effects throughout the media industry and transform Google into a major destination for sports online viewing, analysts said. It could bolster demand for services that bypass traditional cable, pressure values for some TV and satellite networks, and encourage users to sign up for broadband, Janney Capital Markets analyst Tony Wible said.

DirecTV has sounded upbeat about its chances of renewing the estimated $1 billion-a-year "Sunday Ticket" contract with the league when it expires.

The exclusive package, which allows fans to watch games outside of their home markets, is considered by analysts an important tool for the satellite TV service in efforts to attract new subscribers.

RIPPLES

AllThingsD called talks between Google and the NFL "informal" for now.

Neither Google nor DirecTV responded to requests for comment.

Google's addition of "Sunday Ticket" would mark its biggest foray so far into the realm of quality programming and subscription-video services. It could also accelerate "cord cutting," or viewers switching to online-viewing sources from traditional cable channels, analysts said.

However, the NFL could come under significant pressure from holders of its other TV licenses, the traditional TV and broadcast networks, who would seek to discourage a tie-up with an Internet powerhouse like Google.

"If Google were to secure the Sunday Ticket rights, we may have a situation where consumers can start to create a more viable alternative" to a traditional cable plan, analyst Wible said.

He speculated that along with Netflix Inc and Hulu services now available over the Internet, consumers could begin to create a true "a la carte" package in which people select the specific TV services they pay for.

"While we don't know the pricing for any Google product, it is safe to assume this bundle would be far cheaper than a traditional TV package," he said. "These dynamics have the potential to exacerbate cord cutting and may create a vicious cycle as the cost of programming on traditional TV would move higher with each loss of a (subscriber) - increasing the odds that another will cut the cord."

(Reporting by Edwin Chan in San Francisco and Liana Baker in New York, editing by Matthew Lewis, Bernard Orr)

Roby was arrested this summer after an altercation outside a Bloomington bar. It was alleged that he made contact with an employee of the bar while being refused re-admittance after he had been taken outside in the wake of a fight.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Bob Miller said Roby, a pivotal player in the Buckeyes' hopes in 2013, has yet to indicate whether he will accept the offer. Miller said the deal is available to first-time, misdemeanor violators and would require the charge to be dismissed if Roby isn't arrested in the next year.

Ohio State football spokesman Jerry Emig said the team had no comment.

Roby has been working out with the second team on defense as a part of his punishment. Coach Urban Meyer has said he would withhold judgment on further sanctions pending Roby's court case.

A telephone message was left Friday for Roby's attorney, Samuel Shapiro, and not immediately returned.

Roby initially was charged with battery resulting in bodily injury, punishable by a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. On Friday the charge was lowered to disorderly conduct, carrying a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The price of housing and food trumps tuition costs for students who attend two- and four-year public universities in their home states, according to a College Board survey. Even with the lower interest rates on student loans that President Barack Obama signed into law, students are eyeing bills that are growing on just about every line.

A look at typical college students' budgets last year and how they're changing:

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The public two-year schools charged in-state students an average $3,131 last year, up almost 6 percent from the previous year. While the tuition hike was larger than at other types of schools, students at community colleges saw the smallest increase in room and board costs a 1 percent increase to $7,419. Total charges for students to attend an in-state public two-year school: $10,550.

Tuition and fees at community colleges are up 24 percent beyond overall inflation over the past five years, according to the College Board.

PUBLIC FOUR-YEAR SCHOOLS

Tuition for students attending public four-year schools in their state was an average $8,655 last year, a 5 percent jump from the previous year. They paid more than that $9,205 for housing and food. These schools, like other four-year schools, posted a 4 percent jump in housing costs. Add in books and supplies, transportation and other costs and the total reaches $17,860 to attend an in-state public school, such as a student from Tallahassee attending Florida State University. When grants and scholarships are included, the average student pays $12,110 at such schools.

For students who choose to attend state schools outside their home state, the costs increase to $30,911. They pay the same $9,205 price tag for room and board, but the tuition rates are more expensive. The typical student who crossed state lines to attend a public college in 2012 paid $21,706 in tuition and fees after grants and scholarships a 4 percent jump from the previous year.

Over the past five years, the tuition sticker price at public four-year colleges is up 27 percent beyond overall inflation.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

On the surface, private four-year schools are the most costly colleges, with the average student's sticker price coming in at $39,518 for all expenses. Tuition and fees were $29,056 last year another 4 percent jump while room and board ran to $10,462. After grants and scholarships, the average student paid $23,840 to attend schools such as Yale or Stanford.

The tuition at private schools was up 13 percent beyond overall inflation over the past five years adjusted for inflation.

___

Follow Philip Elliott on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/philip_elliott

The Pittsburgh company's outlook for its fiscal third quarter, which runs through October, was also well below Wall Street's view. Shares fell 7.5 percent in Wednesday premarket trading.

"Our second-quarter results reflected disappointing product execution in women's. Additionally, we faced a highly promotional and competitive retail landscape and a decline in traffic, which have continued into the third quarter," said American Eagle CEO Robert Hanson in a statement.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. is the latest retailer to post disappointing results. Chains including Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Macy's and Saks have recently cut their outlook for the year, raising worries about consumer spending. And Target Corp. on Wednesday sounded the latest warning on cautious consumers. It said its earnings per share this year would come in at the low end of its guidance.

For the quarter that ended Aug. 3, American Eagle's net income rose 3 percent to $19.6 million, or 10 cents per share. Revenue fell 2 percent to $727.3 million. The company had preannounced its second-quarter results two weeks ago.

Revenue at established stores open at least a year and from the company's websites dropped 7 percent. This figure is a key indicator of a retailer's health because it excludes results from stores recently opened or closed.

For the third quarter, the chain expects profit of 14 cents to 16 cents per share. Analysts' prediction was more than double that: 35 cents per share. It's also a steep fall from its earnings per share from continuing operations of 41 cents in last year's quarter.

American Eagle runs more than 1,000 stores in North America. It also has merchandise available at 59 international franchise stores in 12 countries.

The stock declined $1.23, or 7.5 percent, to $15.15 before the opening bell. Shares have dropped 20 percent this year.

The league has a moratorium on teams discussing personnel business until players officially sign on Wednesday.

Howard made waves across the league by verbally committing to the Rockets on Friday rather than returning to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Amidst the excitement, both the Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and coach Kevin McHale publicly commented on securing Howard to draw the penalty.

Howard is set to officially sign a four-year, $88 million contract to join the Houston franchise. (Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Ian Ransom)

Toby Lanzer, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan, issued a statement late Sunday that the most critically wounded were now being treated in the capital of Jonglei state, where there is a rebel insurgency against the central government.

South Sudan's army spokesman, Col. Philip Aguer, said the Murle and Lou Nuer tribes constantly clash over cattle thefts, conflicts that date back to the colonial era.

Lanzer's statement said violence in Pibor County in Jonglei caused thousands to flee into the bush.

Sudan, which celebrated its second independence anniversary last week, has been plagued by a border conflict with neighboring Sudan as well as tribal violence.

The frequently voiced fear that the Syrian crisis could engulf the region is unlikely to be realized in one earth-shattering event. Instead it will leak across borders, a contact corrosion that, once established, will likely prove impossible to eradicate.In neighboring Lebanon, it has already materialized in the form of car bombs. On Thursday evening an explosion in the Shiite-dominated suburbs south of Beirut killed 22 and wounded scores. It was the second such attack following a similar bombing in July, both aimed at the powerful Shiite organization Hizballah, which has actively backed the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

But the Syrian conflict has also led in Lebanon to a spate of politically motivated kidnappings that have exposed the fragility and incompetence of the state security apparatus. The most recent kidnapping, in which two Turkish Airlines pilots were taken at gunpoint from a shuttle bus just one kilometer from the airport within sight of an army checkpoint is the first known case of an international abduction in Beirut since the civil war that ended nearly a quarter-century ago.A terrorism tactic to achieve political gains, kidnappings were once a hallmark of that war, and their resumption now casts a shadow over Lebanons ability to shield itself from Syrian fallout. The kidnapping threatens Lebanese-Turkish relations and could have a far-reaching impact, from a crumbling economy to a reduction in the national power supply. Offshore electricity barges leased from Turkey provide 20% of Lebanons needs. Tourism, worth $8 billion in 2010, only brought in $4 billion last year because of regional insecurity. The Turkish kidnapping, says caretaker Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud, is likely to be the last nail in the coffin for a sector that provides one-fifth of Lebanons GDP.

The attack itself was a straightforward affair. At 3 a.m., Gunmen traveling in two vehicles stopped a regularly scheduled microbus shuttling Turkish Airlines personnel from the airport to a downtown hotel. They stormed the vehicle, pulled out pilots Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca, then melted into the thick urban settlements that surround the airport without attracting attention from the nearby military checkpoint. There were six to eight assailants, according to Lebanese investigators.

(PHOTOS:)

Within hours, a hitherto unknown group calling itself the Brigade of the Pilgrims to Imam Ali al Reda Shrine took responsibility. Then things took a surreal turn. The kidnappers declared that the pilots would be released in exchange for nine Lebanese Shiite pilgrims who had been kidnapped by rebels inSyria more than a year ago. The kidnappers did not blame Turkey for the abductions, but they claimed that as backers of the Syrian opposition, Turkey would have leverage over the Lebanese pilgrims abductors.

Political kidnappings are considered acts of terrorism because of the extreme stress and pain they place on the friends and families of the victims. Yet the families of the Lebanese pilgrims showed little sympathy for the Turkish pilots loved ones. Instead they crowed in triumph, expressing hope that the tit-for-tat kidnappings might bring their own suffering to an end. Whoever did it, we support him because this drama must finish, Daniel Sheib, a brother of one of the abducted pilgrims, tells TIME. The families officially deny any association with the pilots kidnappers, a stance belied by their public appearances and threatening rhetoric. On Monday, Hayat Awali, a spokesperson for the families, vowed further abductions. Any Turkish citizen in the southern suburbs and the city of Beirut is a target for [kidnapping] by the families of the Lebanese hostages, she told reporters at an emotional press conference. Any Turkish citizen is a legitimate target for us because we believe that Turkey stands behind the kidnapping, adds Sheib.

Mohammad Saleh, the son of one of the Lebanese hostages, was detained for investigation because of the suspiciously large number of congratulatory texts he received immediately following the pilots abduction. The families threatened to block the main airport road in protest. Rafic Hariri International is the only functioning airport in Lebanon, and blockages are a common form of protest. But so far the families have not acted on the threat. Another family member admitted to the Daily Star newspaper that they had been told a blockage amounts to crossing a red line, but it still could happen, says Sheib. Maybe we will block the airport, maybe something else. We will have to discuss this issue before we take any further action.

So far the investigation has turned up little, and the suspected mastermind is still at large. On Tuesday, Ankara warned Lebanon that the kidnapping could hamper ties between the two countries. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu reminded Lebanon that Turkey had nothing to do with the pilgrims kidnapping, pointing out that Syrians committed it on Syrian soil. According to Turkish news agencies,he expressed his deep concern over the abduction and the negative repercussions it may have on bilateral relations between the two countries, to Lebanons caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, and his ministry urged citizens to avoid nonessential travel to Lebanon.On Wednesday, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel assured a visiting Turkish delegation that the case was a high priority. We are seriously following up on the issue at the security, judicial and political levels in order to secure their release and their safe return to their families, he said, according to a statement from his office.

When the Lebanese pilgrims were first taken in May 2012, Turkey took the lead on negotiating for their release. The pilgrims had been abducted by a rebel brigade called the North Storm, who accused them without proof of being spies for Iran or Hizballah, which are both aligned with the Syrian regime. The North Storm brigade was part of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army. Back then Turkey, as the sole northern conduit for arming, funding and training the FSA, thought, wrongly, that it might have some leverage. These days, the rebel groups have become even more factionalized, and Turkey is losing whatever influence it once had.There has been no news of the pilgrims for more than a year, but in the Lebanese view,Turkey is still deeply linked with their fate.

Timur Goksel, a longtime Lebanon resident from Turkey who now edits the Turkish section of the Middle East news-monitoring site al-Monitor, says he cant really blame the families for resorting to kidnapping to get back their husbands, brothers, sons and fathers. Unfortunately, that is how things are done in Lebanon, he says. When the state is so powerless, people have to go around the state to achieve results. Kidnapping is a tried and true method.

The only difference this time, Gokselsays, is that the kidnapping involved foreigners. He would like to see both the pilots and the pilgrims released but worries that such a resolution might create repercussions. If people realize that they can kidnap foreigners within shouting distance of the airport to get their demands met, that sets a pretty bad precedent.The Syria crisis doesnt need to engulf Lebanon to send it over the edge. Lebanons own failings as a state might be enough.

With reporting by Rami Aysha / Beirut

"We share the alarm expressed by many fire safety experts that this action by the Bureau will remove an important layer of fire protection that has benefitted Californians for over 35 years. The National Fire Protection Association reports that candles, matches and lighters are a major cause of upholstered furniture fires and that the number of fires caused by smoldering cigarettes is on the decline. The Bureau should not remove the requirement for an open flame test for upholstered furniture until it has considered the results of a planned two-year study on open flame fire resistance properties of barrier materials and other technologies. The Bureau proposal is moving in the wrong direction."

National Fire Protection Association: "Address the Full Spectrum of Major Fire Scenarios." "NFPA feels strongly that a fully comprehensive fire safety regulation of upholstered furniture must address the full spectrum of major fire scenarios, including the open flame scenarios." (NFPA comments to Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation on proposed changes to TB 117, March 22, 2013)

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc: "An Open Flame Test is a Necessary Addition to Smoldering Test Requirements." "Based on the research we have conducted, UL continues to believe that an open flame test is a necessary addition to smoldering test requirements to understand furniture fire dynamics, time to flashover, and to provide sufficient egress time for occupants." (U L, Inc. comments to Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation on proposed changes to TB 117, March 20, 2013)

California Conference of Arson Investigators: "The Elimination of the Open Flame Ignition Test is a Significant Step Backward." "Polyurethane foam is resistive to smoldering ignition but ignites easily and will burn vigorously when ignited with an open flame." "The elimination of the open flame ignition test is a significant step backward." (CCAI comments to Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation on proposed changes to TB 117, March 6, 2013)

US Consumer Product Safety Commission: "Smolder Ignition Bench-Scale Testing 'Did Not Demonstrate an Adequate Prediction of Real Furniture Flammability Performance'." After testing upholstered furniture, CPSC concluded that "bench-scale performance did not demonstrate an adequate prediction of real furniture flammability performance, especially in the smoldering ignition tests. The open-flame ignition bench-scale qualification tests for fire barriers, however, do appear to result in improvements in full-scale fire performance." (US CPSC public notice dated March 15, 2013)

California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation: "Any National Furniture Flammability Standard Must Address the Typical Scenario of Open Flame Ignition in Upholstered Furniture." "The Bureau strongly believes that any national furniture flammability standard must address the typical scenario of open flame ignition in upholstered furniture." "Considering the fact that many open flame furniture fires are caused by small children playing with matches or lighters, the seriousness of such hazard cannot be overstated." (The California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation comment letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Proposed Furniture Flammability Standard 16 CFR 1634, May 16, 2008)

National Association of State Fire Marshals: "The CPSC Must Grasp the Opportunity to Address Open Flame Ignitions of Upholstered Furniture." " the CPSC must grasp the opportunity to address open flame ignitions of upholstered furniture as part of this rulemaking. The CPSC's own analysis, and that of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), have indicated that ignition of upholstered furniture by non-smoldering sources is significant. As the NFPA representative pointed out in her April 25 presentation, non-cigarette ignitions of upholstered furniture accounted for nearly 80 percent of the fires and 55 percent of fire deaths each year from 2006 to 2010." (National Association of State Fire Marshals Statement to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, June 27, 2013)

National and International Flammability Experts: "Address Both Smoldering and Open Flame Ignition Sources." "We advise and urge the State of California to take meaningful action to address both smoldering and open flame ignition sources of upholstered furniture fires, and not allow a regulation to be promulgated that could well result in more fires, with related injuries, deaths and property loss." (Comments of Margaret Simonson McNamee, Ph.D. (SP technical Research Institute of Sweden), Gordon Damant (Retired, Bureau Chief, California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation), Roy Deppa, P.E., (Retired, US Consumer Product Safety Commission), Nicholas Marchica (Retired, US Consumer Product Safety Commission), David Purser, Ph.D. (Retired, Fire and Risk Sciences Division, UK Building Research Establishment) and Steven Spivak (Professor Emeritus, Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland) to Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation on proposed changes to TB 117, March 25, 2013)

SOURCE American Chemistry Council