Scientists Make Puppies Glow Red

South Korean scientists say they have created dogs that glow red by using a cloning technique that could one day help researchers develop cures for human diseases. The four beagles—named "Ruppy," a portmanteau of the words "ruby" and "puppy"—have thin, red tinted skin that glows brightly under ultraviolet light. They are believed to be the world’s first transgenic dogs to carry fluorescent genes and show that it is possible to successfully insert genes with a specific trait in dogs. Scientists hope to find treatments for human genetic diseases by studying cloned dogs that have had human disease-related genes implanted.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Car Attack on Dutch Royal Parade Kills Bystanders

Five people were killed and more than a dozen injured when a car plowed through a crowd of bystanders watching a Dutch royal parade on Thursday. The 38-year-old driver was apparently attempting to attack the royal family and only narrowly missed the open-top bus carrying Queen Beatrix and members of her family. Paramedics and bystanders immediately came to the aid of those who were injured, administering CPR and caring for their wounds. Officials say the driver of the car suffered life-threatening injuries but will be charged with attempting an attack on the royal family and murder if he survives.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Lithium in Water May Prevent Suicide

High doses of lithium are used clinically to treat serious mood disorders like bipolar disorder, but recent research suggests that even relatively small amounts in drinking water can reduce the risk of suicide. Researchers examined the drinking water in the prefecture of Oita, Japan, and found that the suicide rate was significantly lower in areas with the highest levels of lithium in the water. The researchers speculate that years of drinking tap water containing low levels of the element may have a cumulative protective effect on the brain.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

UPMC performs first double hand transplant in U.S. on Georgia man

A Georgia man was undergoing surgery Monday, receiving a double hand transplant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, officials said.

It is the first such transplant performed by UPMC's Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, which last month performed the first hand transplant at UPMC Montefiore in Oakland.

The surgery is believed to be the first double hand transplant in the United States.

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Gunmen in Turkey Kill Dozens at Wedding

Eight men are suspected of gunning down dozens of men, women, and children attending a wedding party in southeastern Turkey. Forty-four people were killed in the massacre, including the betrothed couple. Authorities believe the attack was motivated by a longstanding feud between two families in the area. There are unconfirmed reports that some of the attackers are members of local militias known as village guards, groups that fight Kurdish separatists alongside government troops. If these allegations prove to be true, the Turkish government will face increased pressure to disband these militias.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Briton Snags "Best Job in the World"

On July 1, bungee jumping, ostrich-riding, British charity worker Ben Southall will begin a six month assignment dubbed "the best job in the world." As caretaker of an island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Southall will spend his days swimming, snorkeling, sailing, and blogging about his experiences in the tropical paradise, earning 150,000 Australian dollars (US$111,000) in the process. He was selected from a pool of more than 34,000 applicants in a highly publicized contest that is part of a tourism campaign aimed at promoting the charms of northeastern Queensland.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Some Baby Foods More Fatty than Cheeseburgers

According to a recent survey, some baby and toddler foods contain more sugar and saturated fats than cheeseburgers and cookies. Many of these foods are marketed as healthy for babies and young children, but only about 50% of the 107 products reviewed were found to be low in saturated fat, salt, and sugar as defined by Britain's Food Standards Agency. Farley's Original Rusks, made by Heinz and touted as "ideal weaning food for babies," were found to be 29% sugar. Another company has halted production of its baby biscuits after the study revealed they contain trans fats, which have been linked to heart disease

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Some Baby Foods More Fatty than Cheeseburgers

According to a recent survey, some baby and toddler foods contain more sugar and saturated fats than cheeseburgers and cookies. Many of these foods are marketed as healthy for babies and young children, but only about 50% of the 107 products reviewed were found to be low in saturated fat, salt, and sugar as defined by Britain's Food Standards Agency. Farley's Original Rusks, made by Heinz and touted as "ideal weaning food for babies," were found to be 29% sugar. Another company has halted production of its baby biscuits after the study revealed they contain trans fats, which have been linked to heart disease

And what is in mothers milk, just to give a fair comparison.

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Toothpicks as Good as Acupuncture for Back Pain

According to a recent study, acupuncture works better than standard treatments to relieve back pain, and these benefits remain the same even when a patient is merely prodded with toothpicks at the points that would normally be penetrated by acupuncture needles. While these results could be due to the placebo effect, a psychological phenomenon in which the mere belief that one is receiving treatment leads to actual reduction of symptoms, it is also possible that the toothpick procedure provided enough stimulation to the acupuncture points that it triggered a beneficial physiological reaction.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

35,000-Year-Old Figurine Found in Germany

A 35,000-year-old ivory carving of a busty woman, dubbed the "Venus of the Hohle Fels" after the German cave in which it was uncovered, may be the oldest sculpture of a human figure ever found. The figurine measures just 2.4-inches (6-centimeters) tall and has neither feet nor a head. A ring carved above its shoulders suggests it was worn as a pendant. The find indicates that at the time the "Venus" was sculpted, humans had the intelligence to create symbols and think abstractly in a way that matches modern humans.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Compression Stockings Fail to Prevent Clots

Researchers say the compression stockings widely used by stroke victims to prevent the development of a second blood clot do not work. A review of data from more than 2,500 stroke patients found that about 10 percent developed a type of blood clot known as a deep vein thrombosis and that patients who wore the stockings were no less likely to develop such a clot. Not only did the stockings fail to prevent the clots, they also caused certain medical problems like skin ulcers and blisters

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Feral Girl Found in Siberia
A five-year-old girl who was shut up with cats and dogs and never allowed outside has been discovered in the Siberian city of Chita. She lived with several relatives, including her father and grandparents, in an apartment that lacked heat, water, and gas. Police say the girl, who appears to have been "raised" by the many animals kept in the apartment, developed feral characteristics and behaves like the animals she was with. The little girl barks like a dog, prefers to lap food off her plate rather than use cutlery, and has not mastered human language. Her father may be charged with neglect of a minor.

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My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions.

WARNING - graphic video and pics linked below.

Matador gored by bull as fight goes wrong

This is the agonising moment Israel Lancho nearly pays the ultimate price for being a glamourous matador.

A momentary slip and he is speared by an enraged bull and hoisted up on the animal’s horns in front of thousands of spectators in Madrid. Israel was conscious when he reached the bullring surgery.

But after an emergency operation on his 10in deep stomach wound he is now said to be in a “very serious condition” in hospital.


Video

Full Story and pics

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Extensive Cell Phone Use Causing Nerve Damage

Orthopedic specialists are seeing a rising number of cell phone-wielding patients with damage to an essential nerve in the arm caused by prolonged bending at the elbow—a condition they have termed "cell phone elbow." Holding a cell phone to one’s ear stretches the ulnar nerve and may diminish blood flow to the area. This can cause tingling in the ring and little fingers, weakness in the hands, and, in severe cases, difficulty writing and typing. Simple behavioral changes usually correct the condition, officially known as cubital tunnel syndrome, but severe cases can require surgical intervention.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Scientists Locate Penguin Colonies in Unusual Way

Antarctic emperor penguins stay on the same sea ice for months as they breed, during which time they produce large quantities of excrement. Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey were looking at satellite images of their bases when they discovered that they could see the large brown stains of penguin guano from space, and this gave them an idea: they could use the satellite images to pinpoint other colonies of emperor penguins. Overall, they found 38 colonies in this manner. Weather conditions in Antarctica are often forbidding, so this unusual technique will help scientists monitor the emperor penguin population from a distance.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

US Journalists Sentenced to 12 Years in N Korea

Journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling have been held by North Korean authorities since March 17, 2009, after they allegedly crossed into the country from China. The women were arrested in a border area, where they had been filming a report about North Korean refugees in China. Found guilty of illegally entering North Korea and committing an unspecified "grave crime," the two women were sentenced to 12 years hard labor on Monday

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Fat Cells Impair Blood Production

Scientists used to think that fat cells in bone marrow simply took up space, but now it appears that the cells may actually impede blood cell production. Researchers say that mice genetically engineered to lack the ability to produce fat cells, called adipocytes, were far more efficient at making blood cells. Experimental fat-blocking compounds also seem to improve blood production. Preventing the movement of fat cells into bone marrow could help improve outcomes for patients recovering from cord blood and bone marrow transplants.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Evidence of Ancient Lake Found on Mars

Researchers have found evidence that a massive lake once existed on Mars. Images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter indicate that a 30-mi (50-km) long canyon on the Red Planet was likely carved by water. Scientists believe the lake probably formed about 3.4 billion years ago, covered as much as 80 sq mi (207 sq km), and was up to 1,500 ft (500 m) deep. Of particular interest to scientists is the fact that the lake appears to have existed 300 million years after the planet’s warm, wet period was thought to have ended.

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010

Women on the frontlines in Iran

*Very graphic!

Violence in Iran

A Tribute to Neda.

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Sharks Stalk Prey Like Serial Killers

Great white sharks do not kill at random. Like serial killers, they stalk their prey using a premeditated strategy. Researchers used geographic profiling methods employed in the tracking of human serial killers to study the predatory habits of great white sharks hunting off Seal Island, near Cape Town, South Africa. They found that the sharks generally stalk their prey from a distance, allowing them to observe their prey while avoiding detection themselves, and that they typically attack victims that are young and alone. Older sharks are also more successful than younger ones, leading researchers to conclude that the sharks learn from previous kills

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LETS BEGIN IN 2010