A Cheaper Indian Artificial Heart Based On Roaches Is Coming Soon

No more death caused by heart attack few years later or it is still a myth?

A group of indian scientists from New Delhi created an artificial heart based on roaches structure of heart. TAH (total artificial heart) was developed due to the 13 chambers of roaches' heart which could easily survive from the cardiac arrest compared to 4 chambers of human heart. The TAH has been successfully tested on frogs and to be scheduled for testing on the goat in May 09. Once the test on animal is completed in a year without a failure, the first Indian TAH could be implanted into a human patient in 3 years time. The TAH will be further modified to become more resilient with metal and plastic. The cost is estimated at 100,000 Indian rupees which is about 30 times cheaper than those available in the market now.

What a wonderful creation for medical contribution! Finally, we might have no reason to admit that roaches are very hardy even the smallest creature on earth has the strongest heart than we have.

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The Duck-Billed Platypus Is A Mammal But Lay Eggs

This is wonderful creation alike duck and beaver from God perhaps! Let's see how this small thing could attract and puzzle scientists for so many years.



The oddest australia creature on the planet which is known as platypus lays eggs like a bird, produces milk like a cow and releases snake-like venom from its ankles. There are only five mammals in the Earth which lay eggs. This duck-billed platypus is only one of among all of the five. They are excellent swimmers, but move cumbersomely and comically on land. It sounds funny isn't it?? Maybe it just looks like walking like a penguin in a different way.

This mammal has the tail of beaver, the webbed feet of otter and big bird-like beak/bill. Lately, the scientist has successfully decoded its DNA and confirmed that this species is sort of mixture of reptile, bird and mammal. Moreover, its milk and venom produced could even contribute for new drugs production as the milk contains antimicrobial chemicals which protect young from infection.

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Total Lunar Eclipse@February 20, 2008

As reported, this is the timelapse view for the total lunar eclipse. Wow, cool!

From NASA:

A total eclipse of the Moon occurs during the night of Wednesday, February 20/21, 2008. The entire event is visible from South America and most of North America (on Feb. 20) as well as Western Europe, Africa, and western Asia (on Feb. 21). During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon's disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and (rarely) very dark gray.

An eclipse of the Moon can only take place at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of Earth's shadow. The shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped parts, one nested inside the other. The outer shadow or penumbra is a zone where Earth blocks some (but not all) of the Sun's rays. In contrast, the inner shadow or umbra is a region where Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.

If only part of the Moon passes through the umbra, a partial eclipse is seen. However, if the entire Moon passes through the umbral shadow, then a total eclipse of the Moon occurs.

Rat Cries In Red Tears?

The pictures show the phenomenon of “red rat tears” after 36 hours neurosurgical procedure. The “red tears” was found around his eyes, nose, and medial forepaws as well. This condition is commonly called as Chromodacryorrhea.

The truth:
Porphyrin (red pigment chemical) secreted by the Harderian gland located behind the eye of a rat causes the red tears. Red crusts may develop around the eyes and nose, and even the forepaws from rubbing the face. As consequence of porphyrin overproduction; Chromodacryorrhea or Red Tear indicates stress, sickness, or poor diet.

Difference between blood and porphyrins:
Porphyrins will become fluorescent under ultraviolet light. However, the function of the Harderian porphyrin in rats is still poorly understood.

Source

Impact Of Climate Change Has Forced Mongolians To Abandon Herding Life

Global warming always get the most concerns, agree? Many Mongolians has forced to live in cities. Why? The Mongolia's grassland are drying up! Thus, livestocks are facing threat of lacking food supplies. You can view the video here.

As comparison, Mongolia is facing greater threats from global warming compared to other regions in the world. Over the past 60 years the average temperature in Mongolia has risen by 1.9 degrees Celsius while for the same around the world has climbed only about 0.6 degree Celsius.

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900-Year-Old Little Mummy In Argentine Museum Stolen

This little mummy has been stolen! The picture is showed the 50-60 cm mummy made from a 2-year-old child about 900 years ago being inspected at a museum in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. It was found in the northern province of Salta 40 years ago and it was stolen from the museum on Feb. 15 2008. Oh poor, 2-year-old kid only!

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The China Newborn Baby With His Heart Outside The Chest

The reason of the baby's heart dangerously and unusually formed outside the chest is due to a rare disease. This rare case causes less than five babies in one million being struck while usually the disease will kill most of the infant before birth. As this baby who was born in China, parents of the baby decided to deliver the baby even though the abnormally located heart outside the baby's chest was discovered earlier. However, doctors are expected to operate the baby's heart repair when the infant is strong enough.

Source

It is undeniable that love of parents is strong enough to battle together with the baby's survival. The parents never go for abortion earlier on when the defect was detected. Now the baby is waiting for the operation to hope for gaining one new chance of life. I believe the fate is awaiting for the baby after his has survived from the rare disease with the blessing from parents.

Total Lunar Eclipse On Feb. 20, 2008; Don't Miss It For Another Three Years

Hey hey hey!! Check this out. There will be a total lunar eclipse by this Wednesday evening, February 20th 2008. The full Moon over the Americas will turn a delightful shade of red or turquoise perhaps. Click on the links to view labels for other time zones: GMT, AST, EST, CST, MST, PST, Alaska, Hawaii.

The next total lunar eclipse will be on Dec. 2010. So, do not miss such a good date to view the natural phenomenon.

**Do you know? A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon passes through the shadow of Earth. The shadow of the earth is red colour! That's why we could see the slightly red Moon during eclipse occurrance.

Fluorescent Green Pigglets!!

Two little fluorescent green piglets was given birth by a fluorescent green sow which has been mated with an ordinary pig. The two offsprinfs now share their mother's transgenic characteristic. Their mouths, trotters and tongues will glow green under ultraviolet light.

The mother sow is one of the three fluorescent green pigs successfully bred by a research team in December 2006 after they injected fluorescent green protein into pig embryos.


Take a look at this short clip, the mouths, trotters and tongues of the little pigs give off an eerie light.

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Turning Your Pet Into Mummy

Watch this if you wish to turn your pets into mummy!! Exclusive video clip unveils the mummified way as the Egyptians did? People in Salt Lake City have their own pet mummified. Does it look horrible? Or ??

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Hundreds Of Nuns Donate Brains For Neurological Research

Two decades ago, Sister Treanor and 677 other members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame granted a nervous young researcher's request to test them yearly for the research of Alzheimer's disease and other age-related brain disorders.

The 61 surviving nuns recently completed their last round of Nun Study which is one of the world's most comprehensive neurological research projects. They even claimed as they will donate their brains when they die for further study followed by hundreds of other brains donated by the nuns who died before them.

Source

Giant Spider Walking Across Camera Lens Facing Atlantis Space Shuttle

Atlantis space shuttle has been delayed until January due to the failure of fuel gauge on the external tank. Meanwhile, a giant spider which could be seen in this video clip was walking across the camera lens on Sunday.

Source via Spluch

Cobra - New Species!!

The new deadly discovery of an unique world's largest species of spitting cobra, named Naja Ashei, 9-feet at a snakefarm in June 2004, Kenya but confirmed as new species in 2007. It posses unique DNA and its venom can kill at least 15 people!!! OMG...

Research published by Wolfgang Wuster, of the University of Wales, said a field visit confirmed the Naja Ashei is a new species.
Source

Ancient Kangaroo Didn't Hop

Scientists from La Trobe University discovered a 25 million-year-old fossil of predecessor of kangaroo, nambaroo which galloped on all fours, had dog-like fangs and possibly climbed trees.

Evolution seems has turned kangaroos into larger, hopped and ate grass as the landscape became drier and grassy plains appeared about 10 to 15 million years ago.

Daily Telegraph

"Steve & Me" - A Book of Crocodile Hunter's And Widow

US-born Terri Irwin, a mother of two, was married to TV's Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, who was fatally pierced through the heart in a stingray attack last year. Steve's work at Australia Zoo in Queensland has been continuing by Terri Irwin. Read more

Giant Prehistoric 'Monster' Fossil Found In Arctic

Picture 1: Uncovered skull of giant ichthyosaur, nicknamed "The Monster"

The giant extinct sea reptiles; 150-million-year-old fossils of plesioaurs and ichthysosaurs during dinosaurs time have been discovered by Norwegian scientists on the Arctic island chain of Svalbard. Read more

Picture 2: The extent of the pliosaur's skeleton is outlined by rocks, measure 8m in length or more

Picture 3: Artist's interpretation of "The Monster" catching a smaller plesiosaur

Link: The largest fossil excavation in the Arctic - Svalbard, 2-21 August 2007

Poisonous Birds & Frogs

The Hooded Pitohui, Pitohui dichrous is the first documented poisonous birds. A neurotoxin; homobatrachotoxin which can repel and kill lice found in its skin and feathers. Bird acquires poison from diet (link), the Choresine beetle; a likely source of lethal batrachotoxins found in poison dart frogs.

Link

Scorpion Bigger Than A Car!!!

Don't be shocked!! The biggest bug ever found from a 2.5-metre fossilized claw of an ancient sea scorpion was probably 8 feet long, as thick as a small car.

According to Discovery web site:

""We have known for some time that the fossil record yields monster millipedes, super-sized scorpions, colossal cockroaches, and jumbo dragonflies. But we never realized until now just how big some of these ancient creepy-crawlies were," he said."

This supports the theory that insects were much bigger in the Land Before Time. Those were the days for the insects, which had less competition from vertebrates, and ruled the earth with a disgusting claw.

Zombie Cockroaches

Jewel wasps turn cockroaches into "zombies" and find out about the antidote scientists have discovered. Thus, there is a cure for zombies after all – if you are a cockroach.

Source

Giant Snake, Anaconda Found In Brazil

Reported: Brazil, an enormous creature, 440 pound ANACONDA found in backyard of an abandoned house in rural was removed and taken to a zoo.


Tips: How to save yourself from an Anaconda's bite?

Be easy, Anaconda's bite is not fatal as they are not venomous snakes...For more info, visit wikipedia