Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Scientists Sequence Endangered Tasmanian devil’s



A revolutionary species-preservation approach based on whole-genome analysis of two Tasmanian devils -- one that had died of a contagious cancer known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) and one healthy animal -- has been used to develop a theoretical model to predict which individuals would need to be kept in captivity to maximize chances of preserving enough genetic diversity for the species to survive. The research helps to formulate one possible plan of action to prevent the extinction of the Tasmanian devil -- a marsupial found in the wild exclusively in the Australian island-state of Tasmania. The research model also may be extended to other endangered species.

DFTD, which disfigures the victim and causes death from starvation or suffocation within months, is an unusual sort of cancer. It would eradicate our species very quickly. The scientists explained that if a number of healthy Tasmanian devils were kept in zoos and other facilities in "protective custody" until the tumor ran its course and disappeared in the wild, then the captive animals could be released back into their former habitat and the population could begin to grow anew.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

World’s Shortest Man

A poor Filipino blacksmith's son who stands less than 2 feet (60 centimeters) tall was declared the world's shortest man by Guinness World Records on his 18th birthday Sunday, sparking a celebration in his hometown.

Junrey Balawing was certified by the Guinness World Records as the shortest man in the world with a standing and lying down average measurement of 23.5 inches (59.93 cm), on his 18th birthday on Sunday.




Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Unbelievable Architectures in Dubai

7-star-hotels

Rotating-wind-power-tower

Burj Dubai

Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

The Louvre Abu Dhabi

Burj Al Arab Hotel

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Nearly 10 million people fight drought in China

Students have water provided by the local government at a Primary School

A villager stands at the a partially dried-up well

A farmer works on a dried-up pond

A local resident fills a container with water taken from a partially dried-up reservoir

People wait to get drinking water distributed by the local government at a drought-hit village.

A child drinks water from a pot cover near a partially dried-up pond

Friday, June 03, 2011

Why Human Getting Taller, Way Taller


It’s been called the “most significant development in human history” and researchers have been looking into the evolution of human height and overall growth for decades now. The findings are outlined,

The change in human physiology is a result of a number of factors, according to the authors of the study, including food technology, public health, medicine, and sanitation and is resulting in much more dramatic changes than that which could have been predicted by Darwinian methods.

“The rate of technological and human physiological change in the 20th century has been remarkable, This “technophysio evolution,” powered by advances in food production and public health, has so outpaced traditional evolution, the authors argue, that people today stand apart not just from every other species, but from all previous generations of Homo sapiens as well.

According to Mr. Fogel, "If babies are deprived of sufficient nutrition in the womb and early in life, they will be more fragile and more vulnerable to diseases later on. These weakened adults will, in turn, produce weaker offspring in a self-reinforcing spiral."