20 Medical Mysteries and Miracles (mandysellars.com) The man who survived a 500-foot fall. The twin who lived inside his brothers belly for three decades. The toddler who doesnt age. Medical history—recent and otherwise—is filled with jaw-dropping oddities, miraculous recoveries, and unsolved mysteries. There is more to these cases than shock value, however. Weve compiled 20 of the most extraordinary cases from the world of medicine. 7 Mysterious Afflictions The girl who doesnt age Brooke Greenberg is 30 inches tall and weighs 30 pounds. Her hair and nails are the only parts of her body that have grown since she was 4. The girl who feels no painAs much as it hurts, pain teaches us important lessons (not to touch a hot stove, for example). Eight-year-old Gabby Gingras constantly and unwittingly injures herself, sometimes seriously. Tree manThe arms, legs, and face of Indonesian Dede Kosawa are covered in bark-like warts, which have made him internationally famous and earned him the nickname Tree Man.
Ig Nobel prize winners: Beetle sex with beer bottle study gets award By Rob Waugh Updated: 13:08 GMT, 30 September 2011 The Ig Nobel prizes have all the trappings of a real scientific awards ceremony - they're held at Harvard University in America, and the prizes are handed out by real Nobel winners. But the alarm bells start to wring when you realise they are handed out by the Annals of Improbable Research - and intended to 'honour' the most surreal scientific research on the planet. This year's ceremony, the 21st, awarded prizes to projects including a study of yawning in tortoises - and a study of how human behaviour was changed when we really, really need the toilet. Solving a jimmy riddle: Mirjam Tuk, left, gives the acceptance speech after receiving the Ig Nobel prize in Medicine for research into what happens to decision-making while people really need the toilet The research earned them the 2011 Ig Nobel prize for medicine. 'The ability to hold information was really impaired,' he said. 'I'm honoured, I think,' Gwynne said, with a smile on his face.
Switzerland Switzerland In June 2011, we spent a week in Switzerland, flying into Geneva, with an initial stop in Montreux, followed by a picturesque stay in Wengen, located above the Lauterbrunnen valley. The alps provided a stunning backdrop to explore the area. During our stay in Wengen, a small village that is accessible by train or foot, the main sound heard was cow bells. The village of Wengen where we stayed in an alpine chalet/hotel, above the Lauterbrunnen valley. Lauterbrunnen below, with its iconic waterfall. The train system in Switzerland is excellent. The train to Jungfrau. In the village of Lauterbrunnen. Another scene from Lauterbrunnen. Alpine cable cars rise into the fog above Wengen. The lakeshore village of Brienz. Brienz. Lucerne. Alpine village of Murren. Artist H.R. Besides cows, goats and sheep tend to be outfitted with bells. A cog train at Kleine Scheidegg. Riding the train from Kleine Scheidegg back to Wengen offered stunning valley views. © 2013 John Miranda
100 Very Cool Facts About The Human Body The Brain The human brain is the most complex and least understood part of the human anatomy. There may be a lot we don’t know, but here are a few interesting facts that we’ve got covered. Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles per hour. Hair and Nails While they’re not a living part of your body, most people spend a good amount of time caring for their hair and nails. Facial hair grows faster than any other hair on the body. Internal Organs Though we may not give them much thought unless they’re bothering us, our internal organs are what allow us to go on eating, breathing and walking around. The largest internal organ is the small intestine. Bodily Functions We may not always like to talk about them, but everyone has to deal with bodily functions on a daily basis. Sneezes regularly exceed 100 mph. Sex and Reproduction As taboo as it may be in some places, sex is an important part of human life as a facet of relationships and the means to reproduce. Senses
Brain Pickings THEY'RE HERE! 2010 DARWIN AWARDS - You've been waiting for them with bated breath, so without further ado, here are the 2010 Darwin Awards. Eighth Place In Detroit, a 41-year-old man got stuck and drowned in two feet of water after squeezing head first through an 18-inch-wide sewer grate to retrieve his car keys. Seventh Place A 49-year-old San Francisco stockbroker, who "totally zoned when he ran", accidentally jogged off a 100-foot high cliff on his daily run. Sixth Place While at the beach, Daniel Jones, 21, dug an 8 foot hole for protection from the wind and had been sitting in a beach chair at the bottom, when it collapsed, burying him beneath 5 feet of sand. Fifth Place Santiago Alvarado, 24, was killed as he fell through the ceiling of a bicycle shop he was burglarizing. Fourth Place Sylvester Briddell, Jr., 26, was killed as he won a bet with friends who said he would not put a revolver loaded with four bullets into his mouth and pull the trigger. Third Place After stepping around a marked police patrol car parked at the front door, a man walked into H&J Leather & Firearms intent on robbing the store.
Eye-Writing Advance Made By French Researcher A new device enabling disabled people to draw and write on a computer screen using only eye movements has been developed in France. Researcher Jean Lorenceau's system allows users to trace letters, numbers, figures, signature, and even make drawings as if they were using a pen. Mr Lorenceau, who works in the government-backed CNRS research institute of the brain and spinal cord, says it is a breakthrough for people trapped in immobility by disease or accident. "For persons deprived of limb movement, this offers a fast, creative and personal means of linguistic and emotional expression," said Mr Lorenceau's report, published in the journal Current Biology. Using a head-mounted camera, an eye tracker records eye movements and calculates the gaze direction of the subject. Mr Lorenceau's system, still just a prototype, compensates for erractic or jumpy eye movements to allow a smooth writing style.
The Best in Bird Photography: 50 Crystal Clear Bird Shots Bird photography is among the most popular types of nature photography. This is no surprise, considering the fact that they live all over the globe, they can be very colorful and come in different shapes and sizes. Immortalizing birds in photos can be quite challenging – specialized skills and equipment are required – but the outcome is definitely worth it all the effort and investment. Today’s 50 images showcase is dedicated to the ones that love nature, to the photographers that want to get inspired and learn more in this field of art, or simply to the ones that love beauty. The Wall Puffins Flying above Dover Pelican Mirror Lesser Kestrel The Last Drop Colourfull Spring The Hunter The Mask The Flying Fortes Every Day is Sushi Day… Air Born Widowbird Confrontation The Scream Gotcha! Gaze Bombycilla Garrulus The White and the Blacks Red-Footed Falcon Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Spring Lots of Colors The Dancing Bird Bird Toucan Bird Love Bird – Yellow Yellow Bird Follow Me! Birds – Africa Alive Cold Birds Love on Brach