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CENSORED NEWS
Censored and under-reported news: brendanorrell@gmail.com
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Neon Glow in the Dark Live Pigs
Neon Glow in the Dark Live Pigs
Scientists in Taiwan say they have bred three pigs that “glow in the dark”. They claim that while other researchers have bred partly fluorescent pigs, theirs are the only pigs in the world which are green through and through.
The pigs are transgenic, created by adding genetic material from jellyfish into a normal pig embryo.
The researchers hope the pigs will boost the island’s stem cell research, as well as helping with the study of human disease.
The scientists, from National Taiwan University’s Department of Animal Science and Technology, say that although the pigs glow, they are otherwise no different from any others.
Taiwan is not claiming a world first. Others have bred partially fluorescent pigs before; but the researchers insist the three pigs they have produced are better.
Transgenic pig
In daylight, their eyes and skin are green-tinged
They are the only ones that are green from the inside out. Even their heart and internal organs are green, the researchers say.
To create them, DNA from jellyfish was added to about 265 pig embryos which were implanted in eight different sows.
Four of the female pigs became pregnant and three male piglets were born three months ago.
Green generation
In daylight, the researchers say the pigs’ eyes, teeth and trotters look green. Their skin has a greenish tinge.
In the dark, shine a blue light on them and they glow torch-light bright.
The scientists will use the transgenic pigs to study human disease. Because the pig’s genetic material encodes a protein that shows up as green, it is easy to spot.
So if, for instance, some of its stem cells are injected into another animal, scientists can track how they develop without the need for a biopsy or invasive test.
But creating them has not been easy. Many of the altered embryos failed to develop.
The researchers say they hope the new, green pigs will mate with ordinary female pigs to create a new generation - much greater numbers of transgenic pigs for use in research.
Scientists in Taiwan say they have bred three pigs that “glow in the dark”. They claim that while other researchers have bred partly fluorescent pigs, theirs are the only pigs in the world which are green through and through.
The pigs are transgenic, created by adding genetic material from jellyfish into a normal pig embryo.
The researchers hope the pigs will boost the island’s stem cell research, as well as helping with the study of human disease.
The scientists, from National Taiwan University’s Department of Animal Science and Technology, say that although the pigs glow, they are otherwise no different from any others.
Taiwan is not claiming a world first. Others have bred partially fluorescent pigs before; but the researchers insist the three pigs they have produced are better.
Transgenic pig
In daylight, their eyes and skin are green-tinged
They are the only ones that are green from the inside out. Even their heart and internal organs are green, the researchers say.
To create them, DNA from jellyfish was added to about 265 pig embryos which were implanted in eight different sows.
Four of the female pigs became pregnant and three male piglets were born three months ago.
Green generation
In daylight, the researchers say the pigs’ eyes, teeth and trotters look green. Their skin has a greenish tinge.
In the dark, shine a blue light on them and they glow torch-light bright.
The scientists will use the transgenic pigs to study human disease. Because the pig’s genetic material encodes a protein that shows up as green, it is easy to spot.
So if, for instance, some of its stem cells are injected into another animal, scientists can track how they develop without the need for a biopsy or invasive test.
But creating them has not been easy. Many of the altered embryos failed to develop.
The researchers say they hope the new, green pigs will mate with ordinary female pigs to create a new generation - much greater numbers of transgenic pigs for use in research.
Rare Chinese Monkey Picked Tea
Rare Chinese Monkey Picked Tea
Legend says that over ten centuries ago, upon seeing his master pick tea leaves, a monkey climbed up and collected the leaves and brought them down for his master.
Whether it be legend or simply a cheaper form of labor, the story has turned into a rare product that you can purchase and enjoy.
Monkey Picked Tea is a rare tea that is carefully picked by specially trained monkeys in a remote mountain region of China.
It is claimed that none of the monkeys are mistreated or harmed in this process. They say that the monkeys are treated as respected members of their family.
We have not been able to find any pictures of any monkeys actually picking tea leaves, but we did find this one video that shows a girl whip a camera around and claim the monkey was picking tea… you be the judge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie_AKcHX9J8
Legend says that over ten centuries ago, upon seeing his master pick tea leaves, a monkey climbed up and collected the leaves and brought them down for his master.
Whether it be legend or simply a cheaper form of labor, the story has turned into a rare product that you can purchase and enjoy.
Monkey Picked Tea is a rare tea that is carefully picked by specially trained monkeys in a remote mountain region of China.
It is claimed that none of the monkeys are mistreated or harmed in this process. They say that the monkeys are treated as respected members of their family.
We have not been able to find any pictures of any monkeys actually picking tea leaves, but we did find this one video that shows a girl whip a camera around and claim the monkey was picking tea… you be the judge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie_AKcHX9J8
I Want Top Tea Leaves
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
Every so often we stumble across a really great commercial from Asia. In this case we found a wonderful Japanese tea commercial that we just had to share with you all.
Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw7LATJG-0w
Every so often we stumble across a really great commercial from Asia. In this case we found a wonderful Japanese tea commercial that we just had to share with you all.
Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw7LATJG-0w
Color the brain's fear system
(Click on image to see it larger BUT it will take you to a new page, use you BACK button) I went to the California Science Center with my four-year-old daughter and they had a great exhibit called Goosebumps: The Science of Fear. One station shocked kids at random intervals, another station made it seem like you were sticking your hand into a terrarium filled with poison snakes and spider, another one had a device that you strapped yourself into to simulate falling.
I liked this handout for kids to color the brain's fear system.
Another tip of the hat to boingboing.net
Eyeball Stickers
These fake eyeball stickers look like they'd come in handy, but The Museum of Hoaxes is having a hard time tracking down a place that actually sells them. They look easy enough to make yourself, though
Quite a few blogs are linking to these fake eyeball stickers, though I haven't been able to track down if any company is actually selling them. Nevertheless, they're a good idea if you want to take a nap at work while pretending to be working. Just place the stickers over your closed eyes, and no one will be the wiser.
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