As easy as breathing...
In February 2012, doctors at the University of Michigan saved the life of now 20-month-old Kaiba Gionfriddo by implanting a 3-D printed splint to hold the trachea open. Over the next couple of years, Kaiba’s body will absorb the biopolymers of the splint. Before the transplant, his windpipe would collapse and he would need to be resuscitated daily. Over a year after the transplant, Kaiba has had no difficulty breathing.
Oscar the bionic cat
This is Oscar. A few years ago, Oscar was run over by a combine harvester and his back legs were damaged beyond repair. After some discussion, he was the recipient of a groundbreaking surgery in which prosthetic legs were grafted directly onto his ankle bones, called an "exoprosthesis." This first-of-its-kind operation allows Oscar to walk normally.
The operation was a huge success and it's now being considered for use in human amputees.
The operation was a huge success and it's now being considered for use in human amputees.
Glass frogs
Glass frogs, a group of South and Central American frogs with translucent skin. Their internal viscera, including the heart, liver, and gastrointestinal tract are all completely visible.
Mines bigger than yours
Does it look like these flatworms are dancing? Well, not quite. They're actually penis fencing.
This species is hermaphroditic and all individuals have working penises, testes and ovaries. Typically, being a mother is more time consuming and "costly" for the flatworm - eggs are larger and require more energy to form than sperm do. So, neither wants to be the mum. They fight with their penises, and the loser is inseminated by the winner.
This species is hermaphroditic and all individuals have working penises, testes and ovaries. Typically, being a mother is more time consuming and "costly" for the flatworm - eggs are larger and require more energy to form than sperm do. So, neither wants to be the mum. They fight with their penises, and the loser is inseminated by the winner.
Scanning electron microscopy
Ruptured capillary with red blood cells spilling out.
Monster turtle!
The Leatherback Sea Turtle is the largest turtle in the world, weighing approximately 900kg. Contrary to appearance, the leatherback doesn't actually have a shell. What looks like a shell is in fact a leathery skin supported by small bones. This gives it a flexibility that a solid shell would not provide, allowing it to dive to astonishing depths.
Bionic woman
The hands are sensitive enough to choose individual potato chips and place it in her mouth and are capable of 24 different movements. Touch Bionics donated both hands. Each unit costs approximately $100,000.
Aimee’s infection followed an injury during a zip line accident.
Aimee’s infection followed an injury during a zip line accident.
Koko the gorilla
Koko knows 1,000 words in American Sign Language and can understand 2,000 words of spoken English. Koko has kept kittens as pets and has cared for them as if they were her own children. Apparently for Koko, they also make fantastic scapegoats.
More info on Koko: http://to.pbs.org/18ZNF3t
Updates on Koko and her friends: Koko & The Gorilla Foundation
More info on Koko: http://to.pbs.org/18ZNF3t
Updates on Koko and her friends: Koko & The Gorilla Foundation
Verbal diarrhea
Chances are when you are looking for a mate, you don’t follow people into the bathroom and examine their stool for signs of health. You’re also probably a lot more likely to mark your territory with a fence than by pooping around the perimeter of your home. Wombats couldn’t disagree with you more. Their poop has squared sides so it can’t roll away, making fecal communication easier.
zombie vegetables (or technically - fruit)?!
Pareidolia is a mental phenomenon that allows us to see faces and other objects in completely unrelated settings. Carl Sagan theorized that this provided evolutionary advantage, as it would allow humans to better recognize each other, even under poor visual circumstances.
The important thing to remember is that even though these images may seem significant and life-changing, they aren’t. At all. We can all rest a bit easier knowing that these are mere bell peppers, and not vegetable zombies, ready to exact their revenge on the living.
The important thing to remember is that even though these images may seem significant and life-changing, they aren’t. At all. We can all rest a bit easier knowing that these are mere bell peppers, and not vegetable zombies, ready to exact their revenge on the living.
flying fish
Manta rays frequently leap out of the water, though it is not clear why. Some speculate it is to evade predators, get rid of parasites, attract females, or just for fun. Though most leaps are 2-3 feet off the surface of the water, there have been reports as high as 9 feet. When they belly flop back onto the water, it make an incredibly loud bang. Spectators have described it as sounding a lot like gunfire.
the truth behind finding nemo
Clownfish strictly adhere to sequential hierarchical mating. The largest and most dominant in the school is the female, and when she dies, the largest male becomes female to replace her. In turn, the next largest male becomes the dominant and reproductively active one, and breeding continues. Have fun with this information the next time you’re watching Finding Nemo.
HIV Vaccine on the horizon?
Through tracking the evolution of HIV in an African patient, scientists discovered an antibody that could eventually lead to a vaccine. While there is still much work to be done, the antibody has been described a "significant leap."
Bathynomus giganteus
This is Bathynomus giganteus, the giant isopod.
It closely resembles a woodlouse/pillbug and is in fact very closely related to them. There are almost twenty species in the genus, and they're thought to be abundant in the cold deep waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. They can reach up to 0.75m (30 inches) in length and weigh an astonishing 1.6kg (3.7lbs)
It closely resembles a woodlouse/pillbug and is in fact very closely related to them. There are almost twenty species in the genus, and they're thought to be abundant in the cold deep waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. They can reach up to 0.75m (30 inches) in length and weigh an astonishing 1.6kg (3.7lbs)
one for dr reid plant whisperer...
These incredible looking flowers are monkey orchids. There are two species shown here, Dracula simia (the ones that look like monkey faces) and Orchis simia (which resemble little dancing monkeys).
Dracula simia are only found in the cloud forests of southeastern Ecuador at elevations of 1000 to 2000 meters and their flowers smell likes ripe oranges. Orchis simia are found in Europe, the Mediterranean, Russia, Asia Minor and Iran and the flowers smell strongly of faeces!
Dracula simia are only found in the cloud forests of southeastern Ecuador at elevations of 1000 to 2000 meters and their flowers smell likes ripe oranges. Orchis simia are found in Europe, the Mediterranean, Russia, Asia Minor and Iran and the flowers smell strongly of faeces!
We salute you legend of science
The Leaf-Tailed Gecko
The leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) is amazingly camouflaged. Found only in Madagascar, they're under serious threat from the illegal pet trade.
Gynandromorph - The Bird of two halves
This is a cardinal "gynandromorph” - an animal that exhibits both female and male sexual characteristics. As different sexes are differently coloured, each half of the bird is a different shade.
The worlds cutest finger puppet
This is an eastern pygmy possum. Weighing just 15-43 grams, they're found from southern Queensland to eastern South Australia and Tasmania.
Something to make your eyes water....
The kiwi is a flightless bird found only in New Zealand. They're around the size of a chicken, and lay the largest eggs in relation to their body size of any bird in the world. Their eggs can be up to 20% of the females body weight - the equivalent of a 130 pound woman giving birth to a 26 pound baby.
Blind sight in tadpols
Scientists grafted eyes on to the tails of blind tadpoles - and restored some sort of sight, in spite of the fact that the new eyes' nerves did not reach the brain.