Two-headed baby born in Bangladesh

   BEIJING. Aug. 28 (Xinhuanet) — A baby boy with two heads was born by Caesarean section at a clinic in Keshobpur, 135 km from the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka, on Monday, according to media reports Thursday.

The boy, named Kiron, was born by Cesarean section on Aug. 25, weighing 5.5 kilogrammes. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
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    The baby, weighed 5.5 kilograms, was named Kiron, and was moved to a larger hospital in nearby Jessore city.

    Kiron was placed under police protection because hospital officials felt that the baby and his mother, 22, were at risk from the anxious crowd of 150,000 that had gathered to see him, gynaecologist Mohamad Abdul Bari said Wednesday.

    ”He has one stomach and he is eating normally with his two mouths. He has one genital organ and a full set of limbs,” Bari said.

    ”He was born from one embryo but there was a developmental anomaly.” Bari said.

    Babies born with physical abnormalities in Bangladesh and India are often hailed as living gods. An eight-limbed girl named Lakshmi born in India last October was believed by villagers to be a reincarnation of the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth.

    The daily newspaper Samakal said many well-wishers had left money for the baby’s family.

    (Agencies)

Biodiesel — new energy source in Brazil

A worker displays the castor-oil plant at the Brasil Ecodiesel factory in Iraguara, northeast Brazil, March 31, 2008. Biodiesel is a biofuel produced from oleaginous plants such as castor, soy and sunflower or animal fat. In Brazil, the inclusion of bio-fuels as an energy source was established by the law in 2005. Twenty-five percent of ethanol, extracted from sugarcane, is added to gasoline. Bio-diesel will make up 2 percent of diesel in Brazil in 2008, a proportion that will rise to 5 percent in 2010, saving the country 870870 million U.S. dollars per year, the government said.

A technician tests the diesel in an oil pipe at the Brasil Ecodiesel factory in Iraguara, northeast Brazil, March 31, 2008.

A technician works in a lab at the Brasil Ecodiesel factory in Iraguara, northeast Brazil, March 31, 2008.

A peasant checks the oleaginous plants near the Brasil Ecodiesel factory in Iraguara, northeast Brazil, March 31, 2008

Brasilia - the “young” World Heritage

Laying hens are scared before birth strange egg long tail like tadpoles

Laying hens are scared before birth strange egg long tail like tadpoles

Explore Stonehenge

 

Explore Stonehenge

     According to foreign media reports, the British Stonehenge ruins one of the most sacred places, March 31, archaeologists here eventually broke the calm began excavation, which was the first time more than 40 years ago. They hope to use this for a long time around Stonehenge opened the mystery - a prehistoric monument was built when the construction and why?

     Stonehenge is the most famous British at the same time also the most puzzling of the monument, the first batch was shipped to Qingshi mysterious Stonehenge a specific date, and now does not have a credible argument. If all goes well, originally scheduled for 31 to April 11 presentation of the excavation work to find specific date for determining the material. As a world heritage, Stonehenge do not know how many received visitors from all over the world, members of the De Ruyt, the new pagans and the so-called “new generation” is a love it increases, and they have this strange stone ring RUF has increased the importance of a bit mysterious. However, the construction of Stonehenge is the real purpose of this issue, people are still very controversial.

     The excavation work will be Bristol University Stonehenge antiquities collectors and experts Dimoxidaweier Geoffrey Wainwright, chairman of the Association of common leadership. Before the start of excavation work, the two experts have eyes locked South Wales Pulaisaili Hill, here is Qingshi - Stonehenge was erected in the first batch up large stones - the real source. Mining, they will sample in Wales found Stonehenge and Salisbury Plain Qingshi remnants of the comparison. Wainwright said: “The excavation work will determine the arrival time Qingshi, Qingshi from Pulaisaili Hill were shipped to 153 miles outside the Salisbury Plain. Arrived in time to determine if we have the Association further understanding of this magnificent Stonehenge complex. rely on the excavation work, we are not only able to answer why the construction of this issue, but also opened the first monument built when the mystery. ”

     Scientists believe, the first batch of Qingshi probably in about 2600 BC, was transported to Stonehenge, but they also recognize that this is only one of the most close to speculate. About 200 years after the first will be removed Qingshi, scientists hope to be able to find these Qingshi soil residues. Darwell said the people excavation marks the first time the use of modern technology opened since medieval archaeology has been plagued substantial expert on the mystery - why so far away from places will be transported from Qingshi, which is of great importance reflected in DR ?

     Stonehenge responsible for the custody of the “British heritage” archaeologist Dave Baqiele said, the purpose of this excavation is that the original material Qingshi or related residues, after which the study will be able to use modern radioactive carbon dating Technology determine Stonehenge construction of a more accurate time. He said: “We must find such material can arrive at a more accurate time. Everything depends on luck, lucky, we can find some important things, the contrary is nothing.” Baqiele that Qingshi color “black belt in Blue” is from the South Wales Pulaisaili transported to the mountains. They are about six feet high, is composed of a small head Stonehenge stones, the larger head high stone sheep back is about twice the Qingshi, but they are “latecomers.”

     If more accurately determine the date of the construction of Stonehenge, scientists can answer “how to build” and “Why build” two What is the problem. In addition, they can also learn more about how to transport Qingshi information. Studies show that an estimated weight of five tons of the first South Wales Qingshi may Pulaisaili Hill transported to the ocean, and was loaded onto a huge wooden rafts, these wooden rafts to run through the end Affin River.

     Archaeologists believe was in reach their destination before Qingshi, Stonehenge is a circle of wood building, the construction time is estimated at about 3100 BC. Mining on the 31st as a first step in the Stonehenge internal archaeologists dug a ditch. Since 1964 since the excavation began in the Stonehenge internal dynamic spade shovel Hui is the first time. Stonehenge ruins and the British infidels there is a big link, it is quite sensitive, in the excavation work before the start of Darwell, who must first be approved by the relevant departments.

     “British heritage” spokeswoman Lainifuaoke that only experts recognize the potential value of it, excavation work can start. As in the first two professors Wales lock Qingshi sources, the excavation is the “logical next move.” “Mining marks their work in the final moment, if everything goes smoothly, they can be identified Stonehenge construction time and we need to balance the need for the most constructively, but we must not simply say, ‘dig up bar ‘that is the case, there is, after all, a very fragile area. Jean de Ruyt the members of the Stonehenge have special feelings, in consultation with their views, they have not objected. course, tourists can still visit the same as exchanges Stonehenge, can also be in a special tent to watch live video of the excavation. “(Mr text)

New archaeological excavation in Haimenkou site

The photo taken on March 29th 2008 shows an ancient painted pottery jar in the recent archaeological excavation in the Haimenkou site of Jianchuan, a county of southwest China’s Yunnan Province. This round of excavation has discovered 3000-year-old carbonized wheat ears for the first time and also excavated some bronze wares, ceramics, stone wares, hornworks and some animal remains.

The photo taken on March 29th 2008 shows an ancient buiding site discovered in the recent archaeological excavation in the Haimenkou site of Jianchuan, a county of southwest China’s Yunnan Province
 

The photo taken on March 29th 2008 shows an ancient buiding site discovered in the recent archaeological excavation in the Haimenkou site of Jianchuan, a county of southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

The photo taken on March 29th 2008 shows carbonized wheat ears in the recent archaeological excavation in the Haimenkou site of Jianchuan, a county of southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

Fruits? They seem to move!

British scientists create first hybrid embryos

    LONDON, April 1 (Xinhua) — British scientists have created part-human, part-animal hybrid embryos for the first time in the country, according to a report by BBC on Tuesday.

This picture released in 2005 by RMB Online shows a photograph of Britain’s first cloned embryo, created by the Newcastle University team

    The embryos created by scientists at Newcastle University survived for up to three days.

    They were created by injecting DNA derived from human skin cells into eggs taken from cow ovaries which have had virtually all their genetic material removed, the report said.

    The scientists under the leadership of Professor John Burn from the Newcastle University said they are using cow ovaries because human eggs from donors are a precious resource and in short supply.

    “This is licensed work which has been carefully evaluated. This is a process in a dish, and we are dealing with a clump of cells which would never go on to develop. It’s a laboratory process and these embryos would never be implanted into anyone,” said Burn.

    “We now have preliminary data which looks promising but this is very much work in progress and the next step is to get the embryos to survive to around six days when we can hopefully derive stem cells from them,” Burn said.

    The hybrid embryos are purely for research and would never be allowed to develop beyond 14 days by law when they are still smaller than a pinhead.

    The research in Newcastle was approved by Britain’s fertility regulator, the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority.

    It acted ahead of the passing of new legislation which will specifically allow the creation of hybrid embryos so as not to hold back research.

    The bill setting out the new legislation is not due to be debated in the House of Commons until next month.

    Scientists want to extract stem cells, the body’s master cells, from the embryos, in order to increase understanding of a whole range of diseases from diabetes to stroke and ultimately to produce treatments.

Nude Picasso in lover’s clinch to be auctioned

“Etreinte” (Embrace), a watercolour, shows a nude Picasso entwined in an intimate embrace with his girlfriend Louise Lenoir, known as Odette.
    BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhuanet) — An early nude painting by Pablo Picasso showing the artist in a lover’s clinch will go up for auction after being discovered in the bedroom of a house in south-west England, media reports said Tuesday.

    “Etreinte” (Embrace), a watercolour, shows a nude Picasso entwined in an intimate embrace with his girlfriend Louise Lenoir, known as Odette.

    It was found propped up against a wall with two equine paintings by British artists George Stubbs and Alfred Munnings, Duke’s auction house said Monday.

    “It was a breathtaking find to discover these paintings that were stacked against the wall of a house,” Guy Schwinge of auctioneers Duke’s said in comments quoted by the British media.

    “To find just one of these works would have been incredible — but to find three was quite exceptional.”

    It was thought to have been painted in 1901 or 1902 when the Spanish master was a struggling artist in his early 20s. It was authenticated by Picasso in 1969.

    Each work is expected to sell for up to 100,000 pounds (126,000 euros, 199,000 dollars) when they go on sale on April 10.

    (Agencies)

Pregnant man to tell all on April Fool’s Day

Thomas Beatie, a transgender man of Oregon, gets pregnant by artificial insemination. He has decided to carry his child as he has said, “Wanting to have a biological child is neither a male nor female desire, but a human desire.”

   BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhuanet) — April 1 — April Fool’s Day — is the date of a scheduled news conference by American Thomas Beatie, the woman who became a man who became pregnant. Over the years Beatie has had various surgeries and hormone therapies, but retained his ovaries and uterus.

    Gender reassignment surgery has been around for decades, but what’s drawn international interest (and headlines like “He’s Having Their Baby”) is his claim, published in the gay rights magazine The Advocate, that he is five months pregnant. Beatie and his wife Nancy are expecting their first child on July 3, though they have given few other details.

    The inescapable biological fact is that men cannot become pregnant. A few males in the animal kingdom do in a sense become pregnant (such as seahorses, which carry eggs in their pouch once they are deposited there by a female, then fertilize them and carry them to term).

    Humans are another matter entirely; if Beatie has retained his babymaking equipment, then he is in fact still biologically a woman, not a man.

    This is not the first time that a man has claimed to have been pregnant. Several years ago, a man named Lee Mingwei was touted on the website MalePregnancy.com as the first man to actually become pregnant. Visitors to the site can peruse Lee’s pregnancy journal, see video archives of the progress of his pregnancy, and even watch a short documentary film on male pregnancy. The site addresses skeptics by stating that suspicions of a hoax are wrong: “Yes, Mr. Lee is really pregnant.”

    Curiously, the website has been up since 1999, and Lee is apparently still pregnant! Either the poor man has been in labor for nearly a decade (talk about a rough delivery!), or the story is a fake. Of course, Mr. Lee doesn’t exist; the Web site is a hoax created as performance art by an artist named Virgil Wong.

    Is Beatie’s pregnancy also a hoax? It seems likely, though many news media (including Good Morning America and ABC News) have taken the story seriously, interviewing doctors, surgeons, and psychologists about the dangers of a transgendered birth, both to Beatie and the unborn child. The story may be a publicity stunt by The Advocate, or a hoax in the style of veteran media prankster Alan Abel.

    (Agencies)