Killer Dolphins!

The first recording of adult dolphins trying to kill a newborn of their own species has been made. The term is called infanticide, which means the practice of someone intentionally causing the death of an infant of its own specie mostly.

Infanticide is common in many mammal species, although it is rarely recorded among cetaceans. Until now, not many cases had been reported in bottlenose dolphins; but this new discovery suggests it could be more widespread than thought beforehand.
On the morning of December 5 2006 on Sepetiba Bay, Brazil, Mariana Nery, of the Southern University of Chile, and Sheila Simao, of the Federal Rural University of Rios de Janeiro, saw an experience they will probably remember the rest of their lives.

A group of six adult dolphins approached to a mother with her newborn calf. Two adults separated the baby from its mother. The female tried to reach the infant, but four other adults herded her, hitting her body and ramming her. Any attempt by the mother to escape was prevented by the pack, which chased her and blocked her path. Four meters away, the two remaining adults rammed the calf and held it underwater. They then threw it in the air and again pushed it underwater. Afterwards the calf swam with difficulty, and unlike the mother, was never seen again.

“Female dolphins become sexually receptive within a few days of losing a calf,” said Ms. Nery. That, and the sexual interest shown by the group in the mother, suggests they killed the calf for similar reasons.

There have been recorded cases of gangs of dolphins also killing baby porpoises, tossing them in the air and pursuing them to the death, similar to the killing of the baby dolphin. Marine experts believe these displays of attacks on non-rival, non-predatory, peace-loving porpoises may have always taken place, even though it was just recently discovered.

A theory had been made on the reason behind the porpoise murders, which included territorial clashes and feuds over food resources. But food is not in short supply and the porpoises are not just chased away, but pursued to the death.

Insomnium

As the Sun rises in Quang Nam, the birds begin to sing, and people start waking up. All but a man who actually didn´t sleep at all. Not for 33 consecutive years from now.

Thai Ngoc was born in 1942 in Trung Ha Village. This Vietnamese claims he had a flu in 1976, and he hasn´t been able to sleep since then. His inhability to sleep has not only made him famous, but also represents a miraculous phenomenon worthy of scientific study.

When Ngoc went for a medical examination, doctors gave him a clean bill of health. A UK investigating group took him to Da Dang City´s Polyclinic to check his encephalogram and mental status and the results were perfectly normal. Also proving his good health, the elderly resident of Que Trung commune, Que Son district said he can carry two 50kg bags of fertilizer down 4km of road to return home every day.

He currently lives on his 5ha farm at the foot of a mountain busy with farming and taking care of pigs and chickens all day. His six children live with him and his wife in their house in Que Trung.
An Australian news agency representative arrived to his house and proposed to take Thai Ngoc abroad for 18 months of investigations. The farmer declined, saying he has not left his village for over 60 years and that he is afraid of tests.

After 30 years of work, he cannot afford to build his own house. “My house has no TV set and it´s a long way to walk to a house that has one. But then after a while when everyone else has gone to sleep, I feel bored and return home.” He said. His house is no more than a small hutch by one side of the Cheo Beo Mountain. There are no beds inside. His guests have to lie on the ground. To prevent guests from being eaten by ants he pours boiled water around their sleeping mats. Thai Ngoc works very hard but he can´t afford to send all of his six children to school.

Over the past few years, his health has deteriorated. “I feel rather bad now. I am like a plant without water.” The 67 year old man said. “My wish now is to have a nap. Half an hour´s sleep would be enough to satisfy me.”

ISS astronauts playing in space

Some astronauts on board the International Space Station, which is at an altitude of approximately 350 kilometers above the surface of the Earth, conduct a series of experiments suggested by the public.

The tests are supposedly meant to examine the effects of microgravity, but at the same time it gave Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata the chance to try flying on a “Flying Carpet”.

Several more tests included the effects of water in different types of motion and pressure, like shooting water out of a straw and a syringe to see how it flows in the space.

Humanity partially safe from the bird flu

Predictions that the bird flu may become a dangerous threat to humans in the future may be erroneous. UK researchers say our nose, which is the main body part that spreads the virus, is too cold for it. Some testing was done in a laboratory that recreated the environment in the nose, and it was found that at 32 degrees Celsius, avian flu viruses lose function and cannot spread. An assumption that the viruses have adapted to suit the warmer 40 degree environments in the insides of birds was made.
A relatively strong mutation would be needed before the avian flu became a problem directly for humans. The lab also created a mutated human flu virus by adding a protein from the surface of an avian influenza virus to test if the new strain could develop and start a pandemic, but was also unsuccessful at 32 degrees.
The leader of the study, Professor Wendy Barclay said that if a new human influenza strain evolved by mixing with an avian influenza virus, it would still need to have several more mutations before it could be successful in infecting humans. She also added that if constant research was made, it could point to warning signs if the viruses are genetically changing and harm humans in a near future. Wendy also said that swine flu was probably an example of a virus that had adapted to cope with the cooler temperatures in the nose.

Carrie Prejean, not just a model, but a true person

Miss California was questioned about gay marriage in the event of Miss USA 2009. Here is the transcript (video here):
Judge: Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?
Carrie: I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and my family I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anyone out there but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be between a man and a woman.

After this declaration, Carrie lost this judge’s vote, but still managed to finish as first runner up in the pageant. This same judge, Perez Hilton, who knew about Carrie’s beliefs and probable response even before planning the question is an openly declared homosexual himself. This ”person” (I don’t think the word ‘Man’ is appropriate for him.) later video-blogged about this event calling Carrie a “dumb bitch”. Video can be watched here.
Later on, Miss California tells Fox news: “This happened for a reason. By having to answer that question in front of a national audience, God was testing my character and faith. I’m glad I stayed true to myself.” This should be an example to everyone. She basically lost the competition for this answer, but she preferred answering what she really thought, instead of what the judges wanted to hear.
Not even 1 month has passed, and some topless pictures of her are making their way to the web. This could cost her the state crown, because the contracts asked if participants have ever been photographed nude or partially nude. Carrie’s statement reads:
"My comments defending traditional marriage have led to intimidation tactics that seek to undermine my reputation and somehow silence me and my beliefs, as if opinion is only a one-way street.” "I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid website that openly mocks me for my Christian faith.”
"I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be. But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive. While we may not agree on every issue, we should show respect for others' opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean-spirited attacks."
Roger Neat, a spokesman for the Miss California USA pageant, said organizers and lawyers were “going over the legalities and clearly she breached her contract”.
Last week Carrie announced that she would star in new $1.5 million ad campaign funded by the National Organization for Marriage, a group that is opposed to same-sex marriage.

Do you think it’s fair that all of this is going to ruin her just by saying a right and honest answer? I surely don’t…