University of Minnesota researchers allowed embryonic rat cells to grow into a matrix of connective tissue taken from a rat heart. They ended up with a beating heart. There's a little more work to do before they try it in me, though.... picked by Fanatic 7 months ago

Possibly inspired* by Punthe's forum thread of two days ago, Gordon Brown today announced plans to reform the organ donation process including adopting the presumption that all organs can be harvested unless expressly stated.

*You never know who reads Plime... picked by Pocksucket 7 months ago

For ten years their home has been a 20ft cage but last week - for the first time in their lives - leopards Sirius and Pitou ran free across the plains of Africa.

(Now it's time to work on getting a few tigers out.) picked by tigertony 7 months ago

For you Davbob. Hopefully you'll never EVER have to check it. picked by muppet 7 months ago

Lead in your lipstick? Mercury in your mascara? Recent headlines about harmful ingredients hiding in beauty products are enough to make even the vainest among us want to go back to the good old days of rubbing strawberries on our lips to make them red. picked by muppet 7 months ago

Earlier blooms. Less snow to shovel. Unseasonable warm spells. Signs that winters in the Northeast are losing their bite have been abundant in recent years and now researchers have nailed down numbers to show just how big the changes have been picked by muppet 7 months ago

The Cassini spacecraft's close flyby of Epimetheus (116 kilometers, or 72 miles across) in December 2007 returned detailed images of the moon's south polar region. picked by mitzuzake 7 months ago

Said Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe in a magazine article, "Once ulcerative colitis worsens, I would need to go to the lavatory 30 times a day. It would be absolutely impossible to perform the heavy duties of prime minister." picked by mitzuzake 7 months ago

Chimps eat dirt. This has been known for years.

And while chimp cuisine might look more gritty than gourmet to us, it turns out our closest animal relations have a good reason for feasting on soil: It improves their health. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

Antimatter, which annihilates matter upon contact, seems to be rare in the universe. Still, for decades, scientists had clues that a vast cloud of antimatter lurked in space, but they did not know where it came from. The mysterious source of this antimatter has now been discovered -- stars getting ripped apart by neutron stars and black holes. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

Our planet is changing before our eyes, and as a result, many species are living on the edge. Yet Earth has been on the edge of habitability from the beginning. New work shows that if Earth had been slightly smaller and less massive, it would not have plate tectonics-the forces that move continents and build mountains. And without plate tectonics, life might never have gained a foothold on our wor... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

A colossal cloud of gas is racing toward a collision with our galaxy, and when it hits, the crash could trigger an intense burst of star formation. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

The state of Hawaii unveiled plans to construct a dozen solar arrays across the state picked by bigtonyboy 7 months ago

The fact that there’s a double ring around this gravitational-lens galaxy means that two other galaxies are aligned precisely behind it. And the odds of that happening are estimated at 1-in-10000. picked by dollyllama 7 months ago

As adult obesity balloons in the United States, being overweight has become less of a health hazard and more of a lifestyle choice, the author of a new book argues. picked by muppet 7 months ago

Hundreds of new proteins critical in the spread of the HIV virus through the body have been identified by Harvard researchers. The discovery could lead to new treatment options for people with the virus. picked by muppet 7 months ago

Residents in southwest Washington continue the cleanup after a rare tornado touched down in Vancouver Thursday afternoon, downing power lines, destroying homes and businesses, uprooting trees and terrifying residents who crossed its path.

Last time a tornado hit Washington was in 1972. picked by muppet 7 months ago

The European Food Safety Authority this morning said it has concluded that meat and milk from healthy cloned cattle and pigs is "very unlikely" to pose risks to consumers, opening the door to possible European sales of those controversial foods in the future. picked by 1only 7 months ago

This year's astronomical calendar features not just one, but two pairings of the sky's brightest planets — plus a total solar eclipse visible from exotic locations, and a total lunar eclipse that most Americans will be able to see from their backyards. picked by muppet 7 months ago

Finally nicotine addicts have the answer to all their winter woes with Smoking Mittens. With a special cigarette-shaped hole in the mitten, smokers can light-up without exposing their digits to the harsh elements. picked by mitzuzake 7 months ago

This is a follow up to the story I posted yesterday about the dog breeder fined £100! picked by topofall 7 months ago

Tips to tell just how old someone is, or tricks to keep yourself looking younger.
If I wasn't a 20 year old male, I would put these into practice, but my navel and breasts are just fine. picked by muppetmaker 7 months ago

Shoes that are specifically hand made to extremely high standards. Using a paw shaped form, called a last; each shoe is individually stretched and shaped to the configuration of that paw form size. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

They might not be suede, but these blue shoes are a perfect fit for "Elvis." They were designed for penguins that developed sore feet. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

A giant Pacific octopus living in an aquarium has formed an unlikely bond with his Christmas present. picked by wildminou 7 months ago