A fish with arms... and a 'T-Rex' leech found up a girl's nose: Scientists reveal amazing top 10 'new species' list

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Strolling along: The hopping pancake batfish, discovered in the Gulf of Mexico, moves like a walking bat on its arm-like fins


Amazing jumping cockroach and glowing fungus also make top 10 list

10million species waiting to be classified, say experts


It looks like a pancake, crossed with a fish, and a bat... with arms. And it hops. So it's no surprise scientists have labelled one of their new discoveries the hopping pancake batfish.

The creature is one of ten 'new species' to have made it onto a list of weird and wonderful creatures published today.

Joining it is the 'T-rex leech' - a bloodthirsty 2inch invertebrate which was discovered when it was pulled from the mucous membrane of a girl in a remote region of Peru.


Fearsome leech: Tyrannobdella rex has a mouthful of gigantic teeth, much like its namesake, the 'king of dinosaurs' Tyrannosaurus rex. It was found up the nose of a nine-year-old girl in Peru


Strong little fella: This new species of orb-weaver spider - found in Madagascar - is able to weave webs large enough to span rivers and lakes while, right, among the new plant life identified was this gilled mushroom - found in a river in Oregon, U.S. - which fruits underwater


Flies beware: An example of the orb-weaver's massive webs


As well as the Tyrannobdella rex leech - which has a mouthful of gigantic teeth, much like its namesake, the Tyrannosaurus rex - there is also a 6ft-long fruit-eating lizard and a glowing tree fungus on the list.

There is also a jumping cockroach, a cricket which is the only pollinator of a rare orchid, a spider that weaves webs large enough to span rivers and lakes, and a gilled mushroom that fruits underwater.

Experts made the selection from thousands of plants, animals and microbes described for the first time last year to draw attention to the importance of conserving life on Earth.


'Beautiful': This luminescent fungus - found in Sao Paulo, Brazil - attracts small insects that help to disperse its spores


I'm new in town: This 6ft-long fruit-eating monitor lizard from the Philippines is on a list of 10 new species drawn up by scientists


Scientists say that 'a reasonable estimate' is that there are still around 10million species waiting to be described, named, and classified before the diversity and complexity of the biosphere is understood.

A somewhat more attractive example of a new species is the striking fruit-eating monitor lizard, Varanus bitatawa, from Luzon Island in The Philippines.


Another large species on the top 10 list is Walter's duiker, Philantomba walteri, an antelope first encountered at a bushmeat market in West Africa


Dr Mary James, from Wichita State University in the U.S., who chaired the international committee which drew up the list, said: 'Each of these amazing species discoveries tells a story about our planet.

'They are pieces of the puzzle that help us to understand how all of the components of life on earth work together.

'That beautiful, luminescent mushroom: its all-day glow attracts small insects that help to disperse the mushroom's spores.


Spreading the word: This cricket - found in the Mascarene Archipelago in the Indian Ocean - is the only known pollinator of a rare orchid


'The rust-eating bacterium: it recycles even the most titanic of human creations so that the constituents can be used by other creatures.

'I think that the top 10 species helps to bring attention to the pieces of the puzzle that are still waiting to be discovered, whether it's in your own backyard, a health clinic in Peru, in the deep ocean, or a market in West Africa.

'Biodiversity science is all about exploration and discovery - cool stuff.'


Up and away: This cockroach- found in the Mountain National Park in South Africa - has modified legs that puts it on par with grasshoppers; right, a rust-eating bacterium, discovered on the wreckage of the Titanic, recycles sunken human creations so that the constituents can be re-used by others

source: dailymail

Riddle of the whales who disappeared in the night: Pod of 60 vanish after two died

By DAVID DERBYSHIRE

Beached: Marine experts bring ashore a female pilot whale washed up dead in shallow waters off Loch Carnan. The pod has disappeared but another dead whale has been found on an islet


Pod had been at risk of beaching themselves on Scottish coast

Creatures swim off after body of female pilot whale is washed up

Second dead whale is found on nearby islet


The pod of 60 pilot whales at risk of beaching themselves on the Scottish coast vanished yesterday after two died.

The creatures swam off after the body of a female, killed by an infection, washed up in Loch Carnan in South Uist.

A second dead whale was spotted on a nearby islet but could not be reached last night due to bad weather.


Strong social ties: Marine biologists say the group may have been accompanying the sick whale to her death


Members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue were on stand-by in case the pod returned. But storms and winds of up to 70mph scuppered their plans to search by helicopter.

A post-mortem examination on the female found 'potential evidence of an infection' in a fatty region of its forehead.

The examination showed that grisly scrapes and cuts on the whale's body were not enough to cause its death.

Alisdair Jack of the BDMLR said last night: 'It is very disappointing to have found the second stranded whale.

'It was spotted through binoculars at around 4pm. Our fear has been that the first dead whale would not be the last.'


Cause of death: Marine experts perform a post mortem examination on the pilot whale. She is thought to have died from an infection in a fatty region on her forehead



Final journey: Marine experts load the dead pilot whale onto a truck for disposal


The pod was first seen in the loch on Thursday. Around 20 of the whales were suffering from head wounds that may have been caused by boats or by rocks close to the shore.

At the end of October last year, 33 pilot whales came close to being stranded in the same sea loch.

Less than a week later, they were found dead on a beach in Co Donegal.
Pilot whales prefer deep water but come inshore to feed on squid, their main food.


Cause for concern: The pod of 60 whales was first seen off the coast of South Uist on Thursday


Dicing with death: Some of the whales in the pod had head injuries, thought to have been caused by boats or rocks


Head injuries: It had been feared that if the sick whales in the group tried to beach themselves, the others were likely to follow


Calum Watt, senior inspector for the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the whales’ strong social bonds meant healthy animals within a pod would follow sick and injured ones on to shore.

He said, before the second dead whale was found: 'This could be the first of many other whales coming in - we hope it's not. It would be great if this is the only one to come in.'


Rescue mission: Volunteers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue travelled overnight in an attempt to reach the whales




source: dailymail

Tuned in: Hospital takes classical approach to soothe newborns... by playing Mozart through headphones

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Lullaby: Newborn Nela listens to Mozart in Slovakia


A clinic in Slovakia has found a way to comfort newborn babies that are separated from their mothers for treatment - classical music.

Using regular size headphones that appear gigantic on the babies' tiny heads, the maternity ward in Kosice-Saca hospital has them listening to Mozart or Vivaldi.

During a recent visit to the clinic, chief Dr. Slavka Viragova said the music functions as a replacement for a mother's voice and is helping the babies breathe regularly and maintain a proper heart beat.

It seems to have struck a chord with two-day-old Nela, below.


Snooze: Baby Bruno drifts off to Vivaldi


Dr. Slavka Viragová, who launched the music project, claims that Mozart helps the infant to recall the mother when she is not with them.

She said: 'The birth trauma is enormously stressful for the baby. Music therapy helps a baby to gain weight, get rid of stress and handle pain better.'

The babies listen to soothing music 5-6 times a day, from Mozart to natural forest sounds. Nurses also use the method to care for premature babies as it helps to stabilise their breathing.


Radio gaga: Newborn baby listens to music which will help him relax without his mother




Nap time: Staff play classical music to little Nela


source: dailymail

Astronauts carry out inspection of space shuttle after Nasa photos reveal damage to critical heat shield tiles

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Room with a view: Astronaut Andrew Feustel works in the space shuttle Endeavour's payload bay during the mission's first spacewalk at the International Space Station yesterday


Nasa has ordered Endeavour's crew to take a close look at a damaged tile on the space shuttle's delicate heat shield this morning.

Using a robotic arm, astronauts are now scrutinising a gouge on the shuttle's underbelly with a camera and laser attached to a boom.

The location and size gives engineers some confidence that the damage is not the type that caused the disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. They also note that similar damage on Endeavour in 2007 - coincidentally commanded by Scott Kelly, brother of current commander Mark Kelly - turned out not to be a problem.

LeRoy Cain, chairman of the shuttle mission management team that decided to order what's called a 'focused inspection', said the operation was being conducted out of an abundance of caution and will not cause any disruption to the crew or its 16-day mission to the International Space Station.

The damaged tile was spotted in photos snapped by the station crew just before the shuttle linked up on Wednesday. Initially, the photos showed seven sites with dings or gouges, but six of them were further analysed and turned out not to be a problem.

The one site that remains a concern is the size of a deck of cards, just below the rear landing gear, but Cain said it is so unlikely that the gouge will be problematic that Nasa is not even considering a plan to fix the tile in flight. NASA can repair damaged tiles using a souped-up version of a caulking gun during a spacewalk.

'There's nothing alarming here and we're not really concerned,' Cain said.


Construction job with a difference: Andrew Feustel (right) and Gregory Chamitoff carry out repair work on the International Space Station


The delicate tiles are part of an intricate heat protection system that keeps the shuttle, especially its bottom and edges, from burning up during its fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. In 2003, damage to the edges and tiles allowed too much heat in, destroying Columbia and killing seven astronauts.

Since then, shuttles have been checked in flight for any ice or foam debris damage from lift-off, to make sure they are safe to fly home.

This is only the fifth time an extra inspection has been needed in 21 flights.

For this morning's inspection, the camera will take three close-up photos from seven feet away and the laser will get two sets of data. Officials expect this will provide enough information to plug into computer models to assure them that the damage isn't anything to worry about.


High-flyer: Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff makes his way back to the hatch at the end of his first spacewalk yesterday


Job done: Andrew Feustel enters the hatch on the International Space Station having carried out repairs


This is Endeavour's last flight and the second last of the 30-year space shuttle programme. Nasa is shutting down the programme to focus on eventual missions to a nearby asteroid or other places further out than Earth's orbit.

Shuttle Atlantis is tentatively set to make the last flight on July 8 with a load of supplies and equipment for the station.

Yesterday turned out to be a day of small concerns for Nasa, after an early morning routine spacewalk had to be cut short because of a sensor problem on an astronaut's spacesuit.

Nearly five hours into the six-and-a-half hour spacewalk, mission controllers noticed that Gregory Chamitoff's carbon dioxide sensor wasn't working. Nasa needs to know if levels of carbon dioxide - expelled when you breathe - get too high.

It is likely that moisture caused the infrared sensor to fail, said lead spacewalk officer Allison Bolinger.


Heavy workload: European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori of Italy floats through the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station


The levels were probably not too high, but controllers told Chamitoff and spacewalking partner Drew Feustel not to finish installing an antenna on the space station because it would take too much time.

The spacewalk ended 11 minutes earlier than planned. Feustel and Chamitoff installed a light fixture and swapped out some experiments parked outside the space station.
This was the first spacewalk for Chamitoff. He called it 'a dream come true for me'.

Endeavour's astronauts will make four spacewalks while docked at the space station.
Nasa approved a first-of-its-kind manoeuvre on Monday for a photo opportunity when a Russian Soyuz capsule undocks from the space station with three astronauts onboard.

The capsule will back away to about 600 feet and stop. The station will then slowly rotate so the Soyuz can get rare photos of the shuttle docked to the station from different angles and from another spaceship.

Delivered by Endeavour and added to the space station on Thursday was a $2billion physics experiment that looks for antimatter and dark matter. Later tday, the two crews will get an unprecedented VIP call when Pope Benedict XVI will make the first papal call to space.



Vital work: Andrew Feustel works in the vacuum of space installing an antenna and connecting power cables


source: dailymail

Astronauts carry out inspection of space shuttle after Nasa photos reveal damage to critical heat shield tiles

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Room with a view: Astronaut Andrew Feustel works in the space shuttle Endeavour's payload bay during the mission's first spacewalk at the International Space Station yesterday


Nasa has ordered Endeavour's crew to take a close look at a damaged tile on the space shuttle's delicate heat shield this morning.

Using a robotic arm, astronauts are now scrutinising a gouge on the shuttle's underbelly with a camera and laser attached to a boom.

The location and size gives engineers some confidence that the damage is not the type that caused the disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. They also note that similar damage on Endeavour in 2007 - coincidentally commanded by Scott Kelly, brother of current commander Mark Kelly - turned out not to be a problem.

LeRoy Cain, chairman of the shuttle mission management team that decided to order what's called a 'focused inspection', said the operation was being conducted out of an abundance of caution and will not cause any disruption to the crew or its 16-day mission to the International Space Station.

The damaged tile was spotted in photos snapped by the station crew just before the shuttle linked up on Wednesday. Initially, the photos showed seven sites with dings or gouges, but six of them were further analysed and turned out not to be a problem.

The one site that remains a concern is the size of a deck of cards, just below the rear landing gear, but Cain said it is so unlikely that the gouge will be problematic that Nasa is not even considering a plan to fix the tile in flight. NASA can repair damaged tiles using a souped-up version of a caulking gun during a spacewalk.

'There's nothing alarming here and we're not really concerned,' Cain said.


Construction job with a difference: Andrew Feustel (right) and Gregory Chamitoff carry out repair work on the International Space Station


The delicate tiles are part of an intricate heat protection system that keeps the shuttle, especially its bottom and edges, from burning up during its fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. In 2003, damage to the edges and tiles allowed too much heat in, destroying Columbia and killing seven astronauts.

Since then, shuttles have been checked in flight for any ice or foam debris damage from lift-off, to make sure they are safe to fly home.

This is only the fifth time an extra inspection has been needed in 21 flights.

For this morning's inspection, the camera will take three close-up photos from seven feet away and the laser will get two sets of data. Officials expect this will provide enough information to plug into computer models to assure them that the damage isn't anything to worry about.


High-flyer: Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff makes his way back to the hatch at the end of his first spacewalk yesterday


Job done: Andrew Feustel enters the hatch on the International Space Station having carried out repairs


This is Endeavour's last flight and the second last of the 30-year space shuttle programme. Nasa is shutting down the programme to focus on eventual missions to a nearby asteroid or other places further out than Earth's orbit.

Shuttle Atlantis is tentatively set to make the last flight on July 8 with a load of supplies and equipment for the station.

Yesterday turned out to be a day of small concerns for Nasa, after an early morning routine spacewalk had to be cut short because of a sensor problem on an astronaut's spacesuit.

Nearly five hours into the six-and-a-half hour spacewalk, mission controllers noticed that Gregory Chamitoff's carbon dioxide sensor wasn't working. Nasa needs to know if levels of carbon dioxide - expelled when you breathe - get too high.

It is likely that moisture caused the infrared sensor to fail, said lead spacewalk officer Allison Bolinger.


Heavy workload: European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori of Italy floats through the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station


The levels were probably not too high, but controllers told Chamitoff and spacewalking partner Drew Feustel not to finish installing an antenna on the space station because it would take too much time.

The spacewalk ended 11 minutes earlier than planned. Feustel and Chamitoff installed a light fixture and swapped out some experiments parked outside the space station.
This was the first spacewalk for Chamitoff. He called it 'a dream come true for me'.

Endeavour's astronauts will make four spacewalks while docked at the space station.
Nasa approved a first-of-its-kind manoeuvre on Monday for a photo opportunity when a Russian Soyuz capsule undocks from the space station with three astronauts onboard.

The capsule will back away to about 600 feet and stop. The station will then slowly rotate so the Soyuz can get rare photos of the shuttle docked to the station from different angles and from another spaceship.

Delivered by Endeavour and added to the space station on Thursday was a $2billion physics experiment that looks for antimatter and dark matter. Later tday, the two crews will get an unprecedented VIP call when Pope Benedict XVI will make the first papal call to space.



Vital work: Andrew Feustel works in the vacuum of space installing an antenna and connecting power cables


source: dailymail

Fears of mass whale stranding as experts rush to remote Western Isles to treat injured mammals

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Cause for concern: Up to 100 whales have been spotted off the coast of South Uist, near Loch Carnan - and a large number appeared to have head injuries


Up to 100 whales have been spotted off the coast of South Uist

Many of the mammals have head injuries


Marine experts have been deployed to the Western Isles to try to prevent a mass stranding of pilot whales.

Up to 100 whales have been spotted off the coast of South Uist, near Loch Carnan - and a large number appeared to have head injuries.

A spokesman for animal welfare charity Scottish SPCA said the first estimate was that between 60 and 70 of the mammals were stranded, but it is believed the true figure may be nearer 100.


Head injuries: The unwell whales in the group could try to beach themselves and the others are likely to follow


The Scottish SPCA spokesman said: 'If they are sick they will try to beach themselves, and the healthy ones will follow.

'There is a worry that they could move on and turn up somewhere else. We are going to do all we can to make sure that doesn't happen.'

'We anticipate having trained medics and rescue equipment on the scene by mid morning. This is one of the largest events of this kind ever in the country.'

Mr Jack said arrangements are being made for other sets of specialised rescue equipment to be flown to the island to assist with the rescue attempt.


source: dailymail

Is it a unicycle? Is it a motorbike? Unveiled: The transforming 'dicycle' that can fit in a lift

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Transformers: The electric-powered Uno III Streetbike - or U3 - can convert itself with the push of a button from a conventional motorbike to unicycle-style machine


Dispatch riders and couriers know the fastest way to weave through heavy traffic is on a motorbike.

But for those jams even two wheels can't navigate, a new solution has been developed.

Just like a Transformer, the Uno III Streetbike - or U3 - can convert itself with the push of a button from a conventional motorbike to unicycle-style machine.


Robots in disguise: The Tron style motorcycle leathers are optional


The electric-powered machine balances on two parallel rear wheels, the front retracting between them to allow it to manoeuvre through spaces so tight it can be driven into a building - and even fit in the lift.

Then, when it's time to zoom off into the sunset, the front wheel slides forward as the rear pair move back, giving the vehicle the stability to pick up speeds of up to 30mph.

It can travel between 30 to 35 miles on a single three to four hour charge.


Through the evil eye: This diagram shows the mechanism which allows the U3's transformation


Now the remarkable vehicle is being produced by his own motor design company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, called BPG Motors.

Small enough to fit in indoors, but powerful enough to tackle the road, the makers hope the cutting edge $7,500 (£4,600) ride will revolutionise the morning commute.


BPG Motors: Transforming UNO Video


source: dailymail

Is it a unicycle? Is it a motorbike? Unveiled: The transforming 'dicycle' that can fit in a lift

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Transformers: The electric-powered Uno III Streetbike - or U3 - can convert itself with the push of a button from a conventional motorbike to unicycle-style machine


Dispatch riders and couriers know the fastest way to weave through heavy traffic is on a motorbike.

But for those jams even two wheels can't navigate, a new solution has been developed.

Just like a Transformer, the Uno III Streetbike - or U3 - can convert itself with the push of a button from a conventional motorbike to unicycle-style machine.


Robots in disguise: The Tron style motorcycle leathers are optional


The electric-powered machine balances on two parallel rear wheels, the front retracting between them to allow it to manoeuvre through spaces so tight it can be driven into a building - and even fit in the lift.

Then, when it's time to zoom off into the sunset, the front wheel slides forward as the rear pair move back, giving the vehicle the stability to pick up speeds of up to 30mph.

It can travel between 30 to 35 miles on a single three to four hour charge.


Through the evil eye: This diagram shows the mechanism which allows the U3's transformation


Now the remarkable vehicle is being produced by his own motor design company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, called BPG Motors.

Small enough to fit in indoors, but powerful enough to tackle the road, the makers hope the cutting edge $7,500 (£4,600) ride will revolutionise the morning commute.


BPG Motors: Transforming UNO Video


source: dailymail

Is it a unicycle? Is it a motorbike? Unveiled: The transforming 'dicycle' that can fit in a lift

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Transformers: The electric-powered Uno III Streetbike - or U3 - can convert itself with the push of a button from a conventional motorbike to unicycle-style machine


Dispatch riders and couriers know the fastest way to weave through heavy traffic is on a motorbike.

But for those jams even two wheels can't navigate, a new solution has been developed.

Just like a Transformer, the Uno III Streetbike - or U3 - can convert itself with the push of a button from a conventional motorbike to unicycle-style machine.


Robots in disguise: The Tron style motorcycle leathers are optional


The electric-powered machine balances on two parallel rear wheels, the front retracting between them to allow it to manoeuvre through spaces so tight it can be driven into a building - and even fit in the lift.

Then, when it's time to zoom off into the sunset, the front wheel slides forward as the rear pair move back, giving the vehicle the stability to pick up speeds of up to 30mph.

It can travel between 30 to 35 miles on a single three to four hour charge.


Through the evil eye: This diagram shows the mechanism which allows the U3's transformation


Now the remarkable vehicle is being produced by his own motor design company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, called BPG Motors.

Small enough to fit in indoors, but powerful enough to tackle the road, the makers hope the cutting edge $7,500 (£4,600) ride will revolutionise the morning commute.


BPG Motors: Transforming UNO Video


source: dailymail

Birds of spray: Hummingbird family drink from sprinkler in photographer's back garden

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Stunning: The quick-witted hummingbird hovers in mid-air to drink from the garden sprinkler


These stunning photos show a family of hummingbirds cooling down from the sweltering weather by flying through water from a garden sprinkler.

Photographer Marie Will captured the fantastic images as the birds hovered in the air and refreshed themselves with the cool droplets.

The 39-year-old wears a bright red jumper so that she can get closer to the birds.


Pecking order: The bird is caught mid-flight


She put a garden sprinkler on her lawn and adjusted it to its slowest movement setting in order to photograph the Rufous Hummingbirds in mid air.

Marie said: 'My photographs show the playful, spirit of wild hummingbirds - they look like they are having so much fun, like a child playing with the garden hose.

'I live next to the river which brings in a lot of birds. I usually take the photos in my back garden.

'They like to feed on the plants in may garden and also cool down with the sprinkler.


Angelic: The tiny bird was captured in on camera in Oregon, U.S.


Dropping in for a drink: the colourful birds visit the garden every day


'My home office extends off to a deck that has large glass sliding doors which lead to my garden.

'I put the garden hose with the sprinkler attached close to the deck and set the spray on slow.

'My photography needs good weather because when it is sunny and bright I can capture the bird's beautiful colours.

'Most hummingbirds disappear during cold weather, but my hummingbirds stay here all year round.

'No matter if it snows or not, I am constantly refilling the feeders with sugar water I make." Marie, from Oregon, U.S., added: 'I make sure my cat is put in the house or he chases all my birds away.'



Friend of the birds: Marie Will uses a sprinkler and wears a red jumper to attract hummingbirds to her garden to get her incredible pictures

source : dailymail