Extinct mammoth could be cloned and brought back to life

SCIENTISTS are optimistic to bring back the extinct woolly mammoth after uncovering a preserved mammoth body frozen in the snowy wastes of Siberia. The good condition of the ancient animal has raised hopes that it could be cloned and the team were able to use carbon dating techniques to reveal it had walked the earth around 40,000 years ago.

Dr Tori Herridge, a palaeobiologist at the Natural History Museum who took part in the work, was able to estimate the creature had lived for around 50 years after doing tests on its remaining teeth.

She said: “As a palaeontologist, you normally have to imagine the extinct animals you work on. So actually coming face-to-face with a mammoth in the flesh, and being up to my elbows in slippery, wet, and — frankly — rather smelly mammoth liver, counts as one of the most incredible experiences of my life.”

‘BLACK BEAUTY’ meteorite from Mars was discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2011. Experts say it formed from magma more than two billion years ago.

In an auction at Christie’s, New York, this less than two inches long ‘Black Beauty’ is expected to fetch between $75,000 to $100,000. The formal name of the meteorite is Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034.

The auction listing claims less than 300Ibs of Martian meteorites are known to exist and Black Beauty is even rarer still because it contains 10-30 times more chemically bound water than other Martian meteorites, probably a reflection of the water-rich magma from which it crystallised.

The piece is also the second oldest Martian meteorite ever found. The sale, which runs until November 25, features 30 meteorites which have plunged to the ground from Mars, the Moon and asteroids that orbit the Sun.

BICYCLES are the easiest to steal, thus, three Chilean engineering students and friends thought up a way to beat bike stealing crime by coming up with the world’s first ‘unstealable’ bike named as ‘Yerka’, after one of them had two of his bikes stolen.

The trio constructed it in a special way to trick even the cleverest of bicycle thieves. The design means the bottom bar on the frame can be split into two and wrapped around a secure pole with the removable seat connecting and locking the two bars together.

The friends took an engineering design class at Adolfo Ibáñez University in Chile. The original design, which will cost around $400 and $1,000, took some trial and error before the three came up with their current model. The Yerka bike has fallen victim to criticism, however, the optimistic trio says, “We try to learn and improve our project with every critic, and we are soon to release a video in which we will probably answer those kind of questions.”

WANT to take picture in a rainforest, Tower of Pisa or at the majestic Niagara Falls? Yes, you can now easily see yourself on your favourite location in the world as Samsung reveals revolutionary virtual reality kit which enables you take your picture anywhere in the world without you physically going out there!

Samsung’s 360 camera claims to revolutionise the way we communicate by allowing us to enter a real time virtual world anywhere the camera is set up. The system works with its wireless Gear VR system, which is set to go on sale in December.

The Gear VR, developed with Facebook’s Oculus, uses a Note 4 as screen. This portable system can be set up anywhere to capture events or places. It uses 17 HD camera to capture a live 360 degree view and also allows virtual meetings with participants wearing headsets.

“Project Beyond, the Gear VR frees the users from the limitations and rigours of physical travel, while providing a realistic experience that brings the nuances of an environment to the comfort of the living room,” Think Tank, Samsung’s US-based research arm, said.