Indian baby boy with 34 fingers and toes sets new Guinness record

Jul 21, 2011

Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), July 20 (ANI): Akshat, a baby boy over the age of one, registered his name in the Guinness world records for having a total of 34 fingers and toes.

He has set the record for having the highest number of fingers and toes and hails from the Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh.

Amrita Saxena, the mother of the child, said it was difficult for her to believe that her son broke the world record, until a family friend convinced her.

"He (family friend) read on the internet about the baby born in China with 31 fingers. Then he said that my boy has broken the record of having 34 fingers. At first, I was not convinced at all. It was hard to believe that my son has broken the record. But later, he along with my husband and my younger sister registered the data in the Internet. Then I was asked to submit certain documents after which his name was in the Guinness World Records," added Saxena.

Doctors attending to the child informed the mediapersons that it was a rare phenomenon and diagnosed it as polydactyly.

"The person who is diagnosed with it is polydactylic. It is due to certain defects in the bone development of the uterus. The reason behind this defect can be either developmental congenital formation or chromosomal anomalies, which is due to maternal infection or drugs," said Dr. Parul Gupta, a gynaecologist.

Gupta further explained that this congenital physical anomaly could be easily cured by performing a surgery.

"Yes, it is absolutely curable. Mostly people go for plastic surgery. And sometimes when polydactyly is minimal, it can be cured normally, without an operation. And if there is a major problem, then people prefer to go for a plastic surgery," added Gupta.

Meanwhile Saxena was a little worried for her son's future. She aspires for her son to lead a 'normal' life and wants him to undergo proper treatment for it.

It is quite interesting to know that Polydactyly or polydactylism is also known as hyperdactyly. It is a congenital physical anomaly in humans, dogs, and cats having supernumerary fingers or toes.

Gaza children aim to break world records

Wednesday 29/06/2011

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- More than three thousand students from the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees are expected to break the first of four Guinness world records Thursday as part of a summer games program organized by UNRWA.

The games, a six week recreational program now in its fifth year, are organized by the UN agency at the behest of the Gaza population and over a quarter of a million children participate, a statement by UNRWA said.

The world records being attempted include the largest amount of people flying large parachutes from the ground, which was set last year at 1,547. The event will be held at the Khan Younis stadium.

“We intend to double the previous record”, said UNRWA spokesman, Chris Gunness.

“If kids in Gaza are given half the chance, free from the constraints of this counter-productive blockade, they would show their full potential and be number one in the world. These records will put the spotlight on the world’s only community of hundreds of thousands of fenced in and locked up children.

"The message is simple: Give Gaza kids their freedom to be children. We need to end this blockade, which has become a blockade against childhood itself.”

The Summer Games will culminate at the end of July in an attempt by up to ten thousand children to smash their own record set last year for kite flying.

“More than half of the Gaza Strip is under 18, children too young to have expressed a political opinion at the ballot box. Why should they pay such a high price and lose their childhood? Each one is an Ambassador for the next generation, an example to all of what is possible under the most appalling circumstances”, said Chris Gunness.

Israel placed a blockade on the Gaza Strip in 2007 after Hamas took control of the coastal enclave.

Rights agencies have condemned the blockade as a form of collective punishment of the 1.6 million Gaza residents.

Source: Ma'an News Agency.
Link: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=400893.

Facebook beats Google as most visited, searched, in 2010

Thu, 30 Dec 2010

San Francisco - Facebook passed Google as the most visited website in the US in 2010, according to a survey released Thursday by the web tracking firm Experian Hitwise.

The social networking site also claimed the top search term of the year, with variations on its name filling four of the ten most popular searches, the survey found. In all, Facebook searches accounted for 3.48 per cent of all web searches in the US in 2010, a 207-per-cent increase over 2009.

The study found that Facebook accounted for 8.93 per cent of all US website visits in the year, ahead of Google.com's 7.19 per cent and third-placed Yahoo Mail with 3.85 per cent.

However if all Google's various properties are taken into account, the web search giant did overtake Facebook with 9.85 per cent of all website visits. Microsoft's msn.com and bing.com also made it into the list of top ten websites, as did myspace.com.

Other terms in the top ten searches included "youtube," "craigslist," "myspace," "ebay" and "yahoo."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/360215,google-visited-searched-2010.html.

'Shahnameh' to enter Guinness book

Sat Dec 11, 2010

The Austrian Academy of Science has suggested that the 11th-century Persian masterpiece Shahnameh be registered on the Guinness World Records list.

Secretary General of Iran's Ferdowsi Foundation Yasser Movahhedfar announced the news, adding that the Austrian academy offered the suggestion during a ceremony held in Vienna to commemorate Shahnameh's millennial anniversary.

The foundation has also produced an animation on the epic masterpiece, Movahhedfar said.

“Directed by Shahram Salemi, Nature in Shahnameh will take part in the 2011 edition of Eko Film Festival, which will be held in March next year,” he told Fars News Agency.

“The animation is an innovative work which is based on manuscripts from the Baysonqori Shahnameh,” he added.

The Baysonqori Shahnameh is an illustrated manuscript of Ferdowsi's masterpiece, which was calligraphed by Maulana Jafar Tabrizi Baysonqori in the Timurid era. The manuscript is registered on UNESCO's Memory of the World list.

Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) is a classic among epic Persian poetry and recounts Iran's mythical and historical past. It was written in Persian at a time when Arabic was the main scientific and literary language of Iran.

The romance of Zal and Rudaba, the Seven Stages (or Labors) of Rostam, Rostam and Sohrab, Siavash and Soudabeh, Rostam and Akvan Div, the romance of Bizhan and Manizheh and Rostam and Esfandyar are among the most popular Shahnameh stories.

Movahhedfar also announced that the foundation's other cultural and artistic projects such as holding discussion sessions with Shahnameh experts and organizing Naqqali programs.

Naqqali is an epic narration mostly inspired by Shahnameh stories.

Dating back to the Safavid Dynasty, Naqqali can be performed in verse or prose and by only one person, who presents it with a special tone and expression, playing the roles of all characters.

The foundation is also making a film on Shahnameh, based on a five-year research project, which will be screened in European countries, Movahhedfar added.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/155027.html.

Huge thermometer goes to World Expo

The world's tallest meteorological signal tower has been installed at the 2010 World Expo Park, giving real-time weather information to visitors.

The massive thermometer is located in the Puxi Expo Park along the Huangpu River and shows the current temperature as well as the highest and lowest temperature of the day every hour.

The 165-meter tower is made from a chimney in the 110-year-old Shanghai Nanshi Power Plant, Xinhua reported.

The tower top changes color during the night to show different weather conditions, white means sunny or cloudy and purple means rainy or snowy.

A meteorological observation station also provides weather service in the park.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=125548§ionid=3510212.

Turkish singer breaks speed record for driving blind

A Turkish man smashes record for fastest speed for a car driven blindfolded or blind, earning a place in the Guinness World Records.

Blind Turkish pop-singer Metin Senturk became the world's fastest unaccompanied blind driver on Friday in a 600 horsepower Ferrari F430, at Urfa airport in eastern Turkey and said he felt he had danced with death.

Guinness World Records officials said that his average speed of 292.89 km/h (181.99 mph) broke the previous record of 284 km/h (176.47 mph), held by a British bank manager.

The 44-year-old Senturk has been blind since the age of three.

During the record attempt, Senturk was given verbal instructions through radio by Volkan Isik, a former rally driver, who followed him in another car.

Senturk said the attempt was a project of the World's Handicapped Association, which he had founded.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122286§ionid=3510212.

World's smallest man dead at 21—Guinness World Records

LONDON—The world's shortest man, He Pingping, who stood just over two feet five inches tall (75 centimeters), has died, Britain's Guinness World Records said Monday. He was 21.

He -- a native of China who had a form of primordial dwarfism and measured 74.61 centimeters -- was in Rome taking part in a television show when he suffered chest problems.

He was taken to hospital, where he died over the weekend.

Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of London-based Guinness World Records, recalled measuring He in the northern Chinese region of Inner Mongolia in 2008.

"For such a small man, he made a huge impact around the world," Glenday said.

"From the moment I laid on eyes on him, I knew he was someone special -- he had such a cheeky smile and mischievous personality, you couldn't help but be charmed by him," he said.

"He brightened up the lives of everyone he met, and was an inspiration to anyone considered different or unusual."

Guinness World Records said it would announce He's successor as the world's shortest man in due course.

Khagendra Thapa Magar, 18, from Nepal, who is reportedly 51 centimeters (20 inches) high, declared in February that he is the rightful holder of the title.

Source: The Inquirer
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20100317-259127/Worlds-smallest-man-dead-at-21Guinness-World-Records.

Samal cave hosts record bat colony

By Jeffrey M. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DAVAO CITY—THE WORLD’S largest colony of Geoffrey’s Rousette Fruit Bat (Rousetteus amplexicaudatus), one of the most hated and misunderstood creatures in the Philippines, is found in the Island Garden City of Samal, according to the Guinness World Records.

Conservationists say the recognition highlighted efforts to save the bat species.

The Texas-based Bat Conservation International (BCI) described the Monfort Cave bat sanctuary in Samal as among the few known to scientists. “If the wonder of nature still exists, then the bats at Monfort Cave are one of the very few left on Earth, particularly in the Philippines,” the BCI said in a report released in 2006.

Mariamarta Ruano-Graham, head of the records management team of Guinness, said in a letter to Norma Monfort, head of the Monfort Bat Cave and Conservation Foundation Inc., that the group took notice of the BCI estimate of 1.8 million bats living in the cave, which is inside the 24-hectare property owned by Monfort in Barangay Tambo in Samal.

New record

“You have set a new Guinness World Records … and a certificate to commemorate this is included,” Graham said in her letter dated Feb. 1.

“Although the certificate does not automatically guarantee an entry in our world-famous annual record, we do consider all new records for inclusion in future Guinness World Records publication and products.”

Monfort said the recognition gave importance to the bats and highlighted their role in protecting biodiversity.

“The role of bats in the environment and the ecosystem has been so understudied and undervalued, that you will be amazed to know that the diversity of many exotic fruits coming from the Davao region, such as the durian, has been scientifically attributed to bats as major pollinators,” she said.

“These creatures are friendly and are beneficial to the survival of the environment and the people,” Monfort said.

Urgency

She said the BCI’s assessment of the bat sanctuary in 2006 bolstered the validity of the urgent need to protect the mammals.

The BCI study, according to Monfort, showed an alarming decline in the population of the bats because of destructive human activities, including hunting them for food or just for fun.

Monfort said that in some areas of Samal, bats were still being eaten by humans.

The BCI team, she said, even found that some sanctuaries on the island had already been deserted by the bats.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100212-252886/Samal-cave-hosts-record-bat-colony.

Gamers break marathon world record

A dozen hardy gamers entered the Guinness World Records this week after successfully completing a grueling 24-hour gaming marathon.

For a day and a night, twelve gamers played EA SPORTS' latest football title FIFA 10 at London's Victoria station.

Braving the cold and the commuters, the team set the first endurance gaming record - adjudicated by a Guinness official - for their continuous button-bashing efforts.

The stunt was organized by Stryxa who run online FIFA football leagues.

After the event an exhausted Paul Spacey, managing director of Stryxa, said: "It really was a gaming marathon and Stryxa are now the proud holders of an Official Guinness World Record."

He added: "Everyone is shattered after 24 hours of non-stop FIFA play. We've actually been treating players for minor thumb injuries since the record was broken!"

It's official: 'Avatar' is king of the world

By Russ Britt, MarketWatch

Last Update: 5:47 PM ET Jan 26, 2010

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- "Avatar" has made it official; it now is the No. 1 worldwide hit of all time, box-office watchers said Tuesday.

The feature from director James Cameron beat the old box-office mark, set by Cameron's "Titanic" in 1998, on Monday, by raking in $1.859 billion in global receipts. "Titanic's" mark was $1.843 billion, according to Hollywood.com and BoxOfficeMojo.com.

"Avatar" came close to beating the mark over the weekend, falling about $4 million short. Avatar is distributed by Twentieth-Century Fox, a division of News Corp. NWS News Corp. also is parent of MarketWatch.com, publisher of this report.

"It was just a smidgen behind on Sunday," said Brandon Gray, president of BoxOfficeMojo.

Now the film is trudging toward uncharted territory, and could reach the $2 billion mark as early as this weekend, Gray said.

"Avatar" beat "Titanic's" mark in just 39 days, a mark achieved over a period of several months. "Titanic" stood atop the box office for more than three months on its way to setting the record. "Titanic" was jointly distributed by Fox and Viacom Inc.'s VIA Paramount Pictures.

But "Avatar" has sold little more than half the tickets that "Titanic" sold, thanks to inflation and higher admissions for "Avatar's" 3D screenings.

Despite the price inflation, Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office analysis for Hollywood.com., says setting the mark was "unthinkable six weeks ago."

"For James Cameron to break his own longstanding record in just 39 days is unprecedented," Dergarabedian said. "Cameron's rewriting the record books."

Source: Middle East North Africa Financial News (MENAFN).
Link: http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?StoryId={F75B6947-451B-48F5-B1F2-6644AFAE5AE3}&src=NLEN.

Guinness World Records and Paladone Products Announce New Licensing Partnership

LONDON, January 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Guinness World Records, the global authority on record breaking, and Paladone Products, the leading gift suppliers in the UK, are delighted to announce a new partnership which will see the launch of the first range of Guinness World Records(TM) toys and gifts in 2010 and 2011.

The products, from juggling sets to bus-jumping motorbike kits, will be on sale in gift and toy shops from next summer across the UK. The combination of this globally renowned brand and unique quality of the designs look to inspire and encourage would be record breakers to join in the fun - whether it's breaking a record yourself or getting a true understanding for the feats of previous record breakers. Record breaking packs will also include a Guinness World Records mini book packed with records, facts and tips on how to be the best, and cover areas from circus skills to stunt jumping to chocolate eating!

Hannah Scroggs, New Product Developer for Paladone said, "For years Guinness World Records has been fascinating and inspiring people of all ages. With our range of products we are hoping to engage people in record breaking feats, and encourage them have a go themselves. Working with such a great brand is inspirational, and a perfect foundation to create a range of products that inspire 7-70 year olds to get active and break a record".

Beatriz Fernandez, International Licensing Manager for Guinness World Records said "Paladone was the right partner for us as they shared view of how serious attempts at record breaking can provide a lot of fun along the way. It was important to us that each product contains factual information on records and how to measure them, and links to the official Guinness World Records website and adjudication teams"

The deal, which was brokered by Start Licensing, will see new and exciting record breaking products available from the summer 2010 at top retailers in the High Street.

"Avatar" replaces "Titanic" in record books

"Titanic" just hit an iceberg named "Avatar."

James Cameron's sci-fi spectacular replaced his maritime melodrama as the biggest international release of all time during the weekend and is on the verge of claiming its worldwide crown, which also includes North American receipts, distributor 20th Century Fox said Sunday.

The News Corp-owned studio said "Avatar" has sold $1.841 billion worth of tickets worldwide during its unbroken six-week reign, and was a day or so away from surpassing the seemingly insurmountable $1.843 billion racked up by "Titanic" in 1997-1998.

The international portion stands at $1.288 billion, eclipsing the $1.242 billion haul of "Titanic."

In North America, "Avatar" may have to wait up to two weeks to sink the $601 million total of "Titanic," Fox said. Moviegoers in the United States and Canada have chipped in $552.8 million, enough to replace 2008's "The Dark Knight" ($533 million) as the second-biggest movie of all time.

Data are not adjusted for inflation, and "Avatar" ticket sales got an additional boost from premium pricing for 3-D screenings. Imax Corp said its big-screen engagements have sold a record $134 million worth of tickets worldwide.

The biggest movie of all time in North America -- adjusted for inflation -- is 1939's "Gone with the Wind," with sales of almost $1.5 billion, according to tracking firm Box Office Mojo. "Avatar" ranks No. 26 by that measure.

"AVATAR" RULES IN FRANCE, CHINA

During the latest weekend, "Avatar" earned $36 million in North America and $107 million from 111 international markets, far outpacing other offerings.

It led the field in at least 29 foreign markets, including France ($123 million to date), China ($102 million), Germany ($96 million), Russia ($95 million) and Britain ($93 million).

In North America, "Avatar" was trailed by the new supernatural action thriller "Legion" at No. 2 with $18.2 million, while the Denzel Washington drama "The Book of Eli" slipped to No. 3 with $17 million in its second weekend.

"Legion," released by Sony Corp's Screen Gems budget label, cost about $25 million to make, and played primarily to men, the studio said. Paul Bettany, Lucas Black and Tyrese Gibson star in the tale of an of-the-way diner that becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race.

"Eli," a similarly themed apocalyptic drama released by Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros. Pictures on behalf of independent producer Alcon Entertainment, has earned $62 million after 10 days.

Two other films opened in the top-10: Fox's Dwayne Johnson family film "The Tooth Fairy" at No. 4 with a promising $14.5 million, and the Harrison Ford medical drama "Extraordinary Measures" at No. 7 with a disappointing $7 million.

"Extraordinary Measures" is the debut release of CBS Corp's CBS Films, which said its fact-based storyline about a father trying to save the lives of his children made it a tough sell. Older audiences in the Midwest and mountain areas were the primary demographic, the studio said.

Fox said "Tooth Fairy" played well across the board, despite or because of its depiction of former wrestler Johnson, a.k.a. "The Rock" in a tutu and wings.

"It's a very sweet, wonderful message movie," said Chris Aronson, Fox's senior vice-president of domestic distribution.

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/90875/6877262.html.

Brit scuba diver sets world record for longest underwater stay

London, January 23 : A British scuba diver has rewritten pages of Guinness World Records after spending more than two days underwater.

Will Goodman, originally of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, London, survived being 20ft down for 48 hours, nine minutes and 17 seconds in the Indonesian island of Lombok.

The 32-year-old professional diver was fed rations through a tube and watched gangster films on an underwater iPod during the challenge in a metal cage.

"The first 24 hours were paradise, very serene and meditative, with rays and fish swimming past and lightning strikes illuminating the water above me," the Sun quoted him as saying.

But when Will, who now lives in Indonesia, surfaced, his hands were swollen, his puckered skin began to fall off and he had "nappy rash from hell".

He explained: "It felt as though my legs were being stabbed. I felt like I''d been bricked into a wall and my mind became distorted. All I thought about was having a nice cup of tea."

Source: New Kerala.
Link: http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-36646.html.

Woman holds record for world's largest Pokemon collection

Pokemon-mad Lisa Courtney has earned a place in the record books with a memorabilia collection of more than 12,000 items.

Ms Courtney is listed as having the biggest Pokemon collection in the world - 12,113 items - in the new edition of the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition, published yesterday.

The 21-year-old, from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, has spent 13 years building up the collection which she said has swelled to more than 13,400 since it was counted by Guinness record-checkers last year and fills most of the house she shares with her mum, Sharon.

"To be in the new Gamer's Edition and to hold a world record for something you feel so passionate about is just an indescribable feeling," she said.

"My family have been incredibly supportive considering the collection takes up the whole house, including my mother's room!

"I've even named the room where my main collection resides Pokemon Center Europe!"

Ms Courtney began her love affair with Pokemon when she saw a picture of Pikachu in a Nintendo magazine and started collecting even though she had no idea what the characters were.

"My favorite is a plush toy of the character Absol," she said.

"I fell in love with it."

Ms Courtney said she will never get bored of collecting: "There's always something new coming out in Japan. There's so much out there."

She has been to Japan five times and plans to go back this year for another "spending spree".

Ms Courtney, who is unemployed, is learning Japanese and hopes to one day become a Japanese teacher.

Guinness World Records 2010 Gamer's Edition is the third installment of the series.

Source: Times of Malta.
Link: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100122/world-news/woman-holds-record-for-worlds-largest-pokemon-collection.

Young Iranian footballer sets Guinness record

A young Iranian footballer has been entered in the Guinness Book of World Records for being able to roll a tennis ball from his foot to his shin.

The bid by Iranian soccer whiz, Mehdi Hob Darvish, to set a world record ended in success Friday after he proved he could juggle a tennis ball on his shin 144 times a minute in Dubai. Officials from Guinness were present when the record was set.

The Deputy Iranian Consulate-General in the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai, Ali Naraqi, praised the achievement, noting that throughout history, Iranian youth have made quantum leaps in the realms of science, culture and sports.

Hob Darvish is currently training to set a world record of juggling a tennis ball for 10 hours straight on his shin.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116271§ionid=3510211.

World's tallest and smallest men meet

The recently crowned world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen, meets the man who currently holds the title of the world's smallest man — He Pingping.

The Turkish farm laborer, Kosen, with height of 246.5 cm (8 ft 1 in) took over the title from Bao Xishun back in September, beating his Chinese rival by an incredible 10 cm.

The two — Kosen and Pingping — met at a ceremony in Istanbul on Thursday, January 14, to mark the launch of the Guinness World Records live Roadshow.

The tallest man in the world, welcoming the shortest man in the world to his country, said that "I was having hard times to notice him." The 21-year-old 73.66-centimeter (2 ft 5 in) tall, who hails from China, said that he was happy to meet with Kosen.

He Pingping is facing a potential challenge to his title, as his fellow countryman Wu Kang is applying to Guinness World Records, saying that he is under 68.58 cm (2 ft 3 in).

However, Wu is also considering hormone therapy which could increase his stature.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=116169§ionid=3510212.

Emma Watson Named Highest Grossing Actress

Dec 17 2009

Emma Watson is the highest grossing actress of the past decade.

The Harry Potter actress — who plays Hermione Granger in the wizard film series, which started in 2001 — has been awarded the title by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The 19-year-old star’s starring role in the six films, as well as her voice part in animated movie The Tale Of Despereaux, helped take $5.4 billion worldwide, putting the takings ahead of some of Hollywood’s big players including Julia Roberts, Halle Berry and Cameron Diaz.

She also boasts the highest average box office receipts per movie, with each of her films making an average of $897, 100,000.

Emma attended the open auditions for the first Harry Potter in 1999, when she was just nine, and had no idea what she was letting herself in for.

“I had no idea of the scale of the film series,” she said. “If I had I would have been completely overwhelmed.”

Turkish painter sets rare record in marble painting

By Ramesh Mathew

The Doha Exhibition Center turned out to be the venue for two Guinness World Records yesterday at an expo, being hosted by Qatar Islamic Cultural Center (Fanar).

Turkish national Ahmed Coktin, an expert in marbling painting, made a rare record when he made painting on a paper sheet, measuring 11× 1.5m, without mixing of any artificial colors or shades.

Coktin, who had earlier served as a teacher for several years in Istanbul, has come on an invitation from Fanar.

The artiste felt the exhibition of his work would prompt more people to take up this art form in Qatar.

According to Talal Omar, of Guinness World Records, it was the first time a piece was designed on an 11m long single sheet of paper, having a breadth of 1.5m. “At least 30 people were engaged in lifting the paper after the drawing was created, suspended in water and later lifted out of it onto the paper to the amazement of onlookers,” said Omar.

Coktin said that the work would be redone on November 23, most possibly inside the exhibition center.

The artiste said the work that was done for the Guinness Record was made wholly from natural inks, which he referred to as vegetable inks, consisting of some natural fibers and natural plant extracts.

The Guinness official formally acknowledged Coktin’s feat and awards were given to the creator in the presence of a sportive gathering.

The expo features culture, heritage, arts and science. A large number of paintings are also displayed at the venue.

Another record was set when Qatari national boxer Abdul Latif Mahmoud Saadiq performed 132 uninterrupted push-ups with the back of his hands, bettering the previous record held by American John Morrow (123).

In his first attempt, Saadiq failed to go beyond 118 attempts but egged on by his coach Salim Lazuruq, the athlete returned and created the new mark.

British boxer Dany Williams handed over the Guinness mementos and certificates to the new record holders.

Source: Gulf Times.
Link: http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=327478&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16.

Man makes giant matchstick oil rig

A British man has received a Guinness World Records certificate for the largest matchstick model in the world.

Retired rig worker David Reynolds created the replica of the Brent Bravo oil platform over 15 years, spending £5,000 on materials, the Daily Mail reports.

The 51-year-old said: "People sit in front of the television for five or six hours a night but I get bored so I'd just nip off for a few hours here and there to work on it.

"It just started as a bit of a hobby but I guess it got out of hand. I never really gave it much thought but when people came round they'd comment on how incredible it was."

He added: "I suppose I got quite complacent about it. It's good fun and keeps the grey matter working. It wasn't as though I set out to make something so huge but it just grew and grew.

"I wasn't even sure it would all fit together and it was quite nerve-racking when I assembled it. I've had a few museums contact me to say they want to buy it and there's even been an offer from Hollywood."

The model, which is made from 4.75 million matchsticks, is 12ft tall and 21 ft long. It weighs a tonne and had to be split into 14 sections for storage.

Study reveals how 'world's toughest bacterium' survives lethal radiation

Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as "the world's toughest bacterium," Deinococcus radiodurans can withstand extreme temperatures and drought conditions, lack of nutrients and a thousand times more radiation than a human being.

A new study by Cornell researchers reveals that nitric oxide -- a gas molecule used in many metabolic processes in animals and a pollutant in the atmosphere that leads to smog -- plays a key role in D. radiodurans' recovery when exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UV).

The study, appearing online Oct. 19 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may have implications for why and how nitric oxides act as signals in mammals for cell-to-cell communication, dilation of the vascular system and activating the immune system; in bacterial responses to antibiotic treatments; and in food safety efforts as D. radiodurans appears in some canned foods. The organism is also studied for use in environmental cleanup of sites contaminated with radiation and toxic chemicals.

Brian Crane, a Cornell associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology, and colleagues, discovered a gene in D. radiodurans that, when exposed to UV radiation, increases production of an enzyme responsible for creating nitric oxide. They then engineered bacteria without this gene. When zapped by radiation, the engineered bacteria repaired themselves but failed to grow and proliferate.

"Bacteria are much more sensitive to radiation damage when nitric oxide is not there," said Crane, the paper's senior author. Bhumit Patel, a graduate student in Crane's lab, is the paper's first author. "If you block the nitric oxide signal, the cell will repair but [will] not divide," Crane added.

In addition, the researchers were surprised to find that removing nitric oxide increased sensitivity to radiation but had no effect on the bacteria's ability to withstand other stressors, including exposure to oxidative damage that leads to toxic free radicals.

They also found that under normal circumstances there is a time lag in the process, where radiation exposure induces the cell to repair itself, but it takes a few hours for these bacteria to produce nitric oxide, which then activates a gene involved in cell proliferation and stress responses. "Nitric oxide seems to coordinate this growth response, but it's curious that the bacteria will wait to grow until they have repaired themselves," said Crane. "We don't know why it works this way, but there are analogies in human cells [for other processes]. There may be related pathways for controlling cell growth in animal cells."