An extraordinary world weather situation has developed, withunusually harsh winter weather stretching from central Asiaacross Europe and into North America, as well as floodingacross central Africa. At the same time that extreme cold istaking place in Asia, unprecedented midwinter tornadoes havestruck western Canada and the U.S. Midwest, due to thesudden appearance ofpockets of abnormally high temperatures.There is growingevidence that the unusual weather may be the harbinger ofeven more severe climate change.
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Worms can be tinkered with genetically to make them become gay, but all fruit flies need is to get roaring drunk.

In New Scientist, Peter Aldhous reports that researcher Kyung-An Han got fruit flies drunk on the fumes from an ethanol-doused cotton pad placed in the bottom of their container. When the flies were good and soused, they lost their normal inhibitions and displayed gay tendencies.

Does the same thing happen with people? Aldous quotes researcher Ulrike Heberlein as saying, “What is cool is that there is such a similarity. I am surprised by the parallels.”

Art credit: freeimages.co.uk
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Big changes are coming in both movies and computers. Look for more 3D movies in 2008, as well computers that can take dictation (so you no longer need to type!)

In the January 9th edition of the Independent, Rebecca Armstrong reports on upcoming 3D films, which include an IMAX (large format) film about the rock group U2, an adaptation of the book “Journey to the Center of the Earth” by Jules Verne, a continuation of the horror series “Final Destination,” an animated film called “Coraline,” a Dreamworks sci-fi film called “Monsters VS Aliens. From Peter Jackson, who directed the Lord of the Rings films, comes “Tintin” and we will see “Avatar” in 3D from “Titanic” director James Cameron.
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What if you could take a single flu shot that would protect you for the rest of your life, just like your other vaccines do? Believe it or not, this may be coming up soon! The reason that flu shots change every year is because the flu virus keeps changing. BBC News reports that another benefit would be that the vaccine could be stockpiled in case of a bird flu epidemic.

Art credit: freeimages.co.uk You never know what you’re going to learn next on unknowncountry.com, but without your support, what you might learn is that we won’t be here anymore! Make sure that doesn’t happen: Get your 2008 calendar from our store, click the new “donate” button on our homepage and?best of all?subscribe today! Subscribers get special interviews just for them, as well as a chance to chat!read more