Showing posts with label Human Fact. Show all posts

Try it, which animal do you see first?

The first animal you see would determine your personality

Our minds play tricks on us all the time and they see things the way we want them to see it. The image you see first, therefore, says a lot about who you are based on your choice.
Our personalities are quite complex and there are multiple traits which come into play to create the personality which we reflect. Our personalities have multiple sides and there are numerous dimensions of our personality which come together in a cumulative way to describe our overall attitude.

Image Source: Pixabay
Image Source: Pixabay

That being said, we do have some primary traits which form the backbone of our personalities. While we add different dimensions to our thoughts with our experience and knowledge, the central qualities which define us rarely change. And these traits are the ones which help us decide the kind of people we become and the choices we make.

Image Source: Pixabay
Image Source: Pixabay


Your mind, therefore, tricks you into seeing things the way you want to see them and your personality has a lot to do with your choice. The animal, for example, you see first in the picture below does, therefore, reveal a lot about your choices and the personality you have. Try it, which animal do you see first?

Which animal do you see first?
Which animal do you see first?


#1 A Butterfly


A Butterfly
A Butterfly


A butterfly is the most well-known symbol of beauty and change. It transforms from a cocoon to one of the most elegant of all nature's creation. If the butterfly was the first thing you saw, you most probably reflect the same traits. You are adaptable, flexible and you can change yourself based on your needs and can do whatever needs to be done. You may also find yourself in the ugly pictures of life (in your cocoon) but rest assured, you have the personality to break out and be the beautiful person you are meant to be.

#2 An Eagle


An Eagle
An Eagle


Wild, free and built for the skies, an eagle is one of the ultimate predators of nature. If you spotted the eagle first, it shows that you too are focused and completely driven towards what you want. You never waiver in your decisions and once you have got the target locked, the thing that you want most in life, you would swoop down to grab it and fly away with it, high into the skies, beyond anyone's reach.

#3 A Praying Mantis


A Praying Mantis
A Praying Mantis


A praying mantis is a master of the senses and patience. It can keep still for hours, waiting for its prey and acts without warning to hunt it. If a praying mantis was the first creature you saw, then you have really strong instincts. Your inner voice guides you and you are clearly in touch with your primal self. You go by your guts and more often than not, you get what you want. You are the master of your domain and just like the mantis, there's a fighting spirit driving you from within. 

#4 A Dog


A Dog
A Dog


Loyal, brave, protective and truly selfless, everyone knows the traits associated with a dog but there are truly very few who actually imbibe these traits. If the dog was the first thing you saw, you can rest assured that you are one of the very few people who can be all of the above at the same time. You can be loyal but fierce, selfless and loving, protective and playful at the same time. You are a blend of most rare and incredible traits in the world and no wonder, you are loved by everyone who has the opportunity to know you.

#5 A Wolf


A Wolf
A Wolf


A lone warrior who walks in a pack. The wolves are known to live in a pack but they are also lonely creatures, wandering the wild alone, fearless and fierce. If it was the wolf that you saw first, chances are that your inner self is as fierce and fearless as that of a wolf's. You may walk in a crowd, but your personality will always stand out. To be a wolf can be both an exhilarating experience as well as a lonely affair but you are built to handle it all. 

#6 A Crab


A Crab
A Crab


Hard on the outside, soft from within, you share this trait with the crab if it was the first creature you saw in the picture. Crabs are also known to be extremely loyal. It goes without saying, therefore, that if you look within yourself, you would find that you have always been loyal (whether you know it or not). You have always placed the needs of your loved ones ahead of your own and never in your wildest thoughts have you considered cheating/betraying those who trust you. 

#7 A Rooster


A Rooster
A Rooster


If a rooster was the first image you saw, the primary characteristic of your personality is perseverance. A rooster is not meek by any standards, it is quick, smart, persistent and despite the small body, roosters are known to be fierce creatures. You, like them, may look harmless by the looks of it but when it matters, there are few who can fight back, like you.

#8 A Stallion


A Stallion
A Stallion


If the stallion was the first thing you saw, you are indeed one of the ambitious kind. Wild, free and raw, you are driven to succeed and to be free no matter what. You never shy away from an honest day's work and you are not the one to stay away from a fight. You are in touch with your inner-self which is ready to stand out and be counted. Your personality is the same, exemplary, honest and driven.

#9 A Dove


A Dove
A Dove

A symbol of peace and eternal love, a dove is one of the most beautiful creations of nature. If a dove was the first creature you saw, you probably are a wise soul. You are calm, patient, nurturing and at peace with yourself. It is one of the most difficult things to attain in life (peace from within) and you are well placed to attain peace with least effort from your side. You'll always be a symbol of hope for someone.
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The last words of Steve Jobs


I have come to the pinnacle of success in business.

In the eyes of others, my life has been the symbol of success.
However, apart from work, I have little joy. Finally, my wealth is simply a fact to which I am accustomed.
At this time, lying on the hospital bed and remembering all my life, I realize that all the accolades and riches of which I was once so proud, have become insignificant with my imminent death.
In the dark, when I look at green lights, of the equipment for artificial respiration and feel the buzz of their mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of my approaching death looming over me.
Only now do I understand that once you accumulate enough money for the rest of your life, you have to pursue objectives that are not related to wealth.
It should be something more important:
For example, stories of love, art, dreams of my childhood.
No, stop pursuing wealth, it can only make a person into a twisted being, just like me.
God has made us one way, we can feel the love in the heart of each of us, and not illusions built by fame or money, like I made in my life, I cannot take them with me.
I can only take with me the memories that were strengthened by love.
This is the true wealth that will follow you; will accompany you, he will give strength and light to go ahead.
Love can travel thousands of miles and so life has no limits. Move to where you want to go. Strive to reach the goals you want to achieve. Everything is in your heart and in your hands.
What is the world's most expensive bed? The hospital bed.
You, if you have money, you can hire someone to drive your car, but you cannot hire someone to take your illness that is killing you.
Material things lost can be found. But one thing you can never find when you lose: life.
Whatever stage of life where we are right now, at the end we will have to face the day when the curtain falls.
Please treasure your family love, love for your spouse, love for your friends...
Treat everyone well and stay friendly with your neighbors.
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Paulo Coelho’s 5 Smartest Advices for Students


When Paolo Coelho wrote and released “The Alchemist,” his first publisher dropped the book because the sales were bad. Fortunately, he found another publisher who had more faith in it and the rest became history. “The Alchemist” encourages a person to reconsider how he views life and helped establish Coleho as an inspirational writer. Here are some of the smartest advice from the book that will prove helpful how you view life not only as a student but in general.
Action is the first step to success
Success will not come if you don’t take a step first. Taking action is also the only way to learn. You can study more, read more, listen more but if you don’t take any action, all those knowledge remains a knowledge. On the other hand, success comes when you turn that knowledge into action.
Compensate your weakness with your strength
All of us have their own weaknesses and strengths. However, weaknesses should not stop you from being successful and earning the respect of others. Instead, focus on your strength instead of your weakness.
Persevere
In “The Alchemist,” there’s a quote there that says if you really want something, the universe conspires in helping you get that dream. There might be something you’ll encounter that will make you doubt your dream but yo have to keep your focus and be obsessed with your dream.
Rejection is normal
Paulo loved writing and believes in himself. He recounted a story where he passed some of his poetry in a reputable magazine but got humiliated in return. He took it personally at first but eventually got over the rejection. The experience encouraged him to make himself better.
Getting a corporate job does not necessarily mean success
Getting a job in the corporate world might pay you a lot of money but that does not necessarily mean success. Doing what you love doing is a gift that only a few enjoys but not impossible to achieve.
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The Dark and Bloody History of Valentine's Day


As we all know, the annual festival for lovers to celebrate love is coming near. Of course, we are talking about "Valentine's Day", it is a no-brainer that most people who enjoys this holiday more are the committed couples. Generally, it is a time for us to celebrate romance and love and everything cheesy. Valentine's day may be cheesy since it focuses on giving sweets and seeing cupids around. But don't get fooled, the love festival actually has a dark, bloody and muddled origin.
"Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine is an annual holiday celebrated on February 14. It originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and is recognized as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country." - Wikipedia
 
Though no one has been able to pinpoint the exact origin of the holiday, one good and more accurate place to begin is ancient Rome, where men hit on women by, well, hitting them. From February 13 to 15, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. It is known to have men sacrifice a goat and a dog, then whipped women with the hides of the animals they had just slain. The Roman romantics were depicted as drunk and naked during this holiday according to Noel Lenski, a historian at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The holiday centers around the young women who would confidently line up for men to hit them. They believed that getting hit during this holiday would make them fertile. The brutal belief also includes a matchmaking lottery, in which young men drew the names of women from a jar. Then, the couple would be coupled up for the duration of the festival or longer, if the match seems to be accurate. The early Romans was known to be responsible for the name of this love festival. Emperor Claudius II executed two men who possesses the name "Valentine" on February 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their act of humbleness and kindness known to be martyrdom was greatly honored by the Catholic Church in which, the celebration of St. Valentine's Day started to be practiced.
Before too long, Pope Gelasius I mixed things up in the 5th century by combining St. Valentine's Day with Lupercalia to remove the pagan rituals. He might have won that time but the festival became more of a theatrical interpretation of what it had once been. People was a little more on a drunken revel, but at least, the Christians put clothes back on it. Even if the celebration toned down some acts of people during February 14, it still didn't stop the festival from being a day of fertility and love. During that time, the Normans celebrated Galatin's Day. Galatin is known to have a meaning; "lover of women." It was likely confused with St. Valentine's Day at some point, due to they sound alike. 
William Shakespeare is known worldwide and considered to be a great person who revolutionized literature of our time also helped in giving more "love factor" and romanticized Valentine's Day through his work. He did not failed as it gained popularity throughout Britain and the rest of Europe. As the years went by, the holiday grew more sweeter. Chaucer and Shakespeare romanticized it in their work, and it gained popularity throughout Britain and the rest of Europe. Handmade paper cards became the tokens-du-jour in the Middle Ages. Eventually, the tradition made its way to the New World. The industrial revolution ushered in factory-made cards in the 19th century. And in 1913, Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, Mo., began mass producing valentines. February has not been the same since. And until now, people are known to be celebrating this festival with more relevance to Shakespeare's idea.
Fast forward to present times, the holiday is still known to be a big business. And so the celebration of Valentine's Day goes on, in variety of ways.Some will find time to spend this day with their significant other, while some will break the bank buying jewelry and flowers for their beloved partners. Some might still find this day worth celebrating even if they are single and alone. But if in case, you want to find a way to somehow lessen the romantic feel of Valentine's day, then its dark origins may help!
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Our Education System

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You don't need a leader, you need the knowledge that will teach you to be your own leader.


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Become who you are.



"Don't be afraid of yourself, don't be shy, don't be a hypocrite. Take courage and take off your mask, throw away your cloak. Accept your beauty, embrace your ugliness, make peace with yourself and become who you really are".
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32 Life Lessons I Learned by Age 32


1) There has never been a better time in history to live an extraordinary, unlimited life.
2) Don’t listen to others when it comes to making big decisions. Your inner voice has the answers.
3) How good you look is a reflection of how good you feel inside. The woman who taught me this is the incredible Rupa Mehta, founder of Nalini Method, here in New York!
4) We’re all connected. As Mark Nepo says, “being human is looking so deeply into the other person that you recognize yourself.”
5) Life is better when you’re in it (not on the sidelines, watching).
6) Take your desires seriously. They’re all you’ve got. Deepak Chopra teaches, “Inherent in every desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment.”
7) You don’t have to work in a corporate job. It’s not safe anyway, despite what they tell you. There’s much more fun and money to be had if you can handle a little uncertainty (warning — most people would choose misery over uncertainty, but you don’t have to be one of them). Doing work that you truly love is the best gift you will ever give yourself.
8) Laugh often. People who laugh vs. get offended or get upset over small stuff have way healthier lives.
9) Ask for a raise when you feel it’s due. Always. It adds up to more than you believe.
10) Kindness counts above all else. It does not matter how good looking, educated or interesting someone is. It all means nothing without kindness.
11) Worry less. As happiness researcher Shawn Achor says, “Adversities, no matter what they are, simply don’t hit us as hard as we think they will. Our fear of consequences is always worse than the consequences themselves.”
12) Visualize! Picture your ideal life daily and consistently take small steps towards your vision. Each small step adds up to a life.
13) Always be de-cluttering! Closets, paperwork, unsupportive friends, apps, inboxes. Simplicity is heaven.
14) It’s never about where you start. I come from a small town, a broken home, an alcoholic father and no money. If you hate your situation, I guarantee you that you can change it. Your current circumstances are always temporary (both good and bad).
15) Qualifications mean less than you think. Knowledge is only potential power. Doing/creating/building is what counts (and it’s where you gain the real knowledge).
16) The best way to do it is to do it. Take risks. You’ll be dead soon. As my friend Sean Behr says, “don’t die wondering.”
17) Read like a maniac — biographies especially. All mistakes that can be made and lessons that can be learned have already been experienced by someone else. Reading is like a Cheater’s Guide to navigating your life.
18) The biggest regrets come from pleasing other people. A Buddhist monk said if you meditated for 20 years the final message you would arrive at is, “Be yourself.”
19) Live where you want to live. Despite what you might think — you are NOT stuck! If your dream is to live in London, Paris, San Francisco — go!
20) Love yourself. Especially when you don’t “deserve” it.
21) Forgive others no matter what they did to you. This is like inner-peace on a platter. BUT you don’t have to be friends with people who’ve hurt you.
22) Success isn’t passive. Elizabeth Gilbert nailed it when she said, “Participate relentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings.”
23) Talk to new people. All opportunities come from the people you meet. It’s humans who make things happen, nothing else.
24) Time cures heartbreak. Nothing else. As Regina Brett says, “Give time time.”
25) It’s OK if people don’t like you. Truly. I love what Paulo Coelho says, “Haters are confused admirers who cannot understand why everyone loves you.”
26) Say no and don’t feel guilty about it. Martha Beck put it best, “When it comes to saying yes or no to something or someone, choose the answer that feels like freedom.”
27) No one is ever ready. Just begin, baby!
28) Focus on your strengths, always. Crafting your strengths will get you much further than improving your weaker areas. Let your strengths shine and don’t apologize for them!
29) Everyone is scared.
30) “No-one knows what they’re doing either.“As Ricky Gervais says. We are all just doing our best as we go along. Let this make you feel free, liberated and tolerant of all others who are just doing their best, too.
31) Love is stronger than death. When we lose our loved ones all that’s lost is their physical form.
32) You are going to be OK.
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Amazing Women Who Totally Rocked the Science World



Women have been making noteworthy contributions to the world of science since the earliest known times. Many women have displayed their endeavors by defying the restrictions and have overcome the difficulties in their own ways. Nowadays the situation is somehow better and women don’t face the problems they used to face in the past.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, fossBytes is sharing you an enriching infographic of the women who totally rocked at science. 😀
If you want to encourage the women in your life to pursue a career in science and tech, it’ll surely inspire them. These women have excelled in their work and accomplished so much to become distinguished.
In world-famous writer Virginia Woolf’s words:
“Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.”
These women are from different fields of science like biology, nuclear physics, biophysicists, space scientists and more.
Take a look at the infographic:
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Tap Dancing To Work



So it’s no surprise that I’m really pleased to see Carol Loomis’ book on Warren published this month.Tap Dancing to Work: Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2012 is a compilation of forty-plus years’ worth of coverage of Warren by the writers of Fortune, with a notable share written by Warren’s longtime friend, Carol Loomis. Inside are pieces by Carol, other Fortune writers, some essays by Warren himself, and there’s even a reprint of a piece I wrote in 1996 about our friendship.
It’s fairly well known that I almost didn’t meet Warren. My mom and dad had invited him, Katharine Graham and Meg Greenfield to the family’s weekend home, and my mother really insisted that I meet him, in spite of my pushing back hard that I had too much to do to take a day off to meet “some guy who picked stocks.” But from the moment we started talking, I could tell this was an extraordinary individual, whose intellect and business insights were astounding. I realized that day I had met a genius. I have felt that way ever since that July afternoon in 1991 and have never passed up an opportunity to learn more from him about business. In the process, I’ve also learned a great deal from him about life.
Tap Dancing to Work is a comprehensive look into Warren’s thinking about business and investing. The stories in the book are arranged roughly chronologically. I think anyone who reads it cover to cover will come away with two reactions: First, how Warren’s been incredibly consistent in applying his vision and investment principles over the duration of his career; and, secondly, that his analysis and understanding of business and markets remains unparalleled. I wrote in 1996 that I’d never met anyone who thought about business in such a clear way. That is certainly still the case.
Carol Loomis has done us all a big favor in pulling together this collection and writing quite thoughtful introductions to the major pieces. Examining the arc of Warren’s business life in his own words and those of other gifted observers (preeminently, Carol Loomis, herself) is an extremely worthwhile use of time to get into the mind of this remarkable business leader and philanthropist. I hope many people, even those who think they know Warren well, will read it cover to cover. I know I will.
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11 Famous Failure



Famous Failures

1) Michael Jordan
   (6 time NBA champion
   5 time NBA MVP and
   4 time NBA all star)

After Being cut from his high school basketball team, He went Home lock himself in hos room and cried.

2) Albert Einstein
   (theoretical Physicist and Nobel prize winner)

He wasn't able to speak until he was almost 4 years old and his teacher said he would "Never Amount To Much".

3) Oprah Winfrey
       (Host of multi-Award-Winning Talk Show and The most
           Influential woman in the world)

Was demoted from her job as a news anchor because she "Wasn't fit for television".

4) Walt Disney
    (Creator of Mickey Mouse, and Winner of 22 Academy Award)

Fired From a newspaper for "Lacking Imagination" and "Having no Orignal ideas".

5)  Lionel Messi
    (3 Time FIFA world Player of the year)

At Age 11 he was cut from his team after being giagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which made him smaller in stature the most kids his age.


 6) Steve Jobs
   ( Co-Founder of Apple inc and Co-Founder of Pixer Animation Studios)

At 30 year old he was left devastated and depressed after being unceremoniously removed from the company he started.

7) Eminem
   (13 Times Grammy Award winner,  Sold over 90 million albums worldwide)

A high school dropout, whose personal struggles with Drug and Poverty culminated in an unsuccessful suicide attempt.

8) Thomas Edison
    ( Inventor of the incandescent Light Bulb)

A teacher told him he was "Too Stupid to learn anything" and that he should go into a field where he "Might Succeed by virtue of his pleasant  Personality".

9)  The Beatles
   (The most commercially Successful and critically Acclaimed Band i History)

Rejected by Decca recording studios, Who said " We don't like their Sound... They have no future in show business".

10) Dr. Seuss
    (Best Selling Children Author in History)

His First book was rejected by 27 Publishers.

11)  Abraham Lincoln
    (16th President of the united states)

His Fiance Died, Failed in Business, Had a Nervous breakdown and was Defeated in 8 Election.


If you've Never Failed You've Never tried Anything New.

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The Genius Life Of Apple’s Founder Steve Jobs

he life of Steve Jobs wasn’t a straight line. He faced challenges and overcame them to become a winner. “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith,” he said. Here’s the winding path of late Apple founder, showing how he became a legend.
Born on February 24, 1955, Steve Jobs grew up to lead the world’s most valuable company. His journey to the top wasn’t a straight line and it came with many challenges. However, moving ahead, finding inspiration and creativity through different means, he painted a snapshot of a genius’s life.
You might be knowing that Steve explored India and Buddhism, but few people know that Steve Jobs even tried to become an astronaut and start a computer company in the Soviet Union. After returning from India, he convinced Wozniak to quit his job at HP and join his personal computers venture. They founded Apple computers in the Jobs family garage and sold items like scientific calculators to raise capital.
As said earlier, his life was more like a winding path. But, he never settled. He craved for more and didn’t lose faith. During his famous talk in 2005 at the commencement at Stanford, he said the same —
You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.
Here’s an info graphic of the life of Steve Jobs and how he started his journey. Created by fundersandfounders.com, it’s based on Walter Isaacson’s biography Steve Jobs. Take a look:
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Kindness makes you the most beautiful person in the world no matter what you look like.

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9 Quotes to Inspire and Motivate You During Tough Patches.










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THE RISKS AND THE ETHICS OF EDITING HUMAN DNA

The Risks And the Ethics of Editing Human DNA
The International Summit on Human Gene Editing convened to ask one major question: How far should scientists be allowed to go when they edit human DNA? Hundred’s of scientist from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C, on December 1-3, 2015, to discuss scientific, medical, ethical, and governance issues associated with recent advances in human gene-editing research. Some say this was a historic meeting to debate one of the most controversial subjects in science today. Almost 500 scientists, doctors, bioethicists, legal experts, historians, patient advocates, and others gathered in this summit sponsored by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, U.S. National Academy of Medicine and Co-hosted with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the U.K.’s Royal Society. To debate about ‘How far should scientists go when editing human DNA?’
Nobel laureate David Baltimore of the California Institute of Technology said “We could be on the cusp of a new era in human history,” He further said that “The overriding question is when, if ever, would we want to use gene editing to change human inheritance?”
The main focus of this summit was should scientists be allowed to use powerful new genetic engineering techniques to edit genes in human eggs, sperm or embryos – as this could raise a host of thorny safety and ethical issues. Hundreds of scientists and ethicists from 20 countries who attended the summit believe that the new tools to edit the human genetic code will produce many benefits, such as finding new ways to prevent and treat diseases.
These tools are planned to edit genes inside living cells, to slice and repair or replace specific sections of DNA which allows scientists to make very precise changes in DNA much more easily than ever before. This is much like a biological version of the cut-and-paste feature in a word processing software. For instance, CRISPR-Cas9 is a fast, cheap and powerful new genetic engineering techniques to edit genes in human eggs, sperm or embryos. Scientists believe that these new techniques will help to prevent and treat diseases, including AIDS, cancer and Alzheimer’s.
On the contrary, the ability to edit DNA using these new techniques are raising many fears as mistakes in this gene editing could inadvertently introduce new diseases into the human gene pool and can be passed down to future generations. Though this could help prevent and treat many inherited diseases, including Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis, and Tay-Sachs disease. Creating children who are smarter, taller, smarter or have other supposedly desirable traits is also an raising fear.
“I think enhancement will creep in the door in terms of treating serious diseases,” said George Church of Harvard University.
Nobel laureate David Baltimore of the California Institute of Technology said, “We sense that we are close to being able to alter human heredity.”
The laws and guidelines vary widely between different countries about what germ-line, or hereditary, research is allowed. Some ban any research; some allow only lab research but not pregnancies; some have no policies. In the U.S., the National Institutes of Health won’t fund germ-line research but private funding is allowed.
What one country attempts “will have consequences in others,” the White House’s John P. Holdren noted.
The organizing committee for the summit issued a statement on human gene-editing research and its potential applications, including uses that could alter the human germ-line, after three days of debate. “That statement is our answer to the question of whether there should be a ban,” said David Baltimore.
Sarah Gray of the American Association of Tissue Banks said, “If you have the skills and the knowledge to fix these diseases, then freaking do it.” Her son suffered before dying of a genetic disorder six days after he was born.
Many scientists said it’s not too early to consider the biggest ethical quandary: Should they be allowed to edit human DNA?

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The 7 Biggest Mysteries of the Human Body



Introduction:
If it's a good mystery you're after, look no further than the bathroom mirror. You might think scientists would have charted every aspect of their home turf by now, but they haven't. Here are seven of the biggest body bogglers.

 1: Why me?

How do the 100 trillion neural connections in our brains work together to create the feeling of being alive? Many great thinkers consider consciousness to be the biggest mystery not just of the human body, but the biggest one, period. As the neuro-scientist V.S. Ramachandran put it, "[A]ny single brain, including yours, is made up of atoms that were forged in the hearts of countless, far-flung stars billions of years ago. These particles drifted for eons and light-years until gravity and chance brought them together here, now. These atoms now form a conglomerate — your brain — that can not only ponder the very stars that gave it birth but can also think about its own ability to think and wonder about its own ability to wonder. With the arrival of humans, it has been said, the universe has suddenly become conscious of itself. This, truly, is the greatest mystery of all."

2: Wherefore appendices?


The poor old human appendix gets lumped in with the likes of wisdom teeth, ear-wiggling muscles and our other useless evolutionary holdovers. The worm-shaped organ's inconsequential seems proven by the fact that it can be removed with no obvious drawbacks. But biologists have recently begun to question the long-held assumption of appendix pointlessness. Some suggest it may help train the immune system during fetal development. Other research indicates the organ serves as a "safe house" for the bacteria that aid in digestion, holding a secret stash of microbes that repopulate the rest of the digestive tract after gut-evacuating bouts of diarrhea. The word "appendix" means afterthought. But maybe, just maybe, it isn't one.

3:What's up, buddies?


A couple of handfuls of your body aren't actually your body. For every one of your cells, 10 microbes live inside you, and these hangers-on collectively compose a few pounds (1 to 3 percent) of your total weight. Some of this in-house fauna cleans our skin while some helps us digest food, but the bulk of these microbes contribute to our bodily functions in ways unknown. Healthy people even harbor low levels of harmful viruses, which appear to do something besides sicken us.
"We're just learning that the consequence of antibiotics is that when you get rid of the good bacteria in our guts, we can develop autoimmune diseases [such as Type 1 diabetes]. We're not as advanced in our understanding of viruses. What do viruses do for us?" Vincent Racaniello, professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University, told Life's Little Mysteries. Clearly, we've signed up for a whole bunch of symbiotic relationships, and have no idea what we're getting out of the deal.

4: Hairy explanation





Theories abound when it comes to pubes. Some say these coarse, curly tendrils are sexual ornaments — a visual signal of sexual maturity and a reservoir of smelly pheromones. Others think bushes keep our oh-so-precious nether regions cozy. Still others assert that they serve as padding, preventing chafing during sex. Whatever the reason, many modern people want this stuff gone.

5: Whose breasts?


Like all other female apes, women's breasts fill with milk when they have newborn babies to feed. But female humans alone have bloated bosoms at all other times, too. Scientists can't agree on what — or who — our "permanently enlarged breasts" are for. Most evolutionary biologists think breasts serve the purpose of attracting men, who get fooled into thinking a busty woman will make a great baby feeder (even though her breasts actually contain fat, not milk).
Anthropologists, meanwhile, tend to think breasts evolved for women and babies, not men, noting that in many cultures, men don't find big breasts remotely sexy. Florence Williams, author of "Breasts" (W.W. Norton, 2012), thinks women developed permanently enlarged bosoms to meet the greater energy needs of big-brained human babies. Hormones in breasts promote fat storage, and this stored fat gets released into milk during breast-feeding. In short, "breast fat goes toward forming the baby's brain," Williams told Life's Little Mysteries. But the theory has yet to gain universal acceptance.

6: On the other hand


Nine out of 10 people are right-handed. More mysterious than the dearth of southpaws is the fact that humans have dominant hands in the first place. Why just one hand with top-notch motor skills, instead of a double dose of dexterity? One theory holds that handedness results from having more intricate wiring on the side of the brain involved in speech (which also requires fine motor skills). Because the speech center usually sits in the left brain hemisphere — the side wired to the right side of the body — the right hand ends up dominant in most people. However, this theory gets a big blow from the fact that not all right-handed people control speech in the left hemisphere, while half of lefties do. Perplexing.


7: Why so wimpy?


If you shaved a chimpanzee and took a photo of its body from the neck to the waist, "at first glance you wouldn't really notice that it isn't human," said Kevin Hunt, director of the Human Origins and Primate Evolution Lab at Indiana University. The two species' musculature is extremely similar, but somehow, pound-for-pound, chimps are between two and three times stronger than humans, Hunt told us. It's unclear why we're so much wimpier than our closest hominid relatives; perhaps our muscles' attachment points subtly differ, or our muscle fibers could be less dense.
Either way, the result is slightly humiliating. Once, in an African forest, Hunt watched an 85-pound female chimp snap branches off an aptly named ironwood tree with her fingertips. It took Hunt two hands and all the strength he could muster to snap an equally thick branch.

Also Read: 5 LITTLE THINGS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP
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