Brown Eyes Turn Blue Via Laser Surgery

A California scientist says eye color can be changed by eliminating the natural pigment present in brown eyes via laser technique.

In this procedure, a specially tuned laser removes the natural brown pigment called melanin in the iris, revealing the blue color underneath.

The laser procedure takes almost 20 seconds, with the color changing gradually over the following 2 to 3 weeks.

Dr. Gregg Homer of Stroma Medical, California, says he’s convinced the procedure doesn’t affect vision. However, the color change is irreversible as the melanin can’t grow back once it is removed.

The laser treatment is expected to cost about $5,000.

Homer predicted the laser procedure would be available within 18 months in the U.S and would be available within 3 years outside the U.S.

However, doubts persist regarding safety as the released pigment can seep into the fluid within the eye leading to a potentially blinding condition known as pigmentary glaucoma.

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World’s Largest Hamburger At 777lbs

Chefs at Alameda County Fair have created a record breaking 777lb hamburger.

The huge 777lb burger, which established a new world record for the largest commercially available hamburger, was cooked using a single massive beef patty.

It contains 1,375,000 calories, sufficient to feed one person for almost 2 years. A forklift was employed to place the world’s biggest hamburger on the scales.

Nick Nicora of Ovation Food Services & Brett Enright of Juicy’s Outlaw Grill spent over 15 hours creating the enormous patty, topping it with 50lbs of cheese, 30lbs of lettuce, 20lbs of onions and 12lbs of pickles.

The gigantic meal beat the current record of 595lbs held by Chef Events Canada.

Pieces of the mega-hamburger were sold for 99 cents each at the fair, with all the proceeds going to the Alameda County Food Bank.

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Foldable Twin-Seater ICON A5 Amphibious Sport Plane

A California-based company is developing a small sport plane capable of taking off and landing on ground or water, and has foldable wings enabling it to be carried on a trailer-truck and parked in a garage.

A prototype of the American LSA – light-sport aircraft – being tested over the last 3 years will possibly enter the production line in the 2^nd quarter of 2012.

Icon Aircraft’s twin-seater ICON A5 amphibious sport plane has wings that can be easily folded from the cockpit in less than 5 minutes while on land or water.

The company claims that the A5 is an affordable luxury for high net-worth individuals. The A5 can be flown for short & quick business trips from a city to satellite locations around it. The A5 has a range of fifty miles with twenty gallons of gas.

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Yoda, The World’s Ugliest Dog

Yoda, a Chinese-crested Chihuahau floored judges with her short, wiry tufts of hair, off-set eyes, protruding ears and tongue, and gangly, hairless legs.

The 14-year-old canine earned the World’s Ugliest Dog title at the Sonoma Marin Fair inNorthern California.

Named after the Star Wars hero, Yoda takes home a prize of $1,000 & a big trophy.

Yoda’s owner, Terry Schumacher at first mistook it for a rat when she found her abandoned behind an apartment building.

The 1.8 pounds pup will enjoy a special photo session with Kira Stackhouse of Nuena Photography & a pampered overnight stay in the plush Loft Suite at the Sheraton Sonoma County.

Winter Babies More Likely To Suffer From Autism

 Babies conceived during December had an 8% greater risk of being detected with autism than babies born in July. This increased to 16% in March

Women who carefully schedule their conceptions so as to avoid being pregnant during the hottest months, now have an additional reason to begin trying for a summer baby.

A study conducted by the University of California has revealed that kids conceived during winter had nearly 16% enhanced risk of autism compared to kids born in July.

A study of the birth records of over 7 million kids born in California in the 1990s & early 2000s revealed a clear association between the month in which a baby is conceived & the risk of that baby later being diagnosed with autism

The risk of conceiving a baby with an autism spectrum disorder increases progressively all through autumn & winter and right up to early spring.

These findings show that environmental factors such as exposure to seasonal allergens, a vitamin D deficiency as well as being exposed to pesticides like the ones used in the house to eliminate insects in warm or rainy months, & those employed in agricultural operations – have a role to play in triggering autism.

For the study, December, January & February were considered as winter months. Each month was then compared to July.

Researchers say that studies of seasonal variations may provide clues regarding the underlying causes of autism.

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