AN Irish woman has become the first adult in the world to receive a revolutionary REMOTE CONTROLLED 'ROBO SPINE', which uses magnets to combat the effects of scoliosis. Deirdre McDonnell, 34, from Drogheda, County Louth, can now stand tall for the first time after undergoing the pioneering MAGEC rod operation. The operation, also known as the magnetic expansion control system, involves the insertion of a magnetic rod that is screwed onto the spine and controlled externally in order to correct the curvature caused by scoliosis. Up until now, the £15K procedure has only been performed on children, as it was thought only to be effective for early onset scoliosis - typically diagnosed before the age of ten.
IT'S the iconic TV show that influenced a whole generation in the 1990s .
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THESE kingfishers prove no rod is needed as they go fishing for their dinner .
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LEAF-ing much to the imagination, this camera trickery is blooming marvellous .
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Pouncing down on top of his twin brother, these two snow leopard cubs practice their kung-fu moves .
A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy .
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .