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.
A young otter wades through a lake with his eyes set on an older rival’s fish .
WITH A wide smile plastered across his face, this little gecko is ready for his close up .
HUDDLED together in the hollow of a tree, it would be easy to overlook these two sleepy owls as they blend into the trunk .
Peering curiously into a basket hanging off the arms of a snowman, this little squirrel appears fascinated by the snowy figure .
A diver attempts to control rising numbers of lionfish by feeding the venomous species to Caribbean reef sharks .
WITH HIS PAW covering his mouth, this cheeky cub looks amused by something .
FROM motorcycling to department store shopping these spookily faceless people are part of the Chinese-fad for wearing protective solar-visors in public .
THIS RING of fire in the sky is the annular solar eclipse that wowed our cousins down-under .
MESMERIZING night sky photographs offer a spellbinding look at the stars .
Full of tired and busy commuters, these underground stations are rarely admired for their architecture or beauty .
A TAXIDERMY truck spotted in America’s Deep South could be the most gruesome wagon on the road .
WONDERS of the world have been transformed into their mini-versions in a seven-year round the world adventure .