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.
FROM MRS Patmore to Lady Sybil, these barking mad illustrations show the WOOF-er side of some of our most loved Downton characters .
SOARING at 112 miles per hour through the air, this petite blonde certainly lives up to her title as the fastest flying woman in the world .
RACING through the mountain range on horseback, the Kazakh people practice their ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles .
STOOD side by side next to a busy road, these buildings were once bustling with life .
Leaping out of the ocean, a group of gentoo penguins fly through the air before landing safely on an iceberg .
A terrified moose, trapped in a frozen lake, bobs her head above the icey water and awaits her rescue .
An elegant snowy owl spreads her wings and glides effortlessly above the snow covered field .
A NINJA red squirrel cuts a dashing figure as the little fella jumps up to ten-feet between treetops in the Yorkshire Dales .
A DETERMINED great blue heron holds on tightly to its prey as the furry gopher attempts to wriggle free .
Full of tired and busy commuters, these underground stations are rarely admired for their architecture or beauty .
A young otter wades through a lake with his eyes set on an older rival’s fish .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .