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.
These are the amazing close up pictures of North Korea's mass games - after photographers were previously banned from taking shots so close to the dazzling formation dances .
STOOD side by side next to a busy road, these buildings were once bustling with life .
HOPPING onto the scales, these adorable baby Humboldt penguins are ready for their first weigh-in .
A photographer from the United Arab Emirates travelled to Pakistan where he captured the lives of local people in a series of expressive portraits .
A project to create an underwater tribute to the stone Moai statues of Easter Island ended in disaster when 15 replica structures were destroyed after toppling from a boat and into the sea .
BALANCING 30 metres above ground, these slackliners take the expression of living dangerously one step further, by tightrope walking NAKED .
A cricket perches on an unusual seat after crawling up the snout of a crocodile .
BRAIDED, sculpted and beaded, these are the eye-catching hairstyles worn by the tribal women of Angola .
Like a scene from a fairytale, THOUSANDS of fireflies create an enchanting glow as they dance in a forest .
THIS ONE of a kind experience brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'a coffee to go' .
ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .