News around the world

Loom Bands Raise Money for Charity

How creative with loom bands are you? In July, two Welsh women designed and made a dress entirely out of more than 20,000 different coloured loom bands.

When the pair originally posted the unique frock on eBay, the auction reached a final bid of $340,000. However the winning bid fell through and the buyer did not pay up.

They reposted the auction recently but the dress only sold for $440, a mere fraction of the original winning bid. However, the two designers will donate all the money raised to a cancer charity and are happy with the news that the money raised from the sale will cover the cost of a cancer nurse for nine hours.

Would you wear clothes made out of loom bands?

Internet

 

New bionic arm senses touch

A new type of bionic arm has been created, leaving two men with the ability to feel according to US scientists. The artificial hand has sensors which send electrical signals to the nerves in the patient's upper arm, restoring their sense of touch.

Igor Spetic lost his right hand in an accident four years ago and was fitted with a prosthetic limb meaning he could not feel the world about him. He had to carefully judge his actions and be careful not to squeeze things too hard.

With the new bionic hand, Igor can feel the difference between Velcro and sandpaper even with a blindfold on. This scientific revelation means users like Igor are able to perform more delicate tasks as they have a sense of what they are touching and how hard their grip on objects is. Scientists hope that this kind of technology will be more widely used in the future. - Internet




 

Hikers missing in Himalayas

Groups of walkers are missing in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal, after a blizzard struck the area which is believed to have killed more than 40 people.

Officials say around 65 people are still missing. However, a website has been set up to help people contact their families, and it lists 250 people with an "unknown" status.

This large number may also be due to the remote area, which means many people may be unable to get a signal to let their relatives that they are all right. Sixty survivors were found by the search operation, bringing the total of people brought back safely to 371. Among the hikers are people from Britain, Nepal, Japan, Canada, Poland and Israel.

With around 175 people injured and deaths from avalanches on the world's 10th highest mountain, this is the country's worst ever hiking disaster.

- Internet