Extraordinary News of the Week (April 13-19)

Each week we delve into the top headlines that may not have made it to the front page, but are no less noteworthy.  Keep reading after the featured story, for a list of even more Extraordinary news of the week.

This Week’s Extraordinary Top Story

 

New evidence for a link between genius and autism.

Patricia Howlin of King’s College, London, published a paper last week that reinforces the notion that there is a distinct link between the notion that people who are autistic and people who are labeled as geniuses share many of the same characteristics.  For example, many people with autism have savant qualities with regard to things like mathematics or music.  Conversely, many people with abnormally high intellect display poor communication skills and an obsession with detail.

This fascinating article lays out the ways that the two types of people are similar biologically and neurologically, and explores how this could benefit future research into autism.  Learning more about the autistic brain could lead to breakthroughs in our understanding and possible treatment of those with the diagnosis.  Take a look at the full piece in The Economist.  Genius locus.

 

More Extraordinary Headlines

 

From BBC.co.uk: Albino African Seeks Asylum. A 18 year old Albino man has petitioned the government of Spain to grant him asylum, as he fears that he may be used in a witchcraft ceremony if he goes back to his home country.  (Read more…)

 

From Inexplicata: Mexican state of Chihuahua terrorized by “Man-Bat”. Citizens have reported a strange creature that stands 2 meters tall, has 2 sets of wings, kangaroo like hands, a face covered with fur, and red eyes.  (Read more...)

 

From Dailymail:  Doctors find tree growing inside man’s lungs! Thinking that their patient had a cancerous tumor, Russian doctors began opperating, only to find a fir tree that had somehow sprouted inside a lung.  (Read more…)

 

From UFOExaminer: Four Bell Shaped UFOs found in picture. An eye witness in Maryland snapped a photo of what allegedly shows 4 UFOs in the night sky.  (Read more…)

 

From SeattlePi:  FOX Network’s “Rescue Me” Explores 9/11 Conspiracy Theories. In a bold move, Season 5 of “Rescue Me” will feature 9/11 Conspiracy Theories.  It will present one side of the case that maintains 9/11 was an Inside Job, which is a belief  held by actor Daniel Sunjata, who plays a fireman in the hit TV show.  (Read more…)

 

From BBC News: First Camel Clone Produced in Dubai. Scientists in Dubai claim that after a 378 day gestation perious, Injaz, the first 100% cloned camel was born.  Injaz means “acheivement” in Arabic.  ( Read more…)

 

From the Telegraph:  Snakes on a Plane!!! Four baby pythons went missing in the cargo hold of a Qantas jet,  causing the aircraft to be removed from service.  (Read more…)

 

From Dispatch Online:  Ghost of Nun gives home renovation advice. Nun who took her own life asks tennant in South African home to restore the property to its original state.  (Read more…)

From ScienceDaily: Archeologists discover temple constructed during the time of King Solomon. An amazingly well preserved temple found in Turkey, and teaches scientists about the so-called Solomonic Dark Ages.  (Read more…)

 

From BBC:  Police Officers in Scotland are Registered ‘Jedi’. Eight police officers serving in Scotland’s largest force have listed their official religion as “Jedi”, as revealed in a Freedom of Information request.  (Read more…)

 

 

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