Brazilian baby from abdominal pregnancy is alive and healthy

At Hospital das Clinicas, São Paulo, a baby was born in amazing conditions. The embryo developed outside the uterus, below the mother's stomach. Maria Benedita is very happy. In spite of the life threatening warnings, she went on with the pregnancy until the 8th month. After 2 hours of surgery, she was rewarded by her courage and faith. Valdir Gabriel was born with 2 kg and 42 cm. "Thank God I won, I didn't give up!" - she said.

The embryo was protected by the epiplon (an internal layer of fat that protects the organs) that surrounded the placenta and foetus. More than ever, it's crystal clear that life begins in the moment of conception.

Dr. Waldemir Rezende said: "Gabriel was a true hero. He managed to find a place to ensure his growth and life. We didn't know what to find until we opened the abdominal cavity. He was the surprise. This smile is priceless", adds the doctor, looking towards Maria Benedita.

Crab Nebula

On July 4, 1054, the Crab Nebula, the brightest known remnant of a supernova, was first noticed by Chinese astronomers. The supernova was visible in daylight for 23 days and at night for almost 2 years. There are no records of its observation at the time by Europeans. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Books

Give me books, fruit, french wine, and fine weather and a little music out of doors, played by somebody I do not know.

(John Keats)

A book should teach us to enjoy life, or to endure it.

(Samuel Richardson)

Much have I sorrowed,

learning to my cost

that a book that's borrowed

is a book that's lost

Arthur Guiterman

The Home Planet

"Even as humanity ventures farther and farther into the solar system, the focus on our planet is as sharp as ever. Whether taken from astronauts in orbit, satellites circling above or spacecraft at the moon and Mars, NASA's stunning images of Earth highlight the diversity, fragility and beauty of the place we all call home. Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, who took the famous "Earthrise" photo above in 1968 noted later, "here we came all this way to the moon, and yet the most significant thing we're seing is our own home planet, the Earth."

See wonderful photos on NASA' site: http://www.nasa.gov/