The World’s First Artificial Heart

Do you ever hear about the artificial heart that has been transplanting to a patient? Most of your answer will be “NO”. But after reading this article your answer for the above question will be definitely a “YES” as an artificial heart has been transplanted into a patient for the first time in medical history at Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, France.

The artificial heart weighs 2lb, three times the weight of a real heart and contains bovine tissue and sensors that adapt the blood flow. According to medics it would beat for at least five years. The device mimics heart muscle contractions and contains sensors that adapt the blood flow to the patient's moves.

The artificial heart is motorized by external, wearable lithium-ion batteries. Inside the heart, surfaces that come into contact with human blood are made partly from bovine tissue instead of synthetic materials such as plastic that can cause blood clots.

The artificial heart, developed with the help of engineers from the Dutch-based European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS). Further if it is made widely available it is predictable to cost about £150,000.

Auxiliary French medics said the anonymous male patient who received the device was awake and responding well after an operation. Surgeon Alain Carpentier who performed the implant, said: “It’s about giving patients a normal social life”. It will raise France’s reputation as a country at the forefront of medical innovation.

There’s no doubt with that incredible artificial heart, thousands of people all over the world can save their lives.

11:13 PM | 6 comments | Read More

Top 10 Most Walkable Cities in the United States

10.Portland,OR

Population: 2.14 million
% commute by walking: 2.8%
% commute by mass transit: 5.9%
Average commute: 25.3 minutes
Number of parks: 39.5

09.Providence, RI

Population: 1.62 million
% commute by walking: 3.2%
% commute by mass transit: 2.5%
Average commute: 22.3 minutes
Number of parks: 54.2

08. Chicago, IL

Population: 7.9 million
% commute by walking: 3.2%
% commute by mass transit: 12.8%
Average commute: 33.7 minutes
Number of parks: 160

07. Philadelphia, PA

Population: 3.9 million
% commute by walking: 4.5%
% commute by mass transit: 12.1%
Average commute: 30.6 minutes
Number of parks: 36

06. Honolulu, HI

Population: 914,163
% commute by walking: 5.4%
% commute by mass transit: 8.3%
Average commute: 30.5 minutes
Number of parks: 46

05. Washington, DC

Population: 4.2 million
% commute by walking: 3.1%
% commute by mass transit: 11.3%
Average commute: 35.9 minutes
Number of parks: 106

04. Seattle, WA

Population: 2.5 million
% commute by walking: 3.2%
% commute by mass transit: 7.9%
Average commute: 30.1 minutes
Number of parks: 23

03. New York, NY

Population: 11.5 million
% commute by walking: 8.4%
% commute by mass transit: 42.4%
Average commute: 38 minutes
Number of parks: 242

02. Boston, MA

Population: 3.2 million
% commute by walking: 5%
% commute by mass transit: 12.5%
Average commute: 31 minutes
Number of parks: 29

01. San Francisco, CA

Population: 1.7 million
% commute by walking: 5.7%
% commute by mass transit: 18.2%
Average commute: 34.1 minutes
Number of parks: 71.4

6:52 AM | 1 comments | Read More

10 Most Famous Falling Towers

01. Church Suurhusen, Germany

Suurhusen late medieval building in the region of East Friesland in the north-west of Germany. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it was the most inclined tower in the world, although in 2010 new Capital Gate tower in Abu Dhabi broke this record. Suurhusen spire remains the most leaning tower in the world, the slope of which was ahead of world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa by 1.22 degrees.

02. Big Ben, London, UK

Clock Tower, the British Parliament (better known as Big Ben) is inclined to the north-west by 0.26 degrees or 43.5sm, according to documents that were recently released. The level of the slope increased to 0.9 millimeters per year since 2003, affects the slope of permanent underground work and the London underground.

03. The two towers of Bologna, Italy

The two towers Asinelli and Garisenda in Bologna steadily declining despite all the efforts of city officials, high tower is a smaller but more Asinelli rejected the Garisenda, its vertical deviation is 3.22 m.

04. The tower of the church Frankenhausen, Germany

Tower on a hillside on the outskirts of the city, is constantly exposed to strong winds, engineers noticed that the speed with which the tower falls now is 6 cm per year. In this case, it may reach a tipping point over the next decade or so. Local and state officials agreed to spend $ 1.5 million

to try to stabilize the tower.

05. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

Built on soft clay tower started falling a few years after construction began. Upon completion of construction in 1350, the tower leaned about four and a half feet. By 1990, the tower leaned more on the 4 m authorities have spent almost two million pounds of lead ingots on which were to be placed on one of its sides to prevent it from her fall.

06. Tower Nevyansk, Russia

Tower Nevyansk also decreases. The tower is located in the center Nevyansk and is one of the most famous in the Middle Urals. Construction was financed by Peter the Great and was built in the first half of the 18th century, known in Russia builder Akinfiy Demidov. The height of the tower is 57.5 meters. According to recent measurements, the deflection of the top of the tower with a right angle to the present 2.20 m. The exact date of construction of the tower is unknown, various historical sources mention dates between 1721 and 1745.

07. Tiger Hill Pagoda

Tiger Hill Pagoda tower or Huqiu is located in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. The tower was built in the later period of the Five Dynasties (907-960 AD). The tower rises to a height of 47 meters. This seven-storey building, built of blue brick octagons. More than a thousand years, gradually leaning tower because of the impact forces of nature. The slope of the towers 2.32 meters. The whole structure weighs about 7 million kg.

08. The Burana Tower, Italy

The Burana Tower, or St. Martin's Church is located on the Venetian island of Burano. The building was built in the 15th century, not falling leash because it relies on the adjacent building.

09. The church Oude Kerk, the Netherlands

Oude Kerk (Old Church), nicknamed the church Oude Jan ("Old John"), is the Gothic Protestant church in the old city center of Delft, The Netherlands. Height of 75 meters, it otklanena to 1.98 cm from the vertical.

10. The Tower of Bedum, Netherlands

The Tower of Bedum in the northern Dutch town of Bedum, also declined more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. height of 55.86m, Pisa's tower leans about 4 meters, while the tower leans 2.61m Bedum in (8.6 feet) at a height of 35.7m.

12:07 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Ark Hotel – World’s New Most Unique Hotel

The Ark project was designed by Russian firm Remistudio with the assistance of the International Union of Architects’ program Architecture for Disasters Relief. The dome-shaped hotel is constructed with wooden arches, steel cables and a “self-cleaning” plastic layer instead of glass. The slinky-like Ark hotel can be adapted to suit both land and water. It is built to stay afloat in the event of floods or rising seas. The 14,000 square metre shell-like construction of arches and cables distributes the weight evenly, meaning it can withstand earthquakes. Daylight is filtered through to internal rooms due to the hotel’s see-through structure, reducing the need for lighting.

Designed as: “an integrated energy system with an uninterruptible power supply using alternative energy sources”, the hotel uses solar panels and a rainwater collection system to provide inhabitants with power and water. It would be built around a central pillar connecting to roof-top wind generators and heat pumps, as well as to energy storage and thermal conversion units below.There will also be a “tornado” energy generating spiral at the top of the pillar.

6:36 PM | 1 comments | Read More

The Tallest Tower in the World

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia unveiled plans Tuesday to build the world's tallest tower (The tallest tower in the world will be built by 2020)— a mixed-use structure that will rise two-thirds of a mile high — in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal signed a $1.23 billion contract with Bin Laden Group for the proposed tower, which will take just over five years to complete. The building is the centerpiece of the planned Kingdom City development being built outside Jeddah by Prince Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding. "Building this tower in Jeddah sends a financial and economic message that should not be ignored," Prince Alwaleed told reporters. "It has a political depth to it to tell the world that we Saudis invest in our country despite what is happening around us from events, turmoil and revolutions even." Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, a Chicago architectural firm, has been selected to design the Kingdom Tower, which will feature a Four Seasons hotel, serviced apartments, Class A office space, luxury condominiums and the world's highest observatory.

When completed, the 1,000-meter-plus (3,280-foot-plus) tower would replace Gulf neighbor Dubai's 828-meter (2,716-foot) Burj Khalifa as the tallest tower in the world. The Burj Khalifa was built by Emaar Properties for a total cost of $1.5 billion. The exact final height is still a closely guarded secret, though it will be at least 173 meters (568 feet) taller than Burj Khalifa.

11:12 PM | 1 comments | Read More

World’s Top 10 Most Expensive Cities to Live

10. Bern, Switzerland

The country’s capital is home to several major Swiss companies including Rolex, Toblerone, Swisscom and The Swatch Group, as well as the foreign offices of American companies, such as eBay, Cisco and Ingram Micro. Bern is popular for its lower taxes, as well as liberal labor laws. To top it off, the city has managed to retain its cultural heritage. Old Bern has been recognized as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site for being one of Europe’s best examples of a medieval town. The city, which is filled with diverse historical attractions, was home to Albert Einstein from 1903 and 1905, during which he developed his groundbreaking theory of relativity. Human resources consultant ECA International has drawn up its latest list of the world’s most expensive cities for U.S. expatriates. The survey examined 400 cities and regions across the world, and measured a basket of common items purchased by foreign workers in U.S. dollars terms, including food, clothing and electrical goods.

09. Kobe, Japan

Kobe is one of Japan’s busiest container ports. It is also the point of origin and namesake of the world-renowned Kobe beef. While Japan is the only Asian country surveyed where the cost of goods in the ECA basket has fallen, it is the most expensive country for foreign workers in U.S. dollar terms. That’s a largely a result of the appreciation of the yen over the past six months, as well as the already high cost of goods and services.

08. Geneva, Switzerland

Situated along Lake Geneva in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, Geneva is regarded as the global center for diplomacy. It’s home to many United Nations agencies, as well as the World Trade Organization, Red Cross and World Economic Forum headquarters.

One quarter of this picturesque city is made up of public parks, making it a popular destination for U.S. expatriates looking to relocate. Geneva is also well known for its haute cuisine, boasting more restaurants per capita than New York City.

07. Luanda, Angola

The capital of Angola has seen an influx of multinational companies looking to tap the country’s rich energy reserves. The country is also rich in other goods, exporting coffee, diamonds, sugar, iron and salt.

But a three-decade-long civil war has devastated Luanda’s infrastructure, driving up the cost of goods and services. From haircuts to gym memberships to fast-food meals, nothing comes cheap in the city. A one-year gym membership reportedly costs $2,500 and a haircut can cost upwards of $150.

06. Zurich, Switzerland

Despite its low tax rates, Switzerland’s largest city ranks as the fifth most expensive for expatriates. A large reason for this is the rapid appreciation of the Swiss franc, which has strengthened 27 percent against the U.S. dollar in the last year.

The country’s business center is the base for many leading financial institutions, including Credit Suisse, Julius Baer and UBS. In addition to its position as a European financial hub, Zurich is famous for its watch companies and chocolate makers, such as Lindt & Sprüngli.

05. Yokohama, Japan

As Japan’s second-largest city, Yokohama is a major commercial center for the Greater Tokyo Area.

The port city has a strong economic base, particularly in the biotechnology, semiconductor and shipping industries. Carmaker Nissan and Fujitsu semiconductor have moved their headquarters to the city.

Yokohama also is a budding artistic hub. The city is gearing up to host its triennale art event from August to December this year, with artists from around the world exhibiting their works at venues around the city.

04. Stavanger, Norway

The discovery of oil in the North Sea during the 1960s, converted this quaint metropolis into Norway’s petroleum capital. Over 50 energy companies have offices in Stavanger, making the city home to hundreds of expatriates working in the oil and gas sector.

During the recent economic downturn, Norway’s oil wealth meant the government could sustain economic growth with a lavish stimulus program. The country also has one of the world’s most generous welfare systems, including public schools that offer free, high-quality education.

It is the high cost of food and transportation that make Stavanger No. 4 on the list, however. Food prices in Norway are around 50 percent higher than the euro zone average, with meat, sugar and cereal products being the most expensive products.

03. Nagoya, Japan

Known as Japan’s most dynamic region, Nagoya is located 165 miles west of Tokyo. It is the hub for most of Japan’s manufacturers, and produces a large portion of the country’s automobile and aircraft parts.

A number of Japanese automotive companies are headquartered in Nagoya, including Toyota and Honda. Fortunately, these manufacturing plants were largely unaffected by the impact of the March earthquake and tsunami, which struck the region north of Tokyo.

02. Oslo, Norway

Oslo has been the second most expensive city for expatriates for six years in a row — that’s thanks to the relative strength of the Kroner, which has appreciated 16 percent against the U.S. dollar over the last year, and the resilience of the Norwegian economy during the financial crisis.

This hub of Norwegian trade is the home to the world’s largest shipping companies, shipbrokers and maritime insurance companies.

The city also boasts of one of the world’s most extensive and efficient metro transportation systems, and an environmentally friendly tram system. Efficiency comes at a price, however — a one-way ticket on public transportation costs around $5.60.

01. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world, with a movie ticket costing $24 and the average taxi fare at $8.
As a global financial center, the city is home to headquarters for many of the world’s largest investment banks and insurance companies. Tokyo is also one of greenest cities in the world. Despite having a population of more than eight million, it has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions in Asia-Pacific. The city has been praised for its comprehensive transportation policy, under which the city’s entire taxi fleet is being converted to electric vehicles.

11:14 PM | 4 comments | Read More

Amazing Hotel of Pipes — Mexico

A new eco-hotel in Mexico made of concrete pipes makes it a good negosyo idea here in the Philippines. Combining the concept of pod-like hotel rooms, with the growing trend of eco-responsible tourism and the use of waste materials for construction, architects T3arc have created the 20 room Tubohotel made from recycled concrete pipes. As you can see in the picture above it also looks good and enticing to sleep in there.

Inspired by dasparkhotel which opened in Germany in 2006, T3arc have extended the concept by stacking pipes to form two mini pyramids with ladders to access the upper level. Located 45 minutes south of Mexico City, T3arc completed the project in three months, furnishing the 2.44m by 3.5m pipes with a queen-size bed, desk light and fan, with space for under bed storage. Unlike dasparkhotel which operates a pay-as-you-wish system, rooms at Tubohotel are priced at USD 42 a night, which they hope will attract backpackers and those looking for alternative and unique accommodation that won’t break the bank. Unfortunately the cement pipe doesn’t allow for bathroom facilities, but there are two communal bathhouses onsite with private showers.

Both Tubohotel and dasparkhotel have explored the possibilities of using unwanted construction materials in natural surroundings to create hotels that are cheap and quick to build, better for the environment and boast the benefits of affordability and a quirky experience for visitors. This is a nice inspiration for us here in the Philippines. Great to put up along highways for travelers.

6:55 AM | 0 comments | Read More