18-year-old Laura Moon recently found out she has four naturally occurring kidneys in her body! The condition is rare but not unheard of. She only found out when she had a medical scan after a car wreck. Laura wants to donate two of the kidneys to those whose lives may be saved with a transplant.

Laura, a customer services adviser from Leeds, said: "I think if I've got four, I don't need all four. Why not donate if there's someone else in need?

"I hope I can help somebody else while I am young. I will do everything in my power to become a donor."

Doctors say Laura should be able to donate two kidneys and remain healthy. Link -via Arbroath

(image credit: Ross Parry)

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This song was created entirely from music and sound effects found in Windows XP and Windows 98. After the song ends, there’s a look at some of the individual sounds used. The YouTube page contains links for MP3 downloads. -via Cynical-C

You’ve probably heard of Fugu, or Pufferfish, a delicacy that may kill you if it’s not prepared by an expert. It’s not the only food that may kill you! People eat other animals and plants that contain poison, or in the case of the live octopus shown above, might choke you. Link -via Digg

Since Carl Zimmer of The Loom began collecting science tattoos, we’ve featured several on Neatorama (here, here, and here). He’s collected so many that he moved them out of Flickr and launched a new site called Carl Zimmer's Science Tattoo Emporium. If you have a science tat, you’re invited to submit a picture and the story behind it. Link -Thanks, Carl!

Update 7/31/08 - New link for Carl's science tattoos collection: Link - Thanks Andrew!

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I dare you to not laugh. This is a clip from the PBS series NATURE, the episode entitled "Andes: The Dragon's Back." -via Ursi’s Blog

Arthur Gugick has completed a beautifully detailed Dome of the Rock rendered in Lego. http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=301206 -via Grow-A-Brain

See more Lego landmarks at Gugick’s site.

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This very pleasant animation was created by Robert Hodgin of Flight404. The music is “In an Instant” by The Flashbulb. http://www.flight404.com/blog/?p=109 -via Militant Platypus

One year from now, February 17, 2009, analog TV broadcasts will cease entirely in the US. The switchover to digital systems is going on now. What do you need to know to get ready? Wired has a simple overview of who will be affected and how you can prepare yourself for completely digital TV.

Most U.S. TV stations already broadcast digital signals as well as analog. What's happening a year from Sunday is they'll switch off the analog signals. No one with cable or satellite service will be affected, nor will anyone who gets stations over the air with a newer TV with a digital tuner.

http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/D/DIGITAL_TV_TRANSITION?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-02-16-14-51-51

(image credit: AP/Matt Rourke)

PS: In the UK, analog TV will cease on different dates for different regions, with the last signals ceasing in 2012. -Thanks, violet/riga!

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Evan Jake does an impression of his dad on the phone with the cable company. -via Consumerist

I Can Has Cheezburger hosted a marriage proposal on Thursday. In a series of LOLcats, Jon popped the question to Loretta. It was later updated with more LOLcat images to verify that she did, indeed, accept. Link -via Geek Like Me

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This is something I never thought about before, but there are many ways to count cash. People in different parts of the world use somewhat different styles. How do YOU count your cash? -via the Presurfer

Major Brian Dennis adopted an abused mixed-breed dog in Anbar Province, Iraq. He named the dog Nubs because his ears had been cut off. Dennis nursed Nubs back to health over four months, but then he was ordered to move his squadron 70 miles away. Two days later, Nubs rejoined Dennis! The dog had tracked him down despite 18 degree weather and rough terrain. But the major received orders to get rid of the dog within four days or he would be shot. Dennis started an email campaign to save Nubs that raised three thousand dollars within a couple of days, and battled bureaucratic difficulties to get the dog out of Iraq across the Jordanian border. Nubs will be flown to Camp Pendleton in San Diego, where a fighter pilot will care for him until Dennis can come home. Link -via Arbroath

(image credit: Thorsten Dziomba)
To mark the 25th anniversary of the development of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM), a contest was founded called SPMage07 to showcase the wonderful nanoscale images made with this technology. Wired has a gallery of nine of the images. This one shows GeSi quantum dots, a mere 15 nanometers high and 70 nanometers in diameter. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/multimedia/2008/02/nano_gallery_jmm

Dutch designer Katharina Ludwig presents a line of jewelry made of ice! There are ice earrings and a ring as well as necklaces. Of course, each piece must be remade every time you wear it. Could be a real hit for women suffering from hot flashes. http://www.kathyludwig.com/index.php/2008/02/03/ice-jewellery/ -via Unique Daily

The Naked Cowboy has filed a $6 million lawsuit against Mars. Times Square busker Robert Burk says the candy maker stole his image for a massive video billboard featuring an M&M wearing a cowboy hat, boots, and briefs.

"All I've got is my underwear. It's the most brilliant thing that's ever been created from a marketing perspective. You can't stop it," said Burck, 37, who said he filed suit on the advice of lawyers and trademark experts.

The M&M appears for a few seconds in a five-minute looping advertisement that also features other New York icons. The case will be heard in Manhattan federal court. Burck began his career as a street performer in 1998, and has appeared on numerous TV shows and music videos. Link -via YesButNoButYes