Weird News
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Spectrum
In Clichy, Paris, a team from L'Oreal grew hair in the laboratory to get to the root of what makes hair curly or straight.
They found that the hair bulb, around four millimeters deep in the scalp, is hook-shaped in people with curly hair and straight in the case of European and Asian hair.
When it emerges from the scalp, the hair shaft retains the shape of the follicle.
"A curly follicle makes curly hair," said Bruno Bernard, head of hair biology at L'Oreal. "This is a breakthrough. For a very long time people did not understand how hair got curly."
Although the team has yet to find a "master switch" that controls follicle shape, Mr Bernard said it was now possible to think about how to change hair shape by using hormones or drugs.
"It is now possible to use biological methods to make curly hair straight and vice versa," he said.
Football fans to the end
A German funeral home is offering specially designed coffins for football fans - painted in their favorite team's colors.
Funeral director Bernd Kramer from Kramer Funerals, in Bad Salzuflen, has already buried a Borussia Dortmund fan in a themed coffin.
He says the yellow and black painted coffin was greatly appreciated by the family.
For fans who would prefer cremation, Kramer also offers football-shaped urns in team colors to hold ashes.
Big buzz over iPod sex toy
A company has invented a sex toy that connects up to an iPod and vibrates in time to the music.
The vibrations get faster as the music gets louder on the $43 iBuzz, reported the Sun Online.
Ali Carnegie, of adult-store www.LoveHoney.co.uk, said the firm is already on the verge of selling out of the bullet-sized device before Christmas.
She said its inconspicuous design has been a big winner with women and claims the sex toy, totally unrelated to Apple, is perfect for giving users "big smiles on their way to work".
Jessamy Hawley, of Gadget Candy - a technology website aimed at women - believes combining two female passions is sure to prove a No. 1 hit.
She added, "The iPod is this era's must-have accessory, while a vibrator is a timeless addition to every girl's gadget drawer.
"Entwine the two and you've got the ultimate cheeky Christmas stocking filler."
Giant penguin holds up train
A train driver caused delays on a German rail line after mistaking a giant toy penguin for a dead man in a tuxedo.
Passengers were left stranded in Neuwied after Udo Vergens pulled the emergency stop when he saw what he thought was a man lying face down and wearing a black and white tuxedo.
Officials who came to investigate found only a man-size soft toy penguin lying on the tracks.
A Neuwied police spokesman said, "We are at a loss to explain the presence of this very large penguin.
"We would think you would notice if you lost something like this."
They found that the hair bulb, around four millimeters deep in the scalp, is hook-shaped in people with curly hair and straight in the case of European and Asian hair.
When it emerges from the scalp, the hair shaft retains the shape of the follicle.
"A curly follicle makes curly hair," said Bruno Bernard, head of hair biology at L'Oreal. "This is a breakthrough. For a very long time people did not understand how hair got curly."
Although the team has yet to find a "master switch" that controls follicle shape, Mr Bernard said it was now possible to think about how to change hair shape by using hormones or drugs.
"It is now possible to use biological methods to make curly hair straight and vice versa," he said.
Football fans to the end
A German funeral home is offering specially designed coffins for football fans - painted in their favorite team's colors.
Funeral director Bernd Kramer from Kramer Funerals, in Bad Salzuflen, has already buried a Borussia Dortmund fan in a themed coffin.
He says the yellow and black painted coffin was greatly appreciated by the family.
For fans who would prefer cremation, Kramer also offers football-shaped urns in team colors to hold ashes.
Big buzz over iPod sex toy
A company has invented a sex toy that connects up to an iPod and vibrates in time to the music.
The vibrations get faster as the music gets louder on the $43 iBuzz, reported the Sun Online.
Ali Carnegie, of adult-store www.LoveHoney.co.uk, said the firm is already on the verge of selling out of the bullet-sized device before Christmas.
She said its inconspicuous design has been a big winner with women and claims the sex toy, totally unrelated to Apple, is perfect for giving users "big smiles on their way to work".
Jessamy Hawley, of Gadget Candy - a technology website aimed at women - believes combining two female passions is sure to prove a No. 1 hit.
She added, "The iPod is this era's must-have accessory, while a vibrator is a timeless addition to every girl's gadget drawer.
"Entwine the two and you've got the ultimate cheeky Christmas stocking filler."
Giant penguin holds up train
A train driver caused delays on a German rail line after mistaking a giant toy penguin for a dead man in a tuxedo.
Passengers were left stranded in Neuwied after Udo Vergens pulled the emergency stop when he saw what he thought was a man lying face down and wearing a black and white tuxedo.
Officials who came to investigate found only a man-size soft toy penguin lying on the tracks.
A Neuwied police spokesman said, "We are at a loss to explain the presence of this very large penguin.
"We would think you would notice if you lost something like this."
