THE 鈥淐omp茅tence Anti-Age鈥� cream that Susan Forde was given is part of the 鈥淩NA/DNA Renaissance鈥� line, according to the leaflet that accompanies it. The cream, it says, 鈥渋s based on an exclusive complex containing RNA and DNA, fundamental cell components which contribute to basic metabolism and play a key role in cellular renewal鈥�.
The leaflet also explains that this 鈥淩NA/DNA Complex鈥� is a powerful tool in the defence and repair of the epidermis. In addition, it ensures hydric balance, its firming effect helps counteract slackening in tissues and its line-smoothing action helps keep skin looking younger.鈥�
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Forde wants to know if this leaflet provides an accurate description of the product. We wonder too. For example, the leaflet doesn鈥檛 tell us whether the RNA and DNA in the cream are there as normal components of an organic substance or whether they have been isolated somehow. Nor does it tell us how they penetrate the cells of the skin to achieve the 鈥渁nti-age鈥� effects described. Nor does it tell us what kind of RNA and DNA are in the cream. Are we talking about human RNA and DNA here, or the RNA and DNA of a sheep, a crayfish, a bluebottle, a thistle, or several million other possible varieties?
Furthermore, why is the cream more effective than smearing gravy on your face, given that meat and vegetables are rich in RNA and DNA?
We are forced to the conclusion that either Coryse Salom茅 has made a major and quite terrifying breakthrough in gene therapy, or these claims for the Renaissance line are, to put it very politely, optimistic.
Arthur C. Clarke鈥檚 lost billions
OBITUARIES for Arthur C. Clarke have been reminding us that he never patented his ideas for geostationary satellites, and so never made a penny from the satellite revolution.
In reality, he didn鈥檛 miss out on anything that he might have earned. Clarke鈥檚 ideas were published in the October 1945 issue of Wireless World, in an article called 鈥淓xtra-Terrestrial Relays鈥�. The UK had been bombarded with V2 rockets, and it had occurred to Clarke that such rockets travelling at twice their wartime speed could break out of Earth鈥檚 atmosphere and become satellites, or 鈥渟econd moons鈥� as he called them.
Once an idea has been published for all to read, it cannot be patented. Some people have suggested that Clarke made a considered, charitable decision to publish rather than patent. So when he lectured at the National Film Theatre in London a few years back, New 杏吧原创 correspondent Barry Fox asked him about this 鈥� and how much he was paid for the article.
Clarke recalled being paid 拢10 and left no doubt that he had never seriously considered patenting. In any case, Fox points out, patents have a limited life. If Clarke had filed for a patent in 1945, his rights would have been expiring just as the first geostationary communication satellite was being launched by Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral to broadcast the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
Even so, the fact that he only got paid 拢10 for ideas that spawned an industry worth billions seems a tad ironic.
WHAT is the largest sum available from the indefatigable authors of so-called 鈥淣igerian鈥� email scams? James Moon received an email purporting to come from a Maxwell Kofi, manager of the Dansonman branch of the Metropolitan and Allied Bank in Ghana. After apologising for 鈥渘ot having the liberty of knowing your mindset before writing you this letter without any formal introduction鈥�, Kofi goes on to say: 鈥淚 write to solicit for your partnership in claiming the amount of $5,300,000M from an account at our Head Office鈥�.
Moon wants to know if $5.3 trillion is a record, or are there readers who have been offered even more?
THE parcel that Harry Lake received by US mail had an 鈥淚nsured mail鈥� sticker on it that said: 鈥淭o file a claim for damage or loss of contents, the article, container and packaging must be presented.鈥�
鈥淪everal of the doors at the college where Julien Eley works have two notices on them. One says 鈥淎utomatic door. Keep clear鈥�. The other says 鈥淧ull to open鈥濃��
WINDOWS Live Spaces is 鈥淭he best place to share your world online鈥�, according to . Patrick McHugh decided to sign up 鈥� and was told 鈥淧lease enter a number between 18 and 255 for Age.鈥�
The terms have since changed, and silver surfers of more than 113 years old are no longer allowed to share their world online. Will Microsoft be sued for ageism?
Those born yesterday are, however, now allowed in.
FINALLY, visitors to the Evolution House at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, UK, are informed: 鈥淪ome bacteria alive today are direct descendants of Precambrian single-celled life.鈥�
鈥淔ine,鈥� says Jon Hallett. 鈥淏ut what did the other bacteria descend from?鈥�