How long will YOU live? Take this test to find out your life expectancy and whether your pension will last: Exploring Life Extension

 

 

 

 

Life expectancy may have peaked as average age at death stalls at 79 A child born last year can expect to make it to 78 years and 9 months Life expectancy in the United States has stalled for three years straight Suicides and fatal drug overdoses could be playing a role, experts believe Suicides and fatal drugs overdoses could be to blame for life expectancy in the US stalling for three straight years. A child born last year can expect to make it to 78 years and 9 months - the same prediction made for the previous two years, the government announced today.  In most of the years since the Second World War, life expectancy in the US has inched up - thanks largely to medical advances, public health campaigns and better nutrition and education.  +2 S. Jay Olshansky, a public health professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago, said it's too early to tell whether life expectancy has peaked It is not clear why life expectancy has been flat lately, but suicides and fatal drug overdoses probably are playing a role, experts believe. The last time it was stuck for three years was in the mid-1980s.  Some researchers have wondered if US life expectancy will peak, due to the nation's obesity problem and other factors. There no evidence that's happening now, said Robert Anderson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. S. Jay Olshansky, a public health professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago, agreed. 'It's too early to tell. Three years does not a trend make,' he said. +2 A child born last year can expect to make it to 78 years and 9 months - the same prediction made for the previous two years The US ranks below nearly 40 other countries in life expectancy, according to the World Bank. Japan and Iceland are at the top of that list, at more than 83 years. However, infant mortality dropped again slightly, to a record low of 5.8 per 1,000 births. The 10 top causes of death remained the same: heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases like emphysema and bronchitis, accidents and unintentional injuries, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia, kidney disease and suicide. US health officials come up with the life expectancy figure each year by looking at how old people were when they died and the cause of death. They use statistical modeling to predict how long people born today will live if current trends continue.     How long will YOU live? Take this test to find out your life expectancy and whether your pension will last Office for National Statistics launches online test on how long we will live Reveals marked differences between life expectancy of men and women Graphic shows chances of becoming a centenarian and even reaching 107 People in their twenties and thirties have at least a one in 10 chance of living to more than 100, a new test into life expectancy revealed today. The Office for National Statistics launched an online tool for people to see how long they will live, and their chances of becoming centenarians. But it shows striking differences between the mortality of men and women, and will sounds alarm bells about whether our pensions will last long enough for decades spent in retirement. Scroll down for video +2 A woman aged 20 is projected to live until 92, but has a one in 10 chance of reaching 107, according to the ONS tool +2 A 30-year-old man would live to 88 on average, and as an 18.8 per cent chance of reaching 100 According to official projections, life expectancy at birth in in 2012 was 79 years for males and 82.7 for females. But by 2037 period life expectancy at birth is projected to reach 84.1 years for males and 87.3 years for females, an increase of around five years since 2012. The ONS said: 'People are living longer. On average, people aged 55 today will live to their mid-to-late 80s. 'Around 1 in 10 men and 1 in 5 women this age will live to 100 – and receive their telegram from The Queen. 'Being more informed about how much longer you potentially have to live is no bad thing, especially when it comes to financial planning.' Minister for Pensions Ros Altmann said it was a good thing that people were living longer - but said attitudes to work and retirement needed to 'adapt'. She said: 'Many people can continue to enjoy a better quality of later life and higher lifetime income as healthy life expectancy rises. 'Our pensions reforms aim to give those preparing for retirement, greater security and independence to plan for their future – and anything encourages people to make provision for a longer later life has my full support. 'More flexible in our thinking about what retirement actually means is already starting – and encouraging older workers to retire gradually by moving into different, perhaps less demanding, jobs and scaling back their hours, as opposed to suddenly stopping is increasingly happening.'   What is your age? Are you male or female? MaleFemale Calculate your life expectancy Your average life expectancy 87 years This is 16 years from now Life expectancy is influenced by many factors (for example, your lifestyle choices and health) and can vary hugely from person to person. The graphic illustrates the chances you will reach different ages. 1 in 4 chance of reaching 94 1 in 10 chance of reaching 99 Chance of reaching 100 7.8%

By taking a pill a day from middle-age, we will grow old free from illnesses of the body and mind such as Alzheimer’s and heart disease. People could work for longer – or simply make the most of their retirement. Some research even suggests skin and hair will retain its youthful lustre. Professor Partridge, of University College London, said: ‘I would be surprised if there weren’t things within ten years. If told you could take a drug that has minimal side-effects and that’s going to keep you healthy for another five or ten years and then you’ll drop off your perch without disability, most people would want it.’ Extraordinary as the professor’s prediction may seem, it is based on a host of promising scientific studies from around the world. They have discovered key genes linked to longevity and health – and found ways of tinkering with them, at least in animals. In one of the remarkable examples, a Harvard University doctor made old mice young again, in experiments that mirrored the plot of The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, where the lead character played by Brad Pitt ages in reverse. The end of ageing: The remarkable new treatments doctors say will keep us young The revolutionary life extension and immortality ideas of this somewhat eccentric scientist, Dr. Aubrey de Grey. This documentary is all about the radical ideas of a Cambridge biomedical gerontologist called Aubrey de Grey who believes that, within the next 20-30 years, we could extend life indefinitely by addressing seven major factors in the aging process. He describes his work as Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS). The SENS theory describes “seven deadly things” that erode the body’s youthfulness at the cellular level, eventually leading to death by old age. Aubrey de Grey means to apply exercise, gene therapy, stem cells, and other yet-to-be-discovered methods of medicine to counteract each of these age-advancing devices: 1. Cell death and atrophy: Treatable with exercise, stem cells, and chemicals which stimulate cell division. 2. Cancerous cells: Theoretically treatable with a type of gene therapy being developed, called Whole-body Interdiction of Lengthening of Telomeres (WILT). 3. Mutant mitochondria: Mutated DNA in the mitochondria causes a number of diseases. These can be prevented by moving the mitochondrial DNA into the cell nucleus, where the rest of the DNA resides. 4. Cell senescence (unwanted cells): Fat cells and other unwanted cruft can be removed surgically, or by stimulating the immune system to attack unwanted cells. 5. Extracellular crosslinks (loss of elasticity): Certain proteins, such as those in cells making up the arteries, become too rigid over time because they bond to each other. These bonds can be broken with certain chemicals (some in clinical trials even today). 6 Extracellular junk: “Plaque” which collects between cells can be eliminated by stimulating the immune system, and/or by using peptides called “beta-breakers.” 7. Intracellular junk: Molecular garbage can be prevented from overwhelming certain cells by introducing enzymes which are known to be effective against such molecules. Miracle cures: The Florida conference showcased some 'miracle' products Orlando in Florida, home of Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom, this year hosted a fantastical event, although there wasn’t a Mickey Mouse in sight. The city was the location for the 19th Annual World Congress on Anti-Ageing and Aesthetic Medicine, which, if the futuristic treatments on show were to be believed, heralded a new era in anti-ageing technology. Here is a selection of the most remarkable age-reversal treatments on offer at the conference. CELL REJUVENATION THROUGH TELOMERASE ACTIVATION  THEORY: Every human cell contains chromosomes that house our DNA, the blueprint for every feature and function in our body. At the end of each chromosome are 92 telomeres, which are responsible for maintaining the quality of our DNA. However, each time our cells divide and reproduce, the telomeres get shorter until they become so short that the cell dies. As cells die, the organ they make up deteriorates and cannot function as efficiently, therefore speeding up ageing. The speed of this process depends on lifestyle and genes and, according to a study carried out by the University of California, those with short telomeres are three times more at risk of dying of heart disease than those with longer telomeres. TREATMENT: TA-65 activates an enzyme called telomerase, which helps protect the telomeres, thereby protecting the cell. TA-65 is taken as a nutritional supplement and is produced by concentrating one of the compounds found in the astragalus root, a herb used in Chinese medicine. Last year a study carried out by Harvard Medical School on mice found that TA-65 lengthens critically short telomeres, restores the immune system and increases bone density. COST: From £120 to £404 a month, depending on age of patient. www.tasciences.com ALPHA-STIM SCS Sleep better: the Alpha-Stim SCS treatment THEORY: Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) was pioneered in Russia during the Fifties for the treatment of anxiety, depression and insomnia –conditions known to trigger other health concerns such as heart disease that speed the ageing process. Last year 39 million prescriptions for antidepressants were handed out and many more sufferers will not have sought help. CES works by using mild battery-powered electrical impulses that stimulate neurons (nerve cells in the brain), which produce neurotransmitters (the chemicals, including serotonin, responsible for mood). The low-level electrical current is thought to normalise the behaviour of these cells, balancing the production of chemicals in the brain and improving a patient’s mental state. TREATMENT: The Alpha-Stim SCS (Stress Control System) is slightly larger than a mobile phone. Treatment involves attaching two electrodes to the ear, wrist or forehead. The machine is then switched on. This produces a slight tingling sensation around the electrodes. Patients usually experience better sleep within three days and after a week many report feeling less depressed, angry or anxious. After three weeks, results have shown that concentration and the ability to digest and recall information significantly improves, too. COST: £299. www.alpha-stim.co.uk PROLOTHERAPY Prolotherapy: This treatment involves injecting the patient with a dextrose to repair tissue damage THEORY: Prolotherapy is a form of non-surgical ligament reconstruction used to treat chronic pain, including arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries. Soft-tissue injuries not only cause immediate pain but can trigger longer-term problems such as osteoarthritis – a condition that affects nine million Britons – because the ligaments cannot support surrounding joints and muscular tissue. Prolotherapy uses a sugar called dextrose dissolved into water that is injected into the damaged ligament or tendon. This triggers low-level inflammation, which increases blood supply and stimulates the tissue to repair itself. According to The British Pain Society, about ten million Britons suffer long-term pain at any one point. TREATMENT: Prolotherapy injections must be administered by a healthcare professional. Between three and ten over a course of weeks will be needed. After an injection the patient is advised to rest. Prolotherapy is often performed in conjunction with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections. PRP involves taking blood from a patient, processing it to harvest the platelets, which are rich in human growth factor, a chemical that helps regulate cell production in the body. The PRP is injected into the injured area to promote cell renewal. COST: From £245 including initial consultation. www.ovingclinic.co.uk NITRIC OXIDE SUPPLEMENTS Supplement: Nitric Oxide pills can boost circulation THEORY: Nitric oxide, a compound only discovered in 1988, is responsible for many bodily functions but its primary role in the body is as a vasodilator, helping blood vessels dilate (open) and allow blood to flow freely. After the age of 40 our ability to convert chemicals in our food – particularly from green, leafy vegetables – to nitric oxide diminishes. This leads to poor circulation which can cause a loss of sensation in the limbs, impaired brain function, slower healing, low energy levels, and even increase the possibility of strokes and impotence. A nitric oxide dietary supplement boosts circulation, helping the body function more efficiently. TREATMENT: If you suffer from any of these symptoms, see your GP to rule out other causes. This supplement contains enzymes that help convert amino acids in the diet into nitric oxide. For best results, use for eight weeks followed by a two-week break. COST: USN Alpha Nitrox NO2, 90 caps, £25.99. www.thehealthbay.com        THE LASER CAP Laser Hat: To stimulate hair growth, this treatment is £2,000 THEORY: Hair loss as a result of ageing can affect both sexes, although men are most prone to balding. It commonly begins in the run-up to middle age and is linked to testosterone levels. The condition affects 6.5 million in the UK. Post-menopausal women can also experience thinning hair because of lower levels of oestrogen (a female hormone). Stress can cause hair to fall out, too. The Laser Cap’s low-level red light stimulates hair follicles in the scalp to produce better quality and a greater quantity of hair. TREATMENT: The cap is designed for home use but is available only on prescription. A dome-shaped membrane fits on the head and is powered by a small belt-clip battery. After a recommended three ten-minute sessions a week, the manufacturers claim results will be noticeable within two months. COST: £2,000. www.farjo.com THE LONGEVITY PROFILE Testing: The Longevity profile THEORY: Extensive blood and urine tests can foretell a developing cancer, the beginnings of heart disease, osteoporosis and hormonal imbalances and even predict organ health. By finding out the potential problems with your future health, you can make lifestyle changes to slow or stop conditions developing. About 2.6 million adults suffer heart disease in the UK and every year 94,000 die from it. TREATMENT: Blood and urine samples are tested in 20 ways. Blood can be taken in a doctor’s office in Florida or a testing kit can be sent to the UK, then returned to Florida. A phone consultation reviews the results. Whole blood spoils within 24 hours; a UK test can be done only via urine samples and a component of blood called blood serum. COST: From £585. www.americanmetaboliclaboratories.net Salt link to dementia: Just a teaspoon a day 'dulls the mind' and increases your risk of Alzheimer's disease Salt risk: New research suggests too much salt can be bad for the brain Too much salt could be bad for your brain as well as your heart, doctors have warned. Elderly people who have salt-rich diets and do little exercise suffer a quicker mental decline than those who are more prudent with their intake, a study has found. Worryingly, just over a teaspoon of salt a day could dull the mind and raise the risk of Alzheimer’s, the study suggests. Salt’s danger to the heart is well known but the latest study is the first to link it to deterioration of brain health in the elderly. The Canadian team tracked the salt consumption and levels of physical activity of 1,262 healthy men and women aged between 67 and 84 over a three-year period. They also assessed the mental health of the participants at the start of the study and once a year for the duration, using a battery of tests more commonly used to diagnose Alzheimer’s. ‘The results of our study showed that a diet high in sodium, combined with little exercise, was especially detrimental to the cognitive performance of older adults,’ said Dr Alexandra Fiocco from the University of Toronto. ‘But the good news is that sedentary older adults showed no cognitive decline over the three years that we followed them if they had low sodium intake.’ A high level was defined as more than 3,090mg of pure sodium a day – or just over a teaspoon of salt a day at 7.7g. This is the equivalent of 15 bags of crisps, three-and-a-half Big Macs or almost two full English breakfasts. But some of those taking part in the study were eating almost three times this, the journal Neurobiology of Aging reports. The researchers said that knowledge of the link between salt and declining brain power could help people age healthily. Warning: A link has been made by scientists at the University of Toronto between salt and Alzheimer's ‘These findings are important because they help people know they can be proactive in retaining healthy brains as they age,’ said Carol Greenwood, a professor at the University of Toronto and another one of the authors. ‘Baby Boomers especially need to know that sitting on the couch watching television for long periods of time and eating salty snacks is not good for them.’ Deborah Barnes, a dementia expert at the University of California in San Francisco, said: ‘This is one of the first studies that looks at sodium. It’s another important point about diet. You need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and stay away from processed foods.’ In the UK, the Food Standards Agency recommends that adults should eat no more than 6g of salt, or one teaspoon, per day. But the average Briton’s intake is well over the limit at 8.6g. Research suggests people who reduce salt in their diet by about 3g a day – the equivalent of six slices of bread – can reduce their chances of developing cardiovascular disease by a quarter. Children aged one to three should eat no more than 2g per day, rising to 3g per day for four to six-year-olds and 5g for seven to tens. A recent major review of the evidence on the dangers posed by salt created controversy by concluding that lowering consumption has little effect on health. But other experts say that one in five strokes and heart attacks would be prevented if everyone just ate a third of a teaspoon less of salt a day.

. Related websites: http://www.Mprize.org http://www.ImmInst.org http://www.gen.cam.ac.uk/sens/AdGbio.htm Related topics include: Cryonics (cryogenics), anti-aging, caloric restriction, transhumanism, nanotechnology, technology, nanobots, immortality, Methuselah Mouse Prize, scientific conquest of death, longevity, fitness, health, population control, birth rate, death rate, rejuvination therapies, aging reversal, Aubrey de Grey, live forever, cancer research, technology, nanobots, research, gene therapies, disease, transplants, physics, chemistry, computers, computing, bioscience, nutrition, exercise, philosophy, sociology, politics, history, elixir, drugs, singularity, Ray Kurzweil, matrix, supplements, suspended animation, cryo sleep, scientific debate, MIT, Technology Review, Cambridge conference sponsored by Larry Ellison, overpopulation, 1000 year lifespan, thousand year lifespan, infant mortality, science breakthroughs, futurist, future, war on aging, medical, youthful, retirement, computer engineer, genetics, research, SENS.

How DO surgeons perform a sex change

 

 

 

 

 

 

How DO surgeons perform a sex change? animation reveals every stage of how a man becomes a woman Male to female surgery involves removing the penis and testicles A vagina is then formed from the skin of the penis and the urethra The head of the penis, known as the glans, is used to make a clitoris The labia - the vaginal lips - are made from the skin of the scrotum This fascinating video reveals exactly how surgeons perform a male to female sex change. The animation, uploaded by the European Society of Urology, shows how a penis and testicles are removed and a vagina is formed. The new genitalia even has a clitoris capable of orgasm. It begins by making clear men who seek to become women must meet certain criteria. The patient must have already had two psychological approvals - where experts deem they should have the surgery - before an assessment  by surgeons to ensure they are fit and well. They must also have lived as a woman for at least 18 months, had hormone therapy for 12 months, and changed their first name legally by deed poll. +5 Surgeons make a cut in the scrotum, the flap of skin is pulled back, and both testicles are removed +5 The penile skin is cut circumferentially around the glans (head of the penis) and pushed to the penile base +5 By sharp dissection, the dorsal nerve bundle (a nerve that gives the penis feeling) the glans (the head of the penis) and the urethra (the pipe through which urine and semen flows) with the corpora cavernosa - the main fleshy bits of the penis cut away - right up to the the pubic bone as possible The surgical process for male-to-female sex reassignment The video shows how the patient is first put in a position in which they are lying on the operating table, their knees bent and their feet flat and turned outwards. A catheter is placed in their urethra to drain urine and collect the fluid. Surgeons make a cut in the scrotum, the flap of skin is pulled back, and both testicles are removed. Next, the dorsal nerve bundle (a nerve that gives the penis feeling) the glans (the head of the penis) and the urethra (the pipe through which urine and semen flows) are separated from the corpus cavernosum, the main 'shaft' of the penis. Now, the patient's legs are raised and the penis is further dissected - with the corpora cavernosa - the main fleshy bits of the penis cut away - right up to the the pubic bone as possible. With this cut away only the urethra, the central pipe, is left. This is cut shorter, and is later put into a different place in the vagina, comparable to where a naturally-born woman would have her urethra, the outlet from which urine will flow. The excess skin of the penis and foreskin is used to make a long flaccid tube of skin, which is inverted to become vaginal canal, known as a ‘neo-meatus’. The rest of the urethra is stitched into it to make the canal slightly wider in circumference, so the woman will be able to have sex. Next, incisions are made in the genitals where women normally have a clitoris and a urethra. +5 A male to female sex change involves removing the penis testicles, creating the vagina - including a working clitoris - and making labia, the vaginal lips (file photo) A clitoris is formed through cutting the glans, the head of the penis, to a smaller size. It is then attached to the genitals with fine stitches. Surgeons then cut further down what was the scrotum, towards the anus, and cut away the anus’ main tendon, the centrum tendineum. The space between the rectum and the base of the prostate is roughly developed to make space for the new vagina, and the area is stitched up. For the outer female genitals, each half of the skin of the scrotum is tailored to become the labia minora and majora – the inner and outer ‘lips’ of the vagina’. The incisions are strategically placed to look like natural skin closes in the vaginal lips. Research has shown that after surgery many patients are able to enjoy a satisfying sex life. In one study, carried out on 24 patients at the University of Tuebingen, Germany, it was reported that all patients were able to have an orgasm. +5 After surgery, research has shown that many patients are able to enjoy a satisfying sex life. In one German study it was reported that all patients were able to have an orgasm after the operation Marc Pacifico, consultant plastic surgeon and member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), said the psychological aspects of the operation are 'hugely important'. He told MailOnline: 'This is an irreversible operation so the decision to go through with it has to be as concrete from the patient and from their doctors. 'There are thorough psychiatric pathways that all the patients have to go down prior to even entering the surgical route. 'The operation is not straightforward. 'There are risks, as with any operation, but the genitals are not a clean area - so there is there is a risk of infection and delayed healing. 'You can get stenosis, tightening of the vagina. Many people undergoing the surgery will need dilaters to open it up. 'There's a risk of bleeding, or the skin - such as the new clitoris - dying.' He added that sex change surgery is only one part of the gender reassignment process. He said: 'The genitals are only one part of it; lots of people have surgery to feminise their nose and their voice box.'

Live interactive map shows exactly how much harmful smog is in the air where you live right now: Those living in cities suffer worse from car pollution

 

 

Live interactive map shows exactly how much harmful smog is in the air where you live right now

Scott Strazzante's new book, Common Ground, follows the stories of two families living on the same plot of land, many years apart. Scott Strazzante's new book, Common Ground, follows the stories of two families living their lives on the same plot of land, many years apart. "I first met Harlow and Jean Cagwin in May, 1994," writes Strazzante via email. "I was sent to their 118-acre farm, 35 miles southwest of Chicago, to photograph them as part of a larger story on people who raised animals in Homer Township for my employer, the Daily Southtown." Over the next few years, Strazzante continued to visit the farm on his own time, documenting the Cagwins battling aging, a changing economy and the onslaught of suburban sprawl. In 2002, the Cagwins left their land behind to make way for the Willow Walk subdivision. The project seemed to be at a natural end. Throughout his years with Harlow and Jean, Strazzante won handful of photo awards with the work, including a National Newspaper Photographer of the Year portfolio in 2000. "In 2007, after showing the project to a College of DuPage photo class, a woman, Amanda Grabenhofer, raised her hand and told me that she lived in the subdivision that was built of the Cagwin farmland," recalls Strazzante. "Amanda, a young married mother of four, invited me to her home to photograph a cul de sac wide Easter Egg Hunt and the project was reborn on Cinnamon Court, just feet from where the Cagwin farmhouse once stood." "On my second visit to the subdivision, I photographed Amanda and her husband Ed’s oldest child, Ben, as he wrestled with his cousin, C.J., in the front yard. The boys had a jump rope and they were using it to try to tie each other up. As I edited my take from the day, later that night, that image reminded me of a photo I took back in 2001 of Harlow Cagwin struggling to lasso a day-old-calf that had escaped from the barn. I decided to make a diptych out of the two images and “Common Ground” was born." After digging out his old binder of negatives from the farm, Strazzante poured over the images looking for matches for his new frames. A little less than a year after meeting the Grabenhofers, he had a 4 page spread in National Geographic. Then a collaboration with MediaStorm created a new life for the work in video form. In 2013, Strazzante launched a Kickstarter campaign to create a book. "I think this is the end, but I realize by now, that my thoughts on that matter hold absolutely no weight at all," Strazzante admits. "I am thrilled to have 'Common Ground' as a book. Books have a permanence to them that almost no other medium does. I am, also, excited for the immortality that it gives the Cagwin and Grabenhofer families, who opened their lives to my camera and made this all possible. Harlow Cagwin died in Jean’s arms in August, 2012, six days short of his 90th birthday. I am sad he never got to see the book, but I have dedicated it to him- 'the hardest working man I have ever known.'" Scott Strazzante is a staff photographer at the San Francisco Chronicle and previously, the Chicago Tribune. Posted by Patrick Traylor Follow @denverphotos Like (0) Retweet () Email An aerial view of the Cagwin farmstead near Lockport, IL in 2000. (left) An aerial view of the Willow Walk subdivision built on the same spot as the Cagwin farm from 2007. (right) Photos by Scott Strazzante.2 of 13 -How many memories are framed in a childhood bedroom window? Just before the Cagwins left their farm, Harlow's sister Sandy (left) made a final visit to the room that had been hers growing up. Abby and Caity Grabenhofer gaze out over their neighborhood from the room they share (right). Photos by Scott Strazzante.3 of 13 -Bucket up once meant feed for eager Cagwin cattle. Now bucket down means a goofy helmet for a Cinnamon Court driveway Grand Prix. Photos by Scott Strazzante.4 of 13 -A quick cap grab, a laugh: a fleeting husband-and-wife comedy routine amid the hard work of raising livestock. On the Cagwin farm, feeding cattle also meant growing and baling the hay required to supplement scant cold-season forage. Photo by Scott Strazzante.5 of 13 -Whether a simple meal for a farm couple, or a tableful of food for a suburban family, bowed heads and folded hands acknowledge that eating together is a gift of grace. Photos by Scott Strazzante.6 of 13 -Harlow and Jean (left) married late and had no children; Ed and Amanda Grabenhofer (right) married young, and the first of their four kids arrived soon after. Despite the gulf between them, moments of loving touch reveal the common bonds that tie such devoted couples together. Photos by Scott Strazzante.7 of 13 -The struggles of a frantic calf momentarily toppled Harlow, who was only trying to lead the newborn animal back to its mother. In an image rich with echoes - this is the pair of photographs that first inspired the Common Ground project - young Ben Grabenhofer and his cousin, C.J., share a similar tumble in the Willow Walk grass. Photos by Scott Strazzante.8 of 13 -Farmyard icons: silhouetted against fresh snowfall, or outlined by a childish hand. Photos by Scott Strazzante.9 of 13 -A spring shower on Cinnamon Court brings a chance to flash bring boots and a fanciful umbrella. May 5, 2008. Photo by Scott Strazzante.10 of 13 -Harlow's family settled on the Lockport farm before he was five years old. "I did everything here," he recalled. "I threshed, I filled the film. I plowed with horses until 1950. That's the way I grew up." For most suburban children, a barn is not a familiar place to work; it's just a red cartoon, a word that rhymes with "yarn." Photos by Scott Strazzante.11 of 13 -After the last of the cattle left the Cagwin farm, Harlow fell into a slump. Without creatures to care for, the aches and pains accumulated in years of hard physical work seemed able to knock him down as they had never before. (left) After mounting a brotherly invasion of his sister's room, Aiden Grabenhofer flops back on a bed in glee. Photos by Scott Strazzante.12 of 13 -From the air, field boundaries and farm machines of a 118-acre cattle operation shrink to the size of chalk lines and children's toys on a suburban driveway. Photos by Scott Strazzante.13 of 13 -"I just liked being out in the open spaces," Jean says. "I liked the atmosphere of a farm." Photo by Scott Strazzante.   The rolling Montana landscape creates a tranquil backdrop to this series of images exploring rural life in Paradise Valley, a small rural community just north of Yellowstone National Park. It portray the 'salt of the earth' people who live there alongside the ranch animals and  spectacular Big Sky scenery. +30 A rancher takes a drag on a cigarette with the rolling Montana landscape behind him +30 The sun streams across a corral as a wrangler leads his horse towards a barn +30 A rusting Montana license plate, that shows the outline of the state, is nailed to a wall The Chicago-based photographer used just one camera and three lenses for the shoot, and worked from dawn to dusk for a week to get the shots he wanted. 'I was reminded of what a great thing it is to do something you are passionate about. The ranchers I photographed are all so passionate about the life they live. It’s very nice to be around passionate people,' he told Wonderful Machine. Lindsey added: 'It was a true pleasure meeting all these amazing people that let me into their lives for a few minutes to a few hours.' The photographer has had a fascination with the rural life since childhood, and said he feels grounded by that upbringing. He said: 'As a photographer and director, I use this experience to tell honest, inviting stories. I create the backdrop for the story and then I provide the simple direction that lets that story unfold, capturing real moments and emotions that pull viewers into the shot.' +30 Rows of stirrups hang against the wooden side of a Montana barn +30 Horses gallop towards Jason Lindsey's camera as the photographer captures the wild beauty of Montana +30 The piercing blue eyes of a cowboy stand out in this portrait taken by Lindsey +30 Lindsey was captivated by the people living in Montana's Paradise Valley +30 Lindsey says his affection for 'salt of the earth' people comes from growing up in a small farm town +30 A Montana rancher, pitchfork in hand, takes a break from his work +30 Two wranglers gallop across a ridge under Montana's famed big sky +30 A working dog looks poised and alert as it watches the world pass by on the farm +30 Lindsey's portraits capture rural life in Paradise Valley +30 A rancher drinks from a shot glass as he takes a rest from a long day on the farm +30 A resident of Paradise Valley smiles broadly as Lindsey takes his photograph +30 A cowboy saddles up his horse in the low light of the Montana sky +30 The sun warms the back of a row of horses as they stand in a corral +30 The warm glow of lights shine in a cabin as snow settles on a tree-covered mountain +30 An animal skull and horse shoes hang on the outside of a farm building in Paradise Valley +30 The tools of a cowboy's trade hang from horse-shoe shaped hooks on a rustic wall +30 Lindsey's photos capture the beauty and soft light of Montana's rural regions +30 License plates from Montana, Colorado and Arizona adorn a wall +30 A horse grazes in a meadow as a blizzard whips around it +30 A rancher with a snow-white mustache smiles while leaning against a wall +30 A holly wreath hangs on the door of a barn sat next to a winding mountain road +30 Two women sit on their horses as the long grass of Montana's plains waves in the breeze +30 Lindsey has produced a series of compelling portraits of those living in Montana's valleys +30 +30 A horse gazes peacefully into the distance from its Montana meadow   Ranch hands hold their horses on a rain-soaked driveway +30 Antlers fixed to the outside of a building are dusted with snow as a flurry falls on Paradise Valley A father from Poland has used his passion for photography to capture striking and heart-warming photos of his family.  Sebastian Luczywo's photos embody his rural life; the photos depict innocent scenes of children playing with their charming family pets. He is not a professional photographer, but Sebastian clearly has an ability to capture powerful still life images. +13 Family album: An amateur photographer and father captures his family in their rural life. This snap called 'The good and bad' shows Sebastian Luczywo's sons Jack and Christopher enjoying a wintery afternoon Speaking about his hobby, he said: 'Photography is my passion, though I do not make money taking pictures at the moment, I do not know if I will in the future. I have been a business advisor for 15 years but I am looking for a new direction in life, I have always hoped to be a photographer.' Sebastian mainly photographs his family, including his two sons, 8-year-old Jacek and 11-year-old Krzysztof, Kaya his 15-year-old daughter and his wife Agnieszka. +13 Child's best friend: The father from Poland has used his passion for photography to capture striking and heart-warming photos of his family and their furry friends +13 Enjoying a dip: Sebastian Luczywo's photos embody his rural life and one of his favourite subjects is his wife Agnieszka, pictured enjoying a cigarette in a makeshift bath tub in the garden +13 Inspirations: Speaking about his work, he said: 'I love my wife and children. I love seeing how they change, and I like to photograph the most important events in our lives' +13 Talent: He is not a professional photographer, but Sebastian clearly has an ability to capture powerful still life images +13 True love: Speaking about his hobby, he said: 'Photography is my passion, though I do not make money taking pictures at the moment and I do not know if I will in the future' +13 Hobby: He has been a business advisor for 15 years but is looking for a new direction in life, he says He said: 'I love my wife and children. I love seeing how they change, and I like to photograph the most important events in our lives. I am happy when we do things together because it brings us closer.  'I find the beauty of my wife very inspiring, but my kids also give me a lot of inspiration. Kaja, Christopher and Jacek are so carefree, cheerful and they have a lot of great ideas - there is no better inspiration than spending time with them,' explains Sebastian. He lives with his family in Jelenia Gora, which is located in a valley and surrounded by picturesque mountains.  The budding photographer explains he chose to include his pet dogs in his touching photos, as he feels they are very much a part of his family.  Childhood innocence: Sebastian says he is happy when he, his wife and children do things together because it brings them closer +13 Unusual: His clever and mood-filled photos depict his children and pets in the countryside, often with a touch of the surreal +13 Magical: The resulting images are anything but your standard family portraits and have a real magical element to them   Man's best friend: The budding photographer explains he chose to include his pet dogs in his touching photos, as he feels they are very much a part of his family

The bright lights of the city often lure people in with promises of a better way of life. Today, around 3.9 billion people around the world live in towns and cities, with the global urban population growing by about one million people each week. But while urban dwellers may have better access to doctors and hospitals, there are growing concerns that city-living is severely damaging to health. How polluted is YOUR city? Live interactive map shows exactly how much harmful smog is in the air where you live right now The World Air Quality Index publishes real time pollution maps across the world for levels of harmful particles PM2.5 particulate matter from car fumes and fossil fuel burning are thought to pose a high risk to human health The maps allow residents in cities to see when are the best times to venture outside and when to stay inside It is often an invisible menace that can cause breathing difficulties and even trigger heart attacks, but it is now possible to see how bad air pollution is in your area at this very moment. The World Air Quality Index is publishing real time pollution maps across the entire world, providing city dwellers up-to-the minute information on the levels of harmful particles in the air. The maps provide a snapshot of the PM2.5 particulate matter from diesel car fumes, the burning of fossil fuels, wood and ultrafine dust. Click below to explore the interactive map The Air Quality Index map (pictured) provides a live snapshot of the air pollution in cities around the world. Green labels indicate levels pose no risk to human health, while red and mauve labels show where air quality has reached hazardous levels for residents These tiny particles have been found to be particularly harmful to human health and are linked to cancer, asthma, heart disease and strokes. However, they are also difficult to see, reaching harmful levels before they have a visible impact on the skyline of a city. The map is aimed at helping to keep commuters and pedestrians informed about the air pollution levels where they live at any given time. +4 In Europe (shown above) many cities have taken steps to improve air quality but on some days the levels of PM2.5 particulates can increase to levels that still pose a risk to people who are sensitive to air pollution and in some areas even to the general population It is also hoped it might encourage local authorities and politicians to take steps to tackle air pollution before it becomes so bad it is visible as smog. The map shows that for many areas the PM2.5 levels are well within safe levels, although many areas in the west have levels that pose a risk to those with lung problems. In Europe, many cities have taken steps to improve air quality but on some days the levels of PM2.5 particulates can increase to levels that still pose a risk to people who are sensitive to air pollution and in some areas even to the general population +4 The Air Quality Index measures the severity of air pollution and the health implications as shown in the table above. Anything over 300 is considered to be hazardous and likely to cause serious health issues In some parts of the world, particularly in industrialised areas of China, the air quality is marked as being unhealthy. A recent study predicted that air pollution will kill more than 6.5 million people a year worldwide by 2050 - twice the current number. Globally, the problem causes around 3.3 million premature deaths annually - mainly in Asia. The highest levels at the time of writing were to be found in Palangkaraya, Indonesia, where the air quality index was 712. Anything over 300 is considered to be hazardous and likely to cause serious health issues. The city is well known for being enveloped in thick smog. Forest fires in Indonesia are also causing large amounts of pollution to drift over much of south east Asia. The map has been developed by aqicn.org, an environmental monitoring project based in Beijing, China. +4 The maps use real-time data supplied by 8,028 official monitoring stations from 68 countries around the world to produce maps that reveal the pollution levels at any given time in cities across the United States (shown above) and other industrialised nations AIR POLLUTION DEATHS WILL DOUBLE IN NEXT 35 YEARS TO KILL UP TO 6.6 MILLION PEOPLE EVERY YEAR Air pollution is expected to kill more than 6.5 million people a year worldwide by 2050 - twice the current number, a study has found. Globally, the problem causes around 3.3 million premature deaths annually - mainly in Asia. The premature deaths are due to two key pollutants - fine particulates known as PM2.5s - and the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide, both produced by diesel cars, lorries and buses. The pollutants affect a person's lung capacity and growth, and are linked to ailments including lung cancer and heart disease. Outdoor air pollutants such as ozone and the the fine particulates less than 2.5 micrometres (0.0025 mm) in diameter are linked with serious diseases with long-term health impacts. But calculating the effects on a global scale is challenging because air quality is not monitored in some regions - and the toxicity of particles varies depending on their source. Professor Jos Lelieveld, of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, and colleagues combined a model examining global air pollution with population data and health statistics to estimate the relative contribution of different sources - mainly from fine particulate matter - to early death. Their results show residential energy emissions, such as those from heating and cooking - which are prevalent in India and China - have the largest impact. In most regions of the US and a few other countries, emissions from traffic and power generation are found to be important, whereas in Europe those from agriculture are the largest contributors of toxic fine particles. It said it has been working with 68 countries around the world to incorporate data on air pollution. Writing on its website, aqicn said: 'The data is continuously collected, gathered and processed in real-time from more than 5,800 feeds. Only official data feeds from each countries EPA's and EPB's is used. 'There are currently around than 18,300 known monitoring stations, out of which around 8028 are published.' +4 Some of the highest levels of air pollution are currently being experienced in Indonesia where forest fires, wood burning for cooking and industry are combining to produce hazardous smogs in cities like Palangkaraya where the air quality index was 712 (shown above)     Rat race: The Paris-based International Council for Science has launched a programme that aims to understand how a city environment can be changed to improve the health of its residents Now, scientists at the International Council for Science have launched a global programme to find out exactly how factors such as pollution, overcrowding and crime are affecting overall wellbeing. The 'Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme' hopes to understand what makes a 'healthy urban environment', according to a report by Mark Kinver in the BBC. 'We are facing global epidemics of non-communicable diseases - heart disease, diabetes and so on - and mental health problems,' Professor Anthony Capon, director of the UN University's International Institute for Global Health, told the BBC. Packed: The programme claims that city-dwellers have higher rates of mental illness due to stress and social isolation. Those living in cities also suffer worse from impacts from car pollution 'We are also seeing the health impact of climate change, such as heat-stress in cities and changes in the distribution of infectious vector-borne diseases.' CITIES ARE BAD FOR THE HEALTH OF NEW MOTHERS Women who live in urban areas are more likely to develop postnatal depression than those who live in the countryside, recent research has claimed. Women who live in large cities are three per cent more likely to develop the condition five to 14 months after giving birth. The researchers believe this could be because city living is more stressful and is associated with less supportive communities. Dr Simone Vigod, at Women's College Hospital, in Toronto, said: 'Living in an urban area is a marker of more stress, less support and a potentially higher risk of postpartum depression for women. 'Our study suggests we need to better target our supports and services towards women based on their geographic location to improve their outcomes and reduce their risk of postpartum depression.' For instance, the programme claims that city-dwellers have higher rates of mental illness due to stress and social isolation. It is also looking at how infectious diseases thrive when people are crowded together, or how they emerge when cities expand into surrounding areas. 'The demographic advantage of youth in such countries would be lost unless combined with healthy living' said Indira Nath, Chair of the Scientific Committee at the International Council for Science. 'Policy makers face the challenge of viewing healthy cities as 'systems' consisting of multiple subsystems along with the overarching super system of climate change.'  But Professor Capon said that the programme could offer some hope, by combining expertise between scientists and urban planners on how to better develop cities. The programme will look at everything from the design of public spaces and transport to improvements in housing and free city services. Professor Capon says the key is understanding that cities are really about people. 'We are attracted to cities for economic, educational and social opportunities,' he said 'When we live in cities, they need to work for us. It is not just about the economic efficiencies.'     Reuters photographer Jim Urquhart recently captured these scenes from a fading culture, as he followed Montana ranchers on their final horse drive, moving more than 300 horses down from their winter range. Every spring the Mantle family, along with with a group of wranglers, drives the herd north over 35 miles and three days, through the small town of Three Forks to their ranch. After decades of supplying and tending to horses, the Mantles, citing financial challenges, now plan to sell off their herd and shift to raising beef cattle. Take a moment to travel with the Mantle family through big sky country, on a journey once so familiar and iconic, now fading into memory with the rest of cowboy culture. Wrangler Shad Boardman rides into a pasture during Montana Horses' final horse drive outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 6, 2012. The Mantle family, who own Montana Horses, held their last horse drive where they rounded up approximately 300 horses and drove the herd 35 miles from their winter range to the Mantle ranch. The horses will be picked up by leasers to be used as pack and trail horses at dude ranches and national parks. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) 2 A view of the 500 acre Mantle ranch outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 3, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 3 Renee Mantle rides in a truck on her way to the wrangler camp before Montana Horses' last annual horse drive, on May 3, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 4 Kail Mantle give instructions to wranglers before the horse drive on May 4, 2012. Kail, a former rodeo champion, and his wife Renee have been operating Montana Horses off a plot of land north of Three Forks since 1995.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 5 Renee Mantle checks the hoof and shoes of a horse during Montana Horses' annual horse drive on May 3, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 6 Wrangler Lori Young readies her horse before the start of the horse drive, on May 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 7 Wranglers ride along railroad tracks during Montana Horses' last horse drive, on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 8 Wranglers gather a herd of horses off the winter range south of Three Forks, Montana, on May 4, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 9 Horses cross a river during Montana Horses' annual horse drive, on May 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 10 Wranglers work to gather horses outside Three Forks, on May 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 11 Wrangler Shad Boardman rides his horse through a river on May 4, 2012. The drive is not without dangers -- over the years, a number of wranglers have suffered minor injuries, from head injuries to broken bones. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 12 Wranglers gather at camp outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 3, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 13 A spur on a wrangler's boot during Montana Horses' last horse drive outside Three Forks, Montana, May 6, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 14 Wranglers visit beside a campfire under a moonlit sky on May 3, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 15 Wrangler Denise Boyd laughs by the campfire on May 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 16 The last of the daylight fades over the wrangler's camp outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 3, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 17 The belt buckle of wrangler Sara Tharp, seen before Montana Horses' last horse drive on May 4, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 18 Renee Mantle chases a horse trying to break away on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 19 Horses run to the corrals during Montana Horses' last horse drive in central Montana, on May 4, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 20 Wranglers from lead a herd of horses down a paved road on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 21 A horse shakes itself off after the second day of Montana Horses' last horse drive on May 5, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 22 Wranglers lead a herd of horses outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 23 Renee Mantle sorts a herd of horses in a corral on May 5, 2012. The Mantles know each of their 300-plus horses by name.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 24 A wrangler's hand rests on a saddle horn during a horse drive on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 25 Wranglers lead a herd of horses during Montana Horses' last horse drive on May 5, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 26 After the drive, Renee Mantle enjoys a moment in the pasture with her horses as they vie for attention, on May 6, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 27 Wrangler Nate Cummins takes the opportunity to ride by moonlight, the night before the "Super Moon" during Montana Horses' final horse drive outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 4, 2012. A combine cuts rice in a field near Tucker, Arkansas, on August 16, 2012. Arkansas rice farmers planted 1.135 million acres in 2012, equal to 59 percent of the nation's rice crop this year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.(AP Photo/Danny Johnston) #   Boys and girls compete with their sheep at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. (Image was created using an iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)   A nodding donkey pump extracts oil from the earth at an abandoned farm near the old ghost town of Dore, North Dakota, on April 19, 2012. Dore has seen a rebirth with booming oil activity in western North Dakota.(AP Photo/ James MacPherson)   A firefighting helicopter fills a bucket of water in heavy smoke as the North Merna wildfire burns in the Bridger National Forest west of the town of Pinedale in Sublette County, Wyoming, on September 16, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #   Visitors walk through the "infinity room" before a public memorial service for U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 29, 2012. Armstrong, who took a giant leap for mankind when he became the first person to walk on the moon, died in August at the age of 82. (Reuters/Matt Sullivan) #   A bear cub with second-degree burns to its paws is examined and treated at the Garden Valley Ranger Station in Idaho, on August 28, 2012. The cub, who is about four months old, was injured in the Mustang Complex Fire. Wildlife veterinarian Mark Drew said the cub, nicknamed Boo Boo, will require long term care to survive. Efforts to locate the cub's mother were unsuccessful. (Reuters/USFS/Kari Greer) #     Kameron Hays, 7, sports a mohawk while attending the Iowa 80 truck stop's 33rd Annual Truckers Jamboree in Walcott, Iowa, on July 12, 2012. The Iowa 80, located along Interstate 80, is said to be the world's largest truck stop.(Reuters/Adrees Latif)   A view of Monument Valley Tribal Park in Utah, on August 14, 2012. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) A cowboy rides his horse through town as he watches a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Beardstown, Illinois, on May 6, 2012. There are approximately 900 immigrant workers from 34 countries employed in Beardstown at the Cargill meat packing plant and most are willing to work hard at just about anything for a better life in the United States. While both longtime community residents and immigrants agree that most people accept the newcomers, the beginnings were rocky and some problems still remain.(Reuters/Jim Young)   Beach visitors watch the sunset in Dauphin Island, Alabama, on August 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) #   View from the south Rim of the Grand Canyon near Tusayan, Arizona, on August 10, 2012. (Reuters/Charles Platiau)