Corneas to Grow

Two people have had stem cells transplanted into their eyes as part of a clinical trial to restore their sight. The technique has been developed by Scottish specialists to reverse corneal blindness, and it is believed to be the first treatment of its kind in the UK. Both have corneal blindness, and until now the only treatment was a transplant of cornea tissue from an organ donor. Sylvia Paton from Edinburgh was the first person to have the transplant. It will be several months before doctors will know to what extent the procedure has worked. But why stop at corneas? They could try cloning a whole new eye next. And airlines could ground some or all their planes for maintenance after Qantas Airlines Flight 94 to Melbourne had to turn back to Los Angeles about an hour into its trip yesterday morning when a water pipe started leaking on the upper deck of the plane. The jet is an Airbus A380, the world's only complete double-decker airplane. Water was running down the aisle of the plane, and had made its way through the floor and showered economy-class passengers below. Qantas said the passengers were never in any danger, and they're being put up in hotels while the airline talks to the plane's manufacturer, Airbus, about what might have caused the situation.