About a year ago Lancet Infectious Diseases reported the existence of a superbug that was resistant to antibiotics. They called it NDM-1, an acronym for New Delhi metallo-lactamase-1. The story quickly turned from ‘superbug identified’ to Indian health officials calling it a foreign plot against India’s medical tourism industry to outrage over adding New Delhi to the name.

Name controversies aside, the existence of the ‘superbug’ is uncovering some startling facts. Simply put we are close to losing that magic bullet that has saved millions of lives since penicillin was invented – effective antibiotics.

This special report at Reuters ‘When Drugs Don’t Work’ is a must read  – from hospital hygiene that exposes patients to potentially fatal infections to the reasons why pharmaceutical companies have simply turned their back on antibiotic research.

Can’t tell if, or how much of this story is true. But it is easily one of the best in branded content films we’ve seen lately.

Via Geekologie comes this handy dandy world map by bra cup sizes (where you can see the larger size map).

The map doesn’t say how much of the D cup and higher is from plastic surgery. We’re also wondering if diet has anything to do with the D cup and higher in countries like the U.S. and Russia?

World map by bra cup size

We want so desperately to believe that this news is true. That there are now 1,706 tigers in India versus 1,411 in 2006. But as with all things Indian Government related there is the little matter of the ‘trust deficit.’ Conservationists in India are not buying this sudden rise in numbers. They don’t think the counting process is scientifically sound, or that the process has adequate transparency.

Whatever the case, one thing we can all agree on is this: India has less than 2000 tigers today versus over 100,000 a century ago. The tiger, India’s national animal is in trouble. Deep deep trouble.

Couldn’t stop watching this video! Perhaps because there is so little to cheer about these days that we are moved by any effort that cheers an ordinary and random act of goodness.

It’s a great way to begin the week. Happy Monday to you all.