Sir David concludes with his thoughts on the Wellcome Trust, an organisation that has as one of its five research challenges ‘Connecting environment, nutrition and health’. Courtesy: wellcome.ac.uk

The Louvre was closed on Thursday after its workers walked off their jobs to protest against what is said to be a rising problem of pickpockets haunting the famed Paris museum's vast galleries.

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris Hadfield demonstrates the physics of tears in space. Credit: CSA/NASA

South Koreans are not immune to the anxiety generated by North Korea's toxic threats of nuclear war, but given that their country is the direct target of many of them, they seem remarkably unshaken.

The New Zealand flag has been lowered for the final time at Kiwi Base in Bamiyan, the symbolic end to New Zealand's 10-year involvement in the war in Afghanistan, also a memorial plaque to the New Zealand soldiers and Afghan forces who have died in Bamiyan Province has been unveiled.

This video takes a look back at the best views of our planet from space in 2012, including true-color satellite images, Earth science data visualizations, time lapses from the International Space Station and computer models. For more of NASA's best images from 2012. Courtesy: NASA

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has expressed his gratitude to the 10 New Zealand soldiers who have died in Afghanistan. New Zealand's Governor-General Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman were among a group of dignitaries who met Mr Karzai in Kabul overnight. Sir Jerry said Mr Karzai spoke at length of New Zealand's contribution and was eager to reinforce that the Afghan people knew what New Zealand's troops had done over the past decade.

A girl from Brazil dropped her cellphone onto train tracks and almost lost her life as-well as her phone trying to retrieve it. Courtesy: YouTube/Ricardo Moraes

Canadian astronaut and Commander of Expedition 35 demonstrates how astronauts brush their teeth in space. You might be surprised by what he reveals! Courtesy: YouTube/canadianspaceagency

The White House releases a special video message from the President.

The Natural History Museum of London launched Friday its new exhibition 'Sensational Butterflies' featuring 400 live tropical butterflies.

Coronation Street star Bill Roache says he is "very sorry" over his controversial comments on the victims of paedophiles. Courtesy: Fox News UK.

Extraordinary moment 'dead' roadkill deer gives cops a fright - by jumping out of car trunk. A motorist and two police officers were given the fright of their lives on a traffic stop this morning when they opened a car trunk and a supposedly dead deer hopped out. Courtesy: YouTube/viralmediaglobal

Why did the elephant seal cross the road? Well, no one was going to stop him! An elephant seal held up traffic for more than an hour after going walkabout in brazil. Courtesy: YouTube/NewsSamrat

Remote Operated Vehicles recovering Apollo F-1 engines three miles beneath the Atlantic. Courtesy: http://www.bezosexpeditions.com

If you only fart with friends, you're not a farter. You're just a social farter and that makes it OK. Courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/quitthedenial

The US 281 bridge in Marble Falls, Texas, was blown up in only four seconds, with most of the 950ft (290m) bridge collapsing over Lake Marble Falls. Courtesy: YouTube/Ando22RE

The New Zealand Defence Force’s summer-season support to our country’s commitment to the pristine Antarctic region has drawn to a close with the final Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 ice flight. Around 200 Defence Force personnel directly supported the mission at various stages of the October to March season, with the mission peaking in February during the annual supply ship offload where Defence personnel worked round the clock in freezing conditions. courtesy NZ Defence force.

Black smoke has poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signalling that cardinals have failed to elect a pope on their first try. Courtesy: YouTube/MrBearBatman

An 88 year old grandmother shows she can cut a rug. Courtesy: YouTube/Nana Feole

GoPro cam catches an ice climber losing his footing and sliding down the mountain side. These are the terrifying moments a climber loses his grip and plummets 100ft down the side of a Welsh mountain.

The 2011 Japanese earthquake was so powerful its effects were felt by an orbiting satellite nearly 270km above the Earth, scientists say. Courtesy: http://www.esa.int/ESA

A leading Bolshoi dancer admitted in court on Thursday that he ordered an assault on the famed Russian ballet troupe's artistic director but denied ever planning the use of acid.

You've seen the rest, now watch the best. It's The Simpsons Harlem Shake! Courtesy: YouTube/ANIMATIONonFOX

Actor Russell Crowe say he's caught a UFO on camera. The Gladiator actor said he captured what appears to be several flying objects whizzing over Sydney's Botanical Gardens. Courtesy: YouTube/ParallelUniverse1234

So, you think you're having a nominal countdown and then all of a sudden... Courtesy: YouTube/NASAWallops

Amnesty International is investigating a graphic video posted on the internet, which appears to show Fijian men being beaten and tortured by officials. This video has been edited and shortened by nzherald.co.nz.

Up to 15 workers at the Agnew gold mine in the Goldfields have been sacked and banned for life from every Barminco project in the world after performing the Harlem Shake dance craze on site. Courtesy: YouTube/ABID MONEY

New images just released by researchers at the Polar Geospatial Centre show the Erebus glacier being calved away. Images / PGC/NASA

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies was on the front lines of saving dolphins and turtles after the Gulf oil spill. Now officials are concerned about the 'strange spike' in baby dolphin deaths in the past month.