January 6, 2012 2:09 PM
Source: Chicago CBS

Smoke rises from the scene of a train derailment and fire near Westville, Ind. Friday afternoon. (CBS)

UPDATED: 1/6/2012 3:15 p.m.

CHICAGO (CBS) — Three freight trains collided in Northwest Indiana, just east of Valparaiso, causing a massive chain reaction derailment and small fire.

Three trains were involved in the crash on the CSX rail line that runs from Chicago to New York. The first train stopped for an emergency, and a second train slowed but still hit the first train. A third train then plowed into the first two, apparently unaware of crash.

Two people were injured and were being treated by nearby Porter Hospital. They were listed as stable, a spokesman said.

CSX officials were not immediately available for comment. Video from the scene showed several charred cars strewn across a wooded field. Flames were visible, and firefighters were working to put out a small fire.

The crash happened around 1:20 p.m. at County Road 500 East and 600 North in Jackson Twp. near the town of Westville. That’s located about four or five miles northeast of downtown Valparaiso.

The area is largely rural although there are some homes nearby. Authorities are reportedly closed down roads near the crash scene.

Phil Griffith, director of the Porter County Emergency Management Agency, said there was a small explosion after the accident, and there were hazardous chemicals on board.

The accident was about two miles away from a school with about 600 kids, officials said.

Welcome to a brave new world: Genetic scientists create freakish man-made monster ants with huge heads and jaws

Story from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2082799/Supersoldier-ants-gigantic-jaws.html

• Ancient genes activated by dab of hormones
• Ants seem to contain a ‘toolkit’ for creating monsters
• May be a throwback to ancestors from millions of years ago

By ROB WAUGH

Last updated at 9:13 PM on 5th January 2012

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Nightmarish ‘supersoldier’ ants with huge heads and jaws have been created by activating ancient genes.

Scientists believe the monster ants may be a genetic throwback to an ancestor that lived millions of years ago.

Scientists say they can create the supersoldiers at will by dabbing normal ant larvae with a special hormone – the larvae then develop into supersoldiers rather than normal soldier or worker ants.

A supersoldier next to a normal ant: Scientists say they can create the supersoldiers at will by dabbing normal ant larvae with a special hormone – the larvae then develop into supersoldiers rather than normal soldier or worker ants

Supersoldier ants can occur naturally in the wild, but only rarely. In the deserts of America and Mexico, their job is to protect the colony from raids by invading army ants.

The supersoldiers use their enormous heads to block the nest entrance and attack any enemy ants that get too close.

Scientists showed that ordinary ants of the species Pheidole morrisi contain all the genetic ‘tools’ needed to turn them into supersoldiers – they just need a hormonal push.

The research is reported today in the journal Science.

Scientists created the monster ants in the laboratory by activating ancient ancestral genes

Authors Dr Rajendhran Rajakumar, from McGill University, Canada, and colleagues wrote: ‘We uncovered an ancestral development potential to produce a novel supersoldier subcaste that has been retained throughout a hyperdiverse ant genus that evolved 35 to 60 million years ago.’

The results suggest that holding on to ancestral development toolkits may play an important role in evolving new physical traits, say the researchers.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2082799/Supersoldier-ants-gigantic-jaws.html#ixzz1ieEmYgk2