Model railways maker Hornby buoyed by online summer sales

• Internet sales from April to August jumped by over a third on the prior year
• The Margate-based group predicts ‘low double-digit’ annual sales growth
• Hornby sells Scalextric car racing sets, Corgi cars and Airfix model planes

By Harry Wise

Updated: 08:42 EDT, 13 September 2023

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Scientists have grown an entity very close to a human embryo — without using sperm, eggs or a womb.

The embryo even released enough of the hormone pregnant women produce that turns a pregnancy test positive, resulting in a positive test result in the lab.

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel made the complete models of human embryos from stem cells generated in the lab after building on previous research where they had made mouse embryos.

The researchers’ aim is to be able to ethically study what happens in the very early stages of a pregnancy without experimenting with real human embryos. The model developed by the team is a cluster of cells that cannot grow into a person.

The embryo is not a human, nor could it become one, because the artificial embryo could not be successfully implanted in a womb lining. An embryo is usually considered a fetus from weeks 9-12, when it will have all its major organ systems and is a distinctly recognizable human being. 

The artificial embryo model had all of the elements a 14-day human embryo would be expected to have, including the placenta, yolk sac, membranes and other external tissues.

Many miscarriages and birth defects occur in this early period, but currently, little is understood about it.

Professor Jacob Hanna, who led the research team, said: ‘The drama is in the first month; the remaining eight months of pregnancy are mainly lots of growth.’ 

‘That first month is still largely a black box. Our stem cell–derived human embryo model offers an ethical and accessible way of peering into this box. 

‘It closely mimics the development of a real human embryo, particularly the emergence of its exquisitely fine architecture.’

Until now, models of human embryos have not been accurate because they haven’t contained cell types that are crucial for an embryo’s development, including cells that make up the placenta and membrane. 

They also did not grow beyond the 14-day mark.

Rather than a sperm and an egg, the Israeli researchers used naïve stem cells, which they reprogrammed to give them the ability to become any type of tissue in the body.

This is the same stage as day seven of the natural human embryo, near the time when it would implant itself into the womb.

Chemicals were used to encourage the stem cells to turn into four types of cells needed to make an embryo: epiblast cells, which become the fetus; trophoblast cells, which become the placenta; hypoblast cells, which become the supportive yolk sac; and extraembryonic mesoderm cells, which become part of the amniotic sac.

Around 120 of the cells were mixed together in a precise ratio, which measured around 0.01 millimeters in total.

By day 14, just one percent of the mixture had spontaneously multiplied into around 2,500 cells and measured half a millimeter.

The other 99 percent did not develop, however. Other scientists suggested it would be difficult to determine what is happening with miscarriage — something the researchers hoped might be possible from studying the embryo model — when 99 percent of the cell mixture failed to assemble itself.

Professor Hanna said: ‘An embryo is self-driven by definition; we don’t need to tell it what to do – we must only unleash its internally encoded potential.

‘It’s critical to mix in the right kinds of cells at the beginning, which can only be derived from naïve stem cells that have no developmental restrictions. Once you do that, the embryo-like model itself says, “Go!”‘

The embryo model was then left to grow until it could be compared to an embryo 14 days after fertilization.

In most countries, this is the cut-off for normal embryo research under law.

The researchers stressed it would be unethical, illegal and also impossible to generate an actual pregnancy from the embryo models.

This is because when the 120 cells assemble themselves, they go beyond the point at which an embryo could be successfully implanted into a womb lining. 

One thing the embryo model could be used for is to generate organs for transplantation, Professor Hanna told The Guardian.

Skin cells of ill patients could be used to generate model embryos, which, after a month or two, could start to grow organs that could then be used to transplant into the patients.

The research was published today in the journal Nature. 

Daisy Lowe has sold her Camden townhouse for £1.82million – after she was sued by a celebrity builder for not paying a £45,000 refurbishment bill. 

The fashion model, 34, bought the three-storey period property for £1.55million in 2017 and set about updating it, with trendy decor and a new kitchen extension.

She sold it last year for £1.82million – £20,000 more than the asking price of £1.8million.

The model excitedly told followers on Instagram that she and her partner Jordan Saul are ready to take on a new renovation project together. 

Posting images of her former pad in north London, the star said: ‘While Ivy is napping I am finally getting to sit down and start planning our new renovation. 

‘I am feeling very excited to make a new nest for us (and slightly nervous my baby brain might take over and make every single thing pink). 

‘These are the pictures @inigo.house took of mine & @jordanjaysaul first home together.

‘I am really proud of what we created after lots of blood sweat and tears! Now onto the next.’

Agents Inigo House described it as a ‘wonderful three-storey house within the Camden Square conservation area’. 

It was built in the 1860s and has 1,600 square feet of space, including a bespoke DeVol kitchen.

‘Great care has gone into the design and renovation, which saw the introduction of a glass-roofed extension to the rear; all interior and exterior paints are by the ecologically-sound colour specialists Lick Paint,’ the description went on.

‘Historic features have been revealed, restored, and celebrated, including beautiful Victorian cornicing, box sash windows, chimneypieces and pitch pine floors.

‘Additionally, the house has been fitted with a speaker system throughout to accommodate a Sonos unit.’

The house lies close to the one owned by Amy Winehouse when she died and is in a celeb-filled enclave.

‘The kitchen is arguably the most impressive space,’ the description goes on.

‘Recently designed and completed by DeVol and set within a glass mono-pitch roof extension, the contemporary addition flows effortlessly with the main house, both spatially and in the quality of design.’

Pictures show Daisy’s interior decor touches, perhaps a gift from her designer mother Pearl, throughout the house.

The house uses a lot of pink and green paint, with brightly coloured soft furnishings.

Her wardrobe can be seen bursting at the seams, while a bathroom uses brightly coloured floral wallpaper.

Daisy became embroiled in a row with her former builder last year after he claimed she still owed him money for her kitchen extension.

But the fashion model claimed the work hadn’t been up to scratch.

Daisy and Jordan welcomed their first child, daughter Ivy, in April.

Justin Bieber couldn’t hide behind a pair of eclectic pink sunglasses on Friday as he watched Coco Gauff play Elise Mertens of Belgium in the third round of the 2023 US Open at the Arthur Ashe stadium in Flushing, New York. 

His wife, model Hailey Bieber, was right by his side, sporting a black leather jacket and looking chic as ever. 

She kept a well manicured hand on her husband’s knee as he hid his hair under the same polka dot baseball cap he wore earlier on Friday when he took his glamorous wife out for a boat trip in the Hamptons. 

The 26-year-old Tommy Hilfiger model’s face looked positively dewy as she watched the match diligently, flaunting a silver necklace with a large B pendant. 

The Yummy hitmaker kept his ensemble simple, letting his sunglasses steal the show as he looked comfy in a white tank top, black leather jacket, and blue jeans. 

Stephen Baldwin’s daughter matched her husband’s casual outfit vibes, sporting a similar white tank top with thin straps and her own leather jacket. 

She sported the same gold earrings she wore earlier in the day when her Canadian pop star spouse took her out for a cute pier fishing session. 

Justin appeared to want to stay under the radar during the tennis match, hiding under his leather jacket humorously when a fan approached the couple. 

The Arizona born beauty couldn’t stop laughing as her husband attempted to comically evade fans. 

Although the A-list pair couldn’t stay anonymous for long, they have been in New York the past week for a heartwarming reason. 

Five years ago in September, the couple finally made their relationship official, tying the knot in a New York City courthouse. 

The Zoolander 2 star had popped the question in July of 2018 when he whisked the leggy socialite off to the Bahamas for the romantic proposal. 

The Stuck With U music video star revealed this year that she wanted to have kids with her singing superstar husband, but the fear of online hate held her back.

Telling the Sunday Times that, ‘I want kids so bad but I get scared. It’s enough that people say things about my husband or my friends.’ 

The thought of her future kids having to deal with nasty comments online was overwhelming for the Ralph Lauren model, who added, ‘I can’t imagine having to confront people saying things about a child.’

Emphasizing that she wanted to raise kids with Justin where they feel, ‘they feel loved and safe.’ the statuesque beauty made it clear that she wasn’t ruling out kids altogether. 

She noted that this year had challenged her with some of her ‘saddest, hardest moments.’ 

However, her doting husband has been a constant at her side. 

The entertainer helped his wife earlier in June by appearing in ads for glazing milk, a new product in her Rhode skincare line. 

Not only that, but the tattooed singer and songwriter traveled to New York this week to support his hard-working wife on her latest Rhode skincare press tour. 

Meanwhile, other A-list celebs spotted at the match were Zac Efron, Brooks Nader, Wanda Sykes, Katie Holmes, Anna Wintour and Huma Abedin, among others. 

Meanwhile, the 59-year-old star of The Upshaws watched the match between Tommy Paul Vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a pinstriped blue and white button up shirt as she also hid her face behind boxy sunglasses. 

Choosing to watch a match at the US Open solo, the 44-year-old Dawson’s Creek beauty rocked an elegant pair of black sunglasses and a white blouse. 

She kept her signature chestnut locks loose around her shoulders as she flashed a smile. 

Rocking a thin, layered gold necklace, the mother of one couldn’t stop showing off her greatest accessory — her million dollar smile. 

The ageless beauty kept her makeup look minimal for the sporty night out. 

73-year-old Vogue editorial icon Anna Wintour sported her signature chic bob and sunglasses as she watched a match with Anthony Weiner’s ex-wife. 

The fashionable pair appeared to be deep in conversation as Huma rocked a denim jacket and black and white dress, while Anna rocked an elegant white dress with black dots. 

The US Open championships tend to draw an impressive slew of A-listers every year. 

September 1st was only the start of the celeb-filled tennis tournament. 

The 2023 US Open championships run all the way until Sunday, September 10th. 

The athletic tournament also coincides with Labor Day weekend, set to occur this Saturday and Sunday.  

She has long blonde hair, blue eyes and curves, but the stunning model on the magazine cover was generated by artificial intelligence.

DailyMail.com spoke to the creator of Gina Stewart, who became the world’s first AI model after landing a contract with a German-based modeling agency in May.

While men have designed many AI influencers, Gina was created by a woman who is a Playboy model – and she made the persona based on her own proportions and style. However, her AI model is 28, and she is 52.

‘The funny thing is the men love it,’ the creator, also named Gina, told DailyMail.com. ‘The AI models are glamorous, beautiful and desirable, like Playboy models of the 90s. 

‘I guess it’s a similar concept to superheroes; everyone loves and has a favorite superhero, they go to the movies to watch, admire and obsess over them.

‘They want to be them, but they are not real. It’s a fantasy and an escape from reality.’ 

The Australian creator is a mother of four and a grandmother who is a health and wellness coach when she is not designing her AI persona and posing for Playboy.

‘I look after myself with a mixture of yoga, light weights, meditation, and I believe testing for nutrition deficiency and supplementation,’ she said.

‘At 52, I don’t have one gray hair on my head.’

Gina, known as the ‘world’s hottest grandma,’ shot to stardom on OnlyFans, but took her talents to Playboy in March after the UK-based subscription service had become too ‘smutty’ for her taste.

And shortly after, AI Gina was created.

‘While traveling this summer in the US, I took a break from taking photos on social media,’ said Gina.

‘I was getting tired of setting up shots, hair, nails, makeup, clothing etc and all the time it takes from my day and the stress involved. I thought there must be a better way to work this if I needed a break.’

And this was the moment 28-year-old Gina from California was born. 

AI influencers are taking the internet by storm.

These rising stars – who combined have hundreds of thousands of followers – are receiving admiration and cash from real men. 

The human creators of these AI influencers are unknown faces on the web, only pushing out content to likely live a life they had only dreamed of.

However, this is not the case for Gina, who is transparent about her identity and how her AI persona came about.

‘I looked into AI and collaborated with an incredible artist on Instagram,’ she said.

‘We used 1,000 real photos of myself from all angles and naked, trained a deep learning program through stable diffusion, and cloned me.

The results were mind-blowing.

Initially, it was a bit of fun, so I started posting the AI version of myself on social media as a replacement for myself every day for a month, and then something funny happened. People loved her, and support started flowing in.

A car magazine approached me to use my ai for the cover of its magazine. So I accepted and was offered a 14-page pictorial. 

‘It’s the latest edition 105 Autobabes magazine available in print and digitally worldwide.

‘Instantly, I became the world’s first real-life female model to have an AI magazine cover making history.’

After the magazine cover was printed worldwide, Gina was approached by an international modeling agency in Europe.

‘I’m in all new territory. This has never happened before in world history,’ she said. 

The AI Gina also lets her create anything for any modeling agency with a push of a few buttons.

‘The beauty is I can sit on a beach in Malibu and create an AI model for a BMW campaign standing next to the car in front of the Eiffel Tower, Gina said.

‘Saving manpower, and time and being highly efficient.

I don’t have to wait for the weather, makeup or lighting. I don’t need taxis, hire cars, air travel, hotels, clothing etc.

I believe in sustainability and doing something good for the environment. So this way, I am not using huge resources.’

AFL star Jamie Cripps and his model wife Liv welcome miracle baby – following devastating cancer diagnosis

By Caleb Taylor For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:21 EDT, 17 August 2023 | Updated: 09:21 EDT, 17 August 2023

Sebastian Bear-McClard was spotted in New York City with model Ava Pearlman on Sunday.

The disgraced film producer, 42, who is in the midst of a divorce from Emily Ratajkowski and was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women earlier this year, was seen strolling through the Big Apple alongside Ava.

He wore a plain white T-shirt, bold blue shorts, New Balance trainers, high ‘Daydreamer’ socks, and carried a canvas tote bag and cell phone.

Ava displayed her svelte abs in a white crop top whilst keeping cool in a green mini skirt and bright pink crocs.

She rocked a head full of vibrant curls, a classic center part, and a pair of silver hoop earrings. A black purse hung from her left shoulder.

Pearlman is a New York City based model who has worked with Nike, Purple Magazine, Glamor Spain and Parade 

Pearlman and Bear-McClard were spotted chatting as they strolled through the city, looking relaxed and focused on the sidewalk ahead.

Sebastian has been embroiled in controversy as of late. 

Last year, Emily filed for divorce from Sebastian following allegations he cheated on her. They married in 2018 and share two-year-old son Sylvester Apollo Bear together.

Just a few months ago Sebastian landed in headlines after he was accused of ‘grooming’ two teenage girls via Instagram before sleeping with them.

The film producer allegedly reached out to a 17-year-old on Instagram in 2016 before meeting her at a Soho loft.

The producer promised her that she would be able to meet the star of ‘Good Time’, Robert Pattinson, on the set of the film which was being produced by Josh and Benny Safdie.

Bear-McClard has been accused of sexual misconduct by two women in documents obtained by Variety and ‘troubling behavior’ by a third.

She claims that she was left waiting on the set in New York for her scene to be called and was forced to strip naked in front of nearly a dozen male cast and crew members.

DailyMail.com reached out to representatives of Bear-McClard and Ratajkowski for comment at the time of the report with no word back.

The woman, now 24, claims that she was also nude in front of the Safdie brothers and was paired with an actor who had recently been released from prison before he was hired for the film.

A spokeswoman for the Safdies told Variety: ‘The Elara team were made aware of Sebastian McClard’s behavior in July 2022. They took immediate action and terminated him.’

Pattinson was not on set the day of the problematic ‘Good Time’ scene, which does not appear in the final version of the movie.

He is also embroiled in private mediation with the Safdie brothers, who fired him from their shared production company, Elara Pictures, last summer.

It is unclear if the documents obtained by Variety were made available as part of the ongoing divorce proceedings between the estranged couple, or the internal investigation which saw Bear-McClard sacked by the production company.

In a statement, which was made in August of last year, the woman said: ‘I was utterly stunned and felt terrified. My distress only worsened when out of nowhere, [an actor] whispered in my ear if “he could stick it in” while the cameras rolled. I said “no”.’

She went on to say that she started sleeping with Bear-McClard despite being 17, and the pair continued in a consensual relationship for more than two years. In New York the age of consent is 17.

The woman’s name does appear in the credits for the movie.

Bear-McClard did not discuss payment with her for the role, but bought her cigarettes afterwards.

A second woman – who was 18 at the time of the incident – also claims she was groomed by the then-married Bear-McClard.

He reportedly contacted her on Instagram and promised to make her a star, while working on Uncut Gems – which starred Adam Sandler.

The second woman claims that she was invited to the apartment that Bear-McClard shared with actress Ratajkowski, where they slept together.

In a statement she added: ‘Sebastian and I started kissing. Things escalated and then, without asking for my consent, Sebastian inserted himself inside me without using a condom.’

She claimed that he also called her ‘retarded’ and a ‘k*ke’, before telling her that he meant it as a joke.

Documents state that she is accusing Bear-McClard of tracking her through and app on her phone, as well as sending messages to a 15-year-old girl on Instagram.

Her statement added: ‘Sebastian appeared pleased with himself and laughed at my comment. He did not deny my accusations.’

Sources told Variety that his contact with the 15-year-old as well as his romantic links to a fourth woman on the set of Uncut Gems led to him being fired by the Safdies.

However the allegations regarding the 15-year-old girl do not appear to make up the official allegations.

A fifth woman, who has worked in the film industry as an intern and an assistant, also provided a statement which claims Bear-McClard engaged in troubling behavior.

Friends of Ratajkowski say that the model is not surprised by the allegations. She is represented by Brett Ward and Jackie Combs in the ongoing divorce.

Ratajkowski and Bear-McClard were married in a New York courthouse in February 2018 after dating for just two weeks. She is fighting for sole custody of their son Sylvester, two years, who was born in March 2021.

A24 released both ‘Good Time’ and ‘Uncut Gems’, and are behind Oscar best picture winners ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and ‘Moonlight.’

A Variety source claims that the scene in question was used in promo footage presented to buyers at the Cannes market in 2016.

This was reportedly the footage that A24 bought the film from, though the scene never made the final cut.

A24 have declined to comment on the matter, but first signed both Bear-McClard and the Safdie’s in 2020 – well after the allegations were made to insiders on the films.

Scientists create a model human embryo with its very own heartbeat that could spill secrets about the first weeks of life

• It was created from human stem cells without eggs, sperm or fertilisation

By Xantha Leatham Deputy Science Editor

Updated: 20:51 EDT, 18 June 2023

Tesla‘s Model 3 vehicle is now cheaper than a Toyota Camry in California due to the Elon Musk-owned company confirming the sedan qualifies for a $7,500 tax cut.

The all-electric vehicle starts at $40,240, but the rebate – combined with another California tax rebate of $7,500 depending on income and other requirements – knocks it down to $25,240.

The Japanese-made Camry lists at $26,320 or higher.

Tesla updated its website Friday to reflect the tax cut, and on Tuesday, the Biden administration confirmed that all Tesla Model 3 vehicles now qualify for electric vehicle consumer tax credits. 

Only two of the three models had been previously eligible for half the credits. 

Analysts specializing in the raw materials markets for lithium-ion batteries told Reuters that Tesla might have been required to change its battery mineral sourcing and components to qualify for the subsidy.  

When the Biden administration’s new battery sourcing rules were enacted this past April, Tesla’s Model 3 Standard Range Rear Wheel Drive and Long Range All-Wheel Drive suddenly only qualified for half credit, saving buyers just $3,750 apiece.

This past March, Tesla was in talks with China’s dominant electric-vehicle battery manufacturer, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), to build a new battery plant in the US.

But those efforts ran into hurdles thanks to new EV rules with President Biden’s signing of the $430-billion Inflation Reduction Act, which imposed North American assembly and new mineral requirements on vehicles for EV credits.   

The new rules were enacted as part of a Biden administration effort to gain energy independence from China’s EV battery supply chains and spur wider adoption of EVs and plug-in hybrids within the US.

Tesla had previously used CATL’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells for its Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive and a nickel-based cell for its Model 3 Long Range sourced from an as-yet-unidentified supplier.

Analyst Caspar Rawles with Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI) told Reuters that Tesla may have dropped CATL in favor of batteries sourced from Panasonic for their US-made Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive, the company’s budget option.

‘It is highly likely it is Panasonic,’ Rawles said, ‘but there may be some concerns around cell availability if they need to supply enough for all US Model 3s.’

Panasonic, unlike CATL, has a battery cell factory in Nevada, meeting federal requirements on local battery components. 

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said: ‘Tesla may have switched to manufacturing those battery packs in the U.S. while still using Chinese cells.’

Clouding the issue, however, a spokesperson for CATL said that the ‘strategic partnership’ between itself, Tesla, and EV consumers ‘has not changed and will continue to deepen and improve.’

Only 11 models – including plug-in hybrid cars – are eligible for the total sum. A further seven will entitle buyers to $3,750. 

Of the vehicles which qualify for the credits, nearly all are manufactured by either General Motors, Tesla and Ford Motor Co. 

The deals do not apply to ‘used’ cars – defined as any previously owned vehicle older than two years.

The eligibility for cars relies on the proportion of the components sourced from North America or countries with US free-trade agreements.

It means electric vehicles made by manufacturers Volkswagen, Hyundai, Nissan, BMW, Volvo and Rivian Automotive do not qualify for any credits.

Kiwi model Georgia Fowler leads star-studded arrivals in $20k gown at the 2023 amfAR Gala in Cannes

By Ciara O’loughlin For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 19:53 EDT, 25 May 2023 | Updated: 19:56 EDT, 25 May 2023