For millennia, <keyword id="20114072" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mammals" source="keywords">mammals</keyword> and their remarkable ability to nourish their young with milk have captivated scientists. But how did this extraordinary ability evolve? And how does it work? These questions have puzzled scientists for ages. Now, researchers are using a revolutionary tool — miniature, 3D structures called <keyword id="22303611" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="organoids" source="keywords">organoids</keyword> — to unlock these secrets in a dish. <br /><br />Imagine a tiny version of a <keyword id="22866309" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mammary-gland" source="keywords">mammary gland</keyword>, complete with intricate structures mimicking real tissue. These are organoids, grown from stem cells and holding immense potential for biomedical research. Unlike traditional flat cell cultures, organoids offer a 3D glimpse into the complex world of tissues, allowing scientists to study development, <keyword id="21286955" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="regeneration" source="keywords">regeneration</keyword>, and even disease progression. <br /><br />Traditionally, organoids have been used for human disease modelling and drug testing. But the team at Tufts University is taking it a step further. Their focus? Unveiling the fascinating diversity of mammary glands across the vast spectrum of mammals. <br /><br />Think about the platypus, a mammal that lays eggs! Its milk production is unlike anything seen in cows or humans. This diversity, shaped by millions of years of <keyword id="19900305" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="evolution" source="keywords">evolution</keyword>, holds valuable clues about how mammary glands have adapted to different environments and lifestyles.<br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111522625" title="A woman&amp;#39;s breast cancer was missed on multiple mammograms. She had higher breast density, which can hide tumors." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>By comparing organoids from various species, researchers can reconstruct the evolutionary history of these glands. It's like having a mini-mammal zoo in the lab, allowing scientists to rewind the evolutionary clock and understand how these structures have transformed over time.<br /><br />The mammary gland's remarkable ability to regenerate after each pregnancy makes it a prime candidate for studying tissue renewal. Organoids can help us observe this process in real-time, revealing the secrets behind regeneration in different species. This knowledge could pave the way for advancements in regenerative medicine, potentially leading to treatments for heart disease, diabetes, and even injuries. <br /><br />Organoids also hold immense promise for <keyword id="16070" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="breast-cancer" source="Orion">breast cancer</keyword> research. Studying these tiny tissues from animals with low <keyword id="19896991" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="keywords">cancer</keyword> rates, like cows and pigs, could reveal protective mechanisms that may translate to humans. Additionally, organoids can be used to model the early stages of tumour formation, providing insights into the cellular environment that fuels cancer development. <br /><br />Organoids offer a distinct advantage over traditional animal models. They provide a controlled and ethical environment for research, allowing scientists to study complex processes efficiently. Moreover, organoids can be genetically modified, enabling researchers to pinpoint the exact genes and pathways involved in mammary gland function. <br /><br />While not perfect replicas of living tissues, organoids are a powerful tool with immense potential. As the technology continues to advance, scientists will be able to explore the incredible diversity of mammals and unlock the secrets of milk production, regeneration, and disease. This knowledge can not only benefit human health but also revolutionise fields like agriculture and nutrition science.<br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112220702" title="Millennial and Gen X are developing 17 types of cancers far more frequently than older generations, study finds" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />

Why are scientists growing mini “breasts” in the laboratory?

With hundreds of finger-licking preparations, India loves chicken in a way that may be indescribable to a non-resident. However, with the way things are progressing in the avian world, we could soon see a surge in disdain for the delectable meat, and in perhaps the same way the masses denounced bats during the COVID-19 pandemic.<br /><br />In a surprising and alarming twist, <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07849-4">new research</a> has found that <keyword id="20633083" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="avian-influenza" source="keywords">avian influenza</keyword>, or <keyword id="20396857" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bird-flu" source="keywords">bird flu</keyword>, has jumped from birds to dairy cattle across many parts of the United States. Initially detected in wild birds, the <keyword id="21348322" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="H5N1" source="keywords">H5N1</keyword> had led to symptoms like reduced appetite, respiratory distress, and a significant drop in milk production.<br /><br />"This is one of the first times that we are seeing evidence of efficient and sustained mammalian-to-mammalian transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1," said Diego Diel, a virology expert who has written extensively about the topic.<br /><br />As per the new report, significant amounts of the virus has now been identified in the mammary glands of infected cows, meaning their milk itself has the ability to infect others. Researchers have even documented cases where cats and a raccoon became infected, likely from consuming the raw milk from infected cows. Although pasteurisation has shown the ability to kill the virus, the newfound ability to jump from cows to other mammals remains particularly troubling, especially considering how reliant we are on cow products such as beef and milk.<br /><h2>Human cases and <keyword id="22448349" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pandemic-potential" source="keywords">pandemic potential</keyword></h2>If you’re feeling comfortable in the thought that the virus has some ways to go before humans need to be concerned, you might want to think again. So far, 11 human cases have already been reported in the US, primarily linked to cattle and <keyword id="20524711" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="poultry-farms" source="keywords">poultry farms</keyword>. While these cases have resulted in mild symptoms, experts worry that the virus could mutate, enhancing its transmissibility among humans. This possibility is a significant concern for scientists and health authorities.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="109054967" title="Scientists warn of bird flu pandemic that could be &amp;#39;100 times worse&amp;#39; than COVID after rare human case found in US" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Further, as viruses do, H5N1 is already evolving at a rapid pace. A <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.14.603367">separate study </a>led by researchers at UNC Charlotte found that the latest variants of H5N1 are getting better at evading antibodies, including those in humans. According to the researchers, these mutations could potentially lead the virus towards pandemic status if it continues to adapt and spread among mammals.<br /><h2>Will developing nations be able to cope?</h2>Given these developments, continuous monitoring of the virus in both animals and humans is critical. The US Department of Agriculture has funded H5N1 testing programs to detect and manage outbreaks early. Enhanced biosecurity measures and quarantine protocols will undoubtedly be critical to prevent the virus from spreading to pandemic levels.<br /><br />However, this is a task much easier said than done for developing countries, who often lack the infrastructure and resources needed for such robust surveillance and response. Many of these countries have limited access to advanced diagnostic tools, vaccines, and antiviral treatments. This disparity leaves large portions of the global population vulnerable to the spread of H5N1.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="110941217" title="WHO confirms human case of bird flu in India! H9N2 virus detected in a four-year child in West Bengal" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The World Health Organization has repeatedly stressed the need for global cooperation and support to strengthen health systems in underprepared regions. Without adequate resources, these countries may struggle to detect and contain the virus, potentially allowing it to spread unchecked. This not only endangers local populations but also increases the risk of a global pandemic.<br /><br />The implications of these studies are clear: the H5N1 virus is moving closer to pandemic potential. As it spreads among mammals, the risk of it adapting to humans increases. The world needs to prepare now to avoid being caught off guard, as was the case with the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />

Cows are now spreading bird flu to each other — here's why that's problematic for humans

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Unspayed female dogs can have their first heat cycle anywhere between 6 and 15 months of age.</li><li>During heat, which happens every six months or so and lasts a few weeks, your dog can get pregnant. </li></ul><p>If you got your female dog from a pet store or breeder, or <a href="https://www.insider.com/adopting-a-pet-from-a-shelter-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adopted her from a shelter</a> or rescue at a very young age, chances are she probably isn't spayed. At some point, then, your pup will inevitably be in "heat" — the part of her reproductive cycle when she's open to mating and can get pregnant.</p><p>Heat is sometimes referred to as a "dog period" because of the bloody vaginal discharge, but it's important to note that dogs <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/do-dogs-have-periods/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don't menstruate in the same way</a> human females do. They do, however, have cycles during which they experience a surge and then decline in estrogen, and their ovaries release the eggs. Heat is the stage of this process when your dog <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/ovulation-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ovulates</a>.</p><p>Male dogs can only impregnate female dogs who are in heat, says <a href="https://www.bcrah.com/about/meet-our-team/megan-mccarthy.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Megan McCarthy</a>, a staff veterinarian at <a href="http://www.bestfriends.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Best Friends Animal Society</a>. That's why it's essential to pay attention to signs that suggest your dog is in heat. </p><p>Here's everything to know about dogs in heat — when and how often it happens, how long it lasts, and how to tell it's happening.</p><h2>How often does it happen?</h2><div type="image" title="Small dog with curly white fur sits on their owner’s lap in an open space." height="2268" width="3023" msid="92583131" hostid="261" sizebytes="239268"></div><p>Most dogs will have their first heat cycle between <a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tox/29/3/29_2016-0021/_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">six and 15 months</a> of age. This can vary depending on the dog's size and breed. </p><p>According to <a href="https://whitemountainanimal.com/meet-the-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Ole Alcumbrac</a>, veterinarian and owner of <a href="https://whitemountainanimal.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White Mountain Animal Hospital</a>, dogs typically go into their first heat when they've reached about 70%-80% of their maximum body weight. Larger breeds tend to <a href="https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/routine-care-and-breeding-of-dogs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">start their heat cycles much later</a> than smaller breeds, McCarthy says.</p><p>Dogs usually go into heat twice a year, or every 6 months or so, McCarthy says, and small dogs tend to go into heat more frequently than large dogs. Smaller breeds may cycle three times a year, but very large breeds may only cycle once a year.</p><p>Heat cycles tend to be pretty consistent, so if your dog has two heat cycles 6 months apart, you can expect that to continue. However, it can take <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/when-dogs-in-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">up to two years</a> for your dog to experience regular cycles. Additionally, keep in mind that the length of time between heat cycles <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/when-dogs-in-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can increase as a dog gets older</a>.</p><h2>What are the signs?</h2><div type="image" title="A dog relaxes on the couch under a blanket." height="3000" width="4000" msid="92583132" hostid="261" sizebytes="1414424"></div><p>Identifying the signs of your dog's heat cycle can help you avoid puppies, for one thing, but it can also help you care for your dog properly. </p><p>These signs can indicate your dog is in heat.</p><h3>Early signs</h3><p>The first signs of heat appear during "proestrus," when your dog's reproductive tract prepares for ovulation. During proestrus, male dogs may seem more attracted to your dog, but she likely won't be receptive to mating. Even if she does mate with a male dog, she can't become pregnant during this stage.</p><p>You may notice the following during proestrus:</p><ul><li>Swelling of the vulva</li><li>Bloody vaginal discharge </li><li>Holding or tucking her tail closer to her body</li><li>Increased clinginess</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/should-i-bring-my-pet-to-the-vet-2019-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Changes in appetite</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/ways-youre-making-your-dog-upset-veterinarians-2022-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aggression</a> toward male dogs</li></ul><p>Alcumbrac says vulva swelling is usually the first symptom, followed by blood-tinged discharge.</p><h3>Active heat signs</h3><p>The "estrus" stage is when your dog is in active heat and able to be impregnated. You may notice the following signs during estrus, according to <a href="https://www.citypetsvets.com/who-we-are/dr-amy-attas-founder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Amy Attas</a>, a veterinarian and founder of <a href="https://www.citypetsvets.com/who-we-are/dr-amy-attas-founder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">City Pets</a>:</p><ul><li>Less discharge that's lighter/pinkish in color</li><li>Less swollen vulva</li><li>More receptiveness and friendliness toward male dogs</li><li>Increased vocalizing, especially moaning, whining, yowling, and crying</li><li>More aggression toward female dogs</li><li>Restless or nervous behavior</li><li>Peeing more frequently than normal</li><li>Increased attraction and attention from male dogs</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/why-does-my-dog-do-that-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Flagging"</a> — lifting her rear toward male dogs or moving her tail to the side</li></ul><p>Attas says it's also not uncommon for female dogs to urinate small amounts on various objects in the home or outside while in heat. That's because during estrus, their urine contains pheromones and hormones that signal their reproductive state to male dogs.</p><p><strong>Note: </strong>Some dogs may experience a "<a href="https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/infertility-in-female-dogs#:~:text=Some%20dogs%20experience%20a%20condition,and%20interferes%20with%20estrous%20cycling." target="_blank" rel="noopener">silent heat</a>" with little to no physical or behavioral changes, but this is rare.</p><h2>How long does heat last? </h2><div type="image" title="Dog lays on their back with a snuggly toy between their paws" height="2268" width="3023" msid="92583133" hostid="261" sizebytes="720660"></div><p>The heat cycle lasts for about <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/dog/Reproductive-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18-21 days</a>. </p><p>According to Alcumbrac, proestrus averages about 2-11 days, and estrus usually lasts 3-5 days but can <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/dog/Reproductive-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">be as long as 11 days</a>.</p><p>The length can vary based on your dog's breed, size, and age, but once your dog begins to have regular cycles, you can expect them to stay in heat for roughly the same amount of time.</p><h2>What should I do? </h2><div type="image" title="Insider employee Danny Bakst walking his dog." height="893" width="1188" msid="92583134" hostid="261" sizebytes="129028"></div><p>Your dog may require a little extra TLC during heat. Fluctuating hormone levels can have a big impact on her physically and behaviorally, which is why McCarthy advises giving her plenty of attention and comfort. </p><p>To care for your dog during heat, you can: </p><ul><li>Take her on frequent short walks. She may need to pee more often while she's in heat, and light exercise can also help her release pent-up nervous or aggressive energy. Consider taking walks earlier in the morning or later in the evening, when there's less dog traffic in your neighborhood. Never force your dog to take a walk if she seems tired — instead, let her rest.</li><li>Offer <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/pets/best-chew-toys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chew-resistant toys</a> to distract her and help relieve stress.</li><li>Avoid scolding or shaming your dog for any messes due to bloody discharge. Speak in a gentle, reassuring voice.</li><li>Make sure your dog drinks plenty of water and eats well.</li><li>If you have multiple dogs, make sure she has her own <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/pets/best-dog-bowl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food bowl</a>, water bowl, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/pets/best-dog-bed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bed</a> to avoid fights.</li><li>Make time to pet her, massage her, and brush her coat, all of which can be soothing and calming.</li><li>Give her plenty of space and allow her to initiate cuddles and interactions.</li></ul><p><strong>Quick tip: </strong>Worried about unwanted messes in the house? McCarthy suggests having your dog wear a <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chewy.com%2Fpet-magasin-washable-female-dog%2Fdp%2F152139" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">doggy diaper</a> to contain any blood-tinged discharge. This can also help prevent your pup from spreading pheromones and attracting male dogs. Just note these diapers won't necessarily stop mating from happening. </p><p>If you use doggy diapers, McCarthy says it's important to change them often — at least every three to four hours — to prevent skin irritation and urinary tract infections. </p><p>Keeping your pup away from unneutered male dogs is crucial if you're trying to prevent pregnancy, says Attas. McCarthy suggests avoiding dog parks, group training events, and other events involving other dogs while yours is in heat. </p><p>Never leave your dog alone outside, and always keep her on a leash when going for walks. You may even want to keep windows closed to prevent male dog visitors from showing up at your house.</p><h2>When to get your dog spayed</h2><p>Getting your dog spayed as soon as possible is the best way to prevent your dog from getting pregnant, especially if they spend a lot of time around other dogs, McCarthy says. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/canine-life-stage-2019/caninelifestage_spayneuter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Animal Hospital Association</a> recommends spaying before your dog's first heat cycle: </p><ul><li>Between five to six months of age for breeds that weigh less than 45 pounds when fully grown </li><li>Between 5-15 months for breeds that weigh more than 45 pounds when fully grown</li></ul><p>"We usually want to allow the larger breeds to grow more before spaying because this procedure can alter the way their bones develop," Alcumbrac says.</p><p>If you're not sure about the appropriate time to spay your dog, consult your veterinarian.</p><h2>Benefits of spaying</h2><p>Each year, approximately <a href="https://www.aspca.org/helping-people-pets/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.1 million dogs</a> enter U.S. animal shelters.  Due to overcrowding, approximately 390,000 are euthanized. So unless you have a specific plan for puppies, spaying your dog is the best way to prevent further unnecessary premature dog deaths.</p><p>Experts also say spaying can have multiple health benefits for your dog. In fact, a <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0061082" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2013 study</a> found that the life expectancy of spayed female dogs was 26.3% longer than that of unspayed dogs. </p><p>One reason being that spaying reduces your dog's risk of breast cancer and <a href="https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/pyometra" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pyometra</a> (a potentially fatal uterine infection that occurs as a result of hormonal changes in the reproductive tract). </p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/breast-cancer-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Breast cancer</a> is the <a href="https://caninearthritis.org/article/spay-neuter-orthopedic-disease-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most common type of tumor</a> in unspayed female dogs. In fact, about <a href="https://www.merckvetmanual.com/special-pet-topics/cancer-and-tumors/reducing-the-risk-of-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">half of mammary gland tumors</a> in dogs are cancerous. </p><p>But spaying your dog <a href="https://humanesocietyofnortheastgeorgia.org/how-spaying-neutering-helps-prevent-cancer-in-pets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reduces the production of hormones</a> that can contribute to the growth of these mammary gland tumors. That's why dogs spayed before their first heat have only a <a href="https://caninearthritis.org/article/spay-neuter-orthopedic-disease-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">0.5% risk</a> of developing mammary cancer. </p><p>This risk increases to 8% if they're spayed between the first and second heat cycles and jumps to 25% if they're spayed any time after their second heat.</p><p>Lastly, spaying your dog can reduce certain behavioral problems, including:</p><ul><li>Aggression</li><li>Roaming</li><li>Excessive vocalizing</li><li>Urine marking</li></ul><h2>Insider's takeaway</h2><p>All unspayed female dogs go into heat — a stage in their reproductive cycle when they're open to mating and able to get pregnant. If you can recognize the early signs, you have a better chance of preventing your dog from getting pregnant. </p><p>When you notice signs of heat, you can reduce the chances of unwanted pregnancy by always using a leash when taking them outdoors and keeping them away from dog parks or other areas that may have unneutered dogs.</p><p>In addition to protecting your dog from getting pregnant, you'll also want to make it a point to provide her with plenty of comfort.</p><p>Remember: While spaying is a personal decision that only you as the owner can make, it can offer a range of benefits for both you and your beloved pup.</p>

Tell-tale signs your dog's about to go into heat and how to comfort her and prevent an unwanted pregnancy

<ul class="summary-list"><li> A woman is campaigning for <keyword id="11917540" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="beaches" source="Orion">beaches</keyword> in <keyword id="12608013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nantucket" source="Orion">Nantucket</keyword> to become accepting of topless visitors. </li><li>Dorothy Stover, a resident, proposed the bylaw amendment that locals will vote on in May.</li></ul><p>A seventh-generation Nantucket woman is campaigning for all beaches in the town to accept toplessness from any person, <a href="https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2022/02/14/nantucket-topless-beaches-dorothy-stover-town-meeting-bylaw-amendment-gender-equality/6741196001/">according to Eric Williams of the Cape Cod Times</a>. </p><p>Dorothy Stover, 40, told the publication she wants everyone, regardless of gender, to be able to be topless on the beach.</p><p>"This past summer, I was at the beach and I wanted to lay out topless," she recalled. "And I thought, 'why can't I do that?'" she said. </p><p>Stover, who did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, <a href="https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/11/17/nantucket-topless-beaches-vote/">proposed a bylaw amendment, "Gender Equality on Beaches" in November 2021,</a> according to Boston.com. This aims to "promote <keyword id="11956146" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="equality" source="Orion">equality</keyword> for all persons, any person shall be allowed to be topless on any public or private beach within the Town of Nantucket."</p><p>"We have the exact same makeup — men have mammary glands and nipples — and so I started reaching more into it and men can go topless but we can't," <a href="https://n-magazine.com/petition-would-make-all-nantucket-beaches-topless/">Stover told Nantucket Current reporter Jason Graziadei</a>. "It blew my mind that we're still in this space. But it's turned into an equity issue, and I know I'm not the only one who thinks this."</p><p>The Cape Cod Times reported that locals will vote on the bylaw amendment during Nantucket's <a href="https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/2285/2022-Annual-Town-Meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">town meeting</a> in May 2022. If it is approved, it will change the current state law, which stipulates only men can be topless on the beach.</p><p>Stover, who is a sex educator and runs the <a href="https://nantucketloveschool.com/about">Nantucket Love School</a> — a love and sexual pleasure community — spoke to the publication about her decision to move forward with her <keyword id="6359590" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="campaign" source="Orion">campaign</keyword>.</p><p>She said the law that only allows male toplessness was "really antiquated" and described it as a form of "inequality." She added: "Some men have bigger breasts than I do."</p><p>According to Cape Cod Times, not all locals are as passionate about the cause as Stover. Shantaw Bloise-Murphy, business manager at the <a href="https://www.nantucketchamber.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nantucket Chamber of Commerce</a>, told the publication: "I personally haven't heard grumbling about it."</p><p>The approval of Stover's proposed bylaw amendment would result in a change to the current state law punishment for "open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior," <a href="https://www.mass.gov/doc/7400-open-and-gross-lewdness-and-lascivious-behavior-gl-c-272-s-16/download">which includes the intentional public exposure of female breasts,</a> according to a government document. The penalty for such breaches can result in three years imprisonment and a fine of up to $300 fine.</p><p>Nantucket Chamber of Commerce did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.</p>

A woman who runs a 'love' school is campaigning for topless beaches in Nantucket

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b50ed9895d4381c008b484d-1333/breast implants.jpg" border="0" alt="Breast Implants" data-mce-source="Spencer Platt/Getty" /><p class="source"><span>Spencer Platt/Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Costa Rica-based company Establishment Labs, the maker of Motiva breast implants, went public last week.</strong></li><li><strong>It was the first IPO for the aesthetics sector in 2018, and the first breast aesthetics public offering in more than three years.</strong></li><li><strong>The company is trying to disrupt an industry dominated by just three players: J&amp;J, Allergan, and Sientra.</strong></li><li><strong>The funding from the initial public offering will help the company advance through FDA clinical trials. </strong></li></ul><hr /><p>Breast augmentation surgeries are the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world, but there has been little innovation in years.</p><p>A Costa-Rican company called Establishment Labs hopes to change that by bringing an updated breast implant into the US market.</p><p>Founded in 2004 by <span>Juan José Chacón-Quirós, who grew up in a family full of plastic surgeons, the medical technology company went public on the Nasdaq last Thursday.</span></p><p><span>The funding it receives through the public offering will fund the FDA clinical trial process for its Motiva breast implants. Establishment Labs will finish enrolling for its clinical trials in 2019.</span></p><p>This will be the first IPO for the aesthetics sector in 2018, and the first breast aesthetics public offering in more than three years.</p><p>"There has been no innovation in this area in a long time," said Chacón-Quirós in an interview. "I wanted to create a product that will be updated with technology from this century."</p><p><span>The global breast implants market size was valued at $1.2 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow to $2 billion by 2025. Of that market, silicone implants held the largest market share over alternatives like saline implants. Despite saline implants being safer, silicone are the more popular option due to their natural feel. Research into using other materials like soybean oil for implants has been unsuccessful. Chacón-Quirós set out to create Motiva implants to be comfortable and safe for consumers.  </span></p><p>It's on course to disrupt an industry dominated by just three players: <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/jnj-stock">Johnson and Johnson</a>, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/allergan-stock">Allergan,</a> and <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/sien-stock">Sientra.</a></p><p>Motiva implants have been available in Latin American and European markets since 2010, and has since expanded to 60 countries. </p><p>"We reimagined breast implants with updated chemistry and mechanical properties," said Chacón-Quirós. A specialized gel used to make the implant allows it to mimic a more natural feel. The implant is nested under the mammary gland in the breast, and therefore doesn't interfere with normal functions like breastfeeding or breast screening. </p><p>In a study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2017, it was found that compared to silicone implants, Motiva implants had lower rates of complications after three years, suggesting that it is safe and durable. </p><p>Women are becoming more active, said Chacón-Quirós, and Motiva is updating the breast augmentation industry to accommodate this shift. </p><p>The implants sell for a higher price than other options in the market, and is also available to insurers and public health systems. </p><p>Of the 1.8 million cosmetic surgical procedures performed in the US in 2017, there were roughly 300,000 breast augmentation procedures, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. According to the FDA, approximately 5 to 10 million women worldwide have breast implants.</p><p> </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/value-investing-applied-to-the-socially-responsible-sector-2018-7">Expanding Warren Buffett's value investing approach to the socially responsible sector</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/iTBbQVUW-xjRU7l6Z.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

A Costa Rican company just went public and is set to disrupt an outdated breast implant industry

What having a dog does to your brain and body

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57977b2ddd089505568b460f-2400/nottingham-dollies-sheep-1.jpg" alt="Nottingham Dollies sheep 1" data-mce-source="University of Nottingham"><p class="source"><span>University of Nottingham</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>On July 5, 1996, Dolly the sheep became the world's first ovine (sheepy) superstar.</p><p>She was the first mammal successfully cloned from an adult cell, ushering in an era where you can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/dec/28/second-cloned-puppy-birth-british-couple-overjoyed">special-order cloned puppies</a> or <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/07/polo-horse-cloning-adolfo-cambiaso">elite polo horses</a>.</p><p>But scientists were also concerned that Dolly could be a cautionary tale: Genetic testing revealed that her DNA <a href="http://www.roslin.ed.ac.uk/public-interest/dolly-the-sheep/a-life-of-dolly/">showed signs of aging at just one year old</a>, and at 5, she was diagnosed with arthritis. It wasn't clear whether Dolly's problems were because she was a clone.</p><p>Dolly eventually died of a virus in 2003 at six years old - <a href="http://napavalleyregister.com/news/dolly-dies-at-half-her-life-expectancy/article_dbf09507-ad52-52f9-b9b6-64ae4ff4b472.html">half the typical life expectancy</a> of a sheep of her kind.</p><p>"We're presented with a blank slate in a way," researcher David Gardner said during a press conference in the UK on Monday. "We wanted to assess these animals' physiology to see if they're normal."</p><p>As it turns out, Dolly may have just gotten a bad shake. Researchers at the University of Nottingham announced Tuesday that four clones derived from Dolly's cell line are alive and healthy at nine years old.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57977b2ddd089505568b4610-2400/nottingham-dollies-grazing-cloned-sheep.jpg" alt="Nottingham Dollies grazing cloned sheep" data-mce-source="University of Nottingham"><p class="source"><span>University of Nottingham</span></p><p class="caption">Meet Debbie, Denise, Dianna, and Daisy.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>The four "Nottingham Dollies," as they've been dubbed by their keepers at the Roslin Institute, are the only survivors from a group of 10 Dolly clones born in 2007.</p><p>They were raised alongside nine other non-Dolly clones and regular sheep in order to measure their metabolic, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal health. Despite Dolly's seemingly premature aging in her joints, only one of the four clones, Debbie, showed moderate arthritis.</p><p>"Metabolically and cardiovascular-wise, they were indistinguishable from other sheep of that age," veterinarian and collaborator Sandra Corr told the press. "We found that the majority of sheep were really very healthy considering their age."</p><p>The are also incredibly soothing to watch.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57977b2ddd089505568b4611-/giphy%20(22).gif" alt="giphy (22)" width="779" height="438" data-mce-source="University of Nottingham" /></div></div>The idea that five clones could all develop arthritis differently and at different ages is a tantalizing hint in the search to teasing out how epigenetics, or factors that affect how genes are expressed, influence the life of an organism.<p>The sheep were all cloned using the same method that created Dolly, called <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/somatic_cell_nuclear_transfer.htm">somatic-cell nuclear transfer</a>.</p><p>In this process, scientists remove the DNA (located in the nucleus of a cell) from the mammary gland of an original sheep, then transfer it into the nucleus of an egg cell. Next they give this new egg cell a small jolt - in the case of the surviving Dollies, caffeine - which triggers the cell to start dividing until it becomes a viable embryo.</p><p>As cells mature, they differentiate. A skin cell, for example, is different from a lung cell. Part of what made Dolly's successful birth so remarkable is that scientists were able to "reset" those differentiated cells back to <em>un</em>differentiated cells so they could grow into an entirely new lamb.</p><p>This is the most in-depth study of health of clones over their lifespan, according to lead researcher Kevin Sinclair in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P682BvPfEtc">video released by the University of Nottingham</a>. (Sinclair took over the project after his predecessor Keith Campbell, who cloned the sheep nine years ago, passed away in 2012.)</p><p>So far, the Dollies' good health - helped along by a lifestyle most farmed sheep would likely consider luxurious - is an indication that clones can live long, healthy lives.</p><p>"Were cloning to accelerate aging, we would've seen it in this group," Sinclair told the press on Monday.</p><p>Watch Sinclair give more details on the life of the Nottingham Dollies below.</p><p><div><iframe width="800" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P682BvPfEtc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/clone-dog-korea-sooam-2015-8">We visited a one-of-a-kind lab in South Korea that will clone your dog for $100,000</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="RyZXVudjp283dBhfgqi-xw_euKyTZcSe" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'RyZXVudjp283dBhfgqi-xw_euKyTZcSe',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Scientists made 4 clones of Dolly the sheep - here's what happened to them all

<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:480px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51f6c0e8eab8eace6500000e-620-465/aijun.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="aijun" width="480" /><p class="source">Taobao/Weibo</p><p class="caption">A 24-year-old with the <keyword id="163403" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Taobao">Taobao</keyword> user name "Aijun aj" died of work-induced cardiac failure in 2012.</p></div></div>Running an online business can be difficult. It can also be life-threatening. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">In <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>, there's been a spike in the number of overworked employees who have dropped dead, particularly in the <keyword id="35621" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="e-commerce">e-commerce</keyword> space.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">One company that's becoming infamous for its user death toll is <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&amp;sl=zh-CN&amp;u=http://www.taobao.com/&amp;prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtaobao">Taobao</a>, a Chinese e-commerce platform that resembles eBay. Merchants can post items on their own Taobao storefronts. They're in charge of everything from keeping inventory and shipping items to updating the website and communicating with customers. But when their businesses take off, the work load can become too much.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">In July 2012, 24-year-old "Aijun aj" who was running a store on Taobao died of cardiac failure. She wasn't the first or the last. Jun's death was preceded by a mother who ran a store on Taobao and a 25-year-old who ran another highly-rated online shop. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span>Being overworked doesn't directly kill you. It leads to a series of poor health decisions, such as irregular diets, chronic stress, lack of exercise, and exhaustion, which can cause heart issues like Aijun's, blood clots and more.</span></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Since the death of Aijun, other Taobao shopkeepers have expressed how grueling maintaining an online business can be. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"></span><span class="s1" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">"</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">I miss my sleep," one Taobao store owner told <a href="http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/143487-1.htm">China's YouthDaily</a>. "Although I hired someone to help me with customer service, things are never done. I still have to do the restocking, customer service, delivery, photography, web page design and information editing. As a result, I have to sacrifice my sleep."</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Another described the madness of maintaining growth. "I often talk to 15 to 20 customers at once," Su Yuli tells <a href="http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/143487-1.htm">YouthDaily</a>. "Whether you are on your way to the post office to take delivery or sitting on the toilet, you have to be [communicating with Taobao customers]."</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">A survey produced by Taobao last year showed its <a href="http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/143487-1.htm?pos=0">sellers often work 10-15 hours per day</a>, YouthDaily reports. And another survey from 2011 of Taobao's store managers <a href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/210846-online-shop-industry-causes-sudden-deaths-in-china/">cited by Epoch Times</a> is even more startling:</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">"38 manager/owners, or more than 50 percent, had cervical abnormalities. 37 manager/owners, or 94 percent of the female manager/owners, had hyperplasia of mammary gland. 35 percent, or 26 managers/owners, were diagnosed with hyperopia. Chronic pharyngitis, dyslipidemia, fatty liver disease, and thyroid abnormality were confirmed in 21, 19, 18, and 17 managers/owners, respectively." </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Since Taobao is a platform, not an employer of the over-worked, it can't be blamed when its users push themselves too hard. But Taobao is trying to help find a solution. </span></p>
<p class="p3">"No matter how important your career is, do not neglect your health, especially during these hot summer days," it <a href="http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/143487-1.htm?pos=1">warned its shopkeepers</a> after Aijun's death. </p>
<p class="p3">Still, the number of e-commerce related health issues and deaths in China are on the rise. More than 50,000 surveyed online shop owners reported having regular headaches, aches and pains, <a href="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-07/27/content_15624581.htm">ChinaDaily reports</a>. <span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">A 2012 study cited by Epoch Times found that<a href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/210846-online-shop-industry-causes-sudden-deaths-in-china/"> 600,000 people die suddenly</a> from being over-worked each year.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">The most recent incident occurred last week, when <a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130719000044&amp;cid=1303">36-year-old Taobao shop owner </a></span><a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130719000044&amp;cid=1303"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Wu Lijun </span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130719000044&amp;cid=1303">died</a> of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a blood clot in the brain. Lijun ran one of Taobao's most popular skincare businesses. A May article, "<span>The Top Ten Sudden-Death-Prone Industries." listed "Taobao shopkeeper" as the tenth most fatal career. Again, Taobao alerted its users to the dangers of working excessively.</span></span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Exhaustion-induced fatalities have occurred outside the e-commerce industry too. In May, an advertising employee at <a href="http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/05/16/14/31/young-employee-dies-from-overwork-in-china">Ogilvy China suffered a fatal heart attack</a>. Blogs and tweets were quick to blame it on too much work; the man reportedly spent 30 days leading up to his death working until 11 PM.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">While companies like Taobao can help create awareness for the work-enduced deaths, it's up to its merchants to know when to pump the breaks.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">"Why<span> </span>does<span> </span>a<span> </span>day<span> </span>only<span> </span>have<span> 24 </span>hours<span>? </span>I<span> </span>want<span> </span>to<span> </span>be<span> </span>a<span> </span>rechargeable<span> </span>robot<span>," Aijun lamented once online. </span></span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span>Shortly after, she was dead.</span></span></p>

The E-Commerce Entrepreneurs Who Are Literally Working Themselves To Death

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/51f6d27decad041046000004-800-600/overworked%20e-commerce.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="Overworked E Commerce" width="480" /><p class="source">Weibo, Business Insider</p></div><p></p></div>Running an online business can be difficult. It can also be life-threatening.</p>
<p>In <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>, there's been a spike in the number of overworked employees who have dropped dead, particularly in the <keyword id="35621" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="e-commerce">e-commerce</keyword> space.</p>
<p>One company that's becoming infamous for its worker death toll is <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&amp;sl=zh-CN&amp;u=http://www.taobao.com/&amp;prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtaobao">Taobao</a>, a Chinese e-commerce platform that resembles eBay. Merchants can post items on their own <keyword id="163403" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Taobao">Taobao</keyword> storefronts. They're in charge of everything from keeping inventory and shipping items to updating the website and communicating with customers. But when their businesses take off, the work load can become too much.</p>
<p>In July 2012, 24-year-old "Aijun aj" who was running a store on Taobao died of cardiac failure. She wasn't the first or the last. Aijun's death was preceded by a mother who ran a store on Taobao and a 25-year-old who ran another highly-rated online shop.</p>
<p>Being overworked doesn't directly kill you. It leads to a series of poor health decisions, such as irregular diets, chronic stress, lack of exercise, and exhaustion, which can cause heart issues like Aijun's, blood clots and more.</p>
<p>Since the death of Aijun, other Taobao shopkeepers have expressed how grueling maintaining an online business can be.</p>
<p>"I miss my sleep," one Taobao store owner told <a href="http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/143487-1.htm">China's YouthDaily</a>. "Although I hired someone to help me with customer service, things are never done. I still have to do the restocking, customer service, delivery, photography, web page design and information editing. As a result, I have to sacrifice my sleep."</p>
<p>Another described the madness of maintaining growth. "I often talk to 15 to 20 customers at once," Su Yuli tells <a href="http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/143487-1.htm">YouthDaily</a>. "Whether you are on your way to the post office to take delivery or sitting on the toilet, you have to be [communicating with Taobao customers]."</p>
<p>A survey produced by Taobao last year showed its <a href="http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/143487-1.htm?pos=0">sellers often work 10-15 hours per day</a>, YouthDaily reports. And another survey from 2011 of Taobao's store managers <a href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/210846-online-shop-industry-causes-sudden-deaths-in-china/">cited by Epoch Times</a> is even more startling:</p>
<p>"38 manager/owners, or more than 50 percent, had cervical abnormalities. 37 manager/owners, or 94 percent of the female manager/owners, had hyperplasia of mammary gland. 35 percent, or 26 managers/owners, were diagnosed with hyperopia. Chronic pharyngitis, dyslipidemia, fatty liver disease, and thyroid abnormality were confirmed in 21, 19, 18, and 17 managers/owners, respectively."</p>
<p>Since Taobao is a platform, not an employer of the over-worked, it can't be blamed when its users push themselves too hard. But Taobao is trying to help find a solution.</p>
<p>"No matter how important your career is, do not neglect your health, especially during these hot summer days," it <a href="http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/143487-1.htm?pos=1">warned its shopkeepers</a> after Aijun's death.</p>
<p>Still, the number of e-commerce related health issues and deaths in China are on the rise. More than 50,000 surveyed online shop owners reported having regular headaches, aches, and pains, <a href="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-07/27/content_15624581.htm">ChinaDaily reports</a>. A 2012 study cited by Epoch Times found that <a href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/210846-online-shop-industry-causes-sudden-deaths-in-china/">600,000 people die suddenly</a> from being over-worked each year.</p>
<p>The most recent incident occurred last week, when <a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130719000044&amp;cid=1303">36-year-old Taobao shop owner </a><a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130719000044&amp;cid=1303">Wu Lijun </a><a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130719000044&amp;cid=1303">died</a> of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a blood clot in the brain. Lijun ran one of Taobao's most popular skincare businesses. A May article, "The Top Ten Sudden-Death-Prone Industries," listed "Taobao shopkeeper" as the tenth most fatal career. Again, Taobao alerted its users to the dangers of working excessively.</p>
<p>Exhaustion-induced fatalities have occurred outside the e-commerce industry too. In May, an advertising employee at <a href="http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/05/16/14/31/young-employee-dies-from-overwork-in-china">Ogilvy China suffered a fatal heart attack</a>. Blogs and tweets were quick to blame it on too much work; the man reportedly spent 30 days leading up to his death working until 11 PM.</p>
<p>While companies like Taobao can help create awareness for the work-induced deaths, it's up to its merchants to know when to pump the brakes.</p>
<p>"Why does a day only have 24 hours? I want to be a rechargeable robot," Aijun lamented once online.</p>
<p>Shortly after, she was dead.</p>
<p>Here's what one merchant's Taobao store ("cat1881") looks like.</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51f6c70069bedd820b000000-1098-502/screen%20shot%202013-07-29%20at%203.45.45%20pm.png" border="0" alt="taobao storefront" width="800" /><p class="source"><a href="http://cat1881.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=874.568776.6698081.21.inECdy&amp;user_number_id=380071465&amp;ssid=r11">Taobao</a></p></div><p></p></div></p>

<p><div class="image-container click-to-enlarge"><div class="image"><a title_source="Burning Angel" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/523c8a1269bedde469cb58c3-960/100923-joanna-hot-tub-pg-014-1.jpg"><span class="click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/523c8a1269bedde469cb58c3-780-390/100923-joanna-hot-tub-pg-014-1.jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="100923 Joanna Hot Tub PG 014" width="800" /></a><p class="source on-image">Burning Angel</p></div></div></p>
<p>"It isn't too different from an indie movie shoot," says <keyword id="1876594" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Joanna-Angel">Joanna Angel</keyword>. "There's the challenge of a budget, which is a challenge for any movie, but when you're dealing with sex you're dependent on male genitalia to do a certain thing."</p>
<p>Joanna Angel makes <keyword id="6367992" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Porn">porn</keyword>. It began in 2002 when she and her Rutgers University roommate started a website called Burning Angel. "We just came up with the name. It had a good girl/bad girl thing going, so we liked it," she told Business Insider recently. "Initially I thought of being a journalist, possibly a sex advice column type person kind of like a Carrie Bradshaw. I also had this odd dream to teach English classes to people in prison. Burning Angel was a very small experiment at first. I never imagined it would become my career."</p>
<p>Burning Angel distinguished itself by offering some exceptionally different fare from your conventional <em>Playboy</em>-style airbrushed nudity. While other porn operations are often focused the size of their models' members and mammary glands, Burning Angel went a different way and became a progenitor of what's now known as "alt-porn": pierced and <span class="il">dyed</span> punk rock girls wearing tattoos and little else.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="image-container float_right"><div class="image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/523c93c3eab8eab96fcb58bb-1024-768/120418-joanna-retro-ride-pg-095-1.jpg" border="0" alt="120418 Joanna Retro Ride PG 095" width="480" /><p class="source on-image">Burning Angel</p></div></div>Today, as an 11-year veteran of the adult industry, Angel has served a number of roles in front of and behind the camera. Burning Angel is now a serious business with 10 other people involved in the day-to-day operation. It seems to run much like a startup.<br /></span></p>
<p>"I think we started at the right time and developed a lot of fans early on. I had a passion for it and I did anything and everything to get the word out about my site," she said. And the word did indeed get out.</p>
<p>Alt-porn is "kind of a silly name," <a href="http://www.complex.com/girls/2011/07/interview-joanna-angel-talks-alt-porn-piracy-and-her-blow-up-doll">she once told Complex</a>. "It's just supposed to mean porn that is different. It's like, what is alternative music really? It's just music that's different from pop music, you know? But I think what makes alt-porn is the community and the culture behind it in addition to the content."</p>
<p>Angel's site also differs from regular porn because it has a focus on community and culture. There are your standard offerings in picture and video, of course. But Burning Angel also has live events, both online and in the physical world, and there's also an active forum for members to discuss music or tattoos or pop culture in general. Engaging with other members (and even the performers) gives paying users a reason to return to the site again and again.</p>
<p>Burning Angel has to make money in a variety of ways since it's competing the endless world of free porn on the Internet. The lion's share of revenue comes from user subscription fees. After that, there's money in selling DVDs, hosting events, booking appearances, and selling branded clothing. Burning Angel even sells its own line of sex toys.</p>
<p><span>A subscription to Burning Angel content costs $29.95 per month, $68.95 per quarter, or $95.40 per year. A three-day trial run is three bucks. <span>The site sees about 30,000 unique hits per day, and after a relaunch two months ago, this number is starting to grow. </span></span>In terms of user base, there are about 60,000 active members, and because Burning Angel was built with community in mind, members stick around to socialize after they watch their porn.</p>
<p>Burning Angel's success didn't happen overnight. "When we started, I had a part-time job as a waitress. I wanted to quit so that I'd have as much time as possible to work on the company. I didn't want to work for myself during the day and for someone else at night," Angel says.</p>
<p><div class="image-container float_right"><div class="image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/523c9890eab8ea9979cb58bb-688-516/101211-joanna-classic-creme-lingerie-pg-182-2.jpg" border="0" alt="101211 Joanna Classic Creme Lingerie PG 182" width="480" /><p class="source on-image">Burning Angel</p></div></div>She won an Adult Video News Award (think: the Academy Awards of porn) for Most Outrageous Sex Scene in 2006, catapulted Burning Angel to mainstream attention. She has since won plenty more awards, written and directed a number of films, and has obviously appeared in many as well.</p>
<p>And in 11 years of work to date, she still hasn't tired of it: "I oversee everything, especially on the creative side. Nothing creative gets shown to anyone unless it goes through me first. I don't work on the day-to-day stuff anymore, but I still kinda do a little of everything. And sometimes I'm on camera too."</p>
<p>If Joanna has it her way, the future will only hold more work and opportunity for Burning Angel. "Porn is definitely tough," she said, "but this is my career and this is what I do. We want to expand the brand and do even more with it. At this point, we've been around for a while. But we're still growing because we're still a small business."</p>

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