A glance at the week that was
Unique genes
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have discovered genes that are unique to humans. With our other genes passed down by our ancestors, this is quite a discovery and may help us learn just what it is that makes us human. Right now, though, they don’t know what the distinctly human genes are for. Perhaps it gives us the unique ability to drink beer, watch television and iron at the same time.
Dodgy machines
It's only an e-mail account, but whenever Google's Gmail servicegoes down, a significant proportion of the world goes into shock and mild panic. It was down for two hours on Tuesday evening, and almost 150 million users were left without it – including the Google engineers who use Gmail as company e-mail. It's not, though, the world's most popular e-mail address. Yahoo and Microsoft rank ahead of it. Meanwhile, eircom's internet service went down again on Thursday adding further to users' woes.
We now know
Michael Fingletonstill hasn't repaid his €1 million bonus from Irish Nationwide, five months after saying he would.
The number of people who joined the dole queuesin August was the lowest in 14 months
The number of visits to Irelandfell 12 per cent in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2008.
The numbers
90%
The supply of the world’s opium that comes from Afghanistan, even though its crop was down 22 per cent on last year
24%
The fall in house prices since their peak in early 2007, according to the latest Permanent TSB/ESRI House Price Index
€285m
The amount made by Madonna’s Sticky and Sweet world tour (right) – the highest grossing tour ever for a solo artist
"Retiring still feels like the best decision I ever made"
- Stephen Ireland (pictured) on his ongoing absence from international football