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Standing 6-foot-10, Johnson is 5 inches taller than Fergie Jenkins, who along with the late Don Drysdale and Eppa Rixey stood as the tallest pitchers inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Jenkins will be looking up to Johnson next July when the Big Unit steps onto the stage on induction Sunday in Cooperstown.

"Obviously my height was to my advantage but only [after] I was able to harness my ability," said Johnson, who was 26 before spending his first full season in the Major Leagues. "Being 6-foot-10 and all arms and legs, obviously not too many [similar] pitchers, power pitchers, came before me. I didn't have a blueprint to work with."

Working diligently from his teenage years, Johnson learned to use his body's system of hinges and levers to throw a baseball with both velocity and torque. Because of his height and his wingspan, the ball had less distance than normal to travel on its way to home plate once he released it.

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Physicists estimate that it made his pitches appear to hitters as much as 4 mph faster than they were, and they were already plenty fast. At the peak of his 22-season career, one that he extended until after his 46th birthday, baseball's best hitters didn't think they had a chance against him.

When Johnson threw his perfect game against the Braves, the lineup he faced included Chipper Jones and Julio Franco, who would combine for 5,312 hits and both win batting titles. They were 0-for-6 with four strikeouts, and Jones says he doesn't think he even had a foul tip.

Jones described his mound opponent on that night as "electrically unhittable," and MLB Network's Kevin Millar can relate. He has called Johnson the most dominating pitcher he faced, because of velocity, a devastating slider and the unique angles in his delivery.

"The slider would come out of his hand -- it was a strike -- then it would end up over your back shoelace," Millar said. "Slider, back shoelace. Slider, back shoelace. Slider, back shoelace. And his size was so different than anyone else. You're not used to it. Take any pitcher's release point, then add a foot and a half, and that's his."

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Johnson sheds new height on Hall of Fame

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Las Vegas: Want to know what TV and movie content will be available on the Australian version of Netflix when it launches in March? You're going to have to wait a little bit longer.

Speaking to journalists at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Netflix's vice-president of product innovation, Todd Yellin, carefully dodged questions as to the range of content Australians will be able to access on the service when it arrives in March.

First, he tried to tie it up in a nice bow, along the lines of 'good things come to those who wait':

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'Cagey' Netflix sheds little light on Aussie content, says claims of many geo-dodgers exaggerated

Chemical-biological research from the University of Copenhagen sheds light on important communication processes in the brain by means of new effective molecules that improve the starting point provided by nature by more than 1,000 times. In the long term, this new knowledge may lead to psychopharmacological drugs with fewer side effects.

The results have just been published in the recognised journals Nature Communications and Angewandte Chemie.

Proteins play a fundamental role in almost all biological processes. They consist of chains composed of up to 20 different amino acids, and their composition, structure and function are controlled by the genetic code. Brilliant minds at the Center for Biopharmaceuticals are now attempting to rewrite the core function of proteins by making alterations in their molecular composition, for example. By means of advanced chemical-biological techniques, researchers are capable of designing new chemical compounds that overcome nature's limitations.

In the current study, the researchers studied receptors that play a key role in the brain in health and disease. Then they designed new chemical compounds -- peptides -- with superior effect on the receptors' interaction with gephyrin, a protein that is vital for the brain:

"The capacity to manipulate proteins has led to important breakthroughs in biotechnology and biomedicine. We have, among other things, studied the so-called GABA receptors which are important targets for drugs for the treatment of mental disorders, e.g. benzodiazepines for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. We have, more specifically, studied the receptors' interaction with the protein gephyrin. Not only to learn more, at a structural level, about a key interaction in the brain, but also to see whether we could turn it up or down. We have very successfully achieved the latter -- we can document an inhibition, which, at best, is more than 1,000 times stronger than what is seen in nature," says Postdoc Hans Maric. He is part of the Center for Biopharmaceuticals at the University of Copenhagen, which is headed by Professor Kristian Stromgaard.

The new research findings have just been published in Nature Communications and Angewandte Chemie. The first article describes the initial work with mapping glycine and GABA receptors, respectively, and how the two receptor types interact differently with gephyrin. The other article describes the molecular restructuring that has created a neuro-active peptide that is 1,000 times more powerful that what nature offers.

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The above story is based on materials provided by University of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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New drug design enhances brain signaling by a factor of 1,000

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) -

14-year old Joseph LaCour was missing for almost 18 hours. Diagnosed with autism, LaCour wandered off in an effort to keep up with his routine of going to church and see his "paw-paw."

Since returning home, Joseph has received an outpouring of love from his family who are happy he's home safely.

Deysha LaCour, Joseph's mother, says words don't do it justice for how happy she is to have her baby boy home.

"It's indescribable. We were just staring at him. We were so glad to have him home," said Deysha LaCour.

The 14-year old, who is limited in his verbal communication, was back to his normal routine a day after creating an emotional roller coaster for his family and friends.

Well, almost his normal routine.

"Joseph stayed home from school today to rest," said Deysha LaCour. "We noticed at the hospital that he has some blisters on his feet from all the walking he did, so we thought it would be best to give him a day at home."

LaCour walked more than 15 miles from his home in Bossier City to Shreveport.

His mother, who works at a local library, has used reading to her son to try and emphasize the severity of his wandering off.

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Local psychologist sheds light on children with autism

Not only did Martinez leave his mark on Boston during his seven seasons with the organization. The city also left an impression on Pedro, which the former pitcher shed light on Tuesday after being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

I just know Im part of baseball, an energetic Martinez said Tuesday at Fenway Park. Im part of the whole thing. Im part of the tradition here in Boston. Im part of the fans. Im part of everything in baseball. And I just want to live that and enjoy the moment with everyone that can probably appreciate what I did.

Martinez was one of four players elected to the Hall of Fame as part of this years class the largest in 60 years. Hes joined by Randy Johnson, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio, all of whom Martinez praised Tuesday while discussing his own upcoming enshrinement.

Martinezs 18-year career featured eight All-Star selections, three Cy Young Awards, three ERA crowns and one World Series title. Yet when asked to reflect on the highest point of his illustrious career, particularly with the Red Sox, the pride of the Dominican Republic had a hard time singling out one specific moment.

My highest point here was every game I got, Martinez said. I took it with the same intensity. I took it with the same pride every day and enjoyed it. Every time I pitched a game in Fenway Park, it was sold out. I was probably one unique person who could say I played with the Red Sox and every single game (at Fenway Park) was sold out.

Moments that I can say Im relieved for Boston? Martinez continued. Handing out the (World Series) trophy in 2004. The 99 All-Star Game having Ted Williams take me into the suite and personalize a program for me and tell me the things he said to me. I could say now Im relieved, and Boston is as much a part of the whole thing to me like I am to them. This goes to them, too. And every moment I could share with Boston was special.

Martinez left the Red Sox following their 2004 World Series victory and signed with the New York Mets as a free agent. The decision sent shock waves through the organization, but neither side harbors any ill will. In fact, the relationship between Martinez and Boston is as strong as ever, even if his departure represents a low point in the hurlers career.

My lowest point was probably having to leave Boston, having to go away from Boston, because (of) probably a lack of communication. Not because of lack of love or interest from either side, Martinez said. Just a lack of communication, which could happen sometimes. Misjudging, maybe. But thats over with. This is the moment where Boston can be proud. Im proud. I feel like I belong here, too. I have a lot of love for everything Boston and a lot of respect.

Martinez will head to Cooperstown this summer to officially be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Hell presumably wear a Red Sox cap on his Hall plaque, as Boston was where the true magic took place.

Thumbnail photo via Elise Amendola/The Associated Press

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Pedro Martinez Sheds Light On Highest, Lowest Points Of Red Sox Career

Crude oils slide below $50 sent the Standard & Poors 500 Index (SPX) to its biggest drop since October on Monday as selling spread from the energy industry amid concern that cuts in capital spending will hurt earnings.

Energy shares in the S&P 500 plunged 4 percent as West Texas Intermediate sank to the lowest since April 2009. Exxon Mobil Corp. lost 2.7 percent and Chevron Corp. retreated 3.9 percent. Caterpillar (CAT) Inc. declined 5.3 percent and an index of railroad stocks lost 3.2 percent on concern that the energy slump may hurt spending on capital equipment and crude transportation.

The S&P 500 dropped 1.8 percent to 2,020.90 at 4 p.m. in New York, for its first four-day losing streak since 2013. The gauge fell below its average price for the last 50 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 327.49 points, or 1.8 percent, to 17,505.50.

Carlo Allegri/Reuters Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Commodities are really a leading indicator as to the health of the global economy, Bruce Bittles, chief investment strategist at Milwaukee-based RW Baird & Co., which oversees $110 billion, said in a phone interview. The concern is that the global economy will hurt the US stocks, S&P particularly, because theyre made up of a lot of multinational companies.

While all 10 major industries on the S&P 500 retreated today, with materials producers industrials each tumbling more than 2 percent, energy shares paced declines to extend a selloff that began last June. Denbury Resources Inc. sank 8 percent and Noble Energy Inc. tumbled 9.6 percent for the biggest drops in the S&P 500.

Bear Market

The gauge of 43 energy producers has plunged 23 percent since an all-time high in June, as oil prices entered a bear market amid a supply glut spurred by the highest U.S. output in three decades and OPECs refusal to cut production.

Oil declined for a third day today, falling as much as 6.7 percent in London and sinking below $50 a barrel in the U.S. for the first time since April 2009.

It looks as if oil prices are going to continue to see lower lows in the course of the next couple weeks, and it puts together a risk-off trading environment within the markets, said Chad Morganlander, a money manager at St. Louis-based Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., which oversees about $160 billion.

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Dow Sheds More Than 300 Points as Oil Slumps

European equity markets were down across the board yesterday as political uncertainty surrounding Greece and falling oil prices pushed markets lower.

The main Greek index was down 5.6% at the close. The main bourses in France, Spain and Portugal were down over 3.0% while the Italian market was down 4.9%. The Iseq was down over 1.2% at the close. It shed 63.68 points to close at 5,165.01. Yesterday also saw the price of oil drop to its lowest level since April 2009.

In Irish financials, Bank of Ireland decreased by 2.8% to close at 30.8c while Permanent TSB decreased by 3.2% to close at 6.1c. AIB was flat on the day, closing at 8.4c. FBD decreased by 1.4% to close at 11.60.

In the agri-food stocks, Aryzta decreased by 0.6% to close at 63.30, Glanbia decreased by 0.8% to close at 12.70, and Kerry Group decreased by 2.0% to close at 57.10.

In the constructions stocks, CRH was down 2.5% to close at 19.20, while Kingspan was up 2.3% to close at 14.58.

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Iseq sheds 1.2% as it follows European downward trend

Kirstie Alley, known for her yo-yo dieting throughout the years, has shed yet another 50 pounds and is looking thin and trim. How did she do it this time? She went back on the Jenny Craig plan on which she lost 75 pounds while serving as the companys spokesperson.

It was so easy for me when I did it before, Alley said during a recent interview with People magazine.

Kirstie Alleys last significant weight loss came while she was a contestant on Dancing With the Stars. The constant rehearsals and romps on the ballroom floor had her looking and feeling amazing. But when the show ended, so did the dancingand the weight came back.

The former Cheers star only set out to lose 30 pounds this time, but kept going. She dropped from a size 12 or 14 down to a six six or eight.

Theres this certain place I hit where I felt really energetic and agile. I was like, I want to keep going with this! she said.

The actress knew if she didnt incorporate both the diet plan and the exercise this time, she would yo-yo yet again.

I thought, how am I going to solve the problem of hitting a goal and having enough fun to keep that going? she asked herself.

The answer came in the form of a bicycle.

I got a yellow townie bike and I ride over to friends houses. I bribe people. Ill say, lets ride to this restaurant and Ill pay for dinner, she said. And believe me: If I bike four miles to a restaurant, I dont wreck it with my order!

Having a consultant through the Jenny Craig program has proven noteworthy this time.

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Kirstie Alley Sheds 50 Pounds, Again

The Canadian dollar was lower Monday, dragged below the 85 cent US level because of continuing weakness in the price of oil, which dropped below $50 US a barrel for the first time since 2009.

The plunging oil price hammered the Toronto Stock Exchange, which was off by more than three per cent or 380 points in the afternoon. Commodity-based shares were especially hard hit, with the energy subindex off six per cent and metals and mining off more than four.

The TSX closed down 360.95 points or 2.4 per cent at14,392.70.

"Investors (are) trying to figure out what the new equilibrium is for oil and commodities in general," said Craig Fehr, Canadian markets strategist at Edward Jones in St.Louis. "I think we will feel our way through that for quite some time."

The loonie dropped to its lowest point since May 2009 on Monday, changing hands at 84.90 at one point,although it recovered to close at 85.05 cents US later in the day. Much of that is because of strength in the U.S. dollar as opposed to weakness in the loonie because the U.S. greenback has been gaining ground against virtually every other world currency for several weeks now.

The euro hit a nine-year low against the U.S. dollar on Monday, trading under 1.20 for the first time since 2005.

But much of the loonie'sweakness was the same old story: an oil price that can't seem to find a bottom.

The price for a barrel of the benchmark North American oil known as WTI lost $2.65 to close at $50.04 on Monday, but traded below the $50 threshold earlier in the day.

That's the first time oil has been that low since the summer of 2009, when the world economy was just starting to come out of a devastating recession.

Dirk Lever, managing director of Institutional Equity Research at Altacorp, says Monday's oil weakness wasn't tied to any new data, but rather a reflection of people coming back to work from the Christmas holiday and catching up on their trading. "This is the first day we've had a real reflection in the market with everybody back at work," Lever said, adding he expects oil to find a floor price soon.

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TSX sheds 380 points as oil trades below $50 a barrel

In a new study that sheds light on space weather's impact on Earth, Dartmouth researchers and their colleagues show for the first time that plasma waves buffeting the planet's radiation belts are responsible for scattering charged particles into the atmosphere.

The study is the most detailed analysis so far of the link between these waves and the fallout of electrons from the planet's radiation belts. The belts are impacted by fluctuations in "space weather" caused by solar activity that can disrupt GPS satellites, communication systems, power grids and manned space exploration.

The results appear in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. A PDF is available on request.

The Dartmouth space physicists are part of a NASA-sponsored team that studies the Van Allen radiation belts, which are donut-shaped belts of charged particles held in place by Earth's magnetosphere, the magnetic field surrounding our planet. In a quest to better predict space weather, the Dartmouth researchers study the radiation belts from above and below in complementary approaches -- through satellites (the twin NASA Van Allen Probes) high over Earth and through dozens of instrument-laden balloons (BARREL, or Balloon Array for Radiation belt Relativistic Electron Losses) at lower altitudes to assess the particles that rain down.

The Van Allen Probes measure particle, electric and magnetic fields, or basically everything in the radiation belt environment, including the electrons, which descend following Earth's magnetic field lines that converge at the poles. This is why the balloons are launched from Antarctica, where some of the best observations can be made. As the falling electrons collide with the atmosphere, they produce X-rays and that is what the balloon instruments are actually recording.

"We are measuring those atmospheric losses and trying to understand how the particles are getting kicked into the atmosphere," says co-author Robyn Millan, an associate professor in Dartmouth's Department of Physics and Astronomy and the principal investigator of BARREL. "Our main focus has been really on the processes that are occurring out in space. Particles in the Van Allen belts never reach the ground, so they don't constitute a health threat. Even the X-rays get absorbed, which is why we have to go to balloon altitudes to see them."

In their new study, the BARREL researchers' major objective was to obtain simultaneous measurements of the scattered particles and of ionoized gas called plasma out in space near Earth's equator. They were particularly interested in simultaneous measurements of a particular kind of plasma wave called electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves and whether these waves were responsible for scattering the particles, which has been an open question for years.

The researchers obtained measurements in Antarctica in 2013 when the balloons and both the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) and Van Allen Probe satellites were near the same magnetic field line. They put the satellite data into their model that tests the wave-particle interaction theory, and the results suggest the wave scattering was the cause of the particle fallout. "This is the first real quantitative test of the theory," Millan says.

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The above story is based on materials provided by Dartmouth College. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Electromagnetic waves linked to particle fallout in Earth's atmosphere, new study finds