New clinical research, published in the world’s leading academic journals, is now showing that an extraordinarily rare plant extract first discovered by the ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago may carry remarkable slimming and health benefits.

This mysterious nutrient is found in the roots of a rare cactus plant that was revered by the ancient Egyptians for its health and healing powers.

Thanks to recent medicinal advancements, scientists are now able to isolate and concentrate this nutrient in a convenient capsule form, which is now available exclusively here, and in high-end Beverly Hills salons, under the patent-pending Phosphacore Formula.

A new breed of giant spider – which has huge 12,7cm females and tiny males – has been discovered by scientists. The female of the new species of golden orb weaver spider has a body one and a 3,8cm long with a leg span of five inches and weaves a web more than three feet wide.

The tiny male, however, has a leg span of just one inch. The variation of the Nephila species, named as Nephila Komaci, was discovered by US and Slovenian researchers in Africa and Madagascar. A new giant orb spider has been discovered in South Africa. It has a leg span of five inches and weaves webs three feet wide.

In the paper published in the journal PLoS ONE, the team from the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, described how until recently, said they believed the giant Nephila was extinct.

But Jonathan Coddington from the Smithsonian said a South African colleague found a male and two females in Africa’s Tembe Elephant Park allowing researchers to confirm it did exist. Tests were then carried out that confirmed it was the largest orb weaver ever known and was a newly identified species.

Coddington said: “We fear the species may be endangered, as its only definite habitat is a sand forest in Tembe Elephant Park in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. “Our data suggests that the species is not abundant, its range is restricted and all known localities lie within two endangered biodiversity hotspots: Maputaland and Madagascar.”

Nephila spiders are renowned for being the largest web-spinning spiders. Although males are five times smaller than their mates, they are actually normal-sized – it is the females who are giants. N Komaci was named after Kuntner’s best friend, Andrej Komac, who died in an accident at the time of the discovery.

Kuntner said: “My friend, himself a scientist, encouraged me to tackle this PhD, but did not live to see the discoveries made. “He was a big inspiration, and a great friend, thus it was logical to name this new species to his memory.” Independent Online