While the debate continues to swirl around whether a 13-year old girl should be allowed to sail solo around the world, recent reports indicate her hopes for becoming the youngest ever to do so are all but shattered – thanks to a Norwegian couple recently launching a fetus into the ocean on a similar journey. While some critics complain that a fetus is “too immature” to handle the demands of such and around-the-earth excursion, supporters indicate that this is no ordinary fetus – having showed great maturity in handling a growth rate twice the normal average, even while confined to a tiny relatively beaker. Moreover, the parent’s carefully chosen call for support – “prevent the abortion of our fetus’ journey” – has become a rallying call for pro-life advocates eager to take up any fight against the words “abortion” and “fetus” in the same sentence.

Remarkably, even if the fetus does manage to complete it’s journey the world-record may be short-lived – first by a test-tube of specimen launched by a German sperm bank three weeks ago, and then by a “broken condom from a one night stand” a New Jersey man launched this morning.