The fact that J.K. Rowling's vivid imagination conveyed so brilliantly in the Harry Potter series of books has been a big hit with kids and adults all over the world, is a well-known fact. But what is not as well publicized is the effect it has had on inspiring scientists. First there is the ongoing quest to create an invisibility cloak and now, levitating water droplets!...

Right about now, thousands of Monarch butterflies are beginning to make their way from North America's colder regions to their winter homes in California and Mexico, where they will spend the season hibernating, before heading back in early spring next year. This round-trip, which in some cases spans about 2,000 miles each way and can take as long as two months, is unique and fascinating for a number of reasons....

Resurrecting pre-historic animals that roamed the Earth's surface thousands of years ago, has been something scientists have been fantasizing about for many years. However in most cases, it is just not possible either because the DNA is not available or in the case of an animal like the dinosaur, is just too old. The one exception may be the Woolly Mammoth that lived during the Ice Age, about 8,000 years ago....

'Water, Water everywhere, not a drop to drink' - That unfortunately, is the situation faced by millions of residents in developing countries who are surrounded by oceans, but have no access to fresh drinking water. Now thanks to this ingenious portable ceramic desalination 'plant' created by Milan-based designer Gabriele Diamanti, there may be a viable solution....

Referring to someone as 'two-faced', usually means he/she is deceitful or insincere. But Venus the cat is neither - She actually has . . . . . . Two faces! Completely black on the right and completely ginger on the left. What's even more amazing is that even her eye colors are different - blue on the ginger side and green on the black side....

How often have you wished you could be like Luke Skywalker and master the 'force' of your mind to make things happen. Now thanks to two residents your wish may be granted. The only difference? Instead of being able to lift ships from murky swamps, you will have the power to explode watermelons!...

When one hears of astronauts conducting repairs on the International Space Station, it usually involves using sophisticated tools. However, such was not the case in the recent fix that scientists believe may have saved the $100 billion USD Station - All that was needed, was some astronaut ingenuity and, a $3 USD toothbrush....

How often have you settled down for dinner at home or in a restaurant and tried to put a dollop of ketchup or mayonnaise on your burger or alongside your fries, only to find that nothing drips out. Then, when you wallop the bottle in frustration, it suddenly squirts all over the table! The problem only exacerbates as the amount of ketchup in the bottle depletes. In fact, very few people can honestly say that they have ever succeeded it emptying the bottle down to the very last drop. Now, thanks to some Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers that day may not be far off....

Illinois tween Jonny Cohen was just twelve years old when he came up with a revolutionary idea that would make clunky yellow school buses more energy efficient - Helping not only school districts save money, but also, the environment. Now five years later, the senior at Highland Park High School is finally seeing his dream realized....

It was supposed to have pounded the coast of Florida and even delayed Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's nomination by a few days. But hurricane Isaac changed course midway. After barely grazing the Florida Keys, it bypassed the rest of the Sunshine State and instead, unleashed its fury on the three Gulf states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama....

On Saturday August 25th, 43 years after he made history by becoming the first person to step on the moon, NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong passed away from complications attributed to a heart surgery he underwent earlier this month. Given the fact that the Cincinnati resident had been reported to be doing well following the procedure, the news came as a big shock to his millions of worldwide fans....

What's better than an all-electric zero emission car that can travel 75 miles between charges? How about one that can do that and also, squeeze itself into a parking spot no matter how small - Introducing, Hiriko, a green vehicle built to ease some of the stress of urban living....

Ever since humans have inhabited earth, we have known that the sun is round. However, turns out that it is even rounder and flatter than had been previously believed. What's even more amazing is that its shape never alters, a fact that is surprising given that it is a gaseous ball of fire. How is that possible? That, is a mystery that scientists are now planning to solve!...

How long can you resist a marshmallow? For a minute, maybe two - How about 20 minutes? Believe it or not, the answer to that simple question, could shape your entire future - At least that, is the conclusion reached by University of Stanford scientist Walter Mischel the brainchild behind the now legendary 'Stanford Marshmallow' test....

Just like humans who haven't seen each other in a few years, they began with a formal handshake. But then, the two could just not contain their excitement - First came the squeeze of shoulders, then a giant hug and finally, the ultimate evidence of joy - A rough tumble into the soft grass. That, is how the workers at the Longleat Safari and Adventure Park in Wiltshire, England, are describing last week's joyful reunion of Alf and Kesho, two lowland gorilla brothers that had been separated for three years....

On Thursday August 9th, a New Zealand Air Force plane flying about 1,000 kilometers northeast of the island's biggest city, Auckland, encountered a strange sight - A brilliant white light that resembled an ice shelf, sparkling from the clear blue waters of the South Pacific ocean....

Just when scientists think they have discovered and recorded every species of insect that crawls the earth they find something new. Earlier this month, Peter Jager, the head of arachnology at Frankfurt's Senckenberg Research Institute reported the discovery of a unique spider that has adapted to its dark environment by simply doing away with of all of its eight eyes!...

Each year in late July or early August, we witness the Perseid Meteor showers, a spectacular 'shooting star display', as the Earth in its orbit around the sun, passes through the dusty remains of the comet Swift-Tuttle. This year, the best time to watch nature's annual firework show will be on late Saturday, August 11th or early Sunday when the skies are darkest....

if you are wondering how teenagers like Missy Franklin and Katie Ledeky seem to break records so effortlessly, or how Usain Bolt simply bolts past everyone with what appears to be inhuman speed, you are not alone....

Summer vacations are all about lazing around, frolicking on the beach and . . . . . . Building sand castles. However, no matter how hard we try, most of us never seem to get it right. Turns out, it's not because we are doing something wrong, but because there is a scientific method to the madness - At least that's the conclusion reached by a global team of researchers from Amsterdam, France and Iran....

Two-year old Emma's life started out a little shaky - Born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a rare disorder that affects muscle strength and limb movement, she had a hard time lifting herself. However, her condition improved as she grew older allowing her to be a normal toddler in everyway except for the fact that she could not lift her hands. Now, thanks to some amazing technology, a 3-D printer and some caring doctors, the little girl has been bestowed with what she aptly calls 'magic arms'....

While to most of us ants are just tiny annoying insects that seem to come in droves whenever they sense something sweet, the household pests are quite fascinating - They have a naturally built-in GPS system that allows them to navigate their way, the ability to morph into 'living rafts' to survive floods and now it turns out that with a little help from humans, some of them can even be transformed into colorful gems....

Cruising around town in a giant mechanized robot suit is something every kid (and most adults) dream about - Now thanks to the efforts of Japanese artist Kogoro Kurata and Roboticist Watara Yoshizaki, their wishes may come true....

Though 25% of the world's population may not have access to electricity, they all have access to a source of energy that is currently being wasted - Kinetic energy released by their bodies when they exert themselves. Now two Harvard alums have figured out how to capture this energy and convert it into electricity - The only equipment needed? A Soccket soccer ball and the desire to have some fun!...