Swedish retailer IKEA has garnered a worldwide following for its stylish but affordable furniture and accessories. However in China, the store is popular for an entire different reason - As a destination to relax, catch up with friends and even, take long naps!...

Starting a bank from scratch a child's play? Absolutely, if you ask some enterprising youngsters in India, who have not only managed to establish one, but also, unlike many of the large International banks, run it successfully since 2001. What's even more impressive is that the young bankers and their 9,000 + clients are all homeless!...

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 aspiring to get into the Guinness World Records for Olympics, but don't quite have Michael's swimming talent or Gabby's gymnastic prowess, here's some encouraging news - It's still possible. All you have to do, is attend more than 18 Olympic Summer Games which, is the record set by 90-year old Harry Nelson....

While destruction of rainforests is causing concern in many parts of the world, nowhere is it worse than in the Amazon. Often referred to as the 'lungs of the planet' the 1.2 billion acre rainforest produces about 20% of the earth's oxygen and is therefore, not just crucial for its own ecosystem, but also, for the survival of all living creatures, including humans! Fortunately, the deforestation there trends are slowly but surely, starting to reverse....

Olympics spoiler alert - Usain Bolt has been outrun! How do we know this before the world's fastest man has even run the finals of his signature 100-meter dash? Because, while Usain hopes to complete the distance in 9.4 seconds, Sarah has already done it in a blistering 5.95 seconds. However, in all fairness to the Jamaican sprinter, she does have a slight advantage, because Sarah is not a two-legged human, but a four-legged cheetah!...

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!...

When the discovery of an exciting archeological find is announced, the person at the forefront is usually the paleontologist leading the dig. However, the credit of unearthing one of the most complete pre-human skeletons can be being solely attributed to the sharp eyes of technician Justin Mukanka at South Africa's University of Witwatersrand....

On June 23rd 2012, thousands of tourists and locals lined up along Hong Kong's various harbors to celebrate Tueg Ng or Dragon Boat Festival. Though host to some of the country's biggest celebrations, has been organizing the events only since 1976, it is a significant Chinese holiday, one with a long history that dates back 2,000 years....

On Sunday June 25th, 2012, Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, best known for its giant tortoises had some sad news to report - its most famous bachelor, a tortoise nicknamed 'Lonesome George' was found dead by its keeper of 40 years. What makes the death even more poignant is the fact that he was the last known living member of the Pinta Island giant tortoise subspecies....

Researchers had always believed that Neanderthals, the predecessors to modern humans, had not been very smart. However, recent evidence has led them to think otherwise - Not only did the stocky hunters build complex tools, but also, spoke a language and even, buried their dead. Now it turns out, they may also be responsible for some of Europe's oldest cave art....

This week, the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Realm, a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations comprising of 16 countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica are celebrating an important milestone - Sixty years of the continuous reign of their beloved monarch, Queen Elizabeth II....

Most of us don't need much persuasion to eat donuts - Those warm gooey fried treats filled with custard and jelly or just dipped in sugar glaze. But, incase you do need some convincing, here is a good reason - Today, June 1st, is National Donut Day!...

If you are like most Americans, chances are you are spending the three-day weekend hanging out with friends around a swimming pool, dreaming of the long lazy summer that lies ahead. It is therefore not surprising that most of us tend to forget that Memorial Day is not just a celebration of the beginning of summer, but also, a day to honor the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives whilst serving in our armed forces....

Over 150 years ago, thousands of people flocked to California to try make their fortune panning for gold. Now, the hunt is on again. However, this time around its not for sparkly flecks of the precious metal, but fragments of a meteor that made a fiery entry to earth on April 22nd, 2012....

If you are like most people you are probably at the mall today, frantically looking for that perfect gift for the special woman in your life - Your mother! That's because tomorrow, May 13th, is Mother's Day, the one day of the year when we all try to show our appreciation to this hard working woman by . . . . . . Bestowing her with lavish gifts....

This Memorial Day weekend, dinosaur fans from all over the country will be flocking to Secaucus, New Jersey to catch a glimpse of the 31 prehistoric animals that will be 'roaming' around the 24-acres of Laurel Hill Park. Welcome to Field Station: Dinosaurs, a real-life like Jurassic Park!...

This Sunday, May 6th is World Laughter Day, a special day that can be celebrated by anyone, anywhere - All they have to do, is laugh aloud and rambunctiously, with no inhibitions. Celebrated annually on the first Sunday of May, the fun event was started by Indian physician Dr. Madan Kataria....

Who will win the $350,000 USD jackpot this year? Will it be one individual or will the bounty be shared by a number of people as was the case, last year? That, is the question on every Alaskan's mind as they anxiously await the results of the Nenana Ice Classic....

While fresh water reserves are declining in many parts of the world, nowhere is the situation as dire as the continent of Africa where, over 300 million people have no access to safe drinking water and only 5% of the arable land is being irrigated....

Asian cultures generally celebrate their symbolic New Year with prayers, colorful processions, good food and sometimes even fireworks. The people of Thailand have added one more tradition - Having the world's largest water fight!...

It seems like the folks at the Royal Canadian Mint are always thinking up of something radical. First there was the $1mm Canadian Dollar coin made from pure gold, then came the $50 and $100 polymer currency notes. If that was not enough, last month they finally did something the USA has been debating for years - stopped making the penny....

Today April 15th, marks the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Dubbed 'The ship of dreams', the luxury cruise liner was like no other. Considered an engineering marvel a century ago, it was not only the largest ship to ever grace the seas, but also, featured unrivaled grandeur and amenities. Not surprisingly, its inaugural and only passenger list, included some of the world's most powerful and wealthiest people....

Over the years, paleontologists have been able to find many well-preserved remains of Woolly Mammoths like Lyuba, the 42,000 year-old baby that was discovered in 2007. However, none have been as complete or provided as much insight, as the remains of this 10,000 year old frozen mammal that was unearthed recently....