Why Measuring The Size Of Raindrops From Space May Help Improve Weather PredictionsWhile weather predictions are getting increasingly accurate, meteorologists are often still unable to gauge the severity of storms. That's because forecasting what the elements have in store for us is a complicated task that is dependent on numerous variables including temperature, humidity, jet streams, and even the size of raindrops!...
Read news articleEdible Cutlery: A Delicious Way To Reduce Plastic WasteTossing a plastic spoon or fork into the trash after using it once is not just acceptable; it is fashionable. Experts estimate that over 40 billion pieces of plastic cutlery end up in the garbage each year - And that's just in the US. The numbers are even worse in India where an astounding 120 billion pieces clog the landfills annually. But that may change soon thanks to Indian entrepreneur Narayana Peesapaty, whose start-up Bakey's transforms mundane cutlery into delicious treats!...
Read news articleSurprise! City Birds Are Smarter And Healthier Than Their Country Counterparts!A recent study conducted by a team of researchers from Canada's McGill University has uncovered that birds who live in urban environments are not just better at problem-solving and more skilled in tasks that require innovation than their rural counterparts: they also have stronger immune systems!...
Read news articleScott Kelly's Historic "Year in Space" Mission Brings Us One Step Closer to MarsHistory was made on March 2, 2016 when a Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft traveling from the International Space Station landed in a remote part of Kazakhstan. The landing was cause for celebration as the craft carried American astronaut, Scott Kelly, and Russian cosmonaut, Mikhail Kornienko, home from their 340-day mission aboard the International Space Station....
Read news articleSpain's Casa del Acantilado (Cliff House) Is An Architectural MarvelFrom a distance, the Casa del Acantilado (Cliff House) in Salobrena, Spain looks like something you would expect to encounter in "Game of Thrones" or "The Hobbit." However, come closer and you will realize that this three bedroom home that closely resembles a scaled dragon is an architectural wonder — One that has been designed to fully embrace its beautiful natural surroundings....
Read news articleSimple Blood Test May Be Able To Diagnose Concussions For Up To Seven Days After InjuryEvery year more than 2 million people, a quarter of them children, end up in hospital emergency rooms with concussions — And those are the lucky ones! That's because there are millions more that postpone treatment or even worse, never get themselves examined simply because they don't experience the classic concussion symptoms that include vomiting, blurred vision, and loss of balance....
Read news articleGo Ahead And Let Out That Long Sigh — It's Good For You!Just when we think there couldn't possibly be any more mysteries left to solve about the human anatomy, comes another discovery. This one has to do with sighing. It turns out that the involuntary reflex that is generally associated with sadness or despair is crucial to our well-being. That is why researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles and Stanford University were determined to find out what triggers this spontaneous action, without which our lungs would collapse!...
Read news article"Twin" Comets Make Historic Back-To-Back Near-Earth FlybysThis past week was an exciting one for astronomy fans. That's because two comets — 252P and the P/2016 BA14 — were scheduled to make their closest approach to Earth, back-to-back. The icy celestial bodies did not disappoint....
Read news articleEurope on High Alert Following Terror Attacks In BrusselsJust four months after the well-orchestrated attacks killed 130 people in Paris, ISIS has struck Europe again. This time, the radical Islamic group's target was the beautiful city of Brussels in Belgium. The first explosions rocked the Brussels Airport on Tuesday, March 22 at 8 am local time. The simultaneous attacks, both caused by suicide bombers, occurred close to airline check-in gates and outside security checkpoints for ticketed passengers. According to initial estimates, 11 people lost their lives, while 100 more were injured....
Read news articleThis Thursday, Celebrate Holi — The Original Color RunOn Thursday, March 24, the streets of India will be awash with color as residents celebrate the spring festival of Holi. The annual event that is the inspiration behind the 'color runs' in the US, is observed on the last full moon day of the lunar month, Phalguna (in the Hindu calendar). However, unlike the copycat runs, festival participants do not have to compete in five or ten-kilometer races to have fun. All they have to do is take to the streets early in the morning and chant "Holi Hai" (It's Holi) while dousing strangers and friends alike, with colored powder....
Read news articleBrooklyn Artist's "Message in a Bottle" To Raise Environmental Awareness Washes Ashore in FranceOn January 17, Brigitte Barthélémy was walking along the seashore just north of France's famous Bordeaux wine region when she stumbled upon a bottle nestled among a pile of seashells. Inside were two tightly rolled pieces of paper. One contained a beautiful hand-drawn sketch of a cormorant, while the other was a message from the New York Pelagic outlining how litter caught in the ocean currents is often fatal for the water birds that mistake the bright plastic debris for food....
Read news articleOn Saturday, March 19th Join The Earth Hour Movement By Going Dark For Sixty MinutesOn Saturday, March 19, millions of businesses and individuals worldwide will celebrate Earth Hour by turning off all lights and electronics from 8:30 - 9:30 PM local time. The voluntary rolling blackout that includes 350 of the world’s most iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, Taipei 101 and the Sydney Opera House, is more than a symbolic gesture — It is proof of what can be achieved if we all unite to reverse climate change....
Read news articleGet Your Greens Ready — St. Patrick's Day Is Almost Here!This past weekend, millions of people in cities around the world participated in parades honoring St. Patrick, the primary patron saint of Ireland. The marches, of course were just a precursor to the real celebrations that will take place on Thursday, March 17. As is the case every year, the holiday will be observed with fun activities like hunting down leprechauns that lead to gold and searching for lucky four leaf-clovers. So who was the amazing priest whose death anniversary is celebrated worldwide and what led to the unusual traditions? Read on . . ....
Read news articleDutch Police May Use Trained Eagles To Take Down Rogue DronesThe increase in the use of drones by consumers is becoming problematic for countries around the world. That's because enthusiasts often take advantage of the still nascent and in some cases nonexistent laws that govern quadcopters and use the unmanned vehicles for dangerous and illegal activities. These include flying the drones in restricted airspace and even using them to infiltrate prisons....
Read news article2016's First And Only Total Solar Eclipse Was SpectacularThough not rare, total solar eclipses are highly anticipated. That's because they are visible from a narrow corridor of the planet and last for just a few minutes. 2016's first and only total solar eclipse that took place on March 8 or 9 (depending on the time zone), was no exception. The celestial event could only be seen in totality by residents of the Indonesian Islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and Halmahera....
Read news articleFrance Becomes The First Country In The World To Ban Supermarket Food WasteOn January 13, 2016, France became the first country in the world to pass a law requiring supermarkets to donate food that is approaching its expiration date instead of throwing it away. The regulation that applies to supermarkets over 4,000 square feet requires stores to sign donation contracts with local food banks....
Read news articleDonald Trump And Hillary Clinton Win Big On Super TuesdayMarch 1 was Super Tuesday, the day when a large number of US states held primary elections and caucuses. The all-important day that takes place in February or March is crucial for presidential hopefuls because it gives a clear indication of the opinions of people living in geographically and socially diverse regions. Super Tuesday front-runners frequently end up receiving their respective party's nomination....
Read news articleWingboarding May Allow Thrill-Seekers To Soar Amid CloudsThrill-seekers looking for a challenge may soon have a new option - Wingboarding. The sport is similar to wakeboarding except for one thing - Instead of performing acrobatics on water, wingboarders will conduct heart-stopping maneuvers in the skies while being towed behind an airplane....
Read news articleCelebrate International Polar Bear Day With Nora, Columbus Zoo's Adorable Polar Bear CubEvery February 27, the world observes International Polar Bear Day. Started ten years ago by US-based nonprofit Polar Bear International (PMI) it is observed to raise awareness of the vulnerable species whose rapidly dwindling numbers are often forgotten because they dwell in the sparsely populated circumpolar Arctic....
Read news articleYAY! Massive Methane Gas Leak In Southern California Is Finally SealedThe massive methane gas leak that has been plaguing some Southern California residents since October 2015 has finally been sealed. The announcement that was accompanied by the release of a time-lapse video showing infrared footage of the gas leakage coming to a complete halt was made on February 11, by Dennis Arriola, CEO of the Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas)....
Read news articleMarty Mcfly's Hoverboard May Finally Be A RealityJust like Harry Potter's invisibility cloak, Marty Mcfly's hoverboard, featured in "Back to the Future" Part II and III, has captured the imagination of both fans and scientists. But despite numerous claims, no one has been able to replicate the flying skateboard that bounced off walls and easily outpaced cars. Now thanks to US-based ARCA Space Corporation, hoverboards may finally become a reality....
Read news articleAdjust Your Calendars - February 2016 Has 29 Days!Here is some good news for those that need an extra day to catch up on sleep or to finish an assignment — 2016 is a leap year. This event that occurs every four years means that instead of the standard 365 days, the year will have 366 days. Since the extra day is tacked onto the shortest month of the year, February will have 29 days!...
Read news articleA Drone That Can Fly And Swim? Sweet!With the increasing popularity of drones as toys and potentially even for commercial delivery, researchers are going all out to build cooler and more sophisticated quadcopters. However, none can compare to the Loon Copter, which not only flies like a bird, but also swims like a fish!...
Read news articleWill This Palm Oil Alternative Save Orangutans From Extinction?Palm oil is the most widely consumed vegetable oil in the world. It is found in a wide variety of products ranging from vitamins to chocolate, bread, laundry detergent and even biofuel. The oil is popular because it has an exceptionally high melting point and contains primarily saturated fats. The former allows the oil to maintain a semi-solid consistency at room temperature making it easy to spread, while the latter makes it the perfect substitute for trans fats which are generally deemed unhealthy. It also has the highest yield of any oil crop and is cheap to produce and refine....
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