Mcity: A Town Built Just for Cars

At first sight, Mcity near Ann Arbor, Michigan looks just like any other U.S. town or city. However, look closer and you will notice that the buildings are merely facades and the sidewalks, eerily empty. In fact, the only things you will encounter are cars zipping around, many with no humans at the helm. Welcome to the world's first car city - a 32-acre vehicle haven created by the University of Michigan to test new automotive technology....

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This Tiny Iron Fish May Help Prevent Global Anemia

Anemia, a condition where the body is not producing enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen to the tissues is a common ailment. Caused by a diet that is deficient in iron, its symptoms range from fatigue and dizziness to weakened cognitive ability and stunted development in children....

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How A Single Fridge Is Helping Curb Food Waste In Spain

Food waste is a growing concern. According to a recent report by the United Nations Environmental Programme, consumers in industrialized countries waste as much as 222 million tons of food annually. To put it in perspective, that is almost equivalent to the net food production of sub-Saharan Africa. Now the residents of the small Spanish town of Galdakao have devised a simple solution to help reverse the trend - a community refrigerator!...

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World Leaders Reach Landmark Nuclear Deal With Iran

Earlier this year, the world rejoiced at the news that Iran had tentatively agreed to a deal that would curtail its capability to develop a nuclear program. In exchange, the United States and five other world powers promised to lift the harsh trade sanctions that have crippled the country's economy since they were imposed in 2005....

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Australian Chestnut-Crowned Babbler May Not Be Babbling After All

To the novice listener, the Australian Chestnut-crowned babbler's sweet melodies may sound like any other birdsong. However, to ornithologists it is a series of sounds which when combined, forms a unique bird-like vocalization or what we refer to as language. The discovery is exciting because the tiny birds are the first nonhuman species known to communicate using language....

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First FAA Approved Drone Delivery in the United States Is A Success

In December 2013, Jeff Bezos, the founder, and CEO of Amazon made headlines when he announced the company's intention to use unmanned aerial vehicles or drones to make deliveries. However, while Amazon is still trying to convince the Federal Aviation Authority, Australian startup Flirtey has already made history on by completing the first-ever FAA-approved drone delivery in the USA....

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Microscopic Images Reveal The Beauty Of Human Tears

Our eyes tear up for various reasons. The most common, known as basal, are involuntary tears that are continuously being released to keep the cornea moist. Then there are reflex tears that are shed when eyes are exposed to irritants like dust or onion vapor. And finally, emotional or psychic tears that pour out when one is experiencing extreme happiness or grief....

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The Incredible (Tree)House That Foster Huntington Calls Home

After bidding farewell to his job as a designer for Ralph Lauren in 2011, Foster Huntington embarked on a nomadic lifestyle, traveling around the country in a Volkswagen Syncro Camper Van. To make ends meet, he worked as a photographer and blogger and even published a book called Home is Where You Park it, about his unusual lifestyle. But all good things have to come to an end. By 2014, the young man was ready to settle down in a more permanent home....

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10-Year-Old Quasi Modo Crowned "World's Ugliest Dog"

There are numerous dog contests held across the world. However, very few compare to the one that takes place annually in Petaluma, California. That's because the judges at this competition are not looking for well-groomed pooches with perfect lineage. Instead, they are seeking out ones that possess inner beauty and personality and stand out due to their unusual looks. Welcome to the "World's Ugliest Dog" contest....

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The Bride Wore . . . Um . . . Toilet Paper?

Any designer worth his/her salt can create a chic wedding gown using silk, satin or chiffon. But to craft one from a few rolls of toilet paper takes some talent. That, however, is exactly what the ten finalists of the 11th Annual "Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest" showcased on June 17, 2015....

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Meet Gavin Munro, The Man Who Grows Furniture

Some people like to grow fruits, others prefer to focus on vegetables. Then there is Gavin Munro, who is partial to cultivating furniture. No, he is not a scientist with a crazy idea, but an ordinary man who is living his dream of growing "green" chairs!...

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Forming Cliques Is Not Just A Human Trait - Baboons Do It Too!

The human tendency to gravitate towards people that are similar to them starts early. In school-age children, the behavior called homophily, or "love of the same" often has to do with how others dress or act. Adults tend to form groups based on social stature, professions or personalities. Turns out that forming cliques and shutting out those that are "different" is not just a human trait. South Africa's Chacma or Cape baboons display similar tendencies as well!...

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World's Rarest And Most Valuable Stamp Goes On Display In Washington D.C.

To amateurs, the 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta stamp that measures a mere 2.5 cm by 3.2 cm may appear to be like any other ancient postage stamp. However, for philatelists this octagonal scrap of paper that bears an illustration of a three-masted ship is a one-of-a-kind treasure, for which an avid collector recently paid $9.5 million. According to Sotheby's, the One-Cent Magenta is not just the world's most expensive stamp sold at an auction but also its most valuable object by weight and size!...

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How Drones Will Help South America's Wapishana Tribe Protect Pristine Lands

The Wapichan or Wapishana tribe of Guyana is an isolated community of fewer than 6,000 people that live on the edge of the rainforest around South America's Rupununi Savannah, one of the world's largest open ranges of savannah lands. Located in Guyana between the Rupununi River and the Brazilian border, the 5,000 square mile area of pristine grasslands, swamplands, and rain-forested mountains has been the source of food and water for the tribe for centuries. Unfortunately, their means of subsistence is now being threatened by illegal logging and gold mining activities....

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Meet CHIP, An Ultra Tiny, Ridiculously Cheap Fully-Functional Computer

Need a computer but can't afford the high cost? Then you are in luck. That's because a team of brilliant engineers from Oakland-based Next Thing recently unveiled one that costs a mere $9! Called CHIP, the tiny machine is equipped with a fully-functional operating system that includes dozens of open-source applications such as pre-installed word processing, photo and audio editing, web access, and email....

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What Do Texas And Delhi Have In Common? Extreme Weather!

Texas, the second most populous U.S. state and India's capital Delhi may lie in two different continents and over 8,300 miles apart. But over the past few weeks, both have made headlines for the same reason - extreme weather. The only difference is that while Texas is being inundated with torrential rains, Delhi has been experiencing a heat wave so severe that it is melting the roads....

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Madrid's Museo Del Prado Encourages Visitors To Touch And Feel Masterpieces

One of the first signs visitors encounter at most museums is, "Please do not touch the exhibits." However at the new "Hoy toca el Prado" (Come touch the Prado) exhibition at Madrid's Museo Nacional Del Prado, the officials don't just encourage the habit, they insist upon it. That's because this unique art display has been specially created to enable visually impaired patrons to experience the joy of the works of some of the world's most famous artists, just like non-disabled people can....

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Fake Orca Summoned To Scare Astoria's Sea Lions

The Port of Astoria in Oregon is battling an unusual challenge - how to rid the area of the over 2,300 sea lions that have taken up residence on the piers, without harming them. That's because while the squabbling pinnipeds may be adorable to look at, they are a nuisance and extremely destructive, especially in such large numbers....

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Why Oregon's Lost Lake Disappears Every Year

Lost Lake in Central Oregon is a mysterious natural wonder. During winter, it resembles any other large body of freshwater. However, as drier weather kicks in the water disappears, transforming the 85-acre 'lake' into a beautiful meadow. Turns out that there is a logical answer to this magical phenomenon - a tube or tunnel created by an ancient lava flow that drains out the water....

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