2012 is special - And it's not because the world's coming to an end, but because it happens to be a Leap Year. This event, which occurs every four years means that instead of the normal 365 days, we will enjoy 366 days. That extra day, happens to be tomorrow, February 29th, 2012....

A University of Pennsylvania paleontologist and a team of Chinese researchers recently stumbled upon an amazing discovery in Northern China - A perfectly fossilized forest that dates all the way back to the Permian Period, when the Earth's plates were still moving towards each other to form the super continent Pangea....

It seems as though Europeans love good old-fashioned fights - food fights that is. First there is Spain's La Tomatina, where brave souls pelt each other with tomatoes and now italy's Battaglia delle Arance or Battle of the Oranges, where, you guessed it . . . . Thousands of people toss rotten oranges at each other....

On February 15th, just over a year after it arrived at the International Space Station, Robonaut 2 (R2) the world's first humanoid robot made history, by firmly shaking the hand of Station Commander, Dan Burbank....

Last week, a team of German scientists announced the discovery of four new species of miniature reptiles. Found on the island of Madagascar, the lizards, which varied in length from 29 millimeters to just over an inch, are the tiniest ones found yet. Prior to this the honor belonged to dwarf gecko Sphaerodactylus ariasae which, at a total length of 1.3 inches now appears to be almost gigantic in comparison....

He came, he strutted and to everyone's surprise - he conquered! That pretty much sums up the reaction that many people had when 4-year old Pekingese, Malachy was named Top Dog at the 136th Westminster Kennel Dog Show, which took place at New York's Madison Square Garden on February 14th. However, while the audience may have been a little surprised by the stubby hair ball's victory, Malachy was not - After all, this was his 115th 'Best of The Show' title....

Though teaching techniques have come a long way, the mode of communicating them remains pretty much the same since the concept of school was invented - Students with varying calibers and interests are forced into a classroom, where they spend the day learning from a pre-determined curriculum. Now, a European country is trying to change that by building radical schools that have no classrooms, no preset subject lessons and best of all, no grades!...

It's Valentine's Day! The special day of the year when we show our appreciation for people we care about by exchanging cards, chocolates and even exorbitant gifts. So how did this love fest begin? Read on . . . ....

Let's face it - Though roller coasters have become faster and perhaps even longer over the years, they still have the same routine - A rapid escalation followed by a stomach churning descent, a few heart-stopping loops and if you are lucky, maybe an upside down turn. Now, a Southern California firm has designed a ride that is bound to get you off your chairs - literally! All they need to build it, is a theme park ready to take the challenge and $50 million USD!...

Today Is Super Bowl Sunday - America's biggest game day. While all football finals are highly anticipated, this one is even more so, because it is a re-match of the 2008 nail-biting finale between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. This means more viewers, more parties and of course, more noshing!...

To say that Kanzi, a Bonobo ape that resides at The Great Ape Sanctuary outside Des Moines, Iowa, is smarter than a human toddler, may be understating it. That's because while human babies have to be taught everything, Kanzi has learnt his skills largely, by observing what other humans and apes are doing....

On January 13th, just two hours after luxury cruise liner Costa Concordia left the Italian port of for , the final destination of its seven-day journey, it struck a rock in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the shore of the . The impact created a 160-foot long gash in her hull, causing water to gush in at an alarming speed....

Madagascar, an island country located in the Indian Ocean is known for many things - its namesake super hit movies, beautiful beaches, amazing wildlife and . . . . . . . Golden Orb Weaver Spiders. While these arachnids are similar to the rest of their species, they have one unusual talent - Their silk shimmers like gold!...

On Monday, January 23rd, a pilot flying over New Zealand saw what is unfortunately starting to become a common sight - A large pod of stranded whales struggling to survive, at the base of Farewell Spit in Golden Bay, located in the country's South Island. Since then, over two hundred volunteers have been working day and night, to keep the mammals warm, and help them refloat. The saga finally ended on Wednesday morning, with mixed results....

Today, millions of Chinese people all over the world will celebrate the first day of the Chinese or Lunar New Year - the longest and most significant of all traditional Chinese Festivals. Also known as the Spring Festival, it is a four thousand year-old tradition that began as a way to mark the end of the dreary winter season and beginning of spring....

On Jan 12th, Intel announced the semi-finalists of its 2012 Annual Science Talent Search. Among the 300 high school seniors was Samantha Garvey, a bright 17-year old, who currently also happens to be, homeless....

Today, people all over the USA will celebrate the life, legacy and dream of Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist clergyman turned civil rights leader who galvanized the country with his vision that people should be judged by the content of their character not, the color of the skin....

Imagine if 'doing' laundry meant wearing your dirty clothes and lounging in the sun. If researchers from China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Hubei University of Nationalities have their way, that may actually be a reality, in the not so distant future....

Nepal's majestic elephants rarely get a break - That's because these hard-working mammals are constantly transporting tourists across the protected jungles of Chitwan. However, during the last week of December, the Pachyderms got a three-day break to have some fun and show off their athletic talents and physical attributes....

'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade' - This certainly seems to be the motto of the people of Harbin, one of China's coldest cities, where temperatures can dip as low as -4° Fahrenheit (-20° Celsius). That's because instead of hibernating during the coldest months of the year, they host one of the world's largest and most spectacular Ice and Snow Festivals....

Depending on the hemisphere you live in late today or early tomorrow - December 22nd, will be the first day of Winter or Summer. Also known as Winter (Summer) Solstice it is the shortest day of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest for the lucky folks in the Southern Hemisphere....

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish festival whose date is based on the Hebrew calendar and therefore, varies annually. This year, the 25th day of the month of Kislev, which is when the holiday begins, happens to fall today - December 20th, 2011....

Looking for something offbeat to do this Christmas vacation? How about the Ice Hotel? Located in the village of Jukkasjarvi, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden, it is as the name indicates, built entirely from ice blocks lugged in from the nearby Torne River....

While today salt is a cheap commodity, such was not the case in the Middle Ages, when refrigerators were not yet invented and the only way to preserve food was by packing it in salt. Hence, it was not surprising that salt mines were worth their weight in gold - Literally....