Wind And Solar Powered Ecocapsule Allows Thrill-Seekers To Live Off The GridRecreation Vehicles (RV's) or mobile homes are an excellent way to travel around the world and experience life like a local. It is no wonder that they are getting increasingly popular not just with vacationers but also retirees and seasonal workers. The only drawbacks are that these gas-guzzling homes on wheels are not very environmentally friendly and also somewhat restrictive. That's because they depend on the grid for water and electricity....
Read news articleForming 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!...
Read news articleVideo Of The Week - Michael Breach Specializes In Coffee ArtLatte foam artwork, which is believed to have originated in has been around since the 1980's. But while many have mastered the art of sketching beautiful flowers and hearts, very few can compete with coffee artist extraordinaire, Michael Breach. The -based 'painter' who has been called the Da Vinci of barista coffee art can (literally) whip up any image that is presented to him - All he needs is a toothpick and some foam!...
Read news articleWorld'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!...
Read news articleSelf Healing Concrete Uses Bacteria To Repair CracksConcrete has been a significant contributor to the spread of civilization. From the Pantheon built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago to our homes today, the concoction made from water, aggregate, and cement, is why our structures can withstand the harsh elements of nature. But this seemingly indestructible material does have an Achilles' heel - The micro-cracks that form as it dries....
Read news articleHow Drones Will Help South America's Wapishana Tribe Protect Pristine LandsThe 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....
Read news articleScripps National Spelling Bee Crowns Co-Champions For The Second Consecutive Year!In 2014, Sriram Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe made history when they were declared the first co-champions of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 52 years, and only the fifth since the contest began in 1925. On May 28th, 2015, 13-year-old Vanya Shivashankar and 14-year-old Gokul Venkatachalam repeated the feat, after zipping through the final list of 25 difficult words with ease....
Read news articleIt's Almost National Donut Day!What's better than the school year drawing to a close? How about a National Donut Day, which believe it or not, happens to be tomorrow, Friday, June 5th! Given that the only way to celebrate this all-important occasion is to eat donuts, you really have no choice but to devour one (or even a dozen) of the gooey treats....
Read news articleMeet CHIP, An Ultra Tiny, Ridiculously Cheap Fully-Functional ComputerNeed 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....
Read news articleVideo Of The Week - Watch A (Robotic) Surgeon Stitch Back A Grape SkinHuman-controlled robot "surgeons" have been assisting doctors in operating rooms since 2000. However, the Single Site "wristed needle driver" that was created by Intuitive Surgical takes robotic precision to a whole new level. That's because its flexible "wrist" allows the instrument tip to move up to 45 degrees in all directions, enabling doctors to operate on organs like the uterus, without making large incisions that result in unsightly scars....
Read news articleChildren's Book Transforms Into A Tree When PlantedWhile e-books are on the rise, most people, especially young kids, still prefer printed versions that they can pore over for hours on end. Though that is an excellent habit, it also means cutting down precious trees. But what if the book could revert to its roots and transform back into a tree? Now thanks to a Brazilian children's book publisher, that is possible, at least for one book!...
Read news articleWhat 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....
Read news articleWorld's Longest And Highest Glass-Bottom Bridge Promises Planet's Highest Bungee Jump!Earlier this month, the officials of China's Hunan Province revealed what they believe will be a new "Wonder of the World" — the planet's longest and highest glass-bottom bridge. When complete, the 430 meter-long and 6 meter-wide structure will connect the two summits across the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. While the length is certainly impressive, it is the 400 m (1,312 ft) height that will have most visitors gripped by fear as they try to traverse across....
Read news articleMadrid's Museo Del Prado Encourages Visitors To Touch And Feel MasterpiecesOne 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....
Read news articleFake Orca Summoned To Scare Astoria's Sea LionsThe 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....
Read news articleWhy Oregon's Lost Lake Disappears Every YearLost 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....
Read news articleThis Memorial Day Remember Our Fallen HeroesMemorial Day, a Federal US holiday that is observed annually on the last Monday of May signifies different things to different people. For some it's a reminder to firm up summer vacation plans, for others it's an excuse to lounge around the pool with friends. Then there are the shoppers who believe the day is all about hitting the malls for bargains. What often gets forgotten is the real purpose of the holiday - to honor and remember the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces that sacrificed their lives to defend our right to freedom....
Read news articleThe Majestic Opah Is The World's First Truly Warm Blooded Fish!The Opah is a striking fish species that can grow as large as 7-feet in diameter and weigh over 100 pounds. Also referred to as moonfish, the giants that can be found in both temperate and tropical seas reside at depths of 150 to 1,300-feet where the waters can be extremely chilly. Scientists have often wondered how the fish can withstand the temperatures given that they lack typical deep sea dweller characteristics like a large heart. Now thanks to some curious California researchers that mystery has finally been solved - The Opah has warm-blood!...
Read news articleThousands Brave Chilly San Francisco Morning To 'Run' Goofy Bay To Breakers RaceIt was a chilly and gloomy Sunday morning. But that did not prevent thousands of Bay Area residents from making their way to San Francisco's beautiful waterfront to participate in the city's oldest and most iconic footrace - Bay to Breakers. Now in its 104th year, the 12 Km (7.45 mile) competition that spans across the city may not be the world's hardest or longest race. But it is the most fun!...
Read news articleVideo Of The Week - 'Jetmen' Rossy And Reffet Soar Over Dubai Skies In First Ever Twin Human FormationIn the last 15 years, Yves Rossy has used his amazing jetpack wings to soar over the Grand Canyon, fly alongside an F-17 bomber and even circle Japan's Mt. Fuji. However, his latest flight in Dubai surpasses them all. That's because this time the adventurer joined forces with his protégé, 31-year-old skydiver and base jumper Vince Reffet, to do what no human has accomplished before - fly in formation!...
Read news articleScientists Ponder Over The Mystery Of The Missing Egyptian Animal MummiesWhen researchers from the University of Manchester and Manchester Museum decided to take a peek inside some ancient Egyptian animal mummies using CT scans they expected to discover perfectly preserved remains. To their surprise, only one-third of the 800 specimens they examined actually contained complete skeletons. The rest housed partial animal remains, or even worse, just some mud, sticks, and eggshells....
Read news articleOakland-Based Imperfect Will Sell Only "Ugly" Fruits And VegetablesSimilar to humans, produce comes in different shapes and sizes. Yet, chances are you have probably never encountered a gnarly looking carrot or an apple with "character" at your local grocery store or farmers market. That's because any fruit or vegetable that looks different from what is considered "normal" is deemed undesirable and automatically tossed out!...
Read news articleGerman Car Manufacturer Audi Creates Fuel From Air And WaterCreating a "green" or carbon neutral fuel to replace gasoline has been the holy grail for scientists for many years. However, while there has been some progress with inventions like electric batteries and biofuel, most options are either too expensive or not commercially viable to compete effectively with the fossil fuel. Now automobile manufacturer Audi is stepping up to the challenge with diesel made from carbon dioxide and water....
Read news articleAvengers: Age Of Ultron Inspired Iron Man Glove Shoots Real Laser BeamsIf Stark Industries were a real company, chances are Patrick Priebe would be Tony Stark's go-to man for all new gizmos. In fact, this young man's creations are so impressive that any superhero would be proud to be seen with them....
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