PaveGen Tiles Makes Going Green (And School) FunAt most schools 'going green' means generating less trash or making a conscientious attempt to recycle. But at New York's Riverdale Country School, it means being encouraged to run and even jump in the hallway. That's because on January 7th, 2014, the school became the first American venue for the specially designed Pavegen floor tiles....
Read news articleVideo Of The Week - Your Life In JellybeansYou may have often heard your parents say 'life is short' - But to most of you the average American lifespan of 79 years or 28,835 days probably feels like an eternity. However, break it down into the chunks of time you spend doing mundane things like eating, drinking, sleeping or working and you will realize that as usual, they are right!...
Read news articleWater That Helps Start Fires!Water is normally thought to be the solution to extinguish fires, not ignite them. But when subjected to certain conditions, normal H2O can do the exact opposite. In order to create this magical liquid that scientists call 'supercritical water', it is first compressed at 217 times the air pressure found at sea level and then heated above 703°F (373°C)....
Read news articleTitan Arm Transforms Ordinary Humans Into Superheroes (Almost)!For those that have always wished for superhuman strength, here is some good news - A group of engineering students from the University of Pennsylvania have invented a way to make it happen instantly! And while it may not be enough to save a damsel in distress, it is guaranteed to impress your friends....
Read news articlePolar Vortex Brings Sub-Zero Temperatures To The USOn Monday, January 6th, more than 140 million Americans woke up to frigid temperatures - ones that had not been experienced in at least 25 years. The Midwestern part of the country bore the brunt of the cold. Fort Wayne recorded a bone-chilling high of -13°F, while Chicago reported an even lower -16°F. And those numbers were without the windchill, (the effect the wind has on lowering the temperature), factored in....
Read news articleRocks That Grow? Hmm . . .The Romanian town of Costesti is home to one of the world's most amazing natural phenomena - rocks that grow. Named Trovants or 'cemented sand' the spherical shaped stones are believed to have first appeared on earth about six million years ago, following a powerful earthquake....
Read news articleIn Western Australia Even Sharks Send Out 'Tweets'!The fact that Twitter, the social networking and microblogging site which enables users to send 'tweets' or 140 character messages to their followers is popular, is no secret. However so far the service was being used only by humans. Now it appears that some sharks that frequent the coastal regions of Western Australia have also joined the fray....
Read news articleAir-Powered Lego Car Cruises Down The Streets Of MelbourneOn December 23rd, Melbourne residents witnessed an unusual sight - A roadster made almost entirely from Lego bricks cruising down the streets. Assembled from 500,000 of the versatile bricks, the stunning black and yellow vehicle that is being hailed as a technical marvel, is the brainchild of 20-year-old Romanian student, Raul Oida....
Read news articleWhen Teachers Become StudentsWith the holiday break coming to an end, students are bracing for the tough schedule that lies ahead. And it's not just the academic challenges they are preparing for, but also mundane ones like keeping up with constantly changing schedules and getting to classes in time. What if teachers could start the New Year by switching sides and experiencing what their students go through? That is exactly what some educators at Burr and Burton Academy, an independent high school in Manchester, Vermont, did and what they discovered, can only be described as eye opening....
Read news articleHappy 2014!Happy 2014! We hope you and your loved ones welcomed the New Year with a bang by watching a live or televised fireworks show. In case you missed them, here are a few of the most spectacular ones organized by cities all across the world. So settle down with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the show!...
Read news articleVideo Of The Week - The Coolest Christmas Outfits?What happens when engineers known for designing innovative gadgets are asked to create Christmas party outfits? That's what James Dyson, CEO of British Engineering firm Dyson Ltd wanted to find out when he invited them to the company's annual 'topsy turvy' themed holiday party - He was not disappointed....
Read news articleReady Or Not, Winter (Or Summer) Is Officially Here!With the recent snowstorms that have been blanketing many parts of the country, it may appear that winter has been here for sometime now. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Tomorrow, December 21st, is Winter Solstice, the official start of the season for the residents of the Northern Hemisphere. Of course, the opposite is true for the lucky folks that live in the Southern Hemisphere who will be celebrating the first day of summer....
Read news articleMeet Niijima, The Latest Addition To Planet EarthOn November 21st, Japanese Coast Guards released photos of a brand new island created by an eruption of an underwater volcano in the Pacific Ocean, about a thousand kilometers south of the country's capital, Tokyo. While exciting, it received a somewhat lukewarm reception, given that most such islands tend to disappear within a short period of time. However now it seems that the volcanic landmass that has been called Niijima, may be here to stay!...
Read news articleLook Ma, No Stains!How many times have you come home after a day of fun with your friends only to hear you mum tut tut about the stains on your brand new t-shirt? Now thanks to an ingenious invention by a San Francisco student, there is some hope - A t-shirt that repels almost any liquid that may try sneak its way down from your mouth. This means that you can come home every day and proudly declare - Look ma, no stains!...
Read news articleLondon Plans To Ring In The New Year With An Edible Fireworks ExtravaganzaOne of the highlights of ringing in a New Year is watching the firework displays. With every city trying to outdo the other, the shows are getting increasingly spectacular each year. However until now, they have all been about pleasing our visual and auditory senses (at least for those that like the loud booms)! This year, London is planning an extravaganza that will not only be stunning to see and hear, but also, smell and taste! Welcome to the world's first ever edible fireworks show!...
Read news articleCrossword Puzzle Turns 100!They can be frustrating and challenging but the sense of achievement one gets upon completing them is like none other! In case you are wondering, we are talking about the crossword puzzle, the word game that celebrates its 100th birthday this week!...
Read news articleVideo Of The Week - Titus, The Basketball Whiz Kid Is Back!Earlier this year, two-year old Titus stunned the world with his basketball skills. The young Kansas tot is back and this time with two friends - Hollywood Megastars Channing Tatum and Bradley Cooper, in tow....
Read news articleHow Hummingbirds Evolved to Thrive In High AltitudesHummingbirds have long been admired for their striking jewel-like plumage and minute size. With over 356 recognized species, these dainty creatures are found all the way from Alaska to the southernmost part of South America. And though they are the smallest members of the avian community, they have the largest brains (in proportion to their bodies) and are known to be quite smart! A hummingbird will remember every flower it has ever visited, and how long the plant will take to refill with nectar....
Read news articleWhy Leo Grand's 'Trees For Cars' App Is So RemarkableJust about five months ago, Leo Grand's life looked pretty bleak. Homeless since losing his job at Metropolitan Life in 2011, he spent his days panhandling on the streets of and nights, seeking out a safe place to sleep. Then in late August, a young man made him a strange offer that changed his life....
Read news articleSweden's ICEHOTEL Opens For The 24th YearSweden's ICEHOTEL is known for many things - Its 'out of this world' location, gorgeous architecture and even freezing comfort. But the one thing it is not, is longevity! The hotel located in the village of Jukkasjärvi has to be rebuilt from scratch every year because it is carved entirely from ice blocks that melt when the summer comes along. The great part about that is, each rendition gets increasingly better!...
Read news articleOh No! It's Friday The 13th . . . Again!Today is Friday the 13th, the second and last one that we will have to encounter in 2013! While to most of us it signifies the start of another carefree weekend, there are some people that consider today to be extremely unlucky. As you probably know, the number 13 has a bad reputation to begin with. This is the reason many office and residential towers often skip the 13th floor altogether. However, when that date falls on a Friday, the fear factor seems to escalate to a whole new level....
Read news articleAnnual Geminids Promise A Stunning Celestial Show This WeekendThough the comet of the century, ISON, may have the dependable annual Geminid showers have arrived and will be in full blossom starting today, Thursday, December 12th, all the way through to Monday, December, 16th. Nicknamed the 900-pound gorilla of meteor showers by NASA, they outweigh other dust streams by factors of between 5 to 500!...
Read news articleChristmas Comes Early For Some Lucky WestJet PassengersWhile most of us are still keeping our fingers crossed that Santa will deliver at least a few items from our extensive wish lists, the lucky passengers of two recent WestJet flights have already had one of their requests fulfilled....
Read news articleIron Shoes - The New Trend In Fitness Wear?While most of the world is out seeking the lightest athletic shoe available, one Chinese man is heading the other way. Zhang Fuxing believes that the heavier the shoe, the better it is for the body. To prove it, he exercises in iron shoes that each weigh an astounding 200kg (440 lbs)!...
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