For our readers that live in the United States, this is a magical time of the year. That's because the countdown to Summer vacation has begun - Months of lounging around the house, park or beach, sipping chilled lemonade and reading books, with not a worry in the world. Can things get any better? Read on . ....

While today, the mere mention of a shark sighting sends shivers down our spines, such was not the case about a century ago. In those days, most people believed that sharks were tame creatures who could be easily scared and had jaws so weak, that even if one were brave enough to come close, it would pose no threat. This belief was reinforced by experts who maintained that sharks would never attack humans, especially in the temperate waters of the United States, unless they were provoked....

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, which means that you will probably spend the morning toiling in the kitchen making a scrumptious breakfast and serving it to her along with some flowers, chocolates or even jewelry. While your mother will probably thank you profusely so will, the U.S. Government!...

If you happen to be anywhere near the coastal town of La Teste-de-Buch in France, you will see an astonishing sight - One that may make you think you are in the Sahara Desert rather than the middle of Europe - A giant sand dune!...

On Wednesday, May 1st, 2013, a group of nanophysicists from tech giant IBM unveiled their first production - A Boy And His Atom. However, the one-minute blockbuster that has already won the Guinness World Record Award for the smallest stop-motion film, is not an attempt by the tech company to get into the movie business, but a way to showcase future technology and more importantly, get young kids interested in a future in science, by demonstrating how fun it can be....

The fact that plants do not live a passive life has been known for sometime now. In 2012, a team of researchers led by Professor Nick Smirnoff from The University of Exeter, was able to visually prove that they communicate with each other and now two totally separate research studies reveal that these silent communicators may actually be 'talking' to each other and us!...

May is National Inventors Month, which means it's time to celebrate the innovators, tinkerers and creative thinkers that have enhanced our quality of life with their brilliant ideas. We would like to pay homage to each and everyone of them but alas, there are simply too many. So here are a few, whose inventions, ideas and vision impact most of us, on a daily basis....

Unless you are a vegetarian, the concept of a cafeteria with no meat, probably evokes images of broccoli (eww) and spinach (yuck). However, ask the kids at Active Learning Elementary School in Flushing, New York and they will tell you that it's much more than that. They would know because their school cafeteria offers only vegetarian food!...

Cell phones have sure come a long way since the first 2.5 lb monster was unveiled just 40 years ago. Thanks to innovative companies like Apple Inc., we have evolved from keypad to touch-screen. But if you think that we are done with phone innovation, think again - Thanks to some Canadian inventors we may soon be swapping our rigid & thick (yes thick!), smart devices with flexible, paper-thin versions....

Here's some great news for all of you that have constructed virtual worlds on Minecraft - You can now bring them to life in 3D, thanks to Printcraft, the world's first multiplayer Minecraft server that converts your intricate creations into STL files, ready for 3D printing....

On April 26th, 2013, 89 school and colleges teams from 23 US States, Puerto Rico, Canada, India, Germany, Russia and Mexico, gathered at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama to participate in NASA's Great Moonbuggy Race....

Given that most of the work is done by machines, doing laundry is relatively effortless. Yet, most people hate the chore with a passion, which is probably why this new shirt unveiled by American apparel company, Wool & Prince, is generating so much interest....

Here's some news that may make those of you dreading the upcoming hurricane season, feel a tad better - Even Saturn gets hit with them! Except in the case of the ringed-planet, they are much bigger, more powerful and last indefinitely....

It weighs less than air and is extremely strong, yet flexible enough to bounce back to its original shape, after being compressed. And, it does not float away either, because a 10cm×10cm×10cm cube does not displace 1000 cubic centimeters of air, since a lot of air stays in the pores of the 'sponge'. But best of all, it can absorb up to 250-500 times its own weight of oil at a rapid pace of 68.8 grams per second. This is not a material scientist's dream, but a description of the most recent 'lightest' solid created by a research team from China's Zheijang University....

It is a well-documented fact that humpback whales gather their prey by creating 'bubble nets'- that is, blow bubbles underwater to confuse shoals of fish and cause them to herd together, giving the whales a perfect opportunity to devour them in one gulp....

On February 8th 2013, scientists from European Space Agency (ESA) announced that their weather satellite that is equipped with an instrument specifically designed to sense ozone concentrations showed revealed the seasonal ozone 'hole' above the Antarctica had shrunk to record levels!...

Coral reefs are not just beautiful to look at, but also, extremely useful. Considered the marine equivalent of tropical rainforests, they cover only 2% of the ocean bottom but harbor almost 25% of all marine life. However, like many other species, this amazing ecosystem that has been around for five hundred million years is in danger of being eradicated completely, if something is not done soon....

With a population of over 1.2 billion, the South Asian country of India is not only the world's largest democracy, but also, the third largest economic power. It is therefore hard to believe that from 1850-1947, this powerhouse had been a British colony. Though there had been some isolated regional struggles for independence, it was a seemingly insignificant 'March To The Sea' protest organized 83 years ago by civil rights leader Mohandas Gandhi, that instigated a countrywide nationalist movement. This eventually, led to the birth of India as an independent nation....

Time to get off the couch and make your mark . . . after all, it is Earth Day! Originally celebrated in North America on April 22, 1970, this year's theme is 'The Face of Climate Change' - aptly reflecting the dire situation our planet is going to be in, if something is not done to turn around global warming soon. In case you are still procrastinating, here is a visual reminder of why we should do all pitch in, to save our beautiful planet....

If you are a superhero fan, chances are you have already pre-purchased the ticket for the May 3rd midnight premier of Iron Man 3 and are looking forward to your interactive 3D experience with Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. But, if you are a little late to the game, you may want to skip the US party and instead, head over to Nagoya, Japan where one theater is screening the experience in 4DX....

In February 2013, US multimillionaire Dennis Tito announced that his non-profit organization, Inspiration Mars Foundation, was planning to sponsor two 'qualified' people for a flyby to Mars in 2018. While one would think that an announcement this ambitious from a man whose closest encounter with Space has been as the first paying guest of the International Space Station would arouse some skepticism, such is not the case....

Most of us take jumping onto a skateboard, shooting hoops or flying a kite, for granted. But for 12-year old Luka, anything beyond moving a limb or two, is just wishful thinking. That's because the young boy suffers from muscular dystrophy, a degenerative disease that confines him to a wheelchair....

While ants may appear to be just pesky insects whose sole purpose in life is to annoy humans, they are in reality, quite amazing - they can survive the biggest floods by morphing into living rafts, find their way anywhere, thanks to a built-in GPS and now it turns out, may even have the ability to predict earthquakes - Something even the world's best brains have been unable to do so far!...

Asian countries seem to have the most fun when it comes to celebrations. This was amply demonstrated last week when Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Burma ushered in their cultural New Year, with a giant, free-for-all, water fight!...