Scientists Discover 1.5 Million New Species Of Plankton And . . . . . Lots Of Plastic!For the last two and a half years, 15 scientists have been scouring the oceans in search of some of earth's smallest but most important organisms - Plankton. The exhaustive research has revealed some great news and some, not so encouraging....
Read news article2nd Grader Attends School Via An 'Avatar'Though we may all moan and groan about having to go to school each morning, the truth is that it is not all bad - I mean where else can you hang out with friends, complain about teachers and exchange carrots for cookies? Therefore, you can only imagine how young Devon Carrow felt when he realized that he could not and may never be able to attend 'normal' school. Now, thanks to his alter ego, a 4-ft tall robot, he is able to do everything except . . . . Share his lunch....
Read news article'lg Nobel Prize' Honors The Lighter Side Of ScienceIf you think science is boring and scientists nerdy, you may change your opinion after reading about the fun discoveries that won these researchers Nobel Prizes - Not the real ones of course, but the spoof lg Nobel Prize - that are awarded for research that 'first makes one laugh and then, think'....
Read news articleA Cockroach You May Actually Be Grateful To SeeMention the word 'cockroach' in a room full of people and you will see it empty it out in no time at all. However, if some scientists are right, this very same pest that we have all come to despise and fear, may soon prove to be our savior in the aftermath of natural disasters....
Read news articleLevitate Water Harry Potter Style - No Wand Or Spell Needed!The fact that J.K. Rowling's vivid imagination conveyed so brilliantly in the Harry Potter series of books has been a big hit with kids and adults all over the world, is a well-known fact. But what is not as well publicized is the effect it has had on inspiring scientists. First there is the ongoing quest to create an invisibility cloak and now, levitating water droplets!...
Read news articleThe Fascinating Migration Trek Of Monarch Butterflies Has Begun!Right about now, thousands of Monarch butterflies are beginning to make their way from North America's colder regions to their winter homes in California and Mexico, where they will spend the season hibernating, before heading back in early spring next year. This round-trip, which in some cases spans about 2,000 miles each way and can take as long as two months, is unique and fascinating for a number of reasons....
Read news articlePerfectly Preserved Woolly Mammoth Provides New Hope Of Resurrecting The Mighty MammalResurrecting pre-historic animals that roamed the Earth's surface thousands of years ago, has been something scientists have been fantasizing about for many years. However in most cases, it is just not possible either because the DNA is not available or in the case of an animal like the dinosaur, is just too old. The one exception may be the Woolly Mammoth that lived during the Ice Age, about 8,000 years ago....
Read news articlePortable Solar Desalination 'Plant' That May Aid In Third World Water Woes'Water, Water everywhere, not a drop to drink' - That unfortunately, is the situation faced by millions of residents in developing countries who are surrounded by oceans, but have no access to fresh drinking water. Now thanks to this ingenious portable ceramic desalination 'plant' created by Milan-based designer Gabriele Diamanti, there may be a viable solution....
Read news articleMeet Venus, The World's Only Known Two-Faced CatReferring to someone as 'two-faced', usually means he/she is deceitful or insincere. But Venus the cat is neither - She actually has . . . . . . Two faces! Completely black on the right and completely ginger on the left. What's even more amazing is that even her eye colors are different - blue on the ginger side and green on the black side....
Read news article'Master The Force' To Explode Watermelons!How often have you wished you could be like Luke Skywalker and master the 'force' of your mind to make things happen. Now thanks to two residents your wish may be granted. The only difference? Instead of being able to lift ships from murky swamps, you will have the power to explode watermelons!...
Read news articleInternational Space Station Saved By Some Enterprising Astronauts And . . . . . . . A Spare Toothbrush!When one hears of astronauts conducting repairs on the International Space Station, it usually involves using sophisticated tools. However, such was not the case in the recent fix that scientists believe may have saved the $100 billion USD Station - All that was needed, was some astronaut ingenuity and, a $3 USD toothbrush....
Read news articleMIT invention Will Finally End Your One-Sided Battle With The Ketchup BottleHow often have you settled down for dinner at home or in a restaurant and tried to put a dollop of ketchup or mayonnaise on your burger or alongside your fries, only to find that nothing drips out. Then, when you wallop the bottle in frustration, it suddenly squirts all over the table! The problem only exacerbates as the amount of ketchup in the bottle depletes. In fact, very few people can honestly say that they have ever succeeded it emptying the bottle down to the very last drop. Now, thanks to some Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers that day may not be far off....
Read news articleNifty Invention By Teen Could Save School Districts Thousands Of DollarsIllinois tween Jonny Cohen was just twelve years old when he came up with a revolutionary idea that would make clunky yellow school buses more energy efficient - Helping not only school districts save money, but also, the environment. Now five years later, the senior at Highland Park High School is finally seeing his dream realized....
Read news articleUS Hurricane Season Begins With A Splash As Isaac Unleashes On The Gulf StatesIt was supposed to have pounded the coast of Florida and even delayed Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's nomination by a few days. But hurricane Isaac changed course midway. After barely grazing the Florida Keys, it bypassed the rest of the Sunshine State and instead, unleashed its fury on the three Gulf states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama....
Read news articleSpace Pioneer Neil Armstrong, Passes AwayOn Saturday August 25th, 43 years after he made history by becoming the first person to step on the moon, NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong passed away from complications attributed to a heart surgery he underwent earlier this month. Given the fact that the Cincinnati resident had been reported to be doing well following the procedure, the news came as a big shock to his millions of worldwide fans....
Read news articleHiriko - An Eco-Friendly Car With A Unique TalentWhat's better than an all-electric zero emission car that can travel 75 miles between charges? How about one that can do that and also, squeeze itself into a parking spot no matter how small - Introducing, Hiriko, a green vehicle built to ease some of the stress of urban living....
Read news articleScientists Ponder Over Why The Sun Is Rounder Than It Should Be!Ever since humans have inhabited earth, we have known that the sun is round. However, turns out that it is even rounder and flatter than had been previously believed. What's even more amazing is that its shape never alters, a fact that is surprising given that it is a gaseous ball of fire. How is that possible? That, is a mystery that scientists are now planning to solve!...
Read news articleHow Long Can You Resist A Marshmallow?How long can you resist a marshmallow? For a minute, maybe two - How about 20 minutes? Believe it or not, the answer to that simple question, could shape your entire future - At least that, is the conclusion reached by University of Stanford scientist Walter Mischel the brainchild behind the now legendary 'Stanford Marshmallow' test....
Read news articleGorilla Siblings Joyfully Reunite After Three YearsJust like humans who haven't seen each other in a few years, they began with a formal handshake. But then, the two could just not contain their excitement - First came the squeeze of shoulders, then a giant hug and finally, the ultimate evidence of joy - A rough tumble into the soft grass. That, is how the workers at the Longleat Safari and Adventure Park in Wiltshire, England, are describing last week's joyful reunion of Alf and Kesho, two lowland gorilla brothers that had been separated for three years....
Read news articleUnderwater Volcano Eruption Spews A Massive 'Raft' Of Rocks Off The Coast Of New ZealandOn Thursday August 9th, a New Zealand Air Force plane flying about 1,000 kilometers northeast of the island's biggest city, Auckland, encountered a strange sight - A brilliant white light that resembled an ice shelf, sparkling from the clear blue waters of the South Pacific ocean....
Read news articleWorld's First Eyeless Spider Discovered in Southeast AsiaJust when scientists think they have discovered and recorded every species of insect that crawls the earth they find something new. Earlier this month, Peter Jager, the head of arachnology at Frankfurt's Senckenberg Research Institute reported the discovery of a unique spider that has adapted to its dark environment by simply doing away with of all of its eight eyes!...
Read news articleAnnual Perseid Meteor Showers To Light Up The Skies This WeekendEach year in late July or early August, we witness the Perseid Meteor showers, a spectacular 'shooting star display', as the Earth in its orbit around the sun, passes through the dusty remains of the comet Swift-Tuttle. This year, the best time to watch nature's annual firework show will be on late Saturday, August 11th or early Sunday when the skies are darkest....
Read news articleVideo Of The Week - The Science of The Summer Olympic Gamesif you are wondering how teenagers like Missy Franklin and Katie Ledeky seem to break records so effortlessly, or how Usain Bolt simply bolts past everyone with what appears to be inhuman speed, you are not alone....
Read news articleConstructing The Perfect Sand CastleSummer vacations are all about lazing around, frolicking on the beach and . . . . . . Building sand castles. However, no matter how hard we try, most of us never seem to get it right. Turns out, it's not because we are doing something wrong, but because there is a scientific method to the madness - At least that's the conclusion reached by a global team of researchers from Amsterdam, France and Iran....
Read news article