Interesting ↓

Wireless Electricity

“Eric Giler wants to untangle our wired lives with cable-free electric power. Here, he covers what this sci-fi tech offers, and demos MIT’s breakthrough version, WiTricity — a near-to-market invention that may soon recharge your cell phone, car, pacemaker.”

Survival Of The Blondest

“A population of mice that switched from brunette to blonde has provided scientists with a vivid example of evolution at work. The deer mice took 8,000 years to change the colour of their coats when they found themselves living among sand dunes. They evolved the new look through natural selection after glaciers deposited sand on top of darker soil at Sand Hills, Nebraska, US.” w/ photos

Scientists Close To Breast Cancer Cure

“British scientists are close to a ‘potential cure’ for most breast cancer cases. They have developed a way to stop tumours growing and spreading, which could save millions of lives every year. Researchers say the new technique could be used to produce a drug to tackle the disease in as little as two years. Breast cancer kills 12,000 British women every year, more than a quarter of those diagnosed with it. Scientists have previously focused on how to prevent tumours from forming, but the new research has found key molecules called microRNAs which the cancer manipulates to spread around the body. Breast cancer cells ’switch off’ these molecules, allowing the cancer to spread unchecked to other parts of the body. This spread is responsible for 90 per cent of deaths from breast cancer and the team which made the breakthrough is working on a drug to stop this fatal process. One of the scientists, Dr Justin Stebbing, senior lecturer and consultant medical oncologist at Imperial College, London, said: ‘This is a potential cure for breast cancer. There are no drugs as yet but they should be available in a couple of years.” w/ photo

The Biggest Dogs In The World

“Let’s face it, some people like their pets big! If you are looking for a large dog, there are a number of ‘giant’ breeds. Be careful, though – you should only consider these breeds if you have lots of space, lots of time and a good deal of money… Here’s a look at some of the giants of the canine world.” w/ photos

Quentin Tarantino: Visionary Or Douchebag?

“If there’s one thing we like to do more than drink, it’s argue about really important stuff, like whether Quentin Tarantino is a visionary or a douchebag. Here’s what it sounds like when we do both at the same time.”

Avoiding The High Cost Of Cigarettes

“Driven by the huge tax increase on cigarettes, a growing number of smokers have turned to cultivating tobacco plants to blend their own cigarettes. Something unusual is cropping up alongside the tomatoes, eggplant and okra in Scott Byars’ vegetable garden — the elephantine leaves of 30 tobacco plants. Driven largely by ever-rising tobacco prices, he’s among a growing number of smokers who have turned to their green thumbs to cultivate tobacco plants to blend their own cigarettes, cigars and chew. Byars normally pays $5 for a five-pack of cigars and $3 for a tin of snuff; the seed cost him $9. “I want to get to where I don’t have to go to the store and buy tobacco, but I’ll just be able to supply my own from one year to the next,” Byars said. Although most people still buy from big tobacco, the movement took off in April when the tax on cigarettes went up 62 cents to $1.01 a pack. Large tax increases were also imposed on other tobacco products, and tobacco companies upped prices even more to compensate for lost sales. Some seed suppliers have reported a tenfold increase in sales as some of the country’s 43.3 million smokers look for a cheaper way to get their nicotine fix in a down economy. Cigarettes cost an average of $4.35 a pack, home growers can make that amount for about 30 cents.” w/ photos

11 Things You Didn’t Know About Pinball

“Today, pinball may seem like a harmless, all-American pastime. But the game’s history—from its rebellious roots to its nerdy present—is more bizarre than most people would imagine.” w/ photos

Can A Hurricane Be Weakened?

“Insight in to the theory that silver iodide can weaken the eye of a hurricane and lessen its force when dropped by a plane over the storm, a technique known as seeding. Great video from BBC documentary The Science of Superstorms.” w/ photos

Popcorn Is Good For Your Health

“Popcorn could help prevent cancer, research suggests. Scientists discovered the snack food contains ’surprisingly large’ levels of health-boosting antioxidants called polyphenols. Polyphenols in fruit and vegetables are thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases. The U.S. study was led by the chemist Dr Vinson from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. It is the first to establish that snack foods and some wholegrain breakfast cereals are a good source of polyphenols. He said: ‘We really were surprised by the levels of polyphenols we found in popcorn. I guess its because it’s not processed. You get all the wonderful ingredients of the corn undiluted and protected by the skin. In my opinion it’s a good health food.” w/ photo

100 Ways To Use A Strip Of Bacon

“EndlessSimmer has compiled this handy chart of 100 ways to use a strip of bacon. From bacon apple pie to bacon guacamole, bacon pickles, bacon marshmallows, and yes, even bacon-wrapped tofu, here are the 100 most glorious ways to enjoy god’s greatest gift to tastebuds. But please, folks — try not to hump the computer screen. The bacon haters are watching.” w/ photos