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Those with a sweet tooth might not need to feel so guilty about admitting it. People who eat candy and chocolate tend to have smaller waists, weigh less and have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who don’t indulge in these treats, a new study says. In addition, candy and chocolate consumers had … Читать далее

One day in 1895, while walking through the Ngoya Forest in Zululand, southern Africa, a botanist with the oh so suitable name of John Medley Wood caught sight of a tree. It sat on a steep slope at the edge of the woods and looked different from the other trees, with its thick multiple trunks … Читать далее

When the 2001 Grammys took place, controversy was swirling around Eminem. His third LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, was one of the biggest hits of the previous year and was up for a slate of awards, but many critics saw his lyrics as homophobic, violent and misogynistic. Protesters stood outside of the Staples Center on … Читать далее

Virologists led by Prof Jean-Michel Claverie and Dr Chantal Abergel from the Aix-Marseille Université’s Structural and Genomic Information Laboratory, France, have described two new giant viruses, the biggest yet found. The new viruses, named Pandoravirus salinus and Pandoravirus dulcis, are twice as large as the previous record-holder Megavirus chilensis. In addition to being huge — … Читать далее

In Japan, as in many cultures, it is considered disrespectful to fail to remove shoes before entering a home. This practice, while at one time a practical necessity, has long become tradition and is common in many parts of the world, including Hawaii. While the reasons for swapping shoes for slippers before entering the home … Читать далее

Ever had a headache so big, you felt like drilling a hole in your head to let the pain out? In Neolithic times, trepanation — or drilling a hole into the skull — was thought to be a cure for everything from epilepsy to migraines. It could even have been a form of emergency surgery … Читать далее

As the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Brazil this week, fans of the globe’s most popular sport have been tuning in to watch the greatest names in the game square off. But one question continues to crop up: Why is it that Americans insist on calling the sport «soccer,» while the rest of the … Читать далее

Begun over 80 years ago, this science experiment keeps on going, ever so slowly. Begun in 1927 by Professor Thomas Parnell, this experiment was meant to reveal the surprising properties of an everyday material: pitch. Pitch is the name of a number of hard tar-like substances and in this case, bitumen was used. Though at … Читать далее

Michael Jackson’s bodyguards Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard imagine how the King of Pop would have reacted to a remixed album of unreleased tracks. Ever since Michael Jackson died, there have been many arguments over how his estate has handled his musical legacy. The latest one erupted last month with the release of Xscape, the … Читать далее

Instagram posts by rich kids have led to more incriminating evidence for prosecutors about their parents’ fraud schemes, The Guardian reports. Leading cybersecurity firms told the site they have been using social media evidence to nail fraud and assets in up to 75 percent of their cases. Managing director of cybersecurity and investigations at Kroll … Читать далее

Researchers found it significantly increases testosterone levels, even more so than competitive activities. Being a lumberjack has long been considered among the «manliest» of professions, but now there may be scientific proof to back it up. Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara have discovered that chopping wood significantly increases testosterone levels, even more … Читать далее

Over the last several weeks The Simpsons has rushed into the public consciousness with an urgency it hasn’t enjoyed in a decade. At Comic-Con last week, in particular, attention was drummed up by the producers grandly, as with galvanic effort they annexed valuable headline real estate across the world. No sooner did Harry Shearer swear … Читать далее

Moses Weisberg was walking his bicycle through the National Arboretum in Northeast Washington when he stopped at a mushroom-shaped tree. The first thing he noticed was the thickness of the trunk, estimated at almost a foot and a half in diameter. And then there was the abundance of spindly leaves, a healthy head of hair … Читать далее

Adolf Hitler and his entourage pose in front of the Eiffel Tower shortly after the fall of France. One of the most recognized structures in the world is located in Paris, France. With just those clues alone (well and the title of the post…) many have already guessed that this post is about the Eiffel … Читать далее

Four Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) dogs based out of Beverly were among the first to arrive at the World Trade Center hours after the Sept. 11 attacks. Moxie was 3 years old at the time, freshly certified as an Urban Search and Rescue dog. It was the first assignment for the chocolate Lab and … Читать далее

«From troubles of the world I turn to ducks, Beautiful comical things» — Ducks by Frank W. Harvey From Jemima to Donald, ducks have permeated popular culture due to their friendly and entertaining nature. But far from just being waddling bundles of feathers, ducks are actually very complex creatures… 1. THEY FOLLOW THE FIRST ANIMAL … Читать далее

The silver in silverware has been around for ages, but there’s a reason it’s still in use today: it’s antiseptic. A recent story from blog Mind the Science Gap got us thinking about the pitfalls of overusing antibacterial soap. The active bacteria killer in those soaps, Triclosan, is just about everywhere these days-it shows up … Читать далее

While the rioters in England this week have looted shops selling shoes, clothes, computers, and plasma televisions, they’ve curiously bypassed one particular piece of merchandise: books. The Economist observes that while rioters have a centuries-old history of book burning, «books are losing out to high-end jeans and Apple-made gadgets» in London, with the Waterstone’s bookstore … Читать далее

Cumulative share of marriages ending in divorce. Divorce rates increased in the 1970s and 1980s, but in the last 20 years they have dropped. When Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin «consciously uncoupled» this year, ABC News said it was the latest example of the out-of-control divorce rate, «50 percent and climbing.» When Fox News anchors … Читать далее

Cristiano Ronaldo was asked to donate his cleats for a charity auction benefitting a 10-month-old child suffering from a brain disorder. The world’s top soccer player went a little further than that. Ronaldo, the Real Madrid star who was Fifa’s Ballon d’Or winner as the world’s top player, will pay the full $83,000 cost of … Читать далее

Nikola Tesla was, of course, a vastly accomplished scientist and inventor. His inventions include the Tesla coil and electric oscillators, and he also developed technologies that were eventually found in X-rays, the radio, and remote controls. One thing he didn’t invent: A death ray. But try telling that to the Governor Clinton Hotel. Tesla had … Читать далее

Today I learned that, beyond the success entailed for Joss Whedon-late of — directing fame-it has a nerdly milestone of its own. According to Charles Arthur in his book Digital Wars, the first use of To google on television appeared in Buffy. On October 15, 2002, in the fourth episode of the show’s final season, … Читать далее

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault entrance, lit up by fiberoptics the night after its opening. Svalbard, the Norwegian island halfway between Europe and the North Pole, is a place of extremes. It’s the northernmost place in the world where people live year-round. There are no roads between settlements, so everyone gets from town to town … Читать далее

Pigs aren’t usually considered the cuddliest of creatures, but when they’re swimming in the ocean-as opposed to splashing in the mud-they’re downright adorable. Want to practice your backstroke alongside Wilber? Head down to «pig beach» on Big Major Cay in the Bahaman island of Exuma, and dive right into the crystal-clear waters alongside the swine. … Читать далее

Ashton Kutcher spent time in the hospital after going on one of Steve Jobs’ infamous fruitarian diets to prepare for a new role in a biopic featuring the late Apple CEO. Ashton Kutcher spent time in the hospital after going on one of Steve Jobs’ infamous fruitarian diets to prepare for a new role in … Читать далее

Trees are able to distinguish whether one of their buds or shoots has been randomly torn off or has been eaten by a roe deer. In the case of roe deer browsing, they activate corresponding defence mechanisms. This is the result of a new study by biologists from the Leipzig University and the German Centre … Читать далее

In his 2002 memoir, Travels, Michael Crichton took his readers back several decades, to the early 1960s when, as a Harvard student, he tried an interesting little experiment in his English class. He recalled: I had gone to college planning to become a writer, but early on a scientific tendency appeared. In the English department … Читать далее

The Phantom of Heilbronn, often alternatively referred to as the «Woman Without a Face», was a hypothesized unknown female serial killer whose existence was inferred from DNA evidence found at numerous crime scenes in Austria, France and Germany from 1993 to 2009. The six murders among these included that of police officer Michèle Kiesewetter, in … Читать далее

After spending just 30,000 RMB ($4,370) on his new vehicle, a driver surnamed Liu decided to splurge on his license plate, spending 1 million RMB ($145,705) on one with 5 lucky number 8s, hoping it would keep him out of trouble on the road. It totally backfired on him. On his first day behind the … Читать далее

From November 3rd, every Italian teen celebrating their 18th birthday before December 31st 2016 can claim €500 from the government, to spend on cultural items. Every Italian resident from the class of 1998 — a total of 574,000 — can claim their ‘culture bonus’, which they can use to buy books, concert tickets, theatre tickets, … Читать далее

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — An inmate serving a life sentence for molesting and murdering a 10-year-old girl named Katie was apparently forcibly tattooed across the forehead by a fellow prisoner with the words «KATIE’S REVENGE,» authorities say. Anthony Ray Stockelman, 39, was removed from the general prison population for his own safety last weekend after authorities … Читать далее

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the greatest to have ever been in the NBA, but we know him as much more than a basketball player. He’s starred in movies (never forget), released albums (again, don’t forget), and most recently he’s featured on NBA on TNT. He’ll reprise his role alongside Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson … Читать далее

Mona «The Hammer» Shaw doesn’t have any regrets about laying waste to her local Comcast office with said construction tool, bucko, don’t you worry. Once she got out of the handcuffs that August 2007 afternoon, and a story in The Washington Post made the 70-something retired nurse from Bristow a folk hero for fed-up customers … Читать далее

A shipping container filled with rubber duckies was lost at sea in 1992, and the bath toys are still washing ashore today. In 1992, a shipping crate containing 28,000 plastic bath toys was lost at sea when it fell overboard on its way from Hong Kong to the United States. No one at the time … Читать далее

«Why doesn’t America read anymore?» NPR asked on Tuesday. «We totally do, NPR. Shut up. We read all the time. We’re reading your article right now!» Facebook commenters screeched. But they didn’t read the article. If they had, they would’ve seen this: Eventually, some commenters began to catch on and spoil the joke, but the … Читать далее

The few people who do practice Scientology think of it as a religion, but it is considered a cult in many parts of the world, including Germany, which is why Adidas, a German sports clothing manufacturer, will cancel any sponsorship deal they have with a player if it turns out he has anything to do … Читать далее

A cow with a name produces more milk than one without, scientists at Newcastle University have found. Drs Catherine Douglas and Peter Rowlinson have shown that by giving a cow a name and treating her as an individual, farmers can increase their annual milk yield by almost 500 pints. The study, published online today in … Читать далее

Kauai Invasive Species Committee Mongooses have non-retractable claws that enable them to dig for insects and pry apart eggs. People from all walks of life are drawn to gorgeous Hawaii. But human outsiders are not the only transplants eager to settle down there. The mongoose is one of the most detested of these invaders. It … Читать далее

A retired teacher has become an Internet sensation after he lobbed dozens of bricks at cars that ran a red light at an intersection in Lanzhou, Gansu province. «I just want to catch people’s attention and tell the drivers to think of pedestrians,» the 74-year-old man told Lanzhou Morning Post on Saturday. Many residents in … Читать далее

When Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon channeled Billie Jean King on the Dec. 21 «Weekend Update» segment right after King was named to the official U. S. delegation to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the tennis great declared herself «President Obama’s big gay middle finger» to Vladimir Putin. She then promised to «drive my Subaru … Читать далее

At the Applebee’s test kitchen in Kansas City, Mo., nine full-time chefs collaborate to create that certain «menu magic» that entices millions of diners every year. The ultimate test is the customer, but Applebee’s new CEO, Julia Stewart, has to put her stamp of approval on anything that goes out the door and onto the … Читать далее

Research shows that 30 years ago, you had about about 17 minutes to escape a house fire. Today it’s down to 3 or 4 minutes. The reason: Newer homes and the furniture inside them actually burn faster. A lot faster. To demonstrate, Rossen Reports went to Underwriters Laboratories in Chicago, where two rooms were built … Читать далее

Former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan moonlights as an investment guru Business majors can party. They can get wasted, wake up the next morning, hit 18 holes, and still make afternoon classes. But few have the expertise of Duff McKagan, bassist for Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, and student at the Albers School … Читать далее

Will the 11-year-old «I’m Lovin’ It» jingle-an earworm if ever there was one-soon be just a memory? After all, McDonald’s recently hired ad agency Leo Burnett to refresh its image. And Marlena Peleo-Lazar, the campaign’s architect, left McD’s in September. No matter what happens, the campaign has already made marketing history. Before «I’m Lovin’ It,» … Читать далее

Eat your heart out, Lassie! Masha, a long-haired tabby cat, saved the life of a baby abandoned in the streets of Russia — after she climbed into the box he was discarded in and kept him warm, health officials said. «The baby had only been outside for a few hours and thanks to Masha… he … Читать далее

Can translation shape a presidency? As I argue in a new book, Found in Translation, it can influence the world as we know it. So, it shouldn’t be difficult to believe that translation affects the oval office in more ways than most people realize. Likewise, the commander-in-chief has extraordinary power to shape policy related to … Читать далее

A recent in-depth study by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) of turn signal rates-of-neglect has yielded some surprising and somewhat disturbing results. The study reveals just how rampant the problem is and gives an idea of the number of accidents caused, or potentially caused, each year by improper usage of turn signals. Solutions to … Читать далее

Raising puppies and cheetah kittens together helps refocus the big cats’ nervous energy, zoos have discovered. Mixed-species friendships are all the rage these days, even between infamously mortal enemies like cats and dogs. Take best friends Kumbali the cheetah and Kago the yellow Labrador Retriever. The duo came to be after kitten Kumbali, at the … Читать далее

«Everyone said he wouldn’t return but he has been coming back to visit me for the past four years» It’s illegal for you to keep wild animals as pets in Brazil. But despite what the law may say, Dindim comes to live with his best friend, whom he met on the beaches of Brazil, every … Читать далее

When one reads a physics paper in an esteemed journal, one does not generally wonder if it was written by a cat. But such was the case for an article in the 1970s credited to co-author F. D. C. Willard-the Cat Who Published. Jack H. Hetherington was a professor of physics at Michigan State University … Читать далее