Chinese live-streaming services have banned people filming themselves eating bananas in a «seductive» fashion. New regulations mean that live-streaming sites must monitor all their output round-the-clock to ensure nothing untoward is going on, keeping an eye out for any «erotic» banana-eating, according to New Express Daily. It’s not just fruit that’s on their radar though … Читать далее
A San Francisco biotech startup has managed to 3D print fake rhino horns that carry the same genetic fingerprint as the actual horn. It plans to flood Chinese market with these cheap horns to curb poaching. Pembient, based in San Francisco uses keratin — a type of fibrous protein — and rhino DNA to produce … Читать далее
A new survey has confirmed pretty much every environmentalist’s worst fears, revealing that 93 percent of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has already been damaged by coral bleaching. We just have to stop there for a second, because 93 percent!! That means there’s now only 7 percent of this Natural Wonder of the World left intact … Читать далее
Charlie Sheen has been making a bit of news this week with outlandish comments on TV and radio appearances, but his bizarre behavior is nothing new. In 1996, Sports Illustrated included a blurb in its «Scorecard» section that described Sheen’s trip to a California Angels game. Apparently, Sheen was determined to catch a home run … Читать далее
Once the FBI’s most-wanted cybercriminal, Jeremy Hammond is serving one of the longest sentences a US hacker has received — 10 years, the maximum allowed under his plea agreement. But to this day, he’s unsure how agents cracked his Mac’s encryption. Perhaps it was the fact his password was his cat’s name and the numbers … Читать далее
While captive in a Navy program, a beluga whale named Noc began to mimic human speech. What was behind his attempt to talk to us? Millions of years before we humans came along, the earth’s oceans were a vast, unbroken web of whale song. The complex courting arias of humpbacks, the distinct clicking dialects of … Читать далее
As you get ready to take in Super Bowl ads, let this 1996 «CBS Evening News» story serve as a reminder to not believe every spot you see — especially if it involves winning a fighter jet. In the mid-90s Pepsi-Cola was airing its Pepsi Stuff promotional campaign when one of its commercials sparked a … Читать далее
Chance is a strange thing. Over the course of history, truly astonishing things have happened — the man who won the lottery twice in one day, or the woman who was struck by lightning four times, for instance — but most of these circumstances have been dissected by statisticians and scientists, and demystified. Sometimes though, … Читать далее
The Biosphere 2 project was created as a research tool for scientists to study Earth’s living systems, and it allowed scientists to play with farming and innovation in a way that didn’t harm the planet. One of the most profound discoveries made by the scientists had nothing to do with a cure for some new … Читать далее
Philosopher and mathematician René Descartes is regarded as the father of modern philosophy for defining a starting point for existence, «I think; therefore I am.» Synopsis René Descartes was born on March 31, 1596, in La Haye en Touraine, France. He was extensively educated, first at a Jesuit college at age 8, then earning a … Читать далее
Officials in South Africa are taking the grave situation of the vanishing rhino population into their own hands — infusing their horns with red dye and toxins to ensure that poachers can’t sell the valuable body parts. More than 1,000 rhinos were killed last year and the Rhino Rescue Project has decided to do something … Читать далее
The Toronto Film Festival proclaimed Friday Bill Murray Day, with a tribute to the star and free public screenings of «Ghostbusters» and «Groundhog Day.» And he lived up to his reputation at a packed Q&A with fans by giving a glimpse into the quirky mind of Murray. The star, wearing red pants, a plaid shirt … Читать далее
Jasmine had been abandoned before she arrived at the Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, UK back in 2003. The stray Greyhound had been found dumped in a garden shed and was cold, filthy and malnourished. Shivering and desperate for food, she needed several weeks under the special care of the staff to nurse her back … Читать далее
A lake with hundreds of ancient skeletons surrounding it. The surprise is what killed them… In 1942 a British forest guard in Roopkund, India made an alarming discovery. Some 16,000 feet above sea level, at the bottom of a small valley, was a frozen lake absolutely full of skeletons. That summer, the ice melting revealed … Читать далее
For the second time in the last two weeks, users of the 4chan imageboard have gamed a public online vote for the lulz. Only this time, their online vote hijacking of the 2012 Taylor Swift on Campus Live Promotion may turn out to be a very good thing. As part of its back to school … Читать далее
When it opened in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge ever built, constructed in one of the world’s most challenging settings. For the men who poured the concrete, and drove in each steel rivet, it was a life changing experience. It was on November 18, 1936, that the two sections of … Читать далее
Anyone can join Anonymous simply by claiming affiliation. An anthropologist says that participants «remain subordinate to a focus on the epic win-and, especially, the lulz.» Paper Sculpture by Jeff Nishinaka / Photograph by Scott Dunbar In the mid-nineteen-seventies, when Christopher Doyon was a child in rural Maine, he spent hours chatting with strangers on CB … Читать далее
The cost to construct NFL stadiums has reached an astronomical level — literally. Pat Kessler of CBS Minnesota recently pointed out a mind-blowing fact: The construction of the Minnesota Vikings’ new stadium is a more costly project than the space probe NASA sent to Pluto. The Vikings’ new home, recently christened U. S. Bank Stadium, … Читать далее
We’ve heard about Johnny Depp visiting children’s hospitals dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, but who knew he actually has the Pirates of the Caribbean costume with him at all times? «Sometimes you go to kiddie hospitals and things like that,» the actor explained while promoting his latest flick, The Lone Ranger. «I’ll just sneak in … Читать далее
Born July 13, 1940 in Mirfield, England, United Kingdom Patrick Stewart, a British stage veteran who spent 27 years with the Royal Shakespeare Co., achieved his greatest fame as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in «Star Trek: The Next Generation,» the most successful of the «Star Trek» television spinoffs. Stewart is known for his distinctive bullet-shaped, hairless … Читать далее
A wealthy Brazilian businessman stirred a wave of negative reactions when he announced on his Facebook page that he plans to bury his beloved Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Chiquinho Scarpa, 62, said he would bury his £310,000 (€367,220) Bentley so that he would be able to drive it in the afterlife. He explained that he … Читать далее
Ask a child if they like sweets and the answer is almost universally a resounding «Yes!» It’s no surprise to most parents that kids love candy, cookies, sweetened drinks, and some kids have even been known to add sugar to a bowl of Frosted Flakes. But don’t blame the kids, say researchers: It’s biology. Scientific … Читать далее
Harrison Ford made $20 million for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Ford earned $500,000 for Return of the Jedi, $100,000 for Empire and only $10,000 for the original Star Wars in 1977. Ford also has a reported deal with Disney to make.5% of the earnings from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Ford’s total take from … Читать далее
Conservators were able to save parts of the map. Towards the end of the 1600s, when the map was made, it would have been a prized possession. Seven feet by five feet, backed by canvas, it showed the whole world, with views of magnificent cities running along its sides. It would have been expensive and … Читать далее
A grandfather from Lumberton, North Carolina, proved himself a force to be reckoned with after he found himself face to face with three armed men who broke into his home Monday night and allegedly attempted to rape his 19-year-old granddaughter. Kenneth Byrd, 67, and his wife were reportedly at home at around 10 p. m. … Читать далее
A 60km crack opened in Ethiopia in 2005 and has been expanding ever since Africa is witnessing the birth of a new ocean, according to scientists at the Royal Society. Geologists working in the remote Afar region of Ethiopia say the ocean will eventually split the African continent in two, though it will take about … Читать далее
Kazakhstan sharpshooter Mariya Dmitrienko stood with her hand on her heart and a gold medal around her neck expecting to hear her country’s national anthem at an international shooting championship in Kuwait Friday. Instead, the sound system blared the insulting parody anthem from the movie «Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation … Читать далее
For two months last fall, Eric Simons secretly took up residence inside the Internet giant’s Palo Alto, Calif., campus, eating free food, enjoying gym access, and building a startup in the process. It was 6 a. m. when Eric Simons was jolted awake by the yelling. After working until 4 a. m, the 19-year-old entrepreneur … Читать далее
A man dressed as a security guard walked out of an Oklahoma Wal-Mart with $75,000 in cash, a crime that went undetected until the real security guards showed up later to transport the money, police said. The suspect walked into the Wal-Mart on Saturday in Bristow, southwest of Tulsa, dressed in clothes similar to those … Читать далее
Authorities in Florida have arrested a man accused of throwing a live alligator through a restaurant’s drive-through window. Investigators identified Joshua James, of Jupiter, Fla., as the man who tossed the 3½-foot reptile into a Wendy’s last fall, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission incident report. He faces three charges related to … Читать далее
Thanks to an extensive restoration process, the public can now see how Jefferson created his own version of the Scripture Thomas Jefferson, together with several of his fellow founding fathers, was influenced by the principles of deism, a construct that envisioned a supreme being as a sort of watchmaker who had created the world but … Читать далее
The Albanian language has 27 different words to describe the shape of moustaches. *** Do you think it looks fine to shave your beard and leave only a moustache? It was not men whom God created like that, but dogs and cats. PETER THE GREAT (1672-1725) Moustache Response Units Policemen in the Indian state of … Читать далее
Ok, maybe your grandparents probably slept like you. And your great, great-grandparents. But once you go back before the 1800s, sleep starts to look a lot different. Your ancestors slept in a way that modern sleepers would find bizarre — they slept twice. And so can you. The History The existence of our sleeping twice … Читать далее
Excited for Skyrim? The next installment of the immensely popular Elder Scrolls series is set to debut on November, 11th (11/11/11, right?) and promises to suck away the social lives of millions of fantasy-buffs all over the world, inspire countless misadventures, and spawn an equal number of horrifying hilarious glitches to amuse Youtube users until … Читать далее
If you were to hop into your DeLorean time machine today, get the flux capacitor «fluxing,» and drive 30 years back, you’d be in the midst of — Great Scott! — a summer blockbuster that would change the way we look at time travel and movies. Those were the days when 88 miles per hour … Читать далее
Y’all already all know that Texas is known for its slang. The state is home to a slew of Southern colloquialisms as well as totally unique sayings you won’t hear anywhere else. But did you know that the word «Texas» is in itself a slang word? According to Texas Monthly, Norwegians have long used the … Читать далее
Harris Rosen spent the first half of his career making millions and the second half giving away millions. From Hell’s Kitchen in New York to a Quality Inn in Orlando, here is his story. Harris Rosen was fired His bosses at Walt Disney World told him that they didn’t believe he would ever become «a … Читать далее
Rice is different from all other crops in that it is usually grown in a flooded field. The base of the rice stalk will be under water most of the growing season. Rice can be grown on dry ground and is sometimes grown in that manner in developing countries, but the field yields are much … Читать далее
«She was quite literally camping in Antarctica… and found me. It’s mind-blowing.» Say you’re a scientist, conducting research in Antarctica. Say it’s cold. Really cold. So, so cold. And lonely. Say, though, that you’ve brought a valuable piece of equipment with you on your trip: your smartphone. And say that-thanks to the life you lead … Читать далее
A study by researchers from the University St Andrews has found that elephants are the only wild animals that can understand human pointing without being trained. In the study, published in Current Biology, the researchers show that a group of 11 captive Zimbabwean elephants, which were used to following vocal instructions but weren’t trained to … Читать далее
There’s one kinda big problem with SunChips’ new 100% compostable bag: It’s noisy as Hell. An Air Force pilot says it’s louder than the cockpit of his jet, and this video test pegs it at a potentially damaging 95 decibels. Yes, this bag of chips crinkles up to 95 decibels, about five dB higher than … Читать далее
If we want to understand what’s happening in the brain when people’hear voices’, we first need to understand what happens during ordinary inner speech Most of us will be familiar with the experience of silently talking to ourselves in our head. Perhaps you’re at the supermarket and realise that you’ve forgotten to pick up something … Читать далее
Forget farm-to-table — a Minnesota-based YouTuber has pushed the concept of cooking from scratch to whole new heights. While most of us would normally run to the supermarket for ingredients, Andy George, the founder of a new video series called «How to Make Everything,» took the task of making a chicken sandwich to its literal … Читать далее
Pattie Boyd reveals details on her relationships with George Harrison and Eric Clapton in an autobiography. Legendary rock muse Pattie Boyd, who inspired Eric Clapton «Layla» and «Wonderful Tonight,» and, reputedly, George Harrison’s «Something,» is coming out with an autobiography, Wonderful Today, and doing interviews on her relationships with two of rock’s leading men. The … Читать далее
It’s been 15 years since Christian Bale brought the serial killer (?) and charismatic, Huey Lewis-obsessed Wall Street yuppie Patrick Bateman to our screens. People are still debating whether Patrick Bateman actually did kill all those people and went mad from this gory modern masterpiece. So, to celebrate the films 15th birthday, here are 15 … Читать далее
A Thornlie man is probably not lovin’ McDonald’s after his fast-food splurge came back to bite him. Samuel Michael Gossage was fined $10,000 after a fast food receipt was used to trace him and subsequently charge the 27-year-old with illegal dumping in a national park. Mr Gossage was hit with the supersized fine in the … Читать далее
There have been many after-the-fact edits of the Star Wars prequels made over the years-some without Jar-Jar, some where no one speaks but Jake Lloyd, whatever George Lucas did today-but few if any of these edits have been done by actor Topher Grace. Until recently, anyway, as self-proclaimed film geek Grace reportedly gave himself a … Читать далее
UCLA researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an … Читать далее
Environment: Salty wastewater is less toxic to some marine organisms than freshwater, despite concern about disinfection by-products In Hong Kong, about 80% of residents flush their toilets with seawater, thanks to a separate water distribution system set up in the 1950s. The approach conserves the city’s scarce freshwater resources, and has also been adopted by … Читать далее
When Dr Michael Shannon saved the life of a premature baby 30 years ago, he would never have thought decades later, the favour would be returned. KTLA reported on Sunday the incredible story of two men in California who saved each other’s lives in two very different ways. The news station said that Dr Michael … Читать далее