Solar cookers aren’t new. But according to National Geographic, these devices, which use only the energy of direct sunlight to heat, cook or pasteurize food or drink, are making “a big difference in impoverished communities”. In the developing world they are a lifesaver. Solar cooking uses no electricity, gas, charcoal or wood. Only the sunshine […]
Everyone knows how dangerous nuclear energy can be. No so long ago, the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 caused three meltdowns and the release of radioactive material the next day. Time will tell whether cancer cases and deaths from radiation exposure following the […]
This video has already widely circulated, but it’s worth showing again and watching to the end. It’s a perfect example of humanity.
“11 August 2015 marks 1 year since the last wild polio case was detected on the entire African continent. A polio-free Africa would leave only 2 countries where polio transmission has never been interrupted: Pakistan and Afghanistan.” That’s the great news from the World Health Organization in its update: Africa advances toward a polio-free continent. On […]
Malvika Iyer is a model and role model. She’s an example of a person who has maintained a hugely positive attitude despite great adversity. And adversity seems like a weak word when you know what happened to her. When Malvika was 13, she lost both her hands and sustained severe injuries, nerve damage and multiple fractures […]
In his book, Before Happiness, Shawn Achor, writes about “actionable strategies to create a positive path to success”. Here are some tidbits: – “You can summon all your cognitive, intellectual, and emotional resources to create positive change, because you believe that true change is possible.” – “The better your brain is at using its energy to […]
Solar Impulse, the Swiss solar-powered aircraft, has set a new record. Pilot André Borschberg achieved the longest non-stop solo flight of 5 days and nights as part of Solar Impulse’s enterprising journey around the world. The plane took off from Nagoya, Japan, and landed in Kalaeloa, Hawaii, earlier this month. Without one drop of fuel! The […]
Drag queens are not new but, in that role, Conchita Wurst (or is it Tom Neuwirth?) has forced us to rethink gender stereotypes. He’s a bearded woman. Conchita is not the first person to win the Eurovision Song Contest whose self-identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender. But she has […]
InSitu Foundation is a tax-exempt non-profit organization dedicated to training dogs to detect cancer in humans. According to the Foundation, “Dogs’ accuracy levels have been proven to be 88% specific, and 99% sensitive in the early detection of lung and breast cancer.” So just as dogs have been trained to find narcotics, explosives, insects (lice or […]
It’s a fact that deep sleep reactivates and strengthens specific memories. How does that work? Through replay. The neurons that make new connections in the brain when you are in the process of learning something reactivate during sleep. So, if you study for a test just before going to bed at night or before a nap, you’ll remember better […]
