The student loan default rate for fiscal 2009 surged to 8.8%, up from 7% in 2008.
Two years ago critics warned that government-backed student loan defaults would rise. The question was how soon would taxpayers feel the pain. This month, the U.S. Department of Education provided part of the answer when it reported that the default rate for fiscal 2009 surged to 8.8%, up from 7% in 2008.
Continue reading… “Student loan defaults continue to grow and the worst is yet to come”
The laws of light speed still apply.
Last June, researchers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology published the results of an experiment that proved that light does not move faster than light—specifically, that single photons can’t move faster than the official speed of light under certain conditions.
Today, Skulls in the Stars—the nom de Internet of a UNC Charlotte physics professor—hasa really great blog post up about this paper. It’s very much worth a read. After all, this was basically a test to double check something we were already pretty sure was true. And what’s the benefit to proving something you already knew?
Continue reading… “What we don’t understand about the speed of light”
No negative thoughts here!
Good news: your brain is hardwired for good news
Bad news: your brain is hardwired for good news
Why don’t people stop smoking even after hearing bazillion public service messages that doing so will give them cancer? Why do people get married even though the rate of divorce is 50%?
Neuroscientists have the answer: it’s because the human brain rejects negative thoughts (and yes, sometimes to the detriment of the brain’s host)…
Continue reading… “Brain rejects negative thoughts”
Chicago O’Hare Airport
In 2006 United Airlines Flight 1015 was picking up speed while rolling down the runway at Chicago O’Hare. But at around 10 p.m. on that clear summer evening the pilots saw something heart-stopping on the runway: an Atlas Air 747 cargo plane moving directly into its path. Unable to abort takeoff, the United pilot made a split-second decision to turn sharply. The planes avoided impact by a mere 120 feet.
Continue reading… “Top 5 most dangerous airports in the U.S.”
LinkedIn is one of the most recognizable brands worldwide.
LinkedIn is a business-orientated social networking site has been in operation for nearly nine years now and in that time its popularity and influence has mushroomed. It is now one of the most recognizable brands worldwide. Here are the latest statistics on LinkedIn.
Continue reading… “Latest statistics for LinkedIn”
“You could have a heart attack in the absence of other risk factors if you smoke.”
Heart attacks tend to hit smokers years earlier than non-smokers, according to a new study from Michigan.
Continue reading… “Heart attacks hit smokers younger than non-smokers: study”
Serious powder!
…and it’s only a few hundred million miles away. Better fuel up your rocket and get started today, however, because we’re talking about Saturn’s moon Enceladus and the incredibly fine, snowy powder that covers its surface:
“The particles are only a fraction of a millimeter in size … even finer than talcum powder,” study leader Paul Schenk, a planetary scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, said in a statement. “This would make for the finest powder a skier could hope for…”
Continue reading… “Scientists discover the best skiing In the Solar System”
The study examined the average lifetime exposure to traffic-related pollution.
Scientists have found living in areas with high levels of traffic pollution can reduce people’s performance in cognitive tests.
Paris is innovating again.
When Paris’ now famous bike share system Velib’ in 2007, it was a pioneer in the field. Now similar programs are popping up in major cities all over the world, and Paris is looking to break the mold again. This week the City launched Autolib’ – a car sharing system that works the same way…
Continue reading… “Paris launches a vehicle sharing program with 3,000 electric cars”
Is a spork the best of both worlds?
The Spork is a confusing utensil that in theory has the scooping and liquid-holding properties of a spoon combined with the food-stabbing features of a fork. However, with the spoon part too shallow to hold an acceptable amount of soup, and tines too short and stubby to properly penetrate anything firmer than a canned peach, the spork has become one of the longest standing jokes in culinary history…
Continue reading… “A brief history of the spork”
Majority of Americans are still at an unhealthy weight.
Some people in America are losing weight resulting in more people of “normal weight,” according to a new study, but it is not clear if the trend will last
Continue reading… “U.S. obesity rates trending downward but most still overweight: study”
Every visually impaired child tested was ‘enthralled’ by the device, say scientists.
According to researchers from the University of Kansas, children living with severe vision problems could transform the way they communicate simply by using an iPad.
Continue reading… “How the iPad may help children with severe vision impairments”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.