Physicist Graham Turner says “the world is on track for disaster.”
Researchers at Jay W. Forrester’s institute at MIT in a new study says that the world could suffer from “global economic collapse” and “precipitous population decline” if people continue to consume the world’s resources at the current pace.
Continue reading… “Researchers predict next great depression by 2030”
Prolonged sitting is bad for your health.
A fascinating study was published by SBRN member David Dunstan and colleagues in Australia, which examined the acute (e.g. short-term) impact of uninterrupted sitting on metabolic health. In this new study, individuals with overweight or obesity were asked to perform 3 separate conditions in random order. (Videos)
Continue reading… “Why sitting for just a couple hours is bad for your health”
A fifth of American adults report that they have read an e-book in the past year.
Twenty-one percent of Americans have read an e-book. The increasing availability of e-content is prompting some to read more than in the past and to prefer buying books to borrowing them.
Continue reading… “The rise of e-books in America”
Sitting in traffic? Send a text message to the guy in front of you.
The New York International Auto Show kicks off this Friday and there will be a torrent of technology, but it isn’t focused on mpg or “skid pad” performance. The new models are all about apps and Facebook friends.
Continue reading… “Bump Network – service sends messages to license plates”
Nine medical societies are challenging the widely held perception that more health care is better.
The old checklist for doctors: order that test, write that prescription. The new checklist for doctors: first ask yourself if the patient really needs it.
Continue reading… “Doctors groups call for end to 45 common medical procedures and tests”
‘Baloney Mass Index’ can give false readings.
According to a new study, the obesity problem in the U.S is far worse than previously thought. Researchers found 39 per cent of Americans currently classed as slightly overweight using the Body Mass Index calculator are actually obese.
Continue reading… “Body Mass Index understates the true obesity crisis: Study”
Solar cells thinner than a thread of spider silk.
On Wednesday, researchers from Austria and Japan unveiled solar cells thinner than a thread of spider silk that are flexible enough to be wrapped around a single human hair.
Continue reading… “Scientists develop solar cells thinner than spider silk”
Robotic hands uses artificial tendons.
While the quest for robotic grippers with a light, yet firm touch has led to innovative approaches, such as the universal jamming gripper, it’s still hard to go past the four fingers and opposable thumb form factor honed by millions of years of evolution. While the technology is available to create a robotic hand that is both powerful and delicate, cramming it inside a compact arm is still difficult. But European researchers have done just that by using a novel string actuator to act as an artificial tendon.
Continue reading… “Robotic hand uses artificial tendons consisting of strings”
Bendable e-reader.
One big disadvantage to e-readers is that they’re made of breakable glass and sensitive electronics that can get damaged when dropped. Books, by contrast, are pretty durable.
Continue reading… “XGA – bendable e-reader goes into production”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2fV7BGl9M4[/youtube]
Terrafugia, makers of Transition — the world’s first flying car — has released video of a production-type prototype flying over Plattsburgh, N.Y. today. (Video)
Continue reading… “World’s first flying car goes for test flight”
Eating fast food will not only make you likely to put on weight but may give you the blues as well.
Eating junk food has a negative effect on mental health, making those who consume it regularly feel depressed, new research has revealed.
If you’re a hard worker , it makes you slack off.
If you think that drinking coffee will give you that extra kick to keep you going , think again, for a new study says that the “stimulant” effect of coffee only works on lazy people.
Continue reading… “Coffee’s ‘stimulant’ effect only works on lazy people”