USPTO issues 8,000,000th patent on August 17, 2011.
The first patent granted by the USPTO was in 1836 and 175 years later, the government body now has a database that is eight million strong.
Continue reading… “USPTO’s major milestones from one to eight million patents”
Pharmaceutical price gouging isn’t illegal, it is sleazy — and potentially dangerous.
You can be arrested for scalping tickets to a rock concert. But reselling lifesaving medications at a hefty markup is a thriving business.
Continue reading… “Prescription drug shortages lead to price gouging, patient safety”
Japan takes No. 1 spot with the most debt.
People in the United States have spent a lot of time worrying about our national debt lately. But while the U.S. owes plenty of money, we may not be in nearly as bad of shape as some of our peers.
Continue reading… “Ten developed countries with the most debt”
CSIRO plant scientists have shed light on a problem that has puzzled researchers since the first virus was discovered in 1892 — how exactly do they cause disease?
In a major breakthrough that helps us better understand how viruses cause diseases in plants — and potentially in animals and humans — Dr Ming-Bo Wang and Neil Smith of CSIRO Plant Industry have revealed a genetic mechanism that enables viral organisms to infect hosts and cause diseases…
Continue reading… “Major breakthrough on how viruses infect plants”
Are you tired of crappy earbuds?
If you use earbud headphones, you’ve probably owned more than one pair. They break easily and often, pushing users to spend less money on a product they know won’t last. That in turn pushes manufacturers to make them more cheaply, and crappily. But a new product has stepped in to end the vicious cycle: Ironbuds…
Continue reading… “Repairable, modular ‘Ironbuds’ could end the reign of poorly made earphones”
Seasteading Institute city design (Anthony Ling)
The Seasteading Institute has plans to build floating cities out in the ocean. Now Paypal founder Peter Theil has recently given 1.25 million dollars to the group in an effort to create Libertarian countries out of these floating cities…
Continue reading… “Silicon Valley Billionaire funding creation of Artificial Libertarian Islands”
Caffeine in sunscreen could add greater protection against skin cancer.
Putting caffeine in sunscreen could provide greater protection against skin cancer, suggest scientists. They believe the chemical found in coffee absorbs ultraviolet radiation when applied to the skin and prevents tumors after exposure to sunlight.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlOwk6_xpWo&hd=1[/youtube]
MABEL is a robot in a University of Michigan lab can run like a human. That is a feat that represents the height of agility and efficiency for a two-legged machine. MABEL is believed to be the world’s fastest bipedal robot with knees with a peak pace of 6.8 miles per hour.
Continue reading… “World’s fastest running two-legged robot”
Louisville, Colorado, home of the DaVinci Institute, has been
ranked No. 1 as the best small city in America.
In the minds of most people the phrase “small town” conjures up images of happier times.When the economy wasn’t in the current state it is now. When unemployment wasn’t above 9%. When people didn’t stress out about home values. When school budgets weren’t under siege. Those were the days, right?
Late payments are at a 17 year low.
The rate of late credit card payments fell to a 17-year low in the second quarter, another sign of household belt-tightening.
Continue reading… “More credit card users paying their bills on time”
According to a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the consumption of engery from renewable sources recently topped both the current and the historical consumption levels for nuclear energy. The shift was immediately caused by nuclear outages that coincided with the high-water season for hydropower generation.
But there’s a long-term upward trend in renewables which can be seen here, too, thanks to the increased consumption of biofuels and wind capacity additions…
Continue reading… “Renewable Energy consumption tops nuclear for first time”
Artist Jason Edmiston brings home the perspective change.
There’s nothing quite like a weekend away from the family to spend with your buddies at the cabin. We might as well get a picture so we can remember these good times when we get too old go out regularly…