Blood test can determine fetal sex at seven weeks

pregnant-woman

The test analyzes fetal DNA found in the mother’s blood and can establish sex weeks earlier than other options.

A baby’s sex can be determined as early as seven weeks into pregnancy by a simple blood test.  The test is highly accurate if used correctly, a finding that experts say is likely to lead to more widespread use by parents concerned about gender-linked diseases, those who are merely curious and people considering the more ethically controversial step of selecting the sex of their children.

 

Continue reading… “Blood test can determine fetal sex at seven weeks”

Growing number of Americans struggle to keep their cars on the road

mechanic

“Many Americans rely on their cars for their livelihood, and losing access to them could be financially devastating.”

Margaret McCormick’s 2001 Toyota Celica has been sitting in the parking lot of her condo complex for the past four months.  She can’t afford to fix the flat tire and broken transmission.

 

Continue reading… “Growing number of Americans struggle to keep their cars on the road”

Cable TV losing record number of subscribers

watching tv

Eight of the nine largest subscription-TV providers in the U.S. lost 195,700 subscribers in the April-to-June quarter.

Americans spend a lot of free time in front of the TV set and that is where the weak economy is hitting them.  Record numbers of people are canceling their cable and satellite TV subscriptions, according to an analysis by the Associated Press of the companies’ quarterly earnings reports.

 

Continue reading… “Cable TV losing record number of subscribers”

$2 erasable e-paper aims to replace paper

i2r_paper-580x195

e-Paper goes a long ways at replacing current paper sheets.

The paperless office is a myth. We all still need to print stuff out occasionally, but a new form of e-paper may go a long way towards replacing the paper sheets we put in our printers and use once before recycling.

The new flexible e-paper is called i2R e-Paper and can be printed on using a thermal printer. It can also be wiped in the same way, or just by supplying electricity to the sheet. That reuse could save on a lot of paper, especially as one sheet is good for 260 re-prints and they only cost $2 each at A4 size…

Continue reading… “$2 erasable e-paper aims to replace paper”

You can finally share photos natively using Twitter

twitterphoto00000

Is sharing caring?

Wow. Five years after it launched, Twitter has finally added native photo-sharing to its service. Starting now, all Twitter.com users have a camera icon that lets you add a photo to your tweet.

Images that are 3MB or less in size can be uploaded and embedded into a tweet…

Continue reading… “You can finally share photos natively using Twitter”

U.S. economic uncertainty is the new normal

economic uncertainty

Many Americans are focused on bargains and careful to spend money only when they need.

Financial fears of most Americans seem to be adding to the nation’s economic woes.  The recession. The financial crisis. The housing crisis. The persistently high unemployment rate. And now, the debt debacle.  No wonder American’s feel uncertain about the U.S. economy.

 

Continue reading… “U.S. economic uncertainty is the new normal”

Guests stay in converted drain pipes at the Dasparkhotel

drainpipes 1

Dasparkhotel

The Dasparkhotel (The Park Hotel) is a concept hotel by Andreas Strauss in which guests stay in converted drain pipe sections that are placed in a city park. There are currently two hotels, one near Essen, Germany, and another in Ottensheim, Austria. Dasparkhotel accepts online reservations from May to October and is sliding scale.

 

Continue reading… “Guests stay in converted drain pipes at the Dasparkhotel”

Morning smokers at an increased risk of developing cancer

morning smoker

Early morning smokers have higher levels of nicotine and possibly other tobacco toxins in their body.

Are you a smoker that  needs a cigarette soon after waking up in the morning? Then, you have an increased risk of developing lung, and head and neck cancers, two new studies have warned.

Continue reading… “Morning smokers at an increased risk of developing cancer”

Straight-A students live longer: study

classroom-hands-up

Straight-A students live longer.

Straight A students may live longer, according to the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study.  The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study has been following more than 10,000 people who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957. Those students who finished in the top 25 percent of their high school class were healthier, decades later, than the ones who finished in the bottom quarter.

 

Continue reading… “Straight-A students live longer: study”

Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.