Top 10 Unethical Research Programs in U.S. History
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 14:47 Published in Science & TechnologyModern science is subject to strict ethical codes when it comes to scientific trials, and for good reason. In the past, thousands of experiments were conducted without regard to safety or ethics, often with deadly consequences. Many were performed because public safety or the imminent threat to the nation was deemed paramount over individual rights. Others resulted from the misapplication of junk science, shortsightedness, or political greed. Such unethical research programs are still making headlines today, as the federal and state governments apologize and grant compensation to victims. Yet, despite our progress in reining in unethical testing practices, some of the below research programs still use questionable methods. That said, here are 10 of the darkest chapters in U.S. scientific history.
10 Interesting Facts About the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List
Sunday, 29 January 2012 18:49 Published in HistoryAfter celebrating its 60th anniversary a couple of years ago, it appears the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list will reach another milestone in the not-so-distant future: 500 fugitives. So far, 495 people have earned this dubious distinction — from international terrorists like Ramzi Ahmed Yousef and Osama Bin Laden, to serial killers like Ted Bundy and assassins like James Earl Ray. What follows are some little-known facts about the FBI’s program and this well-known assortment of murderers, pedophiles, bank robbers, crime bosses and gang leaders.
Mythological creatures come in all shapes and sizes, but it seems the same old creatures always hog the headlines. We constantly hear about gremlins, zombies, gorgons and cyclops — but now it’s time for some lesser-known creatures to shine. Ten of the more obscure mythological creatures appear below, a collection that includes messenger squirrels, horse-headed, human-bodied tricksters, and gigantic, thrashing catfish that supposedly cause earthquakes. Since it’s tough to rank bizarre qualities, these mythological creatures are ranked based on their alleged deadliness.
10 Science Fiction Films That Got the Science Right
Thursday, 26 January 2012 19:38 Published in Science & TechnologyNothing warms a scientist’s heart like a science-fiction film that bothers to “get the science right.” There are plenty of B-grade bad sci-fi movies out there, but every so often a golden nugget stands out. Great science-fiction movies can be educational, stir our imagination, and even inspire younger viewers to pursue careers in science. And while even the gems on this list all contain a scientific error or two, as a rule they do not break the science-fiction mantra of disregarding more than one physical law of nature per film.
5 Mistakes That Turn Marriages Into Divorces
Wednesday, 25 January 2012 19:21 Published in MiscellaneousStatistics tell us that between one-third and one-half of marriages in the United States are likely to fail. Once a social stigma, divorce is now becoming an accepted part of the American lifestyle. The media continues to trivialize holy matrimony, placing all the emphasis on the wedding, just one day, as opposed to the marriage, which is meant to be a lifelong partnership. We are constantly bombarded with the scandalous affairs of celebrities and politicians; people get married on reality TV shows, and commercials make light of spouses lying to each other. In this environment, it’s little wonder that the divorce rate is so high.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Once identified, most marital problems can be resolved. Here are five common mistakes that can turn marriages into divorce, and how you and your spouse can avoid them.
5 Powerful Antioxidant Foods For Your Diet
Tuesday, 24 January 2012 15:12 Published in Food & FitnessSo you’ve made the decision to eat a better diet, which means eating less fast food and adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Congratulations! In addition to weight-management benefits, many fruits and vegetables are loaded with powerful antioxidants, which can help your body fight the stresses of oxidation that have been linked to cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and even aging itself. Chances are you’ve seen a story or two on so-called “super foods,” with foods such as red kidney beans, blueberries and tomatoes. One caveat that is rarely mentioned — much of the antioxidant power of these foods occurs only in their raw form. That’s not so much a problem with blueberries (delicious raw), but very problematic with red kidney beans (not edible raw).
Here are five food types ranked according to their antioxidant power, based on a database maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture. You’ll find no mention of raw foods that you don’t eat, and no rare foods (elderberries, chokeberries, etc.) that are never available at your local grocer. Instead, here are five readily available foods with tremendous antioxidant powers.
5 Scientists Whose Discoveries Were Snubbed
Sunday, 22 January 2012 14:23 Published in Science & TechnologyHistory loves a winner. And in the field of science, the big winners are generously rewarded with Nobel Prizes, lucrative patents and international acclaim. Those who lost out in the quest for scientific recognition sometimes waited too long to publish a theory, or perhaps didn’t follow the right procedure in applying for a patent. But sometimes, these historic also-rans did everything right, were the first to make a major discovery and still didn’t receive the credit they deserved. Here are five such scientists who made important breakthroughs but have been overshadowed in the history books.
Since 1976, February has been designated as Black History Month in the United States. So each February, children across America bring home projects or books featuring famous African-Americans such as Martin Luther King Jr., Booker T. Washington, Harriet Tubman and George Washington Carver. Those legendary figures are certainly worth celebrating, yet there have been many other African-American men and women who achieved significant milestones for their race, and made significant contributions to society, but get little attention today. Here are 10 notable African-Americans who are often overlooked during Black History Month.
You may not have heard them in years, but odds are you can finish each of these little ditties the way a couple might finish each other’s sentences: “Give me a break, give me a break …”; “I am stuck on Band-Aid …”; and “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz …” These jingles for the likes of Kit Kat and Alka-Seltzer may seem old school, but you can’t question their staying power. They have managed to replay over and over again in our heads, which is what makes them so effective. Only time will tell if any of today’s advertising campaigns, such as Geico’s revolving door of characters (the cavemen, lizard with distinguished accent, etc.) will one day be remembered so fondly. Here, for your listening and viewing pleasure, are the 10 best commercial jingles of all time.
Day to day, the weather doesn't necessarily fascinate. It's sunny, it's cloudy, and sometimes it rains (or snows). The weather changes daily, but generally within relatively narrow parameters. Watch it long enough, carefully enough, however, have the good luck to be in the right place at the right time, and you might just witness some of the following strange weather phenomena.
