Nature

Giving Birth Via Balloon? Great Idea?

by Cosetta

The Balloon for Preparing for and Easing Human Birth can only make every mother in the world wonder if she did it right after all. Patent# US 6843251 provides a way to practice childbirth on a balloon which seems an odd way to learn. Perhaps the popping when the balloon bursts is apt preparation for water breaking? Don’t ask me, but read on anyway and be…not overwhelmed but just whelmed, as Mel Brooks used to say.

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Google Earth: Atlantis Still Lost Among New Finds

by M Dee Dubroff

There is some embarrassment and quite a bit of denial surrounding the claim that the Google Earth mapping tool was used to discover a grid of streets in the ocean that were thought to be the lost city of Atlantis. Google Earth has had some amazing results and the entire Google search system has come further than even its creators could ever have predicted. Still, read on for more details, which confirm that the lost city of Atlantis is, alas, still lost.

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Live Bath Mat Dries Feet And Grows

by Gloria Campos

What if you could bring that barefoot-through-the-grass feeling indoors with you? Would you do it? La Chanh Nguyen brought the feeling indoors with her except instead of grass she used moss. Then she planted the moss in a bath mat made of decay free foam. She calls her living bath mat Moss Carpet and so far, it is my favorite green find of the year.

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Wear a Fin and Pretend To Be A Dolphin: Great Idea?

by Cosetta

The Dolphin Fin Swimming Accessory known to those in the aquatic know as Patent#US D494652 is an idea whose time may or may not have arrived even though it is sort of here anyway. Perhaps someone needs to ask the dolphins how they feel about it? After all, inquiring minds always seek to know.

Siberian UFO Sighted: Many Photos Taken

by M Dee Dubroff

It’s getting more and more uncomfortable for those who don’t believe in ufos to deny their existence. Whatever they are or aren’t, many residents of Chita, Russia, a city with a population of about 300,000 in south-eastern Siberia, reported seeing an enormous UFO zooming across their city and disappearing into a very perplexed horizon.

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Arsenic: Is This Ancient Poison a Modern Remedy?

by M Dee Dubroff

News sources in Hong Kong have released information concerning the success of some leukemia patients that have been treated with a combination of arsenic and vitamin A. How far has this poison dating back to an 8th century A.D Arab alchemist named Jabir really come? Read on for some startling details.

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Creepiest Business of 2009: Spider Pharm Breeding Creepy Crawlies

by Beth Hodgson

Charles Kristensen loves all creepy crawlies with more than four legs, which lead to him finding Spider Pharm, a home business that breeds, milks and tries to reduce cannibalism in the arachnid population. If reading about spiders and other creepy things makes you squeamish, then proceed with caution, but this one is a definite winner for the record books as 2009's creepiest business.

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ReCork America Needs 300,000 Wine Corks to Yield a Ton

by Gloria Campos

Did you know cork is ideal for recycling? Why? It is ideal for recycling because it is biodegradable, renewable, energy efficient, sustainable and 100% natural. Cork can be recycled into so many useful things, including: flooring, furniture, insulation, packaging materials and so on. Amorim understands how beneficial cork is and is why Amorim started ReCork America.

Inspired By Nature's Shadows: Jo Angell's Solar Sanctuary

by T Goodman

Most recently, Ms. Angell has been experimenting with the idea of solar canapies inspired by the natural shade provided by trees and plants. In fact, standing under one of her canopies, you would believe it was a tree or plant providing the shade.

Fly And Swim Almost at The Same Time? Great Idea?

by Cosetta

Patent#US 6938852 that some may opt to refer to as the Flying Craft Tethered to Powered Water Vehicle provides a new and different way for busy members of our modern society to multi task during leisure time. Read on, even though afterwards you may choose to return to the office.

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New Generation of Russian Goats Linked to Protection of Newborns

by M Dee Dubroff

A sort of miracle will soon be occurring on a farm near Moscow where the birth of a very special new generation of goats with human genes is expected. These genes will make them produce protein lactoferrin, which is an element in human milk that protects a newborn baby until his or her own immune system starts to work. Read on for some amazing details.

Reverse Nose Plugs Keep the Water In!

by Steve Levenstein

Pit Stopper Keeps Pollen Out, Holds Water In

"Pit Stopper" has less to do with racing than running - running noses, that is. Those troubled by runny noses due to allergies or colds can simply plug their nostrils... with these ingenious nostril plugs.

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Masculine Valentine’s Day Gifts: Unique Scented Candles For Your Macho Dude

by Beth Hodgson

During Valentine's Days past, candles may have been a gift given from man to woman since scents available tend to cater towards the fairer sex. This year, get your man a masculine candle of his very own as his Valentine's Day gift and give into the stereotype by shopping at the Manly Man Candle Company.

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Inspired By Sea Life: Biomimicry Produces Power From The Ocean

by T Goodman

BioPower Systems is an Australian company that creates technologies to convert ocean power into a renewable source of energy for other applications. Its assumption is that oceans must have the best possible technology within them for marine life to have evolved in them for 3.8 billion years.

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Should You Even Ask if Your Plant is Psychic? Great Idea?

by Cosetta

Predicting the future from crystal balls, tea leaves seers, tarot cards and prophets is a practice that is as old as time itself. So why shouldn’t plants “get into the act” as Jimmy Durante used to say? Read on and learn more about this fascinating garden game of chance that permits seedlings to determine their future.

Life Imitates Life:The Mysterious Mimic Octopus

by T Goodman

While persons with dissociative disorders, or multiple personalities, have been known to have as many as 100 personalities, they have not been known to morph into totally different creatures -- except in the movies, of course. But one cephalopod, the Indo-Malayan octopus, totally transforms itself into at least 15 different sea animals. So far, at least, the Indo-Malayan octopus is the ultimate biomimic -- life imitating life.

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Come Out of The Rain: Great Idea?

by Cosetta

Shelter from the storm is one of mankind’s basic needs and Patent# US 6948281 has come directly to the rescue with this different kind of Storm Shelter. Not only is this one large enough to hold an entire family, it is also capable of fitting beneath a mobile home. Read on for details, but check that water level.

Smallest Russian Submarine: Officially Registered as Boat

by M Dee Dubroff

Mikhail Puchkov hails from St. Petersburg and he has the distinction of being the proud owner and creator of Russia’s smallest submarine. He built it himself and although it was once illegal to own a submarine, the vessel is now officially registered (albeit as a boat) with its own name and number. Read all about this most amazing man and his sub.

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Inspired By The Lotus Leaf: Lotusan® Paint

by T Goodman

The surface topography of the lotus leaf interacts with water molecules so that the water rolls off the leaf and takes the dirt with it. That was exactly what Sto® Corporation wanted for its Lotusan® sealer and paint.

10 Best Gourmet Hot Chocolates To Get You Through The Winter

by Toby

Old, or should I say very old, Punxsutawney Phil came out of his hole today and declared, on this 168th US observance of Groundhog Day, that there will be (at least) six more weeks of Winter. To all Winter sports enthusiasts, this is great news. You and the rest of us can drink to it with a cup of fantastic gourmet hot chocolate, because we will all need something yummy and hot to stay warm. Here are 10 of the best cocoas for drinking... and the bonus feature is my favorite hot cocoa recipe!

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