Tag: Archive

Scientists taught rats to drive little cars, but not just for fun. One group of rats was raised in a boring cage, while the other group had toys and ladders. The rats raised with playthings, could drive and steer the Rat-Operated-Vehicle more easily. They were rewarded with Froot Loops, for passing their driving test.

Today is National Food Day, with the goal of getting people to eat natural, healthier foods. Go for the day without processed snack foods, and make a meal with fresh ingredients. It’s United Nations Day also. The UN works for all people on Earth, offering help during natural disasters, medical emergencies, and war.

Justin Ownby grew a magnificent 910 pound pumpkin. While it was nowhere near record-breaking weight, it did stand out for another reason. Justin hollowed it out, and turned it into a kayak! The Tennessee farmer took his gourd out for a paddle around the lake, but it won’t hold up to any class 5 river rapids!

The UK’s Premier Inns are getting new pillows in their 800 hotels, so they’re recycling 300,000 pillows. But first, they were used for pillow fights. People looking for the ultimate smack down joined underground Pillow Fight Clubs, following rules taken from the movie “Fight Club.” One important rule? The duel is stopped if someone dozes off!

Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak was magic, but Hyperstealth Biotechnology has developed a real-life cloaking device! It’s a light-bending material called the Quantum Sheath. It hides objects behind the material, while leaving the background visible. It could conceal a person, a building, or even a Klingon Bird of Prey!

The largest indoor water park in the western hemisphere, is opening next week in New Jersey! It’s part of the American Dream mega-mall, which will also have a Climbzone and Legoland Center, plus a 16-ride theme park, indoor snow park, ice rink, aquarium, mirror maze, and theater. It also has 450 shops and 3 dozen restaurants!

Today is Mole Day. It has nothing to do with the animals that tunnel underground, or skin growths, or the sauce made from chilis and chocolate. It refers to the unit of measurement for a substance. At 6:02 on 10/23, Avogadro’s Number is represented. 6.02 x 10^23 is roughly the number of particles per mole.

Christmas light displays are getting some competition. A California man has decorated his house with an elaborate Halloween display! A choreographed light show illuminates ghosts and gravestones, to a soundtrack of Ghostbusters and other music. Tom BetGeorge operates it on weekends, and collects donations for a local family shelter.

Dan Levine lost his handmade wedding ring, while swimming in Cornwall England. He posted a notice on Facebook, hoping someone might find it someday. The next day, Gary and Emma Spires saw a fish splashing around. When they looked closer, they spotted Dan’s ring! The little fish must have a Facebook account!

Jean Durham was cleaning out her study, when she found an overdue library book. Her mother had checked it out 74 years ago! She returned the book, Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott, to the Berkeley Library in California. Luckily, the library did away with late fees in 2018, so there was no fine!