مستوى عالي

3-D printers are certainly the buzz today - They are being put to all kinds of uses, ranging from creating faux cars for movies to architectural models and if some advocates have their way, possibly even lunar structures. However, none of these ideas are as radical as the one proposed by Anjan Contractor, who believes that they will be the key to ending world hunger....

Though the US tornado season usually in begins in earnest from March and continues till June, things had been a little quiet this year, thanks to a cooler spring that lasted all the way through mid-May, keeping the twisters at bay. But as the temperatures and humidity have risen, the tornadoes have emerged with a deadly vengeance....

While today, the mere mention of a shark sighting sends shivers down our spines, such was not the case about a century ago. In those days, most people believed that sharks were tame creatures who could be easily scared and had jaws so weak, that even if one were brave enough to come close, it would pose no threat. This belief was reinforced by experts who maintained that sharks would never attack humans, especially in the temperate waters of the United States, unless they were provoked....

The fact that plants do not live a passive life has been known for sometime now. In 2012, a team of researchers led by Professor Nick Smirnoff from The University of Exeter, was able to visually prove that they communicate with each other and now two totally separate research studies reveal that these silent communicators may actually be 'talking' to each other and us!...

With a population of over 1.2 billion, the South Asian country of India is not only the world's largest democracy, but also, the third largest economic power. It is therefore hard to believe that from 1850-1947, this powerhouse had been a British colony. Though there had been some isolated regional struggles for independence, it was a seemingly insignificant 'March To The Sea' protest organized 83 years ago by civil rights leader Mohandas Gandhi, that instigated a countrywide nationalist movement. This eventually, led to the birth of India as an independent nation....

Time to get off the couch and make your mark . . . after all, it is Earth Day! Originally celebrated in North America on April 22, 1970, this year's theme is 'The Face of Climate Change' - aptly reflecting the dire situation our planet is going to be in, if something is not done to turn around global warming soon. In case you are still procrastinating, here is a visual reminder of why we should do all pitch in, to save our beautiful planet....

In February 2013, US multimillionaire Dennis Tito announced that his non-profit organization, Inspiration Mars Foundation, was planning to sponsor two 'qualified' people for a flyby to Mars in 2018. While one would think that an announcement this ambitious from a man whose closest encounter with Space has been as the first paying guest of the International Space Station would arouse some skepticism, such is not the case....

On April 8th, 2013, the world mourned the death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who passed away after suffering from a stroke at the age of 87. Besides being the country's longest serving leader (1979 to 1990) in the 20th century, she was the first woman to lead a Western democracy. During her 11-year reign, the strong-willed woman, who was nicknamed 'Iron Lady' by leaders of the former Soviet Union, made some hard-charging decisions for which she was loved and loathed in equal measures....

April 15th, marks the 101st anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Dubbed 'The ship of dreams', the luxury cruise liner was like no other. Considered an engineering marvel, the 11-story structure was not only the largest ship to ever grace the seas, but also, one that featured unrivaled grandeur and amenities. It is therefore not surprising that the sinking of the 50,000-ton behemoth within days after its launch, continues to capture the interest of people across all ages, even today....

Though April 1st, better known as April Fool's Day, is technically not a holiday, it is highly anticipated each year, especially by people who like to pull pranks. The origin of this tradition is a little sketchy. Some believe that the light-hearted fun began in 1582, when the Julian calendar (which began the New Year in April), was replaced with today's Gregorian calendar. Others maintain that it was a way to mark the change of seasons. No matter how it all started, the day can be a lot of fun!...

Imagine lighting a fire to a hard-packed snowball or the mud deep inside the ocean bed. While that may sound impossible, it is not only feasible, but the government of Japan believes that they can use this energy to fuel the entire country, for at least a century....

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Unfortunately it is a Sunday, which means that you cannot pinch your school friends (not wearing green) and get away with it, but there are always unsuspecting family members and neighbors that you can have fun with. Also, be sure to go on an extensive search for those lucky four-leaf clovers and seek out leprechauns that will hopefully lead you to the elusive pot of gold. But before you do all that, don't forget to read about the man whose death anniversary we celebrate and how all these unusual customs began....

As if battling against a government they don't approve of is not enough, the people of Egypt now have another foe to deal with - One that they are almost helpless against - A thirty million strong army of Desert locusts that showed up on March 2nd, 2013 in the Southern region of the country's capital, Cairo....

Friday, March 1st, was Read Across America - A special day set aside to honor the birthday of our beloved author, Dr. Seuss - one during which schools, libraries and bookstores all around the country, hosted special events to encourage kids to read....

On Saturday, March 2nd, sixty-six mushers and their teams of between 12-16 dogs received a rousing send off from enthusiastic fans in Anchorage, Alaska, as they began the first-leg of the grueling world-renowned trail sled dog competition - The Iditarod!...

From a distance, El Anatsui's shimmering tapestries look like just any other beautiful work of art made from the best silks available. However, come closer and you will realize that they are not made from the finest materials but, from flattened bottle tops. Come even closer and you will be able to read the names of all the liquor bottles they came from!...

Today, over 1.3 billion people in China and millions of ethnic Chinese all over the world will celebrate the first day of the Chinese or Lunar New Year - the longest and most significant of all Chinese Festivals. Also known as the Spring Festival, it is a four thousand year-old tradition that began as a way to mark the end of the dreary winter season and beginning of spring....

Today Is Super Bowl or should we say 'Super Baugh' Sunday - America's biggest game day. While all football finals are highly anticipated, this one is even more so, because for the first time in the history of the NFL, the coaches of the two opposing teams - The San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens - are brothers!. This means more viewers, more parties and of course, more noshing!...

From January 14th to February 23rd, 2013, an estimated 100 million Hindus are expected to converge to the northern Indian ciity Of Allahabad to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela. The festival that is often referred to as the largest gathering of mankind, also doubles up as a pilgrimage undertaken to absolve all worldly sins....

The vibrant borough of Manhattan in New York City is a big draw for young professionals who want to earn a decent living and enjoy its bustling night life and amazing restaurants. Its popularity is evidenced by the fact that it now boasts over 1.8 million households that have just one or two residents. While great, this has led to a severe shortage of affordable housing given that there are only about a million studio/one bedroom apartments available....

It is a known fact that some species of the lowly dung beetle that feed off animal droppings, first form their finds into little balls and roll them away to a safe distance. However, what the scientists had never been able to figure out is how the beetle is able to navigate itself and its tasty little morsel in a straight line away from the pile of droppings where they are likely to encounter competitors. Now, thanks to a team of Swedish researchers the mystery has been at least partially solved and the answer, is causing quite a stir amongst the scientific community....

Let's face it - Getting up for school at the ungodly hour of 6.00 or 7.00 am is tough, and ordinary alarm clocks are not much help either. Sure they may buzz or even play your favorite Taylor Swift or One DIrection song - But those lull you back into even sweeter dreams. So what's a kid to do? Fear not! These three ingenious inventions will help put a spring into your step - Literally!...

Super Bowl, the grand finale of the American National Football League season that pits the winner of the American Football Conference (AFC) against the winner of the National Football Conference (NFC), is the biggest sporting event in the country. The game that takes place annually on the first Sunday of February, draws in excess of over 110 million television viewers from not just the US, but also, many other parts of the world. This year's event is expected to be even more exciting because for the first time in the game's history the coaches of the competing teams, John Harbaugh and Jim Harbaugh, also happen to be brothers!...

Minister, saint, hero, civil rights activist - These are the words often used to describe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - However, in light of President Barack Obama's second-term inauguration ceremony this morning, the word that seems to fit the bill perfectly, is visionary - The man who had the foresight to see that America could one day transform into a nation where everyone is equal, regardless of race, color or creed. So who was this amazing man that single handedly spearheaded America's civil rights movement?...