Here
is a round up of news which you might have missed reading
last year. Very interesting!
Image credit:funnyjunk.com
Image credit: www.mirror.co.uk
First Bio-bus fueled by human sewage
Now, this could be a driver for under-developed
regions to build restrooms (toilets). UK commissioned the
first bio-bus between Bath and Bristol airport completely
fueled by human and food waste (bio-methane). The bus carries
40 passenger and can travel upto 180 miles with a full tank.
A tank of gas can be generated from the annual waste of
5 people - so magine a metropolitan city with millions of
people! Additionally, such ideas can help in preventing
the human sewage mixing with ground water, lakes, creeks,
rivers and oceans.
The credit goes to Bristol sewage treatment
works, which is run by GENeco, a subsidiary of Wessex Water.
Image credit: www.burgerking.com
How about a Black Burger for your
lunch?
Last year, Japan's Burger King created
a media sensation by introducing all-black hamburger named
Kuro Diamond. The sandwich was made with black bun, black
cheese, squid-ink powered onion garlic sauce. McDonald did
not stay back and introduced their own black versions of
sandwiches. The consumers had a mixed reaction to its look
and taste. So far there are no news that it has moved beyond
Japan's boundaries but don't be shocked if you find this
in your local Burger King or McDonald's menu.
Image credit: io9.com
A mysterious 260-foot crater in
Siberia
Geologist are puzzled by a mysterious
260-foot crater in Yamal Peninsula, Siberia. Yamal which
also means 'end of the world' has attracted enough attention
due to this new crater. So far, no one has the right
explanation for how this has formed. There are various
theories from meteor impact to volcanic eruption. However,
2 theories take more root than others. One is an explanation
from New South Wales University professor Chris Fogwill
who attributes this to a phenomenon known as 'Collapsed
Pingo' or 'Hydrolaccolith'. Pingo is a block of ice
grown as hill before the frozen ground. When Pingo's
get exposed to the sun light it quickly melts forming
a big crator. However, Scientist Anna Kurchatova of
Russia's Sub-Arctic Scientific Research Center believes
that it is due to an underground explosion caused by
a mixture of salt, water and underground gas. Hope it
is not the sign of an apocalypse!
Image credit: www.newscientist.com
Don't underestimate the power of
tapeworms.
When a 50 year old chinese man got himself
admitted to an UK hospital complaining of headaches, seizures,
altered sense of smells and memory flashes, the doctors
were stumped as they could not associate his symptoms
to anything known. Though his brain showed a inflammation
it did not had a tumor. The doctors kept tracking him
for the next four year only to see the lesion moving from
one part of the brain to another. Finally, when they performed
an autopsy they were shocked to pull out an 1cm long wading
tapeworm from his brain. The tapeworm which might have
entered his head was living comfortably within his brain
all through the years. This tapeworm which is known to
infect cats, frogs and dogs has entered the patients brain
and was living comfortably for multiple years. Another
reason for anyone to be careful of these smaller worms!
Image credit:www.engadget.com
Wear a dress for your self defense!
Wearables like smart watch, fit-bits are
gaining grounds in our daily life. Dutch Designer/Engineer
Anouk Wipprecht went a step above to design a dress which
can help you defend youself if any one invades your personal
space. This dress which was in the works all through last
year was showcased in this year's CES show.