Could eating food actually cause someone to lose weight? Solutions designed to tackle the growing obesity epidemic seem to have become increasingly far-fetched and imaginative. But the recent findings of scientists at NIZO Food Research in The Netherlands could contribute to our efforts in overcoming this problem.
Innovation blog
Zero Gravity Pens
When NASA first sent up astronauts into space, they quickly realized that regular ball point pens would not work. In response, NASA spent billions of dollars and a decade designing a pen that would work in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on all surfaces, and a wide range of temperatures. The Russians' answer? They just used a pencil.
Seemingly Unlikely Cure for Blindness
Sharron Thornton, who was blind for nine years as a result of a disorder known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome that damaged her corneas, was able to recover her sight after she underwent a rare surgery that transplanted her own tooth into her eye, a procedure called modified osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (MOOKP). It had seemed before that there was no hope for Thornton in regaining her eyesight, but thankfully, one of her doctors had previously heard of a surgery in which an artificial cornea could be constructed using a tooth as the scaffold.
Sarkozy’s Proposed Carbon Tax Rejected by France’s Constitutional Council
On Tuesday, December 29, 2009, France’s Constitutional Council “struck a blow” to French President Nicolas Sarkozy by rejecting his proposal for a new carbon tax plan. The proposed tax would have charged 17 euros for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted and was issued in an effort to fight the climate change. Sarkozy is notorious for being a staunch supporter in terms of advocacy for France’s environmental awareness.
Robothon
We've all heard of people with prosthetic limbs climbing mountains, running marathons, and accomplishing incredible athletic feats. But mechanical aids are now no longer limited to a select group of people. With the Cyborg Leg developed by Japanese scientists at Tsubaka University, ordinary runners can increase their muscle power and running speed.
X-Prizes
You have an idea. You want to send people into space, people who aren't astronauts and don't have any particular mission aside from a having a thrilling experience. But how will you do it?
For those who don't see innovation in the areas they desire and don't have the resources to innovate themselves, the only other option is to have others do it for you.
Escalating Human Population
If you thought there were too many kids at Torrey Pines, think again.
Man’s Best Friend Pollutes the Earth
Who knew that an animal, like your dog, could be more harmful to the environment than your own car? A study shows that a carbon footprint of a domestic dog is more than double the carbon footprint of a gas guzzling SUV. A carbon footprint measures the impact our activities have on the environment including of the amount of greenhouse gases produced in everyone’s day to day lives.
A Little Research on Tiny Particles
Just when you thought you had heard the end of the apocalyptic scenarios and dooms-day cries, it seems scientists in the field of nanotechnology have a new concern.
Olympic Luck
Science is finding that genes determine exactly who's who in sports, with certain genes geared toward specific types of exercise. Remember how Mom and Dad always told you, “You didn’t try practice enough, so it’s your own fault” when you lose at sports?
