It’s Good/Fun to Know

It’s Fun to Know: Subway Construction and Treasure Hunting
by ETR (04/10/2008)

Building a new subway line is difficult, expensive work. Imagine how much more difficult and expensive it gets if you have to constantly stop construction so archaeologists can study the ancient remains you've dug up.

It’s Good to Know: Tray Table and Seatback Rules Finally Revealed!
by Charlie Byrne (04/09/2008)

You've heard these orders every time your flight has taken off and landed. But have you ever wondered "Why?"

It’s Fun to Know: Fish Hibernation
by ETR (04/08/2008)

It turns out bears, squirrels, and other woodland creatures aren't the only animals to sleep through the winter.

It’s Good to Know: Another Reason to Limit Your Family’s TV Time
by ETR (04/07/2008)

For years, we've been urging you to rid yourself and your family of the TV habit - and to use that time to further your goals and spend more time enjoying the company of your spouse and kids.

It’s Fun to Know: Books by the Foot
by ETR (04/05/2008)

Eager to have a fully stocked library for your home or office?

It’s Good to Know: Fire Alarms for the Deaf
by ETR (04/04/2008)

A Japanese company has developed an alarm that sprays the scent of horseradish in the air when there is a fire.

It’s Fun to Know: When Is a Bread Not a Bread?
by ETR (04/03/2008)

Here are two "breads" you don't want to order by mistake...

It’s Good to Know: Polysyndetonic Syntax
by ETR (04/02/2008)

Polysyndetonic syntax? Huh? Of course, now I had to look THAT up. Here's what I found…

It’s Fun to Know: The “Excrement of the Gods”
by ETR (04/01/2008)

The Aztecs called gold teocuitlatl, which translates as "excrement of the gods."

It’s Good to Know: How to Give Great Answers in Business Meetings
by ETR (03/31/2008)

The next time you are in a meeting, performance review, or job interview, try this "stalling" technique if you are asked a tough question: Take a sip or two of water or coffee.

It’s Fun to Know: The 3,000-mile Monarch Butterfly Migration
by ETR (03/29/2008)

Monarch butterflies embark on a 3,000-mile journey every August.

It’s Good to Know: Toxic Waste Is for the Birds
by ETR (03/28/2008)

Scientists at Cardiff University have found that male starlings develop superior singing ability after being exposed to an estrogen-like toxic waste.

It’s Fun to Know: Crocodile Tears
by ETR (03/27/2008)

When accusing someone of a hypocritical display of sorrow, you might say they're shedding "crocodile tears." The expression comes from a myth that crocodiles cry fake tears to attract help...

It’s Good to Know: Dust-Borne Germs
by ETR (03/26/2008)

You know that sneezing, coughing, and unwashed hands are common ways to spread germs. But recent research by a pair of Swiss scientists indicates that microscopic dust particles can also spread bacteria.

It’s Fun to Know: About $1 Coins
by ETR (03/25/2008)

Why is the government so eager to issue $1 coins... despite the indifference of the general public?

It’s Good to Know: HDTV Rip-Off Update
by Charlie Byrne (03/24/2008)

Amazon is now offering a six-foot HDMI cable for the grand total of... $2.04.

It’s Fun to Know: Wisdom Teeth
by ETR (03/22/2008)

In the United States, third molars are popularly known as "wisdom teeth." Here is what they are called in other countries...

It’s Good to Know: Self-Repairing Material
by ETR (03/21/2008)

French scientists have created artificial rubber that, when cut in two, can join itself together again.

It’s Fun to Know: About Microbots
by ETR (03/20/2008)

Researchers at the Korea Institute of Technology are designing six-legged robots tiny enough to travel through blood vessels.

It’s Good to Know: Fishing Quotas
by ETR (03/19/2008)

Efforts to boost fish populations by allowing fisherman to catch only larger fish could be doing more harm than good, according to a recent study.

It’s Fun to Know: The Rat-Whisker Navigation System
by ETR (03/18/2008)

MIT researchers have discovered that a rat's whiskers are the key to rat's navigation system.

It’s Fun to Know: The Link Between Hair and Tap Water
by ETR (03/15/2008)

University of Utah scientists have discovered that the chemical makeup of your hair can reveal where you've spent the last several months.

It’s Good to Know: Depositing Checks From Home
by ETR (03/14/2008)

The ATM freed bank customers from having to wait in long lines to deposit checks. And soon, this simple transaction could be taken care of from the comfort of your home. Several banks are considering adopting technology that would allow customers to scan checks with their home computers, and then submit them to the bank over the Internet.

It’s Good to Know: About the Crash Tax
by ETR (03/13/2008)

The aftermath of a car accident can be traumatic: serious injury, frantic calls to 911, dealing with your insurance company. And now we must add another hassle, and an expensive one at that.

It’s Fun to Know: The Largest Oil Reserves in the Solar System
by ETR (03/12/2008)

Scientists have found a source of natural gas and oil hundreds of times larger than that found on Earth. But don't toss aside your worries about the rising price of gasoline just yet.

It’s Good to Know: The Gulf Stream Power Plant
by ETR (03/11/2008)

At 8.5 billion gallons per second, the Gulf Stream is the world's strongest sustained ocean current. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University believe it could also provide enough energy to meet one-third of their state's electricity needs.

It’s Fun to Know: Power Your Cellphone With Your Shirt
by ETR (03/10/2008)

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a fabric that can generate enough power to run a cellphone, mp3 player, or similar electronic device.

It’s Good to Know: New Evidence About the Origin of an Epidemic
by ETR (03/07/2008)

Explorers to the new world may have brought back a deadly disease to Europe: syphilis.

It’s Fun to Know: Glow-in-the-Dark Scorpions
by ETR (03/07/2008)

To find scorpions at night, scientists use ultraviolet light, also known as black light.

It’s Fun to Know About Leap Years - A Leap Year Calculation
by ETR (03/07/2008)

Here's a leap year calculation to figure out which years are leap years.
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