Today's Mind-blower
10 Aviation Innovations We'd Be Stuck on the Ground Without
In the world of flight, it's a fine line between flying high and falling fast. Can you name 10 of the innovations that keep planes and their passengers airborne?
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adventure
10 Ways a Survival Bracelet Can Save Your LifeIt may not look like much, but this little piece of wrist wear is very useful in a bind. Unlike other jewelry, it can help you get dinner, stop blood or make a shelter.
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science
Why does fertilizer explode?The massive explosion at a fertilizer operation in the town of West, Texas, raised the question: With the tremendous amount of fertilizer the world blows through, are accidents like this a frequent occurrence?
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adventure
How can a PVC pipe help you survive?PVC pipe is not only useful in building and transporting water. It has a whole 'nother life as a tool for surviving after a natural disaster. We'll look at some of the unusual uses of PVC.
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money
10 Overrated Life DecisionsOh life, full of things you're supposed to do, like go to college, get married, have kids, buy a house. But most everyone who's done these things can find some downsides. Which decisions are most overrated and why?
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science
Fact or Fiction: Coffins and CasketsWe read about them in books and see them on the silver screen, but what's the real deal on coffins? Test your knowledge of the realities and myths that surround these creepy containers with this fact-or-fiction quiz.
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science
How are humans different from our ancestors?Many of us don't have a clue as to what our great-great grandmother's name was. (No offense, great-great grandmas everywhere.) So imagine extending that family tree a few million years beyond that and seeing what our ancestors were up to.
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science
10 Innovations in Water PurificationAs far back as 1500 B.C.E., people were trying to purify water to make it drinkable. And we're still at it. Today inventors use tools as simple as clay and as sophisticated as carbon nanotubes to bring clean water to the world.
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science
How does a forest fire benefit living things?Forest-fire prevention has been a touchstone of American consciousness since the creation of Smokey the Bear in the 1940s. But now, environmental experts believe that some amount of fire is good for the forest too.
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science
The Ultimate La Brea Tar Pits QuizOver the years, archaeologists have excavated copious amounts of important fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits, also known as Rancho La Brea. How knowledgeable are you about this prehistoric place of many a mammoth's demise?
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auto
10 Serious Mistakes in Car MaintenanceThere are so many dangerous, irresponsible and downright ridiculous things you can do to a car while "fixing" it that it was difficult to narrow this list down to just 10 examples.
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science
What will the Earth look like in 50,000 years?When peering thousands of years into the future, there are certain things we can count on -- evolution, extinction, plate tectonics, climate change and, quite possibly, the eruption of a supervolcano. What else does the Earth's far future hold?
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entertainment
What is the oldest book in the world?Here's something to think about: The oldest book in the world can be replaced at any time by a new discovery. So what book currently holds the record?
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home
10 Dangerous Everyday Things in Your HomeThink your home is a safe haven? Think again. With all the chemicals people use in their homes, it may be more polluted indoors than outdoors.
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auto
Are aerodynamic trailers cheaper to tow than boxy ones?You might think towing an aerodynamic trailer would cause you less pain at the fuel pump than pulling around a box on wheels; but that's not necessarily the end of the story.
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adventure
What's the friendliest destination on the planet?When planning your next vacation, you may want to consider a country where you'll receive a warm welcome from the residents. But where are the friendliest people in the world?
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shows
Stuff You Should Know's Nicotine QuizIf you're an American and you're reading this, then there's about a 30 percent chance you're addicted to nicotine. If you listened to this podcast, then you should have no problem scoring well.
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auto
Why would I upgrade to a synthetic motor oil?It took researchers years to create quality synthetics that outperformed conventional oils, but there's little doubt that synthetics are now superior in most scenarios. What makes synthetic oil better?
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people
How Police Chases WorkPolice chases may seem glamorous on TV, but in real life they are actually highly regulated by law enforcement codes of conduct. Find out how officers decide whether to commit to a chase, who is liable if a bystander is injured and what else they do.
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science
10 Innovations That Led to the Modern BulletFirearms get the historical spotlight, but what about the projectiles they hurl at insane speeds? Here are the innovations that gave rise to modern ammunition. Think of it as 10 rounds of ammo info.
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science
Why isn't the U.S. on the metric system?You may think of the U.S., Liberia and Myanmar as the sad-sack metric losers. The truth, however, is a little more complicated -- sort of like remembering how to switch between pounds and kilograms.
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science
What's the world's largest airplane?Length, height and wingspan are all popular ways to rank an aircraft, but truly giant planes are often judged by their maximum takeoff weight. Which plane outlifts them all?
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people
Top 10 Public EnemiesPublic enemies threaten the well-being of the populace, committing serial murders, genocide or financial piracy. What 10 public enemies make our list?
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adventure
Do fish feel pain?When you accidentally step on a puppy's paw, it yelps. If you stub your toe, you yelp (or mutter a four-letter word), too. What about fish? Does it hurt when they get hooked? How can we tell?
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computer
How much do you know about Chrome?The Google Chrome Web browser is full of fun and useful features. How much do you know about Chrome? Surf through this quiz to find out!
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