http://www.howstuffworks.com HowStuffWorks - Explore your world and learn how everything works. Informative and fun! en-us Fri, 1 April 2011 09:00:00 GMT 140 20 http://www.howstuffworks.com http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/hsw-logo-120x90.gif http://computer.howstuffworks.com/fakebook.htm Let's face it: Your life is just too busy for you to take the time to stay on top of your Facebook friends list. Wouldn't it be nice if you could put your profile on autopilot? That's what Fakebook is for. http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/10-ways-to-survive-a-snowstorm.htm At least three times this season, long lines of North American motorists have found themselves stranded on highways, and experts recommend drivers stay in the car in such situations. What else do you need to know to survive the snow? http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/volcano.htm Last weekend, the eruption of Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano prompted the evacuation of people living within 8 miles of the volcano's center. What are the major types of volcanic eruptions, and how frequently can they occur? http://money.howstuffworks.com/10-most-stressful-jobs-in-america.htm Friday, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that employers added 151,000 jobs last month, the first increase since May. Getting a new job is usually great news, but which jobs out there can actually add stress to your life? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/conservation/issues/biggest-threat-to-biodiversity.htm More than 190 nations met in Nagoya, Japan, on Friday to try to seal a pact to protect the world's threatened ecosystems. Why is Earth's biodiversity diminishing so rapidly? http://money.howstuffworks.com/unemployment.htm Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that new claims for unemployment benefits had increased 2.9 percent over the past week. Who is eligible to collect unemployment, and what does the application process entail? http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/tsunami.htm A new study in the journal Nature Geoscience shows that the tsunami risk for several coastal cities, including Los Angeles, may be significantly higher than previously thought. What forces can trigger a tsunami's deadly waves? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solar-cell.htm Yesterday, President Obama's administration announced that it will install solar panels on the White House in an effort to encourage other Americans to do the same in their own homes. What would you have to do to power your house with solar energy? http://auto.howstuffworks.com/automotive-recalls.htm On Friday, German automaker BMW announced that it's recalling 350,800 BMW and Rolls-Royce vehicles worldwide because of brake problems. How does an automotive recall begin, and who has to be involved in the process? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/cellular-microscopic/dna.htm A new study published in the journal Lancet shows that children with ADHD are twice as likely as other kids to have chunks of DNA that are either missing or duplicated. What's the basic structure of a typical strand of DNA? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/wind-power.htm The world's largest offshore wind farm opened off the east Kent coast yesterday -- a move that should increase Britain's capacity to generate wind power by more than 30 percent. How do wind turbines turn kinetic energy into electricity? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/fossil.htm While preparing to build a new substation, a Los Angeles utility company recently discovered a trove of animal fossils that dates back 1.4 million years. Why do some bones survive the test of time and others don't? http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/budgeting/how-much-money-to-live.htm The U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday that one in every seven Americans is living in poverty. How do experts define the poverty threshold, and how can people stay above it? http://science.howstuffworks.com/astronaut.htm Identical twins Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly will both be in space next year during NASA's final planned shuttle mission to the International Space Station. How does NASA recruit its astronauts? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/cleaning-oil-spill.htm Early this week, U.S. researchers found a 2-inch-thick layer of oil from the busted BP well resting on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico. What methods can people use to clean up spilled oil? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/crude-oil-market.htm Oil prices rose following last week's shutdown of the Enbridge pipeline, which carries crude oil from Canada to the Midwestern United States. What are the main factors that influence crude oil pricing? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/cellular-microscopic/stem-cell.htm Shinya Yamanaka, a researcher who found a way to give adults cells some characteristics of embryonic stem cells, has received the Balzan Prize for biology. What are stem cells, and why are they so valuable to many scientists? http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/travel/amazon-kindle.htm Amazon.com announced this week that office supply retailer Staples will start selling the Kindle e-reader, which was once available only online, in their stores this fall. How can you buy e-books for Kindle and get them onto the device? http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/foursquare.htm Location-based service Foursquare is offering a special virtual "badge" in September to people who check in at health clinics to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. What are some other ways in which users collect Foursquare badges? http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/hurricane.htm After hitting Puerto Rico and the northeast Caribbean islands with wind and rain yesterday, Hurricane Earl started heading for the eastern U.S. seaboard. What's the typical lifecycle of a hurricane? http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/volcano.htm About 30,000 Indonesian people had to flee their homes yesterday when Mount Sinabung, a volcano that had been dormant for four centuries, erupted for the second straight day. What factors influence volcanic eruption patterns http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/glacier.htm To protect thousands of villagers from a flood last week, French authorities had to drain a lake trapped beneath a glacier in the Mont Blanc Alpine range. How do glaciers form in the first place? http://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/home-staging.htm The National Association of Realtors reported this week that U.S. sales of previously occupied homes fell 27 percent in July -- the largest drop in four decades. Could home staging help lived-in homes sell faster? http://money.howstuffworks.com/10-food-recalls.htm More than 500 million eggs have been recalled in recent weeks because of a salmonella outbreak that originated at Iowa farms. What were some of the biggest food recalls of all time, and what effect did they have on the economy? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/genetic/ethical-to-use-stem-cells.htm A ruling made this week by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth may thwart the Obama administration's expansion of stem cell research. Why does stem cell research cause controversy? http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/wilderness/survival.htm On Sunday, 33 miners were found alive after 17 days trapped deep in a Chilean copper and gold mine. What are some other harrowing tales of survival, and how did the people involved make it through? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/reverse-global-warming.htm A new study supported by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that global warming is now causing a drought-related decline in plant growth. Are there measures people can take to stop this trend? http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/how-to-tech/how-to-avoid-facebook-scams.htm A current malware scam takes advantage of Facebook users' demand for a "dislike" button -- the antithesis of the social networking site's "like" feature. What are some typical warning signs of Facebook scams? http://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/coral-reef.htm Yesterday, the Wildlife Conservation Society reported that Indonesia's coral reefs are dying off at an alarming rate because of a dramatic rise in water temperatures. What are some other potential threats to coral reefs? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/evolution/how-do-humans-evolve.htm New findings published in the journal Nature show that human ancestors may have used stone tools 3.4 million years ago -- 800,000 years earlier than previously thought. How much do we know about human advancement over time? And are we still evolving? http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/earthquake.htm An analysis of new data shows that a previously undetected fault line, not the well-known one scientists have blamed thus far, set off the earthquake that devastated Haiti in January. What are faults, and how do they cause earthquakes? http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/financial-planning/10-tips-for-retirement-savings.htm Social Security is facing a shortfall this year, since many people in the United States who've lost their jobs are opting to retire early. What are steps you can take to ensure a financially stable post-retirement life? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/landslide.htm As many as 40 people were feared dead after landslides hit the town of Skardu in Pakistan on Sunday. What are some common causes of landslides, and what can people do to prevent them? http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/tornado.htm According to the National Weather Service, up to seven tornadoes may have touched down in North Dakota and western Minnesota on Saturday. How do tornadoes develop? http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/volcano.htm Mount Karangetang, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, erupted on Friday, damaging roads and leaving more than 2,000 people in the area completely isolated. What causes volcanoes to erupt? http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/hurricane.htm This month, researchers sponsored by three U.S. government agencies, including NASA, will kick off a field study in the Atlantic Ocean to find out more about how hurricanes form. What's the life cycle of a hurricane? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/relief-well.htm BP was on its way to permanently plugging its damaged Gulf oil well yesterday, and the company will use a soon-to-be completed relief well to check its work. What are relief wells, and how are they different from regular oil wells? http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/cellular-microscopic/stem-cell.htm Last Friday, Italian doctors performed a breakthrough operation in which they gave a 19-year-old a new windpipe that had been injected with her own stem cells. What are stem cells, and how can they help treat disease and injuries? http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/flood.htm More than 1,000 people have been killed over the past week as a result of floods caused by heavy rains in Pakistan. What methods can people use to control floods and prevent the damage they can cause? http://computer.howstuffworks.com/hacker.htm Researchers Robert Hansen and Josh Sokol have discovered several ways criminals can spy on Internet users -- even if they're using secure connections. What types of tools do hackers use to infiltrate computer systems? http://money.howstuffworks.com/oil-speculation-raise-gas-price.htm According to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, gas prices across the United States rose by about 2.6 cents over the past week. How can the buying and selling of oil futures influence these shifts? http://science.howstuffworks.com/spacewalk.htm Two Russian cosmonauts lost a tool during a spacewalk on Tuesday while they were replacing a broken camera outside of the International Space Station. What equipment is necessary to complete a spacewalk? http://science.howstuffworks.com/cleaning-oil-spill.htm Last weekend, the approach of tropical storm Bonnie forced workers to put a hold on their efforts to permanently plug the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Once their work is complete, what will it take to clean up all the oil? http://money.howstuffworks.com/unemployment.htm This week, the U.S. Senate passed a bill restoring jobless benefits to the millions of Americans who've been unemployed for six months or more. What are some constructive ways for a person to deal with the stress of job loss? http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/travel/amazon-kindle.htm Monday, Amazon.com reported that its Kindle e-book sales have overtaken its hardback book sales. How does a book get from Amazon's e-book store to the Kindle? http://science.howstuffworks.com/earthquake.htm A 6.7-magnitude earthquake shook Alaska's Aleutian Islands region last weekend, and a series of strong aftershocks followed. What are aftershocks, and why are they sometimes easier to predict than an earthquake? http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/great-barrier-reef.htm Last week, researchers reported discovering prehistoric sea life and some unidentified fish species about 4,593 feet (1,400 meters) below Australia's Great Barrier Reef. What other types of marine life call this area home? http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/top-5-poisonous-plants.htm After a five-year study, Chinese researchers now believe that a particular mushroom may cause Yunnan sudden death syndrome, a condition that's caused about 400 deaths over the past 30 years. What other plants can cause people harm? http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/problems/medical/5-ways-to-prevent-skin-cancer.htm A new study published in BMJ shows a link between having human papillomavirus (HPV) and a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. What are some things you can do to keep skin cancer at bay? http://science.howstuffworks.com/looked-at-eclipse.htm On Sunday, a total eclipse of the sun created a 6,800-mile (11,000-kilometer) arc over the Pacific that drew the attention of thousands of stargazers. But is it safe to stare directly at a solar eclipse? http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/debt-management/3-in-1-credit-report.htm FICO's latest analysis of consumer credit reports shows that 25.5 percent of Americans now have a credit score of 599 or below, which marks them as risks for lenders. How can you get a handle on your credit health? http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/mental-disorders/adhd.htm A new study published in the journal Pediatrics shows that spending too much time watching TV and playing video games can double the risk of attention problems in children. How can you tell if a child has ADHD? http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/foursquare.htm According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, startup Web site Foursquare is close to getting funding that will allow it to expand. What are the basic features of Foursquare's location-based service, and how can you use them? http://science.howstuffworks.com/water-moon-mars.htm A new study in the journal Science shows that water and other conditions suitable for life may have once existed all over Mars. Which discovery -- water on the moon or on Mars -- holds the most promise for people on Earth? http://science.howstuffworks.com/cellular-microscopic-biology/stem-cell.htm New findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine show that using corneas grown from stem cells to treat burn-related eye damage may restore vision for up to 10 years. What are stem cells, and how can they help repair damaged tissue? http://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/home-staging.htm On June 27 of each year, local, state and national organizations oA report released by the National Association of Realtors this week shows that sales of previously owned homes in the United States slipped 2.2 percent in May. If you're trying to sell a house, how can home staging help? http://people.howstuffworks.com/tested-for-hiv.htm On June 27 of each year, local, state and national organizations observe National HIV Testing Day: a day to promote HIV testing and dispel the stigma surrounding HIV. Who should take the opportunity to get tested this year? http://people.howstuffworks.com/speak-same-language.htm Heavy rain in northeastern Brazil led to floods that have left at least 100,000 people homeless and another 1,000 people unaccounted for. What factors help to determine how severe a flood will be? http://health.howstuffworks.com/multiple-sclerosis.htm A new study published in the journal Neurology shows that keeping a mentally active lifestyle may help reduce the memory and learning problems that often affect people with multiple sclerosis. What other treatments are available for MS? http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cyberwar.htm A distributed denial of service attack, in which lots of computers connect to a site to try to bring it down, hit South Korean government Web sites last week. Is it possible to prepare for cyber warfare? http://animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/shark-attack-stories.htm This week, 41-year-old surfer Michael Bedford survived an attack by a great white shark off of Australia's South Coast. What are some of the most captivating shark attack stories of all time? http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-censorship.htm In a white paper released Tuesday, China reiterated its Internet censorship policy, saying it would continue to filter anything subversive to national unity. What other countries put tight restrictions on Internet access? http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-collision.htm An amateur astronomer in Australia witnessed an object -- which scientists now believe to be a meteor -- hitting Jupiter last week. How often do space collisions like these occur, and what are the most common types?