| So, what's the return policy? | | We've all been there: You order something special, eagerly wait for it to arrive, open that box and — boom, the buyer's guilt hits hard. Now imagine how a $28 million, non-returnable, "uh-oh" purchase would feel. That's how much the Pentagon (*cough cough* taxpayers *cough*) spent over the past decade buying uniforms for the Afghan army. The uniforms feature a woodland camouflage pattern but, problem is, forests cover only 2.1% of the country. Yikes. Not the best choice by the Afghan defense minister, who chose the pricey pattern over free options. And it's got the U.S. government saying never again because, as one official put it, "what if the minister of defense liked purple, or liked pink?" Well, for starters, that would be an interesting military makeover, but probably not great for the whole "avoiding detection" thing. | | It's the first day of summer, but we're ready for winter | | In Westeros, at least. The second trailer for season seven of 'Game of Thrones,' HBO's epic medieval fantasy series, dropped Wednesday. And somehow it's even more chilling than the first . We hear calls for unity from Jon Snow and Sansa Stark over scenes of warfare and winter (which, duh, because #WinterIsHere). Among the more notable moments: a blink-and-you'll-miss-it glimpse of the long-lost Beric Dondarrion. But we don't want to spoil the whole trailer. Watch for yourself here. | | Please direct your attention to Earth's nearest exit sign | | Think the future looks bright and cheery? Think again. Science superstar Stephen Hawking is raising the alarm about the dismal future ahead of humankind. Speaking at an arts and science festival in Norway, Hawking said humankind must colonize other planets in order to survive. But it can't be like a group project where one person — in this case, country — does all the work. Colonization = collective effort. Hawking has faith, though. He noted that humans faced "similar crisis" or lack of resources in the past but still persevered. "Columbus did it in 1492 when he discovered the New World," Hawking said. "But now there is no new world. No Utopia around the corner." The clock's ticking. Hawking says we have just 100 years to figure it out (gulp). | | Your brain is better on EVOO | | Bid coconut oil a fond farewell from your diet (doctor's orders!) and load up on extra-virgin olive oil instead. Your brain will thank you. Extra-virgin olive oil — the foundation of any good Mediterranean dish — can fight Alzheimer's disease, Temple University researchers told us Wednesday. They found lab mice with EVOO-enriched diets had stronger memories and learning abilities than their counterparts. But, perhaps more important, they found EVOO activates something called the autophagy process, the clearing of intercellular debris and toxins. Alzheimer's disease is suspected to start when that process falters or slows down. So, think of EVOO as the oil that keeps your brain running, much like motor oil keeps your car running. Next up: Researchers want to see whether EVOO can reverse Alzheimer's. |  | | They're baaaaaaaaack | | Bed bugs, for decades, existed as myths — part of a rhyme our parents told us before bed. Now they've made an unwelcome return . And those who know these buggers best say it's high time we start taking them seriously. The pesty parasites used to be "incredibly common" in the early 20th century, but we said bye-bye to the bugs from the mid-1950s to the late 1990s thanks to potent insecticides. We don't know why they're back, but experts have theories: once-potent insecticides are now banned, people travel more, and the bugs have grown resistant to modern insecticides. The only way to defeat your enemy is to know your enemy, so study up. This means war. | |
No comments:
Post a Comment