Current Events for October 16, 2014Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 1:37 am
Mrs. WhiteHi Fifth Graders!I think all of you will agree that your reading goal is to read more non-fiction, so I'm helping you with this goal.You are REQUIRED to read the first three articles on this page:1. Nobel Peace Prize winner article2. Carbon Neutral City article3. Mad Minutes help with becoming a math whiz articleThese will need to appear on your reading log before next Thursday. You will have a short and simple quiz to make sure you've read these! There are many other articles here that you are encouraged to read and post on your reading log. Enjoy reading non-fiction,Mrs. White
Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai and India's Kailash Satyarthi Win Nobel Peace Prize
On October 10th, 2014, the Nobel Committee announced that this year's Noble Peace Prize would be awarded to two extraordinary individuals that have dedicated their lives to fighting for the rights of others - 17-year-old girls' education activist Malala Yousafzai, and 60-year-old children's activist Kailash Satyarthi. So what inspired the two to devote their lives to these worthy causes? Read on to find out . . .
A Peek Inside The World's First Carbon Neutral City
As the world becomes more aware of the risks of climate change and the importance of sustainable energy sources, individuals and communities are increasingly taking measures to reduce their carbon footprint. Some are building "passive homes", to take advantage of natural sun and wind patterns, while others are installing solar panels or windmills, to power their homes. But never before has there been an entire "green" city - one that relies solely on renewable energy sources and smart design elements, to eliminate its carbon footprint.
Guess What? Acing Those "Mad Minute" Tests Could Make You A Math Whiz
The next time you are asked to test your math computational skills with the dreaded "Mad Minute" test, do not groan and moan! According to Stanford scientists, it is the mastery of these basic facts that will help transform you into math whizzes, as you grow older! And given that they have peeked inside the brains of elementary school-age kids, adolescents and adults, they should know.
Wingardium Leviosa! British Artist "Levitates" Covent Garden's Historic Market Building
First there was the invisibility cloak created by scientists from the University of Rochester and now, this levitation of a section of Covent Garden's historic Market Building in London! And though it may appear to be the work of wizard extraordinaire Hermione Granger, this is no magic spell - just a clever illusion, created by 30-year-old British artist and designer, Alex Chinneck.
No Step Goes Wasted On This Soccer Field
The kids that live at the Morro da Mineira slum in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro love to play soccer on the nearby community field. However, thanks to constant power shortages, they could rarely extend their games beyond sunset. Now, thanks to some innovative thinking and extraordinary technology, the young players will be able to use the field all night long if they wish, provided . . . they keep running!
Russian Fisherman Catches Fish With "Human Teeth"
A Russian fisherman out on a routine fishing trip on the Northern Dvina River is making headlines across the world, thanks to his unusual catch - a fish with a full set of teeth that eerily resemble ours. 50-year-old Aleks Korbov who revealed his find on September 29th, said that when he first pulled the fish up, he thought it was a common bream, a freshwater fish that is prevalent in the river.
Video Of The Week - Potato Chip Bags Double Up As Flotation Devices
While most of us are just resigned to the fact that potato chip bags contain more air than snack, some South Korean college students decided it was time to show manufacturers that consumers were well aware of the fact, and were not too thrilled about it.
Super Crystal Could Allow Mere Mortals To Be "Aquaman" (Or Woman)!
Here is some good news for the fans of DC comics superhero "Aquaman" - Thanks to its namesake "Aquaman crystal" they too may soon be able to swim deep into the oceans without lugging around heavy air tanks. That's because the man-made chemical compound which was unveiled by a team of researchers from the University of Southern Denmark on September 30th, has the capacity to absorb as much as 160 times the amount of oxygen that is in the atmosphere. According to the scientists, a spoonful of the substance could store all the oxygen that is present in a normal-sized room.
Google's Young Scientists Are Out To Change The World
Since 2011, Google has been challenging innovative teens aged 13-18 from all around the world, to use their technology and scientific know-how to transform the world into a better place. Contestants are categorized into three age categories (13-14, 15-16, 17-18) and five semi-finalists are selected from each. The fifteen youngsters are then flown to the company's headquarters in Mountain View, CA, to present their ideas to a group of judges, who select a winner from each category, one of whom is also declared the overall winner.
Hong Kong's Student Led "Umbrella Revolution" Gains Steam
The city of Hong Kong is known for many things - Its thriving economy, reputation in the financial markets, unique currency and most importantly, its ability to remain detached from all politics. However all that changed on September 28th, 2014, when tens of thousands of residents took to the streets calling for "true democracy", marking the start of what is being called the "Umbrella Revolution" thanks to the images of protestors using the parasols to shield themselves against the police pepper spray.
Can Aerial Gondolas Alleviate New York City's Traffic Woes?
For the residents of Manhattan's surrounding boroughs that commute to the island, congestion is a way of life, especially during work hours when subways and bridges are jammed with people. That is the reason New York-based developer City Realty, is proposing the construction of high-speed aerial gondolas as alternate transportation between Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Norwegian Adventurers Visit Nineteen Countries In Twenty Four Hours!
Most people don't manage to visit 19 countries in twenty-four years, leave aside 24 hours! But three young Norwegian men have proven that where there is a will, there is a way especially, when the motivation is to shatter a Guinness World Record.
Finally, An Invisibility "Cloak" That Can Be Available To All!
When J. K. Rowling conjured up the invisibility cloak to help her star wizard Harry Potter escape from sticky situations, she would have never guessed that scientists all over the world, would start scrambling to create a real one. Over the years, there have been numerous attempts. However, they all entail the use of super expensive materials and involve complicated methods, which means they are of no practical use.
Making Sense Of The Ebola Virus
Every few years, a new pandemic hits the globe and sends shivers down everyone's spines. The latest one making headlines is the Ebola virus, that has infected 6,263 people and caused 2,917 deaths in five West African countries, since the latest outbreak began in March 2014. So what is this disease that scientists have yet to find a cure for, and how do people catch it? Read on!
The World's Deepest Pool Is Scarily . . . Deep!
If you like to showcase your superior diving skills you may want to check out Italy's Y-40 Deep Joy. As the name indicates, the depth of this newly opened pool extends down 40 meters (131-feet) - the height of a 12-story building or nine double-decker buses stacked atop each other!
Newsflash: Girls Can Play Baseball Too!
While Jackie Robinson's achievements as the first African American major league baseball player are well documented, very few people know about Ila Borders - the first female pitcher in integrated men's professional baseball and the first woman to win a men's professional game in the independent leagues. Nor do they know about the 17 girls that have played in the 68-year history of the Little League World Series. But thanks to 13-year-old pitching phenom Mo'ne Davis, that has all changed.
Star Soccer Players Sport Some Sweet Rides
A month ago, only avid soccer fans knew who Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. were. However, thanks to the just ended FIFA World Cup, the trio have become household names, and rightfully so - After all, Messi was instrumental in getting Argentina to the finals, and Brazil's dismal performance against Germany and the Netherlands highlighted just how important Neymar is to the country's success in soccer. Though Ronaldo did not quite live up to the lofty expectations, he did score one of the two goals in Portugal's final game against Ghana and made a crucial assist in their match against the United States.
2014 World Cup Soccer Goes Hi-Tech
Soccer, or 'football' as it is referred to in most parts of the world, has been played for over 150 years. While the rules of the game have remained fairly constant since the sport was conceived, the technology on and off the field is becoming increasingly sophisticated.
MIT's Robotic Cheetah Gets Ready To Take On The World (And Usain Bolt)
At first sight, MIT's recently unveiled "Cheetah", may look like an assortment of gears, batteries and motors, but watch it in action and you will soon be reminded of its spotted namesake that also happens to be nature's fastest land predator. Though the robot cannot attain speeds of 60 mph like the real cheetah, the researchers believe they can bring it to race at least 30 mph making it the world's fastest quadruped robot and also, the fastest human (if it were one), since it would easily outrun Usain Bolt's maximum speed of 28 mph!
Video Of The Week - Dancing Traffic Light Improves Safety
First there were the "piano stairs" that encouraged people to exercise, then came the "bottle bank" that transformed an ordinary recycling bin into a gaming arcade and now a dancing "red man" that made waiting at a pedestrian crossing, fun!
ISIS - The New Threat To World Peace?
On the eve of the 13th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks, President Obama declared a new war on terror. However this time his target was not our age-old enemy al Qaeda, but a group that goes by one of three acronyms: ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham), ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ), or simply, IS (Islamic State). So who is this new terrorist organization that has the world on edge? Read on . . .
Special "Texters" Lane In China Draws Attention To Worldwide Cell Phone Addiction
While people are constantly being reminded to put away their smartphones when driving, there are very few warnings when it comes to being engrossed in them whilst walking. Now the Chinese city of Chongqing has come up with a novel way to highlight the issue, by creating a special 'texters' lane.
Always Craving Chips And Cookies? Blame It On Your Gut Bacteria!
Always craving junk food? Now you can blame it on the millions of bacteria that live in your gut - At least that's what some researchers from UC San Francisco, Arizona State University and University of New Mexico, have concluded after reviewing the latest scientific literature about microbes. According to Athena Aktipis, one of the authors of the study, which was published in the journal Bio Essays in mid-August, these microscopic organisms are extremely bossy and have the power to influence not just our food cravings but also moods and overall well-being.Join Class
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