UK demand soars for electric and hybrid vehicles
Demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is soaring, according to new figures released today by the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The data shows the number of new cars eligible for the government Plug-in Car Grant scheme rose from 14,532 in to 28,188 last Read More...
The toilet you only clean once a year
An "intelligent" toilet that opens when you approach it and self-cleans with every flush is on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It also cleans the user with an aerated wand, which delivers warm water and warm air "from a seated position", a spokeswoman said. Despite a $9,800 Read More...
Google and Lenovo are teaming up to build a smartphone with serious superpowers
Google and Lenovo just announced they're partnering up to build an Android-powered, sub-$500 smartphone powered by Google's extremely nifty Project Tango technology. Project Tango, first announced in 2014, is a project originated from Google ATAP, one of the search giant's coolest and most Read More...
The neuroscience behind mindfulness
Mindfulness is currently a very hot topic. It seems like every health website, magazine and newspaper is touting the benefits of meditation and yoga practices. Wired posted an article on how meditation can calm the anxious mind and help one manage emotions, Shape magazine relays that meditation can Read More...
General Motors makes electric car for mainstream market
General Motors has just unveiled its latest electric car, the Chevrolet Bolt, claiming it’s the most serious of such vehicles available to the mainstream market. At $30,000 (after US federal income tax rebate for electric cars), the Bolt comes equipped with the latest transportation technologies, Read More...
Female leaders might have prevented the financial crisis
A new book by Jay Newton-Small suggests women traders would not have taken the same risks and could have avoided the crisis. Several studies have established that high levels of testosterone lead to more risk-taking actions (such as the financial bubbles of Wall Street). It’s also known that the Read More...
Mexicans drink less soda after introduction of sugary drinks tax
It’s only been two years but Mexico’s sugary drinks tax seems to already be yielding results. A new study says that in the first year following the introduction of the tax, Mexicans were drinking on average 6% less sugary drinks. During 2014 the average person bought four fewer litres of sodas. Read More...
Rich countries are the happiest when there's more equality
It is often said that money doesn’t bring happiness. However a new study by the London Business School and the University of Virginia says that’s only partly true. As it happens, the findings show that people in richer countries are happier but only when there’s more equality. That´s the Read More...
Adult coloring books are great for mental health: Try it!
For a while now, coloring is no longer an activity limited to children. Special coloring books for adults have hit the market recently and scored some success on the way. Just like meditation, coloring allows one’s mind to drift to other matters than the problems at hand. It helps focus, relax Read More...
95% of expert economists agree: Cutting carbon makes sense
Citi Group isn't the only one to say that fighting climate change is cheaper than doing nothing. The excellent Climate Consensus blog over at The Guardian just reported on some interesting research based on a survey of expert climate economists. Of those economists who had actually engaged Read More...