16387254
submission
__roo writes:
In a bizarre case of "life imitates the Simpsons," New York City officials introduced a population of opossums into Brooklyn parks and under the boardwalk at Coney Island, apparently convinced that the opossums would eat all of the rats in the borough and then conveniently die of starvation. ("City brought possums in to take care of rats," read Community Board 15 notes from a 2007 Brooklyn forum meeting where the effort was discussed.) Several years later, the opossums have not only failed to eliminate the rat epidemic from New York City, but they have thrived, turning into a sharp-toothed, foul-odored epidemic of their own.
14748020
submission
__roo writes:
The Washington Post reports that Kellogg recalled 28 million boxes of Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops and Honey Smacks after dozens of consumers reported a strange taste and odor, and some complained of nausea and diarrhea after eating it. U.S. regulators suspect the chemical 2-methylnaphthalene is the cause, but neither the Food and Drug Administration nor the Environmental Protection Agency have basic scientific health and safety data it — "even though the EPA has been seeking that information from the chemical industry for 16 years." The chemical, along with thousands of others commonly used in industry, is specifically exempted from the Toxic Substances Control Act.
13039864
submission
__roo writes:
According to North Korea's official "news" agency, a drink produced by North Korea's Moranbong Carbonated Fruit Juice Joint Venture Company, can cure aging and all disease. "It, with effects of both preventive and curative treatment, helps improve mental and retentive faculties by multiplying brain cells. It also protects skin from wrinkles and black spots and prevents such geriatric diseases as cerebral hemorrhage, myocardium and brain infarction by removing acid effete matters in time." It also has no side-effects.
12599682
submission
__roo writes:
American researchers think they have found the answer to the question of why overhearing cell phone chats are annoying. According to scientists at Cornell University, when only half of the conversation is overheard, it drains more attention and concentration than when overhearing two people talking. According to one researcher, "We have less control to move away our attention from half a conversation (or halfalogue) than when listening to a dialogue. Since halfalogues really are more distracting and you can't tune them out, this could explain why people are irritated." Their study will be published in the journal Psychological Science.
11460246
submission
11364360
submission
__roo writes:
A few days ago, Gizmodo posted a high definition photo of the space shuttle's engines. A NASA engineer saw the post and thought it wasn't good enough, so she sent them close-up pictures that look right up the nozzle. Apparently they look like 'shower heads from hell.'
