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The 22-year-old student at the University of Central Lancashire spray painted a battered Skoda Fabia to match the car park and entrance to her art studio.
Her work, created as part of her drawing and image making course at the university, creates the illusion that the car is see through.
[Via]
Studies have suggested that something about chewing gum reduces stress, improves alertness and relieves anxiety. But most of this research has been found in a laboratory setting. Now, the first study in people also supports the idea that chewing gum boosts academic performance.
The study was conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and was sponsored by the Wrigley Science Institute. The study included 108 students, ages 13 to 16, who were assigned to either chew sugar-free gum during math class, while doing math homework and during math tests or to refrain from gum-chewing. After 14 weeks, the students' took a math test and their grades were assessed.
Those who chewed gum had a 3% increase in standardized math test scores and had final math grades that were significantly better than the other students. Teachers observed that those who chewed gum seemed to require fewer breaks, sustain attention longer and remain quieter.
[Via]
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
That's the idea behind Google's latest move to allow users to download free music in China. Google has partnered with a Chinese company, Top100.cn, to make it happen.
About 140 music labels have joined in, including the "Big Four" -- EMI Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and Universal Music.
Most Chinese users get their music for free anyway, thanks to rampant online piracy. Google and its partners hope the new business model will generate revenue from advertising that all will share. More importantly, Google wants to increase traffic and catch up to its competitor Baidu.
[Via]
Psychologists have discovered that people performed better in memory tests when the weather was bad and they were feeling grumpy.
The research discovered that the worse the weather and the more depressed the individual, the sharper their brain.
The findings were made by the University of New South Wales School of Psychology. The team carried out the study by questioning shoppers at a Sydney store over two months.
They tested their memory and found that they recalled three times as much information when the weather was bad and they were feeling down.
Professor Joe Forgas, who led the research, said: "It seems counter-intuitive but a little bit of sadness is a good thing.
"People performed much better on our memory test when the weather was unpleasant and they were in a slightly negative mood.
"On bright sunny days, when they were more likely to be happy and carefree, they flunked it."
[Via]
US scientists are planning to grow vegetables such as brussels sprouts on the Moon in an experiment to see if a future colony could produce its own food.
Paragon Space Development Corporation in Arizona unveiled plans to land mini-greenhouses on the Moon which would be capable to growing flowers and hardy vegetables from the brassica family, such as sprouts and cabbages. These could ultimately be used to feed livestock.
Paragon, which has worked with Nasa, describes its 1.5 ft tall space greenhouse as a "Lunar Oasis".
It is designed to safely land a laboratory plant on the lunar surface, and protect it while it grows.
The miniature greenhouse is to be launched into space no earlier than 2012 by Odyssey Moon Ltd, a participant in the Google Lunar X Prize, which will reward any project which can launch, land and operate a rover on the lunar surface.
Because brassica goes from seed to flower in just 14 days, it can complete its life cycle in a single lunar night.
[Via]
Pregnant mothers will soon be able to play their favourite songs to their unborn children with the invention of an MP3 players for babies.
Named the BLABY, the device consists of a contoured belt that wraps around a mother's waist with three inbuilt vibration speakers playing music into the womb.
Stitched into the fabric of the belt is a digital MP3 player and USB adapter which will allow prospective parents to upload music or even to record their own voices to play for their baby.
Designed to utilise the well-known Mozart effect – a theory which proposes that a baby will be born more intelligent if subjected to classical music during the course of pregnancy – the BLABY is the brainchild of Canadian design student Geof Ramsay.
Its inbuilt speakers transmit the vibrations of music and voice through to the baby in a safe manner, and the mother wearing it can also benefit from three tiny massage mechanisms.
[Via]
A boy calls 911 to get help with his math homework.
Quote
Operator: 911 emergencies.
Boy: Yeah I need some help.
Operator: What’s the matter?
Boy: With my math.
Operator: With your mouth?
Boy: No with my math. I have to do... More »
Operator: 911 emergencies.
Boy: Yeah I need some help.
Operator: What’s the matter?
Boy: With my math.
Operator: With your mouth?
Boy: No with my math. I have to do it. Will you help me?
Operator: Sure. Where do you live?
Boy: No with my math.
Operator: Yeah I know. Where do you live though?
Boy: No, I want you to talk to me on the phone.
Operator: No I can’t do that. I can send someone else to help you.
Boy: Okay.
Operator: What kind of math do you have that you need help with?
Boy: I have take aways.
Operator: Oh you have to do the take aways.
Boy: Yeah.
Operator: Alright, what’s the problem?
Boy: Um, you have to help me with my math.
Operator: Okay. Tell me what the math is.
Boy: Okay. 16 take away 8 is what?
Operator: You tell me. How much do you think it is?
Boy: I don’t know, 1.
Operator: No. How old are you?
Boy: I’m only 4.
Operator: 4!
Boy: Yeah.
Operator: What’s another problem, that was a tough one.
Boy: Um, oh here’s one. 5 take away 5.
Operator: 5 take away 5 and how much do you think that is?
Boy: 5.
Woman: Johnny what do you think you’re doing?!
Boy: The policeman is helping me with my math.
Woman: What did I tell you about going on the phone?
Operator: It’s the mother…
Boy: You said if I need help to call somebody.
Woman: I didn’t mean the police.
