A Water Bottle That Can Fill Itself Up

Kecia Lynn on November 22, 2012, 3:25 PM 

 What's the Latest Development?

Deckard Sorensen, a scientist and co-founder of NBD Nano, has created a prototype of a bottle that fills itself up by collecting water from the surrounding atmosphere. The water comes when air from a fan passes over a surface layered with nanoscale water-attracting and water-repelling coatings. Until now all tests have been done with solar cells and a rechargeable battery, but even that might not be necessary in order for the technology to work: Anything that moves fast enough to create an airflow -- "a car or a boat, or even a running human" -- could cause water to condense on the surface.

Unilever to launch world's first Toilet Academy in Vietnam

Breaking the taboo and creating a sustainable and long-term solution to sanitation

• Unilever
• Guardian Professional, Thursday 22 November 2012 10.06 GMT  

For 2.5 billion people across the developing world, having no access to even the most basic sanitation is a reality faced every day Photograph: Ahmed Jallanzo/EPA

Life without access to a toilet

For the overwhelming majority of the developed world, a clean and functioning toilet is something we take for granted and perhaps don't even think to question. But for 2.5 billion people across the developing world - that's almost one third of the global population - having no access to even the most basic sanitation is a reality faced every day. Of these, 1.1 billion are forced to suffer the indignity of practising open defecation – the riskiest sanitation practice of all.

Having A Little Brother Linked With Slightly Increased Blood Pressure: Study

Posted: 11/21/2012 1:11 am EST

Things that can raise blood pressure: eating too much salt, stress ... having a little brother?

A new study of Bolivian villagers shows a link between having a younger brother and slightly increased blood pressure levels later on in adulthood, though the Brandeis University researchers did note that the effect seemed to diminish with age.

The 8 Positive Aspects of Aging

By MICHAEL HODIN, Posted: November 20, 2012

We all know the old adage: “Getting older is better than the alternative.” It’s true most of the time, but it’s also true that growing “old” today is better than it has been ever before.