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HistoryFacts: 5 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day

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5 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17 each year, is known for its parades, shamrocks, and a whole lot of green. It’s a day when people around the world embrace Irish culture — whether they have Irish heritage or not. But behind all the revelry, St. Patrick’s Day has a deep and fascinating history that goes far beyond the modern celebrations. Some of the traditions we associate with March 17th aren’t as old as you’d think, while others have surprising historical roots. Here are five intriguing facts about St. Patrick’s Day that might just change the way you see this beloved holiday. Credit: traveler1116/ DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images Pubs Were Closed on St. Patrick’s Day Long before it became a worldwide celebration filled with traditional food, music, and pints of Guinness, St. Patrick’s Day was a quiet and solemn religious feast day in Ireland. For centuries, March 17 was dedicated to honoring St. Patrick’s role in bringing Chris...
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Interesting Engineering: World’s first robotic Exosuit Cuts Body Strain by 30%, Adds 10 Miles of Motion

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  World’s first robotic Exosuit Cuts Body Strain by 30%, Adds 10 Miles of Motion  Hypershell X’s AI MotionEngine uses sensors to adjust power in 0.03s, matching your gait for climbs, runs, or heavy loads. Chinese startup, Hypershell, is now retailing an AI-powered exoskeleton designed to enhance mobility, strength, and endurance for outdoor activities and daily tasks. Hypershell X exoskeleton is offered in models at different price points. Each features a compact, rechargeable battery pack mounted on the waistband, designed to stay unobtrusive during use. The system weighs as little as 3.9 pounds (1.7 kilograms), going up to 5.2 pounds (2.4 kilograms) for the base variant. All models are IP54 rated for dust and water splash resistance. Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to read more.
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Interesting Engineering: Self-repairing buildings? Engineers make living concrete in construction breakthrough

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  Self-repairing buildings? Engineers make living concrete in construction breakthrough The fungus species Neurospora shows potential in creating building materials with intricate internal structures and diverse architectural forms. A team of researchers has developed a living building material composed of fungal mycelium and bacterial cells capable of self-repairing and surviving for extended periods. Unlike conventional construction materials, this bio-based composite remains viable for weeks, opening up new possibilities for regenerative architecture. The scientists behind the project, based at Montana State University in the USA, say the material is produced at low temperatures and relies on living cells, making it a potentially groundbreaking solution for reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry. Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to read more.
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Interesting Facts: 5 Inventions That Started Out as Something Else

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  5 Inventions That Started Out as Something Else  Innovation doesn’t always follow a straight line. Some of history’s most famous inventions, including the microwave, were  born from accidents . Others, though not strictly accidental, ended up serving a completely different purpose than originally intended — such as the blood pressure medication that ended up becoming a famous hair loss remedy.  Silly String Silly String may be a nostalgic party staple now, but it was originally a medical product. In the 1960s, chemist Robert P. Cox and inventor Leonard A. Fish set out to create an instant spray-on cast for broken bones. During their experiments, which included testing upward of  500  different spraying vessels, they discovered the material could be sprayed in long, sticky strands from a certain pressurized can.  Play-Doh Anyone who’s cleaned Play-Doh out of carpet or picked up all its little crumbs knows how messy it can be, so it may come as a surpr...
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Dictionary Scoop: #8 "Bulls and the Color Red": Popular Myths Busted by Science

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Popular Myths Busted by Science #8 " Bulls and the Color Red " This is one of the most widespread myths in the world, originating from bullfighting traditions. The myth claims that the color  red  makes bulls extremely angry, driving them into a mad rage. However, this isn’t true. In reality, bulls can’t even perceive red—or many other colors—the same way humans do. Experts believe bulls react to the  movement  of the bullfighter’s cape, not its color.
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AP News: Four baby tortoises debut at Philadelphia Zoo, home to their nearly 100-year-old parents

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AP PHOTOS: Four baby tortoises debut at Philadelphia Zoo, home to their nearly 100-year-old parents Four baby Galapagos tortoises made their public debut Wednesday at the Philadelphia Zoo. They are the offspring of the zoo’s oldest residents, a female named Mommy and a male named Abrazzo, a pair of critically endangered Galapagos tortoises who have become first-time parents at the age of roughly 100. Mommy has been at the zoo since 1932 and is considered one of the most genetically valuable Galapagos tortoises in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ species survival plan. The zoo says she is also the oldest first-time mom of the Western Santa Cruz Galapagos species. Note: The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to read more.
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Dictionary Scoop: #7 "Ostriches Heads":

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Popular Myths Busted by Science #7 "Ostriches Heads" A classic cartoon scene: the frightened ostrich burying its head in the ground. You've probably seen it, too, right? Although this is a common belief, ostriches never actually bury their heads. This myth likely stems from the way ostriches care for their nests. These birds make a small hole in the ground and place their nests there to keep them safe. From a distance, when we see the ostrich sticking its head in the ground, it is actually taking care of its chicks!
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