Facts & Trends

The almost-bankrupt Italian city of Naples began DNA-testing dog feces on its poop-covered sidewalks, so it can prosecute residents who don’t pick up.  “I know some people find it funny that with all the problems the city has, we would focus ...
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A Middle Eastern company has unveiled a fetching new line of Lycra leotards for racing camels to improve their performance on the track. Camel racing is popular across the Arab world, and Abu Dhabi based firm Al-Shibla says its compression ...
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The oceans, like the rest of the planet, set a temperature record in 2014, at 60.9°F (16°C), or 1.03°F above the 20th century average.  Acidity is up as well—a bad combination for sea life ...
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Percentage of American 16- and 17- year-olds who use text messaging who say they do so while driving: 34 Percentage of adults who do: 47 ...
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Reporters Without Borders ranked 180 countries on the basis of conditions for press freedom. A sampling: ...
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If nightmares about Jaws are keeping you from taking a dip in the ocean, relax. You're much less appetizing than you think. 11: U.S. fatalities from sharks, 1990-2006 16: U.S. fatalities from collapsing sand holes, 1990-2006 1 in 310,733: Odds of dying in a fireworks accident 1 in 3,750,000: Odds of dying in a shark ...
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Neopagans in Iceland are erecting a temple dedicated to the Norse gods Thor, Odin, and Frigg for the first time in over 1,000 years.  The temple will be built by the Asatru movement, which was founded in the 1970s to revive ...
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"When women are depressed, they either eat or go shopping.  Men invade another country." - Elayne Boosler ...
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Percentage of the average “knowledge worker’s” time that is spent reading and writing emails: 28 ...
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A Pennsylvania girl's Sweet 16 party was ruined after her celebration was showered with poop, apparently dumped from a passing airplane.  Jacinda Cambray and 40 guests were partying in her family's backyard when the brown liquid began raining down.  "We'd ...
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