Scientists turn cow manure into clean drinking water Fact 74

It's not quite turning water into wine, but scientists in the United States have developed technology that turns cow poo into water.

The McLanahan Nutrient Separation System, which has been developed by Michigan State University, is an anaerobic digested which takes waste and makes energy coupled with an ultrafiltration, air-stripping, reverse osmosis system.

"One small step into manure, One Giant Leap to efficiency."

What goes in manure, comes out water clean enough for livestock to drink, or, at the very least, dispose of in an environmentally friendly way.

“If you have 1,000 cows on your operation, they produce about 10 million gallons of manure a year,” said Steve Safferman, an associate professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering at Michigan State University, who helped develop the project.

“About 90 per cent of the manure is water but it contains large amounts of nutrients, carbon and pathogens that can have an environmental impact if not properly managed.”

The system produces about 50 gallons of water per 100 gallons of manure, but they're hoping to soon increase that to 65 gallons.

There are more than 87 million cows in the US, so if the system works then theoretically they could produce 870 million gallons of clean water every year.

“Here in Michigan we have a tendency to take water for granted,” Steve Safferman, an MSU associate professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering, said in a statement. “But out west, for example, where drought remains an issue, the accessibility of clean water could make the difference between a farm remaining viable or going out of business.”

Perhaps more feasibly, however, is what this invention can do for manure disposal. The US Environmental Protection Agency says that poorly managed manure has consequences – poison drinking supplies, algae growth in water systems, and even air pollution.

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Source; http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-turn-cow-manure-into-clean-drinking-water-9486227.html

First TV ad in color Fact 73

In the UK, the first product advertised on TV (in color) was Birds Eye Peas.

How much water should we drink? Fact 72

To stay healthy, it's important to replace the fluid we lose when we breathe, sweat or urinate.

We get some fluid from our food but most comes from drinks.

The European Food Safety Authority recommends that women should drink about 1.6 litres of fluid and men should drink about 2.0 litres of fluid per day. That's about eight 200ml glasses for a woman and 10 200ml glasses for a man. 

However, the amount a person needs to drink to avoid getting dehydrated will vary depending on a range of factors, including their size, the temperature and how active they are. So, for example, if you're exercising hard in hot weather you'll need to drink more.

All drinks count, including hot drinks such as tea and coffee, but water, milk and fruit juices are the healthiest. It is best to avoid alcoholic drinks.

Try to avoid sugary, soft and fizzy drinks that can be high in added sugars. These can be high in calories and bad for teeth. Read more on this and other topics here.

NASA Sees Spectacular Sun Eruption Like Never Before (Video) Fact 71

A tiny NASA space observatory built to snap unprecedented view of the sun has captured its first video of a violent eruption of super-hot solar plasma from the surface of Earth's parent star. 



NASA's sun-watching IRIS spacecraft spotted the solar eruption, called a coronal mass ejection (CME), surging off the sun on May 9. Video footage from IRIS shows the amazing explosion with a stream of charged particles and hot plasma spewing from the sun at speeds up to 1.5 million mph (2.4 million km/h). Read More

Just Hilarious. Fact 70

Every 12 seconds in USA someone in Holiday Inn Steals a towel! 

It's more like Towels Out

"You Philomath!!!" Fact 69

A philomath has a love of what? 

He has the love of Learning.

Cute names Fact 68

What is bandy bandy?

A type of Snake 

Shakespeare on the UK stamp. Fact 67

In 1964 who was the first non royal to appear on a UK stamp? 

William Shakespeare

A bad code name or just another page in the history? Fact 66

Leather Apron was an alternative name for what famous figure? 

Jack the Ripper

Not exactly what you would expect... Fact 65

How would you feel if you were forswanked?

It means very tired

“I’m proud to call you Dr. O’Neal!” said his mother Fact 64

Shaq earned a Doctoral Degree (not an honorary doctorate) in Education. Read more about this here.

Strange Laws Fact 63

In Russia by law the homeless must be at home after 10pm.

That's some of the greatest logic I've ever heard of.

That's Science for you... Fact 62

The scientific name for the gorilla is "Gorilla Gorilla-gorilla"

"Yeah... That's my name according to Science" 

It could be that costly Fact 61

In 1919 in the USA, you could be jailed for Sneezing in the Public.

"I want the..... AAAchooo!" 

Strange Laws Fact 60

In Oklahoma by law baseball teams cannot Hit the ball over the fence, initially out of ground. 

"What the hell are you doing?"
"Trying to obey the Law"  

Wasn't expecting this... Fact 59

Colgate (the toothpaste) translates to (in Spanish); Go hang yourself.

The Most Popular Movie Series Fact 58

Half the worlds population has seen at least one James Bond Film!

The Biggest Living Thing Fact 57

A giant fungus called a 'honey mushroom' has been found growing under ground just 1 meter below the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, USA. This humongous fungus is estimated to cover 8.9 square kilometers, about the size of 1665 football pitches, and is the largest living thing in the world found so far. 

You can smell bits of the fungus showing above the ground. Experts aren't quite sure how old it is, but they know it is very old and started growing at least 2400 years ago! Amazingly, this giant will have started off in the same way as a mushroom you might have in your dinner, from a single seed-like 'spore', so small it isn't visible to the naked eye. The scientists first noticed it when the trees in the forest began to die. The honey mushroom thrives by sucking water and nutrients from the tree's roots and trees are unable to survive. 

The Best Memory Fact 56

Elephants have wonderful memories - which is useful as they can liver for over 70 years. If an elephant is separated from a friend and they don't see each other for a number of years, when they do meat again they instantly recognize each other. There is evidence to suggest that they can even remember humans and bear grudges against people that have done them in the past. 

Elephants also feel sadness. If a friend or a member of their family dies, they actually show grief. It is thought that elephants can remember trauma from their childhoods right into their adult life that can affect their behavior and even turn them into hooligans.

Cicadas can hibernate for an immaculate 17 years! Fact 55

Cicadas are insects, best known for the sounds made by male cicadas. The males make this sound by flexing their tymbals, which are drum-like organs found in their abdomens. Small muscles rapidly pull the tymbals in and out of shape — like a child's click-toy. The sound is intensified by the cicada's mostly hollow abdomen. Female cicadas also make a sound by flicking their wings, but it isn't the same as the song cicadas are known for.

After the long 2 to 17 years, cicadas emerge from the ground as nymphs. Nymphs climb the nearest available tree, and begin to shed their nymph exoskeleton. Free of their old skin, their wings will inflate with fluid and their new skin can harden. Once their new wings and body are ready, they can begin their brief adult life.