Current Facts 14

Self-Cleaning Bathroom

A new coating in development at University of New South Wales in Australia will continuously clean the surfaces of tiles and glass, using ordinary light to do the scrubbing. The material, made up of titanium dioxide nanoparticals, absorbs UVA light and uses its energy to oxidized dirt and bacteria, turning them into harmless carbon dioxide and water. Until now, the coating only worked outside because it needed sunlight's wavelengths to function. But scientists Rose Amal and her team have been doping the nanoparticals with other elements, allowing them to work under indoor light as well. Lab trials show that the new coatings have successfully killed E. coli bacteria with the light from a normal lamp.

The Week Magazine, Feb 10, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 245, pg 19

Savings Drop

The savings rate last year fell to its lowest level since 1933. The 2005 savings rate came in at a negative .5%, meaning Americans spent all of their disposable income and dipped into their savings to spend more money.-Associated Press

The Week Magazine, Feb 10, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 245, pg 32

9/11 Audit

most of the companies that received billions in government-backed loans meant to help firms harmed by the 9/11 attacks did not, in fact, suffer in the attacks, a government audit found. Loan recipients included a South Dakota radio station, the Virgin Islands perfume shop, and a Utah.boutique.-Associated Press

The Week Magazine, Jan 13, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 241, pg 16

Classified

The number of documents classified as secret has increased more than 300% in the past decade, according to the watchdog group openthegovernment.org. Last year, the federal government spent $7.2 billion classifying new documents, and reclassifying old ones, to make them unavailable to the public.-Wired

The Week Magazine, Jan 13, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 241, pg 16

Schools for Sale

Like sports teams, public schools are raising cash by selling name rights to corporations. In Newburyport , Massachusetts $300 buys a plaque on a seat in the high school auditorium, $10,000 gets a corporation's name on the principal's office, and $100,000 brands the library or cafeteria.-The New York Times

The Week Magazine, Feb 10, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 245, pg 16

Buses

The spike in gasoline prices after hurricane Katrina pushed more Americans to use public transportation, a new report shows. Twenty-five transit systems tracked by the American Public Transportation Association showed increases ranging from 12 percent to 22 percent in ridership over a year earlier. Surging fuel prices and bad weather often bring a temporary increase in passengers, said APTA President William Millar, but this time "the riders stock."

The Week Magazine, Jan 27, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 243, pg 6

Cough Syrup

the billions of dollars spent annually on over-the-counter cough syrup are wasted money, says Newsday. A panel of chest specialists examined drugstore cough syrups, and found that their medicinal ingredients were so diluted that they have no effect. Most patients, they say, are better off heading straight to the doctor for a prescription or trying a home remedy like chicken soup. Ingredients such as dextronethorphan and codeine actually have been shown to reduce symptoms, but manufacturers have taken out of cough medicines so that they can advertise a non-drowsy formula. What remains in colorful bottles on your drugstore shelf is essentially sugar water.

The Week Magazine, Jan 27, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 243, pg 22

Beetle Juice

Tropicana Ruby Red grapefruit juice, Dannon boysenberry yogurt, Good & Plenty candy, and many other foods get their red or orange hue from crushed beetles. Food makers are fighting a Food & Drug Administration proposal that they identify their dyes as insect-based.-The Wall Street Journal

The Week Magazine, Feb 10, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 245, pg 32

Gift Card Dealers

Gift cards from stores and malls are being used for criminals to launder money, according to a new federal report. The cards provide compact, easily transportable, and potentially anonymous way for drug dealers and other criminals to hide cash and move it from one person to another, the report says.-Associated Press

The Week Magazine, Jan 27, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 243, pg 18

Sport Injury Rise in Youth

The number of children under 15 requiring medical attention for sports injuries has risen to 3.5 million a year, an increase of more than 400% since 1995, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Doctors blame the growing pressure on athletes as young as 8 to practice and compete like professionals.-Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Week Magazine, Jan 27, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 243, pg 18

Solar Generator

The California Public Utilities Commission approved a $2.9 billion program that could make the state the world's third-largest solar generator, after Japan and Germany.-Reuters

The Week Magazine, Jan 27, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 243, pg 38

Brand Icon

The M&M's characters are America's most likable brand icon, according to a survey of 1,800 consumers by Marketing Evaluations. Also rating highly were the Pillsbury Doughboy, the Aflac duck, and Kellogg's Tony the Tiger. The least like character was Stouffers Max-a-Roni.-Forbes

The Week Magazine, Jan 20, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 242, pg 34

Senior Citizens Skiing

The elderly were once a rarity on the ski slopes, but so many senior citizens are now zooming down the mountains that top ski resorts are eliminating senior discount because they are no longer needed as an incentive.-The Wall Street Journal

The Week Magazine, Jan 20, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 242, pg 34

Wannabe Web Users

An estimated 15% of web users don't use search engines. They type in a subject, and ".com," and hope for the best.-Business 2.0

The Week Magazine, Jan 20, 2006, Vol 6, Iss 242, pg 34