How To: Diagnose a gutter defect
Bob Fenwick shows us how to determine where a gutter leak is originating and what may be causing the problem, as well as how to correct it.
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How To: Teach children about water safety
Did you know that drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of 14? I worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor when I was younger and I have seen firsthand too many close calls with kids around water. This program is about basic water safety for children.
News: Good News, Eating Fish Is Safer! Bad News — Think Twice About Ordering the Grouper
Regarding foodborne pathogens, eating fish is not as hazardous as it was a few years ago — but if fins are on the menu, it's good to have a heads-up about what's good and what's bad these days.
News: Finally, a New Drug Against 'Untreatable' Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea infections reached a peak in 1975, then decreased until 2009, when infection rate started rising and has increased each year since. With the rise of antibiotic resistance, those numbers are only going to get worse — unless we find new treatments against the bacteria.
News: Century-Old Finding May Show the Way to Create Vaccines Against Toxic Strep Infections
Infections with group A streptococcus, like Streptococcus pyogenes, claim over a half million lives a year globally, with about 163,000 due to invasive strep infections, like flesh-eating necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
News: How Gut Bacteria Could Set Off the Immune System in Rheumatoid Arthritis
As if the swollen, painful joints of rheumatoid arthritis weren't enough, the disease is the result of our immune system turning against cells of our own body. Ever since this realization, scientists have worked to find the trigger that sets the immune system off. Scientists believe that gut bacteria may have a role in initiating the abnormal immune response. Now, a team of researchers from Boston has figured out how that might occur.
News: Man Takes Apple to Court, Claiming iPhone Started House Fire
After watching Samsung's exploding phone fiasco this past year, I took comfort knowing that the likelihood my iPhone would suddenly combust was slim. However, after hearing about a recent incident in Wisconsin, iPhone owners may have reason to worry.
News: Swine Flu Linked to Parkinson's Like Brain Changes
Growing evidence suggests that neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's may develop in part due to environmental factors, including infections that can cause inflammation in the nervous system. New research from investigators from Jude Children's Research Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University has strengthened that connection.
News: Vaccine Can Prevent Bad Cholesterol from Accumulating in Blood Vessels, Potentially Prevent Heart Attacks
Heart disease is the leading cause of death of men and women in the US. Over half a million Americans die from it annually. Atherosclerosis — a build up of plaque in the arteries — is a common feature of heart disease and can be caused by smoking, fats and cholesterol in the blood, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
News: Sentinel Nerve Cells Spy on the Intestines, Linking Gut & Brain
If the all the fingerlike projections in our gut were flattened out, its surface area would be 100 times bigger than our skin's. It's so large that the actions of just a small part of it can impact our health. A new research study has found that enterochromaffin cells in the intestinal lining alert the nervous system to signs of trouble in the gut — trouble that ranges from bacterial products to inflammatory food molecules.
News: Excessive Exercise Makes the Gut Leak Bacteria
Intense exercise can cause problems with our digestive tract. It even has a name — "Exercise-induced Gastrointestinal Syndrome." Simply put, strenuous exercise can damage the gut and let the bacteria that reside there potentially pass into the bloodstream.
News: Ebola Survivor May Hold Key to Curing All Types of Ebola Infections
Even though the Ebola virus was discovered as recently as 1976, over 30,000 people have been infected since, and half have died a horrible death. Since there's no way to cure the infection, the world desperately needs a way to prevent it — and the five similar viruses in its family, the ebolaviruses.
News: Here's a Startling Reminder to Always Dry Your Hands Before Handling Your Contact Lenses
Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a rare eye infection caused by the Acanthamoeba ameba found in tap water, affects a few dozen people in the US every year. In some cases, it can have devastating effects, like what Irenie Ekkeshis has experienced; She was blinded by AK in her right eye due to a contaminated contact lens.
News: How an Innocuous Bacteria Lots of Us Have Turns into Deadly Meningitis & Sepsis
How can bacteria that lives in the throat of 10%–35% of people—without causing an infection—cause life-threatening meningitis and sepsis in others?
News: Exotic Diseases Spreading to Europe as Ticks & Mosquitoes Expand Their Habitats
The beauty of southern Europe won't protect it from invasions of disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes—in fact, the Mediterranean climate and landscape may be part of the reason the bloodsuckers are expanding there, bringing unique and terrifying diseases in their wake.
News: Misery-Causing Norovirus Outbreaks Sicken Thousands Every Year—Here's How to Protect Yourself
Norovirus outbreaks occur all year long, but peak in the winter months, which means we are in the middle of norovirus season. But there's still time to protect yourself from the highly infectious bug.
News: Listeria May Be a Cause of Early Undiagnosed Miscarriage
New research suggests the bacteria that causes listeriosis may be a bigger threat in early pregnancy than previously thought. Usually considered a danger to late pregnancy, scientists suggest early undiagnosed miscarriages could be caused, in some cases, by infection with Listeria.
News: Radical Theory Linking Alzheimer's to Infections Could Revolutionize Treatment
There are all kinds of theories—many supported by science—about what causes Alzheimer's disease. Tangles of protein called ß-amyloid (pronounced beta amyloid) plaques are prominently on the list of possible causes or, at least, contributors. An emerging theory of the disease suggests that those plaques aren't the problem, but are actually our brains' defenders. They show up to help fight an infection, and decades later, they become the problem.
News: Rat Breeders in Illinois Are Just the Latest Victims of Unappreciated Hantaviruses That Infect Humans
A recent pathogen outbreak in Illinois is just one of many outbreaks of an underappreciated, but serious, viral infection passed from rodents to humans. These hantaviruses have been cropping up more frequently in the last decade or so, giving us more reason to clean out our dusty attics, basements, and garages.
How To: This Trick Will Instantly Increase Performance on Your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch
There's a good chance that your iOS device has become unresponsive at least once. It's usually at this point that you start thinking your device can no longer pass muster. You could upgrade to a newer model, but that's not always feasible, and often times, unnecessary.
How To: Use a health glitch to beat the Ancient Rock Wraith in Dragon Age 2 easily
The Ancient Rock Wraith in Dragon Age 2 is a really impressive boss, and will probably beat you mercilessly the first time you fight him. Especially if you're playing on Nightmare. This video demonstrates a successful pwning of the Ancient Rock Wraith on Nightmare so you can learn from the creator's success. You'll also see how to use a health glitch in the game that allows you to make this fight a lot easier by taking advantage of teleporting enemies.
How To: Make simple fondant butterflies for you baking creations
This how-to video teaches a very simple method of making sugar paste (fondant)butterflies for your cake decorating needs. You'll want some food coloring, some shortening, and a flat surface. Watch the video, follow the steps and get ready to spread your wings! Come on, who doesn't like butterflies? Everyone loves them, even if they get a bad rap for causing natural disasters on the other side of the world. Buterflies. Cakes. They go together like socks and shoes, but they're pretty and can ea...
How To: Make a Metronome-Style Rocking Candle Apparatus
Back in the day, musicians used candles as metronomes to keep time. Now, you can too, cause in the music industry, it's better to burn out than to fade away.
How To: Make flames burn larger with citrus fruit peels
There are so many crazy fun things you can do with fire, this is probably one of the most tame. But it's got flame, so it's still cool. This video will show you how you can squeeze the peels of citrus fruits onto a candle (or large flame for increased fun) and the acid will cause the flame to burn larger and brighter for a flash. Experiment with different peels and flame sources for extended fun. Grapefruit work fantastically.
How To: Prank Bury One of Your Friends Alive in a Box
This prank has it all. It's easy to do, requires few materials, won't cause physical harm to anyone or anything (hopefully), and will absolutely terrify your victim while amusing you for days. All you need is a securely passed-out person and a big box (flat piece of plywood optional). You cut out one side of the box so that it will cover the sleeping person like a coffin, then pound on the top to wake them. They will likely think that they have been buried alive and flip out like the guy in t...
How To: Draw realistic hands in resting and action poses
We know of several artist friends who are practically reborn Monets with their pencils and brushes and can sketch out anything they imagine, except for hands. Not that they can't draw hands, but it seems that hands are the Achille's heel for many art students.
How To: Build a very basic picnic table
There's no better time to hang outdoors than during the summer. Hanging out indoors can cause you to sweat up a storm and spend quite a bit of money thanks to constant use of your AC.
How To: Make your very own sugar glass prop for movies
If you and your friends want to make your own movie and need some cool stunts, this next tutorial should help. In the video, you'll find out how to make your very own sugar glass from scratch. This is perfect for breaking over someone's head and can easily be done within a few hours.
How To: Use natural products to clean your home without toxins
We all want to spic and span our kitchen countertops, our tile floors, and our bathrooms. But for the most part we can bet you've been unwittingly using storebought detergent cleaners or bleach. While these cleaners are in fact excellent at removing grime and buffing your dirty floors to a Midas touch perfection, they also come filled to the brim with known cancer-causing agents, synthetic chemicals, and other gnarly, hard to pronounce crap.
How To: Create a nuclear blast on 2D surface in After Effects
Not TOO many Western people want to see the United States nuked into the stone age. Some do, but not too many. Now you can simulate the effect on your computer! This video will show you how to use After Effects to simulate the effect of a nuclear blast or other major explosive catastrophe on a map of the US in 2D. This effect is used in many video games and movies, so master it yourself and we promise that you'll find cause to use it again at some point.
How To: Troubleshoot Windows memory problems
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to quickly troubleshoot memory problems in Windows. Begin by clicking on the Start menu. Type "mdsched" into the search bar and press Enter. The Windows Memory Diagnostic window will then appear. Click on "Restart now and check for problems". Your machine will then be rebooted and will run its memory diagnostics tool. It will look for any issues that may cause problems for your system. Advanced users can press F1 when it starts to specify certain opti...
How To: Make a Reactor ragdoll for a biped in 3D Studio MAX
Ragdoll physics are all the rage in 3D shooter games, causing characters to die in glorious realism before glitching as soon as they get anywhere near a wall. This two-part video will teach you how to create a basic ragdoll for a biped model using the Reactor engine within 3D Studio MAX. This is a very basic discussion of ragdolls, but will get you started in the right direction perfectly.
How To: Use the digital zoom feature on an iOS 4 mobile device
See how to work with the new digital zoom feature built into iOS 4. Apple's new iOS 4 for the iPhone and iPod Touch brings with it a host of new features. While that's certainly a cause for celebration, there's also, believe it or not, a downside: learning how to take advantage of them. Happily, the web is awash in helpful video tutorials like this one which make the process a pleasure (and a simple one at that).
How To: Create an RGB split effect in After Effects
In case the name didn't give it away, After Effects has all kinds of... effects... that can be applied to your video... after... you've shot it. This video will teach you how to create and use an RGB split in a video. The RGB split causes the colors in the video to separate and shift, giving it a nightmare / drug-trip-like quality.
How To: Dance the Waka Waka (World Cup anthem) with Shakira
There is much more going on in Africa than the World Cup games. South Africa is still plagued by poverty, violence, illiteracy and HIV. In this tutorial, superstar Shakira shows you how to help erase hunger and provide schooling for the children of Africa by dancing and participating in a worthwhile cause.
How To: Grow tomato plants more effectively for massive yields
To anyone who has grown tomatoes, the vertical metal cages that they grow in are a familiar sight. This video is here to tell you why you should throw away all of your cages. No, it isn't telling you that tomatoes cause cancer or anything. What it does describe is a technique for growing tomatoes without cages by allowing them to grow laterally, which makes them very strong and will ultimately lead to massive yields for each plant. Forget everything you thought you knew about tomato growing, ...
How To: Create a Chola look with the illusion of shaved brows
Ever needed to create the illusion of shaved eyebrows? If you are going to try a Chola makeup look you'll need to get rid of those brows!
How To: Keep flies away from you with a fun science project
Are flies ruining your summer BBQs? Did you know there is an incredibly simple solution? This tutorial will show you how to get rid of pesky flies with nothing more than a ziploc bag, water and a few pennies.
How To: Remove permanent marker easily with orange peels
This video shows viewers how to use orange peels to remove permanent marker from surfaces. Use a small piece of an orange peel for this. To begin, massage the skin (outer layer) of the orange peel. This will cause the oils in the skin to rise to the surface. Once you have massaged it enough, rub the orange peel over the marker stain. Keep rubbing until the marker is entirely gone, or only faint stains are left. It may take a couple of tries, but the stain will usually be entirely removed. In ...
How To: Identify problems with vegetable plants
Curtis Smith, Extension Horticulturist with Southwest Yard and Garden, and Rick Daniell, Bernalillo County Horticultural Agent, discuss how to identify problems with vegetable plants in your garden. Gray or white spots on a squash leaf are natural if they do not rub off. Blossom end rot can afflict tomatoes, squash, chilies and melons. Blossom end rot indicates a calcium deficiency during times of vigorous growing during uneven watering. Fertilize when the plants are young. Sun scald can affl...