stratosphere

Scientists and students alike have previously launched low-budget balloons that rise to the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere, snapping unbelievable photos from near-space. But MIT's Icarus team managed the same feat using only off-the-shelf items, and for a measly cost of $150. Here's how they did it.

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The good news is that the ozone hole over Antarctica is slowly healing, thanks to controls on ozone-depleting substances that were once widely used in products such as refrigerators and aerosol cans. Stratospheric ozone protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation that can cause problems such as skin cancer and crop damage.

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A 22-year-old oil field worker worker set what must be a world record for a cell phone bill. Piotr Staniaszek, who usually pays less than $150 a month for his phone, saw his November bill clock in at $59,000. When he called to complain, his carrier said the number was incorrect. In fact, his bill was going to be $83,000. This wasn't a clerical mix-up, though. Staniaszek used his phone to download high-res movies to his computers, and since he's charged for data usage, the enormous files pushed his bill into the stratosphere. In this case, it actually would have been cheaper to get an iPhone.

He has since negotiated with his carrier, and brought the bill down to $3,195. Let's hope those were some good movies.—Gregory Mone

Via AP

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