Ratings

Entertainment & Gaming

The Cup Stops Here

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/extreme_sports/Aways_Wear_A_Cup'; When it comes to sports, Patrick Thorensen nearly redefined the term sacrifice. In successfully sliding across the ice to block a shot in a recent playoff game, the left wing for the Philadelphia Flyers came close to losing a testicle. Adding insult to the near ultimate injury, the Washington Capitals scored on a rebound while Thorensen rolled in agony (and grown men cried themselves to sleep). The 24-year old was rushed to the hospital and underwent two ultrasound tests to ensure there was no rupture. So, while Thorensen has a dented cup to thank for his manhood, it begs the question: what more can science do to protect our cajones? A quick Google of ‘protective cups provides a range of sizes and colors available from $8 to $25, none differing greatly from the cups our fathers (and fathers' fathers?) have donned for years. With a tank of gas at $50, isnt the male population willing to splurge a bit on reproductive life insurance?

Technology

Earth as You've Never Seen it

For centuries, explorers have risked their lives to reach far-flung corners of the planet. Today, satellites provide incredibly sharp images of nearly every spot on Earth, so anyone can sit back and view hard-to-reach places from the comfort of their own home.

Entertainment & Gaming

Hollywood Physics

Entertainment & Gaming

The Science of Superheroes

Spiderman, Batman, the Fantastic Four, Ironman—seems like every time we go to the movies, there's some guy in a unitard saving the world with acts of unnatural physics. We realize that these are works of fantasy, so we don't get too upset when the science portrayed in them comes from some alternative universe.

Science

Anti-Counterfeiting Around the World

In the United States alone, there's at least $70 million in fake currency floating around. Fortunately as the technology counterfeiters use improves, so does that of the bills. Color-changing ink, special polymers and holographs are just some of the innovative technologies incorporated into today's banknotes. In 2007, the International Association of Currency Affairs picked the best new counterfeiting technologies and tactics.