Harvesting Water, Out of Thin Air
The African Namib beetle has found a distinctive way of surviving. When the morning fog rolls, it collects water droplets on its bumpy back, then lets the moisture roll down into its mouth, allowing it to drink in an area devoid of flowing water. What nature has developed on it's own, Shreerang Chhatre, an MIT graduate student, wants to refine, and help the nearly 900 million people worldwide that... posted on May 06 2011, 5,567 reads

Secrets from 17 Years of Silence
In 1971, after the devastating 800,000-gallon oil spill in the San Francisco Bay, John Francis, then a young man, pledged to never ride a motorized vehicle again. Two years later, he added voluntary silence to his vow, spending 17 years in silence as he walked the world and became known as The Planetwalker. The first words that he spoke again were in Washington, D.C., on the 20th anniversary of Ea... posted on May 05 2011, 12,934 reads

Simple Philosophy of the World's Oldest Man
Walter Breuning had a deceptively simple philosophy that he lived by for 114 years. And it was these ideas for living that appeared to be his secret to a long life. "Every change is good." "The more you do for others, the better shape you're in." "We're going to die. Some people are scared of dying. Never be afraid to die. Because you're born to die." Learn more about the world's oldest man.... posted on May 04 2011, 11,462 reads

Intelligence That Transcends the GRE
Was Albert Einstein a wise man because of his intelligence? Did Mother Teresa's spirituality make her wise? These are the type of questions that UC San Diego researchers are trying to answer in a new study that attempts to define the abstraction we call wisdom. According to their findings, wisdom is not limited to a high IQ quotient or moral righteousness, but is a form of advanced cognitive and ... posted on May 03 2011, 6,798 reads

30 Years of Work Bears Fruit
Thanks to decades-long effort, the variety of fruit-bearing shrubs and trees in Wattles' common areas is staggering: bananas, mangos, papayas, nectarines, apples, guavas, key lime, dwarf tangerines, olive, figs, Oro Blanco grapefruit, Washington navel oranges, blood oranges, persimmons, pomegranates, Chinese pear, cherimoya, peach, apricot. The list of multicultural delights goes on and on. As hea... posted on May 02 2011, 2,762 reads

When a Homeless Man Used Twitter
A few folks in New York City wondered what it's like to be homeless. So they gave four men cell phones and Twitter accounts to help them share their stories with the world. For Daniel Morales, these gifts would change his life. Three weeks into the project, Morales used the social neworking tool to find his 27-year-old daughter, whom he hadn't seen in over a decade. After posting his cell phone nu... posted on May 01 2011, 8,213 reads

Portraits of Hope
In the world's largest garbage dump, Artist Vik Muniz finds beauty in resilience, art in compassion. Returning to his native Brazil, he finds himself along the outskirts of Rio de Jeneiro, amidst the garbage pickers of the Jardim Gramacho landfill. Determined to help, Muniz creates wildly creative, intimate portraits of the garbage pickers to sell back in New York. All the money earned goes to his... posted on Apr 30 2011, 4,082 reads

Retailing With Heart
Venture into a Panera Cares cafe and you'll see the same menu and racks of freshly baked breads that are staples at the 1,400 Panera Bread restaurants across the United States. The only thing missing is the cash register. Instead, there's a donation box where customers pay on the honor system. Since opening its first "restaurant of shared responsibility" last May, Panera Bread is poised to take i... posted on Apr 29 2011, 5,219 reads

Why Can't We Be Good?
Philosopher and professor Jacob Needleman maintains that humans have the capacity for great good. In his book "Why Can't We Be Good", he explores what causes us to go astray, and what can help us to stay focused on what he believes is our purpose: to serve. In his book and the interview, offers one practical way of keeping on track--deep listening. Based on experience with many groups of students,... posted on Apr 28 2011, 12,448 reads

75-Year-Old Retiree Brings Smiles to Street Corners
Hundreds of people sleep on San Diego's streets each night, on corners, beneath the interstate and across from the public library. They hang out in small groups or sit alone, watching the time pass. But when a wiry man with dark glasses approaches, everyone seems to perk up. The man is David Ross, better known as Waterman Dave. For years, he's handed out hundreds of bottles of water each day to th... posted on Apr 27 2011, 4,095 reads