Posted: 12 Jun 2014 09:30 PM PDT

From aerosols that spray salt into the air, to machines that suck carbon from the atmosphere, scientists are conjuring up an increasing array of geoengineering techniques to battle climate change.

But this type of ‘climate engineering’ – which involves manipulating the natural processes after emissions have been released – will ultimately fail to help the world reach its emissions targets.

This is according to a new report authored by U.S. and Canadian researchers at six universities that argue tinkering with climate change isn't a viable long-term solution to global warming.


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Posted: 12 Jun 2014 08:30 PM PDT

The U.S. dollar is being increasingly dropped as the currency for settling international trade. But perhaps the latest trend provides the most startling evidence yet that the dollar is doomed as the world reserve currency.

The Financial Times reported today that U.S. corporations are using the Chinese renminbi to buy imports over three times more than they had the previous year:

China’s renminbi is rapidly displacing the US dollar as a trading currency not only in Asia and Europe but now also in the US home market.


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Posted: 12 Jun 2014 08:00 PM PDT

Books have been written about [US] President Eisenhower’s famous farewell warning in 1961 about the “military-industrial complex,” and what he described as its “unwarranted influence.” But an even greater leviathan today, one that the public knows little about, is the “intelligence-industrial complex.” – Michael Hirsh, National Journal [1]

In our interconnected global digital society, there appears to be no escape from the issue of digital surveillance. Regardless of nationality, political affiliation, profession or income bracket, it touches nearly everyone in some fashion.

Over the last three decades, a parallel state has been constructed right under our noses. It’s nothing less than a digital dynasty, whose sole concern thus far has been mass surveillance and covert operations – across the whole world.


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Posted: 12 Jun 2014 07:00 PM PDT

If you've made fudge or candy, you're likely familiar with the different cooking stages involved in achieving the right consistency to create these sweets. Any sugar that is heated enough will eventually thicken at higher temperatures.

This Coca-Cola boiling demonstration clearly shows that the soft drink is primarily composed of sugar. It's a fact most people know, but to have it demonstrated in this fashion and to witness the coagulated final product puts perspective on exactly what you're drinking.

It's a beverage that could theoretically be classified as a poison without any nutritional value and with no ability to hydrate. So the real question is... why do people still drink it?

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