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“The superhero factory”: providing free limb prostheses

Gino Tubaro is the young student who started this project. He travels around in a truck that’s equipped with solar panels, and goes around printing 3D prostheses to give them out to those who need them.

The young inventor

It all started some years ago, when Tubaro was only 16 years old. He had set up a 3D printer all by himself, although 3D printing technology was still in its early stages. From then on, he decided what he would be doing for the rest of his life. He kept experimenting and improving his technique until he set up what now is “Atomic Lab”.

A non-profit organization

Atomic Lab is a non-profit, non-governamental organization that is changing people’s lives all around the world. In addition to this particular project, it has many others going on. And they all have one thing in common: providing products 100% for free.

Making prosthesis available for everyone

Tubaro claims that he think this is something society needs. Prostheses were extremely expensive and people could not afford them, thus becoming unreachable for those who need it. He came up with a solution, and made it available for those who ask for it.

PLA, a biodegradable material

The prostheses are 3D-printed out of a material called PLA, which is a corn derivative. It’s completely biodegradable, unlike other materials they chose not to use, which also means it cannot cause skin rashes or any other conditions.

Not just for children

The inventor is riding around Argentina creating prosthesis as he goes, using the energy that comes from the solar panels. However, his project has already gone worldwide. “The superhero factory”, though the name might lead you to believe it’s focused on children, is available for all age ranges.

The project obtained that name because it was set up with the thought in mind of allowing people to have a “superhero hand”. Children are those who need it the most, as they will keep growing and moving. But the prostheses have been given out to an equal number of adults.

Make a donation

As the Superhero Factory is a non-profit organization, it relies on the donations of people. You can make your contribution on their webpage, and make sure they keep putting smiles on people’s faces.

A worldwide project

Throughout the world, the project is active in over 35 countries, a number that is still constantly increasing. They count with over 1000 ambassadors that help print the 3D prosthesis, and over 2000 volunteers that help set them up and send them out, amongst other tasks.

Would you like to improve the design?

It’s worth noting that all of the 3D designs of the limbs, as well as the accessories, that have been designed from the start on, have been published freely for anyone to use. The intention behind it is that people download, and print them, and then try to improve the designs.

Images: Instagram

Seizing to appear on Google and the expensive price to pay

Google search bar

How often have we not heard “once on the Internet, always on the Internet”. It is so, that once you upload something personal onto the cloud, it is impossible to take down. Or at least we thought so.

A life-ending picture

Imagine you have the job interview of your life, and the interviewer comes across an embarrassing photo of you that you thought you had deleted from your Facebook page. Bye-bye to your dream job. And all because of an indecent picture some friend uploaded for fun. Now it’s not “fun” anymore, is it?

The right to forget

The right to forget

Well, a couple of years ago Google introduced the option of applying for your personal information to be deleted from the Internet. This finally made “leaving Google” possible, yet still very hard to accomplish. It works like so: the information is still on the original website, but it’s not available for people to search on Google.

But don’t think Google was actually thinking about you. Truth is, that it was the result of a sentence from the European Union Justice Tribune. It stated our right of suppression, also known as, our right to forget.

Over half of the applications are rejected

Applications rejection

This is good news for those of us who’ve had the most embarrassing pictures taken. However, what’s not so good news is how difficult it is for your request to be approved.

Over 55% of all requests have been rejected since its implementation. This means it’s quite probable your application gets turned down. But it’s not impossible. You just need one thing: money. And quite the amount of it.

It’s not exactly cheap

Piggy bank expensive

Companies that are in favor of the right to forget are not exactly the cheapest. For every URL you want deleted, they ask between 100€ and 1,000€, depending on your case and the difficulty behind it.

However, the difference with these companies is that they actually do delete the information, rather than just the search. It’s not that it won’t appear on Google. It will not appear anywhere because the information is completely gone. Are such amounts of money worth it?

Images: Unsplash

The Most Common Nightmares And What They Mean

Most of us have had at least one unsettling nightmare that sticks with us, causing us to wake up in a sweat in the middle of the night. Asides from pinching yourself to make sure it’s only a dream, there are ways of decoding your nightmares and reflecting on your current stresses in life. In fact, scientists are continuously finding more data that connects our nightmares to our subconscious. Specifically, they believe dreams serve as a “data dump” from our daily lives, and paying attention to them can ream positive effects.

While you might feel your nightmare was vivid and extremely personal, the reality is many people share similarities in their reoccurring nightmares. These are the four of the most common nightmares, and what they may mean.

You Are Endlessly Falling

man suspended in the air, falling.

According to a 2016 study by Amerisleep, falling was the most common anxiety-fueled nightmare that people had. Scientists believe it could be due to your nervous system turning off for the night while you sleep, making it feel like you are falling endlessly. The lack of stable footing that results in our falling can also be an indicator that you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and lacking control of your life.

Nightmares With All Your Teeth Falling Out

scared woman covering her mouth, represents nightmares with all your teeth falling out.

Sadly a majority of us have at some point have dreamt of losing all of their teeth, their mouth left with only gums. Whether immediate or gradual, this nightmare undoubtedly leaves you feeling shocked. Dream interpreters have come up with many different possible meanings for this dream, but most are related to feeling inferior, unattractive, or neglected in some way. It can also mean that you fear losing something or someone that is vital to your emotional and mental wellbeing.

You Are Being Chased

Whether you’re running from an attacker, animal, or monster, being chased can be absolutely terrifying. This is particularly true if you seem to be in slow motion or can’t move fast enough. Chasing dreams commonly are interpreted to mean you are avoiding something in real life, or even trying to escape your own bad habits.

Nightmares When You Or A Loved One Dies

woman holds a skull in front of her face while she stands on a dark forested road. Elements of nightmares.

Nightmares about death can send instant chills up your spine, given how real they feel. However, dreaming of death isn’t all grim. Sometimes it simply means a certain stage in your life is coming to a close and you’ll soon experience a new beginning. It could also mean that a romantic relationship is about to end. Regardless, with each of these dreams there is no set significance, as each person’s life situations are different.

Photos: Freepik, Pixabay

Petting Dogs And Cats Can Instantly Reduce Your Stress

At many universities and colleges nowadays, it’s common for the institutions to provide dogs and cats for a few hours for students to play with during finals and mid terms. Why? Typically this time of year is when students are immensely burdened with exams and final projects. Having a few minutes to escape the stress overload and pet some adorable fluffballs is thought to be a happy reprieve. Considering the amount of therapy animals that exist for this purpose, it would seem accurate. However, the benefits of petting animals was not proven to be true until a recently, with this study published in AERA Open.

girl petting a sleepy puppy.

A Study On Stress And Animals

In the study, Washington State University researchers Patricia Pendry and Jaymie Vandagriff discovered that students who went to pet dogs and cats at their university animal events had reduced levels of cortisol in their saliva compared to their peers who did not go. Cortisol is the body’s hormone that is in charge of stress, leading to the conclusion the students themselves were less stressed.

woman playing with a small kitten.

The Experimental Design

The experiment was performed by placing 249 university students into 4 groups. Group one got to play with dogs and cats for ten minutes. The second group was only allowed to watch. Group 3 was shown pictures of the animals, but never saw them in person. The Final group was told they were on a waitlist to play with the animals, but never were called to do so. Each student also had to provide saliva samples. One sample was from when they woke up in the morning, the second 15 minutes after the experiment, and the last sample from 25 minutes after the experiment.

The Final Furry Takeaway

happy man with no stress high-fiving a dog.

The final results of the study showed the students in the first group, who were able to pet and play with the animals, had significantly lower cortisol levels than the other groups. Although this study has a small sample size, it does seem to confirm that anxiety and stress can be eased with the help of a furry friend.

Photos: Freepik

Chow Down On These Facts About Hot Dogs

Hot Dogs are considered the classic American Food and summer staple. Whether you top your link with ketchup and mustard or go for some crazy toppings like caramel popcorn or arugula pesto, this savory food is a sure crowd pleaser. Asides from the not-so-pleasant thought of the meat processing, there are a pretty interesting array of facts to chow down on!

hands holding a hot dog topped with ketchup and mustard.

There Is Still A Debate Over The Origin

Believe it or not, hot dogs have been around since the classic tale of Homer’s Odyssey, yet no one is certain about the exact origins. Many people claim to be the inventors, with the dispute rooted in the definition of a hot dog itself. Was the originator the person who first put the sausage on a roll? Or the first to name the short sausage after the dachshund dog? It’s an origin legend that will surely never be solved.

A dachshund dog looking at camera.

People In Los Angeles Consume The Most Hot Dogs Every Year

You might associate glamorous, fit celebrities with Los Angeles and Hollywood, but turns out this city buys the most hot dogs! In total, residents buy close to 34 million pounds a year. Meaning even one of the fittest cities in the world knows the importance of a cheat day that includes a juicy dog.

Lots of hot dogs all lined up.

Black Hot Dogs Are The Rage In Japan

If the multitude of topping options wasn’t enough of a change-up from the typical reddish frank, Japan has popularized the black hot dog. These sausages get the black color from black charcoal ash, which purportedly doesn’t change the flavor, simply the appearance. Even large chains like Ikea have joined in selling the spooky creation. Dare you try it?

Yes, There Is An Official Correct Way To Eat A Hot Dog

As shocking as it may seem, there exists both a) The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council and b) an official correct way to eat a hot dog. Avoid any “frank faux pas” by watching this video through. You’re sure to get a laugh, and maybe learn some etiquette you have been breaking all along!

Photos: Unsplash and

5 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits To Kissing

What’s a more natural way to express affection for another person, than by kissing? This sign of care isn’t limited to lovers and those in relationships, for we also kiss babies on the cheek and friends upon greeting. Yet did you know there are actually scientifically proven health benefits to kissing?

Kissing Releases Positive Hormones

When kissing another person, the brain releases several hormones that make us feel good. One of these is dopamine, the hormone that boosts and regulates our mood. Kissing also signals the brain to release ocytocin, the love hormone that helps us create bonds with partners and babies. Both are solid factors in keeping us positive and optimistic daily.

mom and dad kissing their daughter on the cheeks.

Locking Lips Heightens Your Alertness

Kissing stimulates a chemical response in the body, causing it to release adrenaline and noradrenaline. These chemicals are responsible for making you feel excited as well as making your body more alert as your heart rate increases. This means you are more perceptive to responding to any threats with the necessary actions.

Kissing Reduces Your Chances Of Cavities

Every time you kiss someone, your salivary glands produce more saliva. In addition to helping you swallow food, saliva is important in removing food particles caught between your teeth, which if not removed or cleaned can turn into cavities. A little smooch can go a long way!

woman at dentist office with a thumb up and smiling.

Smooches Reduces Stress

One study by the Western Journal of Communication found that physical forms of affection help to reduce the “physiological effects of stress.” Kisses are considered one of these top exchanges, and were found to inhibit the prime stress hormone cortisol. All the more reason to pucker up after a long work day!

A Natural Healing Remedy

Love and lust both help to promote physical and mental healing. By releasing feel-good hormones, kissing helps your body stay in top form, and reduces your body’s stress levels so that it can focus more on recovery. Therefore, your injuries and mental health can all be improved with a little help of a peck!

Woman blowing kiss to camera.

Photos: Freepik