Study Finds: Plastic Particles Found In Bottled Water


A study examining 11 brands of bottled water sold around the world has found that nearly every sample tested was contaminated by plastic particles.

According to the study of 259 water bottles purchased in nine different countries, a staggering 93 percent of the samples contained microplastics. Researchers at the Statue University of New York (SUNY) found an average of 10 microplastic particles per liter of water. SUNY researchers concluded that at least part of the contamination came from packaging and bottling process.

“What’s the world come to? Why can’t we have just clean, pure water?” Peggy Apter of Indiana said to Orb Media, the non-profit journalism group that organized the bottled water study.

While the study found about 10 plastic particles which were the width of a hair in water samples, researchers also detected over 300 smaller particles of plastic in each tested bottle. “We found [plastic] in bottle after bottle and brand after brand,” Prof. Sherri Mason told the BBC. “It’s not about pointing fingers at particular brands; it’s really showing that this is everywhere, that plastic has become such a pervasive material in our society, and it’s pervading water.”

The study focused on bottles produced by Aquafina, Dasani, Evian, Nestle Pure Life, and San Pellegrino. Researchers also tested the popular local brands of bottled water from Indonesia, India, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, and China.

“It’s not catastrophic, the numbers that we’re seeing, but it is concerning,” Prof. Mason added. The health risks from consuming plastic particles are not fully known however, several countries and environmental scientists have already called for a ban on microplastics such as glitter.

3.4 Tons Of Gold Bars Fall From The Sky In Russia


A plane carrying $368 million of precious cargo littered a runway in Russia and the surrounding area with over 3 tons of gold-silver bars on Thursday after part of the plane ripped off during takeoff, according to Russian media and airport officials.


The plane spilled about a third of its 10-ton load onto the runway and on a nearby car market when it took off at an airport in the city of Yakutsk, an airport official

The head of the airport, Nikolai Mesnikov, told that the cargo consisted of bars of doré -- an alloy of gold and silver -- that weighed about 44 pounds each.

Images showed the bars strewn across the airport’s runway, and YakutiaMedia.ru reported that nearby residents scoured the surrounding area for bars. The plane's crew decided to land at a nearby airport. There were no reported injuries.

Mesnikov said Thursday that authorities had recovered 172 bars or about 7,584 pounds worth.

The Siberian Times reported that the cargo came from a mine largely owned by Canadian mining firm Kinross Gold. The company said that all of the bars had been recovered, local media reported; Kinross Gold did not respond to requests.

The airport said in a statement that a flap of the plane’s cargo hatch was torn off during takeoff and that the cause was under investigation.

Yakutsk is located in a mining area for gold and diamonds. The area is one of the poorest places in Russia.

The company said that all of the bars have been recovered, according to local media.

Finland Is World's Happiest Country


This year's happiest place on Earth is Finland, according to an annual UN report - toppling Norway from the top spot.

The World Happiness Report measures "subjective well-being" - how happy people feel they are, and why.

Nordic countries regularly appear in the top five, while war-hit countries and a number in sub-Saharan Africa regularly appear in the bottom five.

Burundi was the least happy, taking over from the Central African Republic.

It was thrown into crisis when President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for re-election to a third term in 2015 sparked protests by opposition supporters who said the move was unconstitutional.

This year's report by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network also features data about the happiness of immigrants in their host countries, with Finland also coming top as home to the happiest immigrants.

What is Finland known for?


  • The Finns love to get hot and steamy in saunas - with an estimated 3.3 million, there are enough steam rooms for more than one every other person
  • They have the most metal bands per capita. The most famous include HIM, Nightwish and Children of Bodom
  • From Lapland, you can see wild reindeer, the Northern Lights and if you are lucky Santa Claus
  • The country's most famous exports include the cartoon characters called Moomins and the mobile gaming app Angry Birds

"I think everything in this society is set up for people to be successful, starting with university and transportation that works really well," American teacher Brianna Owens, who lives in Finland's second biggest city Espoo, told Reuters news agency.

The survey ranks some 156 countries by their happiness levels, and 117 by the happiness of their immigrants.

Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland were the other countries in the top five. The UK and US came in at 19th and 18th places respectively.

Togo is seen to be this year's biggest gainer, moving up 17 places, while the biggest loser is Venezuela, which dropped 20 places to 102nd.


The world's happiest - and least happy - countries
HappiestLeast happy
1. Finland147. Malawi
2. Norway148. Haiti
3. Denmark149. Liberia
4. Iceland150. Syria
5. Switzerland151. Rwanda
6. Netherlands152. Yemen
7. Canada153. Tanzania
8. New Zealand154. South Sudan
9. Sweden155. Central African Republic
10. Australia156. Burundi


'Happy countries, happy migrants'

The study found that the 10 happiest countries also scored highest on immigrant happiness, suggesting that migrants' wellbeing was tied to the quality of life in their adopted home.

With a population of around 5.5 million people, Finland counted some 300,000 foreigners in 2016, reports say.

"The most striking finding of the report is the remarkable consistency between the happiness of immigrants and the locally born," said John Helliwell, co-editor of the report and a professor at the University of British Columbia.

The report relies on asking a simple, subjective question of more than 1,000 people in more than 150 countries.

"Imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top.

"The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?"

The average result is the country's score - ranging from Finland's 7.6 to Burundi's 2.9.

But the report also uses statistics to explain why one country is happier than another.

It looks at factors including economic strength (measured in GDP per capita), social support, life expectancy, freedom of choice, generosity, and perceived corruption.

Honda Creates Lawnmower With Top Speed Of Over 190 Km/h


Car manufacturer Honda has created what it calls the world's fastest lawnmower – and in most cases, it's faster than almost any car you've ever driven.

The Mean Mower Mk. 2 is Honda's second crack at creating a grass-cutting, rubber-burning monster having first entertained the idea in 2014 with British TV show Top Gear.

At the time – in the Mean Mower Mk. 1 – a professional driver hit a top speed of 187 km/h.

That speed was enough to grant Honda the Guinness World Record for world's fastest lawnmower, a feat that hasn't been matched since.

But Honda has announced that it plans to best its own record with the Mean Mower Mk. 2, which now carries an upgraded engine from the manufacturer's CBR1000R Fireblade super bike.

Built by Honda's British Touring Car Championship partner Team Dynamics, the lawnmower will be driven by 22-year-old motorsport prodigy Jessica Hawkins.

No specifications have been released as of yet, but considering the Fireblade super bike can do 0 – 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds, it's safe to say it will be lightning quick.

The Fireblade engine in a CBR1000R bike also boasts a top speed of 286 km/h, but it's a fair assumption that the weight of the mower and the lack of aerodynamics might stifle that number.

All we know is that Honda is promising speeds of over 215 km/h, which means you could theoretically mow a line around the world in just over one week.