Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
HEADLINES ON January 1, 2014
Full News Archive
- Headline: Home Prices on the Rise Again. Impact: The rise in house prices triggered a series of events that led to a nationwide obsession with 'flipping' houses. In a bizarre twist, this eventually resulted in the creation of reality TV shows where people yell at each other while painting walls. Thank you, 2012 housing market!. Fact: Did you know that the average person now spends more time watching home renovation shows than actually renovating their own homes? Welcome to the future!.
- Headline: Restoring Oahu's Native Ecosystem. Impact: By clearing the way for native plants, this man's actions inadvertently sparked an underground movement of plant enthusiasts who believe they can communicate with ferns. A new era of plant whispering was born, and all it took was one kind heart.. Fact: It's estimated that talking to your plants can increase their growth—so if you see someone in a garden having a deep conversation with a tomato plant, just nod and walk away..
- Headline: Power Curbed, Detroit Mayor Faces Big Job. Impact: Mike Duggan's struggle for power in Detroit set off a chain reaction of political debates about governance, eventually leading to reality TV shows about mayors who can't manage their own cities. Because if we can't fix it, let's at least watch it fall apart!. Fact: Fun fact: Detroit's population decline has led to a surplus of abandoned buildings, many of which are now popular spots for urban explorers—because nothing says 'fun' like trespassing in a crumbling city!.