· When you're sitting on the sand looking at the horizon, it’s about 3 miles (4.8 km) away. · The world’s oceans contain nearly 20 million tons (18.1 mt) of gold. · The High Seas -- areas of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction -- cover almost 50 per cent of the earth's surface. · An average beach pail, roughly a quart, holds about 3.5 million grains of sand. · High waves pull sand out into the ocean;... [read more]

A recent study at Ohio State University found that high stress levels slow healing.  Students with small surface wounds needed 40 percent more time to heal during final exams compared to those with similar wounds who weren’t under pressure.  “This is news to keep in mind if you’re heading in for elective surgery,” says Dr. Phillip Marucha.  “Trying to get too much done beforehand could heighten stress and thereby slow recovery.”   [read more]

Stroke is a devastating experience in which blood is cut off from a part of the brain. It can have many contributing factors. One of them, physicians now say, is stress. According to the journal Stroke, researchers looked at medical records of more than 6,000 men and women who participated in a 16-year study. As part of the study, participants’ anxiety levels were measured. Over the course of time, 416 people suffered at least one stroke. The researchers determined that the risk of... [read more]