Last week at Maker Faire Africa, four Nigerian teenage girls presented a generator powered by—wait for it—pee. Duro-Aina Adebola, Akindele Abiola, and Faleke Oluwatoyin, all 14, and Bello Eniola, 15, invented the machine, which separates hydrogen from urine with an electrolytic cell, purifies the hydrogen, and pressurizes the resulting gas through a generator to power a lightbulb. According to the girls, one liter of urine can ... Read More

  It’s hard to pin down a woman with a gun (in more ways than one). Cathryne Czubek’s new documentary, A Girl and a Gun, takes on the historically complex relationship between American women and firearms—and the portrait that emerges may surprise those who expect another Bowling for Columbine. Czubek captures some shockingly incongruous images—the mom with a baby in one arm and a shotgun in the other, the Tai ... Read More

Clear your freezer: Girl Scout cookie season is nearly upon us. And you’ll need to strengthen your resolve this year, because Scouts aren’t just adorably shilling their addictive treats on a sidewalk near you: they’re also using social media to network with potential customers. Girl Scouts are now using texts, emails, Facebook, and even mobile credit card readers to widen their customer base—and their strategy is ... Read More

You thought your voting experience was painful? Check it: Galicia Malone, a 21-year-old from Dolton, Illinois, went into labor and somehow managed to vote before heading to the hospital. Her water had already broken by the time she reached her local polling station, according to Cook County Clerk David Orr.   “I wanted this to be a stepping-stone for my daughter,” Galicia, a first-time voter, said. Galicia, we salute you! ... Read More

It's Election Day! And everyone is really, really tense. I'm no exception: just the other day, an acquaintance mentioned that she really doesn't care who wins, and instead of engaging said person in thoughtful dialogue, I yelled ROE VERSUS WADE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD and burst into tears. So ANYWAY! Supreme Crafty Lady Callie discovered this gem yesterday and it had us all ROFLcoptering around the office. I don't know how to explain it, and to ... Read More