Author: Lisa Mungovan

Scientists have developed a new way, to make saltwater drinkable, using solar energy. Powered by the sun, the system uses a process called electrodialysis, to separate the salt, leaving fresh drinking water. In communities where fresh water is scarce, it will make drinking water more abundant, and reduce water-borne diseases like cholera.

Last night was the beginning of Passover, celebrated this week by Jews. The Feast of Unleavened Bread commemorates when the Israelites were freed from slavery, more than 3000 years ago. In preparation for Easter, Christians are celebrating Holy Thursday today, commemorating Jesus’s Last Supper with his disciples.

Today is Fact Checking Day. There were lots of wild stories yesterday, because it was April Fools Day, so maybe you didn’t believe them all. But people make up fake stories all the time, or spread news with bits of false information. Learning to check your facts, and use reliable sources, is essential.

Today is Ferret Day. The popular pet is related to minks and weasels. They love to play! It’s also Peanut Butter And Jelly Day, as well as Children’s Book Day. Make a PB&J sandwich, and read your favorite kids books. Start with A Ferret Named Phil, by William Reimer, or Janet Nolan’s PB&J Hooray!

April Fools’ Day is over, so let me set the record straight. Some of yesterday’s news was a joke! Subway energy gels, cat hair sweaters, and devices that tell you if your socks stink, don’t really exist. Did I trick you? Look through today’s news, for revenge prank ideas for next year!

Sometimes you can’t smell the odor on your own dirty clothes. You might even be afraid to smell your socks, to see if they’re dirty or clean. British company Currys, invented an electronic device called SniffGuard, that “uses advanced scent-sensing technology, to analyze the true stench status of garments.”

Running a marathon takes a lot of fuel, so Subway has a new line of food created with runners in mind. Packets of energy gels, called SubGels, taste just like the sauces used on their sandwiches. You can choose from CHipotle Southwest, Sweet Onion, or Honey Mustard, for a mid-race boost of energy.

Whisker, the maker of automated Litter-Robot cat litter boxes, knows cat owners are often covered with cat hair. They decided to take it a step further, by auctioning off high-end sweaters, adorned with real cat hair. The labels inside say, “Cataire. It’s what you already wear.” You can save money, by making your own.

Have you ever baked bread? Since it’s Sourdough Bread Day, grow a sourdough starter. Look up the directions online. You need unbleached flour, water, and 5 minutes a day. After a week, you’ll have a pet lump of sourdough starter. If you feed it every week, you can use it to make sourdough bread forever!

It’s supposed to snow 2 feet today. Just kidding! It’s April Fools’ Day, a day to play good-natured pranks on people. Beware of the filling, in donuts, ha-ha-ha! Today is also Fun Day. It’s fun to be a trickster, but so is playing games, creating art, or building a fort.