In this issue: UNDERWATER KITES BIODEGRADABLE SHOES TIGHT WADS And much, much more... --------------------------------- BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL BRAINMAIL *Feeding hungry minds since 2004 --------------------------------- Issue 85 --------------------------------- Brainmail is a free monthly (usually) newsletter dedicated to current and future trends, statistics and other nuggets of information. To subscribe, or unsubscribe, to the world's best cerebral snackfood visit http://brainmail.nowandnext.com/ Tell the whole world about brainmail - forward this to zillions of friends. --------------------------------- : INSIGHTS & IDEAS > Underwater kites Kites can fly even in a moderate wind and it appears that much the same is true underwater. A company called Minesto has developed a submerged kite that can 'fly' in tidal streams to generate energy. Even a tidal flow as low as 0.7 metres per second can be used to generate power. In contrast, traditional tidal generators generally require a current of at least 4.5 metres per second to function. Ref: New Scientist (UK) > Biodegradable shoes A Spanish company called One Moment is selling shoes that can be composted after they wear out. Ref: CNBC Business (Eu) > Tight wads A survey by Barclays Wealth suggests that UK multimillionaires are more likely to cut their children out of their wills than those of more modest means. For individuals worth between 1 and 2 million pounds, 5% said they would disinherit descendants in some way. With those worth more than 10 million pounds the number rises to 13%, a figure that is substantially ahead of those with similar sized fortunes in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Ref: Barclays Wealth (UK) > Old dogs, new tricks A US study suggests that youth might not be everything when it comes to being a successful high-tech entrepreneur. The study of 500 US high-tech founders, carried out by Vivek Wadhwa at the Singularity University, found double the number of successful innovators in the 50-plus age category than in the under-25 age category. Ref: The Economist (UK) > Usual painkiller Scientists at Keele University (UK) have found that when people plunge their hands into very cold water they can keep their hands in the water for longer if they are allowed to swear. However, and this is perhaps the interesting part, the effect is most pronounced among people who don't usually swear. Ref: The Week (UK) --------------------------------- : SOME NUMBERS Sixty years ago the average British adult worked 2,200 hours per year. Today the figure is just 1,700 hours per year. Ref: The Times (UK) In 1946, 14% of Staphylococcus aureus infections were thought to be resistant to penicillin. The figure is now believed to be around 80%. Ref: Mega Change 2050: The World in 2050 Only 20% of UK children regularly play outside. Ref: Play England (UK) In 2013, foreign-born maids in Singapore will be legally allowed to take one day off per week. Prior to 2013 it was none. Ref: CNBC Business (Eu) Since 2009, the use of antidepressants has grown by 28% in the UK and now stands at 43.4 million prescriptions per annum. Ref: The Guardian (UK) In Phoenix (US), 33% of homes have a swimming pool and 70% of all water used by homes is used outside. Ref: Discover (US) According to a poll by TNS, a market research company, people in South Korea are more fed up with their employers than in any other country. Only 50% would recommend their company to others and only 48% believe that they receive proper recognition for the job they do. Ref: Economist (UK) In 2010, in excess of US$211 billion was invested in renewable energy. Ref: Daily Telegraph (UK) Britain's 2 million single parents care for 20% of the UK's children. Ref: Prospect (UK) The number of young people in the UK who are aged between 20 and 34 and are living with their parents is now 3.2 million - up 28% since 1997. Ref: Sunday Times (UK) --------------------------------- : QUOTE OF THE MONTH "What looks like tomorrow's problem is rarely the real problem when tomorrow rolls around." - James Fallows, journalist (MotleyFool.com) --------------------------------- : PREDICTION OF THE MONTH Over the next 20 years, BRIC nations will be responsible for more than 50% of the growth in road travel and more than 40% of the rise in air travel worldwide. Ref: Economist (UK) --------------------------------- : BOOK OF THE MONTH "Automate This: How Algorithms Came to Rule Our World" by Christopher Steiner. --------------------------------- : WORD DETECTIVE Zombie debtor: Someone that is only able to pay the interest on a loan. In the UK, 1 in every 6 people in debt are thought to be zombie debtors. --------------------------------- : WEBSIGHT OF THE MONTH Another app, this time one that allows diabetics to connect a glucometer with their smartphone to upload sugar readings over time to see patterns and compare data with other diabetics: www.Glooko.com --------------------------------- : STILL HUNGRY? Not a lot of people know this, but brainmail is put together using some of the leftover bits from the What's Next trends report. So if this snack-sized newsletter is leaving you a bit hungry, go to nowandnext.com for something more substantial (and that's free too). --------------------------------- : BRAINMAIL LIVE If you are considering a future focused speaker for your next conference, workshop, or other event ask your speaker agency about Richard Watson or contact him direct via nowandnext.com. Richard is the creator of brainmail (along with Matt and Phil). --------------------------------- : SMALL PRINT The material appearing in brainmail is sourced from a variety of usually reliable publications worldwide. However, we cannot guarantee the truthfulness of stories and a degree of commonsense should be applied before quoting or using any material in a commercial context. If something appears to be too good to be true it probably is.