How Science Changed the World in 2013

http://mashable.com/2013/12/04/innovations-world-2013/

Mashable's "10 Innovations That Improved the Word in 2013" list is out, and some of the innovations you have to see to believe.

Topping the list at number one is the lab grown hamburger. Yes, you read that right: lab grown. It may have cost $330,000 to develop, but thanks to a major investment from Google co-founder Sergey Brin the world saw its first lab grown burger in August. It took researchers at the Netherland's Maastricht University five years to develop the patty, which was created using 20,000 protein strands grown from stem cells taken from a cow's shoulder. Hello, scientific solution to the increasing global demand for meat!

Google Glass is number two and the beef tendon condom is a strong number three, though the invisible bike helmet that doubles as an airbag at number eight is impressive. Hovdig is a discreet helmet cyclists wear around their necks that inflates like an airbag in the event of an accident. While skeptics think this option sounds a bit riskier than a traditional bike helmet, Hovdig claims its not-so-noticeable helmet offers the best shock absorption in the world.

Just about finishing out the list at number nine is a tremor-reducing spoon for people with Parkinson's.  Check out the entire list. 

'Science' Moving on Up as Most Important School Subject

There's good news for all you science lovers out there: a new Gallup poll finds that three times as many Americans now say science is the most valuable school subject (MVS) than did so more than a decade ago. As reported by LiveScience on Mashable, science bumped out history for the third spot behind No. 1 math and No. 2 language arts as the school subject that has been most valuable to Americans' lives. This is exciting news!

In the new Gallup poll conducted earlier this month (Aug. 7-11), 12 percent of respondents mentioned "science/physics/biology" as the MVS. In the same poll conducted in 2002, a mere 4 percent felt the same way.

Interestingly enough, it appears that education and gender played a part in affecting people's answers. Respondents who had high levels of education were less likely to choose math as the MVS. Likewise, men were more apt than women to give math the top spot - 40 percent versus 28 percent, respectively. Men were also more likely than women to choose science as most valuable.

The poll results are based on phone interviews with a random sample of 2,059 Americans, ages 18 and over, from all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C. Results were weighted so they were nationally representative. Further, respondents were allowed to look back at their entire education when gauging the value of subjects, including elementary all the way through postgraduate school.

For more information on the poll results and to see specific excerpts and statements from the Galllup statement, check out the Mashable article. The importance of science is making a name for itself and we're moving in the right direction!

Boost Your STEM Knowledge Online

Are you looking to beef up your STEM knowledge, but aren't interested in entertaining the idea of going back to school because you can't afford it or just simply don't want to? Well, good news: the Internet is a flourishing education landscape and is at your fingertips! Whether you're an expert or a beginner, are interested in free programs or paid sessions, there are options out there for every type of learner looking for a variety of STEM skills.

Mashable recently scoured the web in search for top STEM curricula and the best part: you can take all of these courses from the comfort of your own home at your own pace. Check out the 10 courses Mashable references as some of the best online resources.

1. Artificial Intelligence for Robots - This advanced Udacity class will teach you how to program a robotic car under the expert instruction of Sebastian Thrun, who ran Google and Stanford's driving teams. Even better, it's free!
2. Building a Mobile Strategy - This General Assembly class looks at approaches to mobile strategy ranging from responsive design to mobile first to native apps. It will be offered this Thursday (March 21) from 2-3 pm ET and is $20.
3. Coding the Matrix Linear Algebra through Computer Science Applications - Um...what? Well, if you're looking to master the methods of linear algebra and apply them to computer science, try this eight-week course. It kicks off this June.
4. Elements of Software Construction - If you're interested in learning the basics of software development, this semester-long course offered on MIT OpenCourseWare might be just what you need. You'll learn to write software that's free from bugs, easy to understand and ready for change.
5. Great Ideas in Theoretical Computer Science - Another MIT OpenCourseWare track, this challenging intro to computer science explains how you can use computer science to understand topics ranging from universes and minds.
6. Introduction to Programs Data Types and Variables - This Khan Academy video series teaches you the basics of data types, variables and conditional statements. Learn to code by watching free videos...? Sounds like a sweet deal to us!
7. Intro to Google Analytics - Want to gain a comprehensive understanding of how Google Analytics works? This General Assembly course offered Wednesday (March 20) from 2-3 pm ET will give you a comprehensive understanding of what GA can do for your business. This course costs 20 bucks.
8. Life on Earth and in the Universe - If you've always been curious about when life on earth developed, this Khan Academy class is for you! You'll learn the history of life on earth, how human evolved as a species and whether there could be intelligent life on other planets.
9. Statistics: Making Science of Data - You see stats in headline news everyday, but do you really understand what you're looking at? If not, you should try this eight-week Coursera course that promises to bring you up to speed on collection, display and analysis.
10. Web Development - This Udacity course will explain how to build your own blog application and scale it for many users, increasing your business' web presence.

For links to all of the courses and websites mentioned above, visit Mashable's site.