Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded the company the prime contract for Phase 2 of the Agency’s Vertical Takeoff and Landing Experimental Plane (VTOL X-Plane) program.
VTOL X-Plane seeks to develop a technology demonstrator that could:
• Achieve a top sustained flight speed of 300 kt-400 kt
• Raise aircraft hover efficiency from 60 percent to at least 75 percent
• Present a more favorable cruise lift-to-drag ratio of at least 10, up from 5-6
• Carry a useful load of at least 40 percent of the vehicle’s projected gross weight of 10,000-12,000 pounds
The Aurora team’s design for its unmanned aircraft, named LightningStrike, seeks to provide an approximately 50-percent increase in speed over existing VTOL aircraft designed for comparable mission applications.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7617851-aurora-flight-sciences-vtol-xplane-darpa/
Regional winners of the Rotten Sneaker Contest® gathered at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Times Square for the 2016 national competition. Six contestants from across the country, ages seven to thirteen, went head-to head in New York City today to show off their foul smelling sneakers for a chance to win the national title. But only one pair of sneakers could be crowned the winner and they belonged to 12 year old, Mason Young-Hiss, from Berthoud, CO.
The Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest is the ultimate test that shows how offensive kids’ sneakers can get when they are playing outdoors, splashing through puddles, slogging through mud and more. The contest has a long history (over 40 years) and kids from across the country look forward to this annual event in their hometown. Participants take pride in mucking up their shoes to stand out from their competitors to ultimately win over the judges. Sneakers are judged on the interior and exterior conditions of the shoe, and most importantly odor, by a professional panel that includes NASA “Master Sniffer” George Aldrich, Chemical Specialist for NASA space missions, and Rachel Herz, Ph.D., an expert and author on the psychology of smell. Additionally, Brittany Every, Marketing Manager of Ripley’s Believe Or Not! Times Square joined the expert judges this year. Brittany is accustomed to seeing the unexpected and unusual at Ripley’s so she was up for the task.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7720051-odor-eaters-rotten-sneaker-contest/
According to a new survey from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Ad Council, one in three millennials (34 percent) ranked saving as their number one goal for the year – ahead of living a healthy lifestyle (20 percent), paying off debt (19 percent), and losing weight (14 percent). But while saving was a top priority, a majority of millennials attributed their lack of saving to impulse buying (65 percent).
For older millennials, those born between the early 1980’s and early 1990’s, saving is crucial as they work towards major milestones in their lives. When asked what they were saving money towards, respondents sought to secure their future by saving for an emergency fund (40 percent), saving for retirement (22 percent) or starting a family (15 percent). They also reported saving for larger purchases like a vacation (36 percent), a new house (27 percent), a car (26 percent), home improvements (20 percent), or a wedding (8 percent). To provide Americans aged 25 to 34 with the tips and tools to take control of their personal finances, AICPA and the Ad Council’s national advertising campaign, Feed the Pig, is continuing to collaborate with new partners to deliver this critical content in a relevant and engaging way.
“Many young adults think saving is impossible,” said Gregory Anton, CPA, CGMA, chair of the AICPA’s National CPA Financial Literacy Commission. “While low salaries and high debt levels can certainly be barriers to saving, the key is to create a budget and stick to it. Establishing a disciplined saving strategy early in life and avoiding missteps will reap substantial long-term dividends.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7790851-ad-council-feed-the-pig/
On Wednesday, April 6, Viva® Brand teamed up with Hollywood actress and home/ DIY expert, Monica Potter, to host a dramatic clean-up benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Ventura. The event, held at Avenue Thrift & Vintage Store in Ventura, CA, demonstrated how Viva® Towels can transform used, forgotten items with just a thorough cleaning. Donated household items ranging from kitchen appliances to outdoor patio furniture were expertly cleaned with the unique textures of Viva® Towels and then donated to 22 deserving families across the Ventura community. The effort jumpstarts a national push to “Unleash Clean” across the country.
Potter served as the Captain of the Viva® Clean Squad, motivating over 40 volunteers to “Unleash Clean” by scrubbing, polishing and shining up donated items from the kitchen, bathroom, living room and patio, showcasing the strength and durability of the towels. Viva® offers a choice of two types of everyday towels that work like cloth to stand up to any cleaning job in your home. Viva® Vantage® has a scrubby texture, great for shining stainless steel appliances and scrubbing grime off stovetops or patio furniture, while Viva® Towels have a signature soft and smooth texture for cleaning surfaces like countertops and coffee tables. To ensure a green event and minimize waste, Viva® Towels partnered with the City of Ventura to use natural household and eco-friendly cleaners so the towels could be composted afterwards.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7767151-viva-unleash-clean-for-boys-girls-club/
The Ad Council and the Natural Resources Defense Council today launched “Save The Food,” a major national public service campaign to combat food waste from its largest source—consumers, who collectively waste more food than grocery stores, restaurants or farms. The initiative hopes to encourage consumers to reduce the amount of food they trash in their homes, thereby saving the water, energy and money that are lost along with it. Watch the TV ad here.
“As it turns out, we can’t blame the epidemic of food waste on our kids’ aversion to vegetables. We’re all culprits here, tossing out staggering amounts of food in kitchens nationwide,” said NRDC President Rhea Suh. “But with small steps, we can save large amounts of food —and along with it, money and precious natural resources. The more food we save, the more we can share with hungry Americans, the more we can reduce climate pollution, and the more water won’t go to waste.”
In the U.S., 40 percent of all food goes uneaten each year, at a cost of $162 billion annually. Consumers are responsible for 40 percent of this waste—more than any other part of the supply chain. It’s a problem that costs the average family of four roughly $1,500 per year.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7808251-ad-council-save-the-food/
Yesterday, Guinness World Records announced that the bottle of Gautier 1762 was the oldest cognac sold at a public auction. This 250-year-old drink was purchased in 2014 by Wealth Solutions, a Polish company specialized in rare spirits and collectibles, at an auction of old and rare beverages organized by Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers in NYC. It remained part of the company’s collection of old liquors until October 2015, when the management board made the decision to create a watch with a drop of this antique spirit, and opened the bottle. The uncorking ceremony was organized in Bristol Hotel in Warsaw and formed part of an event to mark the start of cooperation between Wealth Solutions and Armin Strom, a Swiss Watch Manufacturer.
Thanks to this cooperation, the Cognac Watch was made – the first Swiss mechanical watch with a drop of alcohol. The timepiece and the capsule for this unique beverage were designed by Claude Greisler, Armin Strom’s chief horologist. This independent Swiss manufacturer also accepted the mission to produce this unusual watch. The exclusive limited edition for Wealth Solutions consisted of just 40 timepieces produced in stainless steel, 18k rose gold and titanium cases. All of them were sold by Wealth Solutions in an exclusive presale before the official launch of the product. The international premiere of the Cognac Watch took place on 20th March 2016, during the Baselworld show. Yesterday, at the Polish premiere in Warsaw, Wealth Solutions announced the decision of Guinness World Records.
Having met with huge success, Wealth Solutions has decided to continue production of the Spirit Watches line. The next limited edition will be the Rum Watch – a Swiss timepiece with a drop of Harewood rum from 1780. International subscription for this unique watch opened on 26th April on the website: http://en.wealth.pl/promotion/spirit-watches
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7817651-cognac-gautier-1762-guinness-world-records/
A decade ago Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR), a leading audio technology company for over 40 years, pioneered the console gaming headset category and is set to do so again in 2016 with its revolutionary Turtle Beach® Elite Pro Tournament Gaming Headset, Elite Pro Tactical Audio Controller (T.A.C.) and Elite Pro accessories designed for competitive gamers, which establishes a new standard for eSports gaming audio performance and comfort. Turtle Beach’s “Elite” series products represent the highest level in audio and build quality, and the all-new Elite Pro Headset, T.A.C. and Elite Pro accessories are the Company’s all-new line of competitive gaming audio gear created to meet the demands of today’s professional and aspiring pro teams and players.
The Elite Pro Headset’s journey began in 2013. Seeing the consistent growth and popularity of eSports, Turtle Beach launched a comprehensive scientific research program to deeply examine the needs of professional and hardcore gamers as it pertained to game audio, communicating with teammates, and overall comfort. The result is the all-new Elite Pro Tournament Gaming Headset – a ground-up redesign of the competitive gaming headset that brings to market multiple first-and-only innovations in the core mechanics of headset design, weight and fit. Not only does the Elite Pro Headset provide Turtle Beach’s best-in-class game audio and chat performance, but also delivers groundbreaking comfort-driven technologies, including the ComforTec® Fit System with multiple adjustment points for a truly personalized headset fit and feel, Aerofit® Ear Cushions that stay cool in the heat of battle, and Turtle Beach’s all-new patented ProSpecs® Glasses Relief System that finally makes wearing a gaming headset comfortable for players who wear glasses.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7537953-turtle-beach-optic-gaming-elite-pro/
A new survey from the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society (GUAES) finds many Americans with gout may be placing too much emphasis on diet when it comes to managing the disease and controlling painful flares. Of all the steps taken to manage gout, respondents cited changing their diet by eliminating or reducing consumption of certain foods as their top step taken (50 percent)—even ahead of taking medications to lower their uric acid levels (40 percent) and maintaining an overall healthy fitness level (33 percent). Furthermore, nearly one in three with gout incorrectly believes that the disease can be completely avoided by eliminating certain foods; and more than one in four said they would not take medications if they were making dietary changes.
“Physicians all too often see patients who believe they can successfully manage their gout with diet alone,” said N. Lawrence Edwards, M.D., a rheumatologist and GUAES chairman. “But even with extremely rigid diet restrictions, most gout patients will only be able to lower their uric acid levels slightly—not nearly enough to achieve a healthy level to control flares and reduce risk for long-term damage.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7835451-guaes-diet-survey/
Planetary Resources, Inc., the asteroid mining company, announced today that it has secured US$21.1 million in Series A funding. The capital will be used to deploy and operate Ceres, an advanced Earth observation business that features the first commercial infrared and hyperspectral sensor platform to better understand and manage humanity’s natural resources. The funding was led by Bryan Johnson and the OS FUND; and joined by Idea Bulb Ventures; Tencant; Vast Ventures; Grishin Robotics; Conversion Capital; The Seraph Group; Space Angels Network, a syndication of investors from Angel.co; and Larry Page. Earth observation will be another aspect of Planetary Resources’ operations in addition to prospecting and mining asteroids.
Conceived from the company’s vision for the exploration and utilization of asteroid resources, Ceres will leverage Planetary Resources’ Arkyd spacecraft to deliver affordable, on-demand Earth intelligence of our natural resources on any spot on the planet. While typical satellite imagery provides only a picture, Ceres will provide actionable data with higher spectral resolutions – going beyond what the human eye can see – by measuring thermographic properties and detecting the composition of materials on Earth’s surface. The midwave-infrared sensor is the first ever commercial capability from space to offer thermographic mapping and night-imaging, and the hyperspectral sensor includes an unprecedented 40 color bands in the visible to near-infrared spectrum.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7847251-planetary-resources-ceres/
Millions of families will head to the beach this Memorial Day weekend, many without adequate sun protection. As part of a national effort to reduce the incidence of skin cancer, Neutrogena® is kicking off the 2016 Choose Skin Health® Campaign with a video featuring Brand Ambassador Kristen Bell asking moms everywhere to get real with their kids about the importance of sunscreen—and a pledge to donate $1 for every video share to the non-profit Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation.*
Bell’s video acknowledging the challenges moms face tackling serious topics with their children is frank and funny—but skin health is no laughing matter. The fact that only 39% of women and 14% of men use sunscreen regularly is a health issue of national importance when you consider that just one to two severe sunburns can increase lifetime risk of developing melanoma by 40 percent.
The Neutrogena® Choose Skin Health® Campaign was created to change the future of skin health and reduce the risk of skin cancer through education, empowerment, and early detection. This year the brand is developing in-school sun safety programs with the potential to reach 1.6 million students annually with a sun safe behavior curriculum, sponsoring 13,000 free skin cancer screenings annually with charitable partners, and working toward a goal of donating $35 million worth of sunscreen to families in need by the end of 2016.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7847951-neutrogena-choose-skin-health/
Drivers of vehicles with good small overlap front ratings from the Insurance Institute from Highway Safety can expect to be protected well in a frontal crash involving the left corner of the vehicle. But how would the passengers sitting next to them fare in a right-side small overlap crash? A new study shows that good protection doesn’t always extend across the front seat.
The Institute conducted 40 mph passenger-side small overlap tests on seven small SUVs with good driver-side small overlap ratings. Only one of the vehicles, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, performed at a level corresponding to a good rating, and the others ran the gamut from poor to acceptable.
The results have prompted IIHS to consider instituting a passenger-side rating as part of its TOP SAFETY PICK criteria.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7856251-ad-council-embrace-refugees/
Abbott announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Tecnis Symfony® Intraocular Lenses for the treatment of cataracts. The first in a new category of intraocular lenses (IOLs), the Tecnis Symfony lenses are the only lenses in the United States that provide a full range of continuous high-quality vision following cataract surgery, while also mitigating the effects of presbyopia by helping people focus on near objects. The FDA approval includes a version of the lens for people with astigmatism, the Tecnis Symfony Toric IOL.
Cataracts are a common condition, with almost 4 million cataract surgeries performed each year, and that number is expected to increase.1 By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.2 However, cataracts do not just impact seniors. In 2016 it is estimated that nearly one in four cataract surgeries will be performed on people younger than 65.1 Many people who have cataracts experience other problems with their vision, such as presbyopia and astigmatism, which the Symfony lenses also address. Presbyopia, which affects most people over age 40, means people have lost the ability to focus on objects up close and often require glasses to perform near visual tasks. Astigmatism is when the cornea is misshapen, which causes blurry or distorted vision.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7870151-abbott-intraocular-lenses/
