World News Center

Teen's 'laser show' prank zaps eyeballs

September 9, 2010

Turns out mom was right. You can put your eye out playing with unsafe toys. The “toy” in this case was a handheld laser, purchased from the Internet by a 15-year-old Swiss boy.

Video: Optical illusion used as high-tech speed bump

September 9, 2010

Canadian traffic safety advocates created Pavement Patty, a painting of a child that appears to rise from the pavement as drivers approach. Msnbc's Tamron Hall reports. (Other)

Xbox Live gamer suspended for saying he lives in Fort Gay

September 9, 2010

Microsoft says it will apologize to a small West Virginia town as well as a 26-year-old gamer it booted from Xbox Live. The player was suspended from the online gaming service after he announced he lived in the city of Fort Gay. A customer service rep thought the name was an offensive slur. Turns out, he was wrong.

Video: Gaga stops show to break up fight

September 9, 2010

Lady Gaga stops her concert in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night to break up a fight. TODAYshow.com's Courtney Hazlett reports. (MSNBC)

Burning eyes? Cows may be to blame

September 9, 2010

When a crowd of about 50 Aussies started pawing at their suddenly burning, aching eyes, panic set in. Did somebody release poison gas? No, it’s so, so much worse.

Cockroach brains help fight deadly human superbugs

September 9, 2010

In the battle against drug-resistant bacterial infections, researchers have identified two possible, if unlikely, allies: cockroaches and locusts.

Out of Bounds: LAPD stops Artest in tiny racecar

September 9, 2010

Rube Goldberg: The man behind the machines

September 9, 2010

From the maddening board game Mouse Trap to that awesome OK GO video (to the hundreds of brilliant contraptions scattered across YouTube), Rube Goldberg machines continue to enjoy a widespread popularity. But who was Rube Goldberg in the first place?

Ad Age's top 10 viral advertisements of all time

September 9, 2010

What are the most-watched viral ads of all time? The answer might surprise you. The No. 1 viral campaign is a consistent sleeper hit, not connected to a big, well-heeled brand.