Simeon TegelMarch 6, 2013 07:00

LIMA — Since Spanish cutthroats first arrived in Latin America desperate to find the fabled golden city of El Dorado, the region’s development has revolved around its natural resources. Now, some governments here are waking up to the fact that a model whose foundations were laid in the 16th century is holding back growth in the knowledge economy era.

Coy Mathis, transgender 1st grader, banned from using girls’ bathroom

Samantha StainburnFebruary 27, 2013 19:41

"I'm certain you can appreciate that as Coy grows older and his male genitals develop along with the rest of his body, at least some parents and students are likely to become uncomfortable with his continued use of the girls' restroom," school officials wrote in a letter to the Mathis family, according to the AP.

MIT put on lockdown following reports of gunman sighted on campus

Talia RalphFebruary 23, 2013 11:20

MIT's campus was put on lockdown Saturday morning following reports of an armed gunman sighted on Mass. Ave.

Freya PetersenFebruary 19, 2013 23:51

Columbia reviewing science professor's strip show during lesson in quantum mechanics (VIDEO)

Columbia University is reviewing an alleged incident in which science professor Emlyn Hughes stripped down in front of students and used video footage of the Sept. 11 attacks, Osama bin Laden and Hitler during his lecture on quantum mechanics in the Frontiers of Science class on Monday morning.

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Professor Emlyn Hughes strips in a still shot from a video posted on the Columbia website, BWOG.com (Screengrab)

Columbia University is reviewing an alleged incident in which a science professor stripped down and changed into other clothes in front of students.

Professor Emlyn Hughes is also accused of including video footage of the Sept. 11 attacks, Osama bin Laden and Hitler during his lecture on quantum mechanics in the Frontiers of Science class on Monday morning.

Papuan tribal leaders to author Jared Diamond: 'Don’t call us warlike'

Patrick WinnFebruary 18, 2013 07:01

BANGKOK — Diamond, a 75-year-old anthropologist, is at first glance an unlikely target for indigenous backlash. His latest best-seller, "The World Until Yesterday," compares the flaws and virtues of traditional societies — namely in New Guinea — with those of modern states. But he is best known for attacking the notion that Western progress is owed to the genetic or cultural superiority of fair-skinned Europeans and their descendants.

North Korea: Google Earth reveals labor camp expansion

Kristin Deasy and Geoffrey CainFebruary 11, 2013 12:14

Satellite imagery reveals growing labor camps in North Korea.

Who are the Knights of Malta? The organization turns 900 at the Vatican (PHOTOS)

Talia RalphFebruary 9, 2013 15:15

The Knights of Malta turned 900 Saturday, and around 4,500 or so members and volunteers celebrated with an elaborate procession through St. Peter's Square and a mass at the Vatican. But who exactly are they?

Annette Schavan, German education minister, resigns over PhD plagiarism scandal

Talia RalphFebruary 9, 2013 10:20

Annette Schavan, the German education minister who was stripped of her PhD after it was revealed the she had plagiarized, has resigned in the wake of the scandal.

Talia RalphFebruary 8, 2013 12:53

7-year-old Philadelphia boy finds loaded gun in his backpack

The boy was packing his schoolbag at the end of the day when he found a loaded .38-caliber handgun inside.

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A young Philadelphia boy found a gun in his backpack after school. (Tom Pennington/AFP/Getty Images)

A 7-year-old boy from Philadelphia got a scary surprise when packing his backpack Thursday afternoon: a .38-caliber loaded handgun had made its way into his schoolbag.

Here's the coolest new startup from the kids at Stanford

Megan Rose Dickey, Business InsiderFebruary 8, 2013 11:38

Stanford's student startup accelerator StartX just hosted its eighth demo day. It's worth paying attention to StartX because of the success of Google, Instagram and Snapchat — all companies that were all founded by Stanford graduates.