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Wikipedia Vantablack, the pigment considered the blackest shade of black on the planet, is currently the source of commotion among the art world. Sir Anish Kapoor, the London-based sculptor responsible for the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture for the 2012 Olympics, now owns exclusive rights to the color. According to the Daily Mail, the announcement has sparked outrage amongst other artists who see Kapoor as monopolizing a material that should belong to everyone. Artist Anish Kapoor Getty Despite its sexy name, the hue has very technical origins. The substance, made of light-trapping carbon nanotubes, was developed by scientists at Surrey NanoSystems in 2014 for military and astonautical use. In other words, Vantablack, which absorbs 99.96% of light, helps disguise satellites and stealth fighter jets, and it appears almost flat to the naked eye. For Kapoor, whose work includes experiments with reflections and voids, the abyss-like Vantablack is a natural choice in m...

Lil Blue Boo Your kids love "Elf on the Shelf," and you love that they love him. But around mid-December, when you're running out of clever spots to place him every day, it's a bit harder to feel all that love. Try these ideas when you get stumped: 1 Hold a sack race. Picklehead Soup Will he avenge last year's loss against Spiderman? 2 Get him into some mischief. These scout elves are rolling right into the holidays! #ElfReturnWeek starts tomorrow! A post shared by The Elf on the Shelf (@elfontheshelf) on Nov 26, 2014 at 5:58am PST Toilet paper tubes are perfect for tumbling down staircases. 3 Fake a snow scene. Lil Blue Boo Make snow angels out of rice — you can also use sugar or sprinkles for an easier clean-up. 4 Play matchmaker. Out for a late night stroll with his squeeze! #elfontheshelf #barbie A post shared by Dawn Adams (@forksfinest) on Dec 10, 2014 at 11:36am PST Maybe he'll take Barbie to a drive-in movie (read: the living room.) 5 Fill a ...

Airbnb user Fred of Bird Island If you think the only people who vacation on private islands are the Brangelinas and Clooneys of the world, think again: The remote and gorgeous Bird Island near Placencia, Belize will make you feel like an A-list celebrity — even if just for a few days. In fact, it's so remote that you can't get there without the help of the owners, who graciously take renters on a 30 minute boat ride to their private oasis. Once you arrive you'll understand the hype — after all, you'll literally be surrounded by pristine blue water. Nearly every room in the house has a view of paradise (you can even see the ocean from the master bed!). And snorkelers will love that all they have to do is wade into the water to experience some of the best reefs in the world. But perhaps the best part is just how affordable this rental is at $$$ per night. It's basically every honeymooner's dream destination. Or perhaps a bride's fairytale wedding venue. O...

We all know that person. The one who seems to score incredible finds for just a few bucks at a thrift store. But there is an art to fruitful "thrifting," and it can by learned by anyone. It involves a magical mix of research, organization, perseverance, imagination, and room for happenstance. Getty Images Find thrift stores near home and work. Convenience is key. Most dedicated thrift-store shoppers don't have any more time than the rest of us. They frequent stores closest to their work or home. A quick Google search will help you locate a shop or two you can stop in on your lunch break, on your way home from work, or while doing Saturday errands.  Getty Images Go often. This is why you need to identify conveniently located thrift stores. Most thrift stores, especially the bigger ones like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and Saint Vincent de Paul, have a lot of merchandise turnover. So, while you may strike out one week, the next could be a treasure trove. Going often up...

COURTESY OF ROGERS & COWAN A historic Los Angeles mansion is now the most expensive listing in the United States. Fans of The Beverly Hillbillies will recognize the 25,000-square-foot, 10.3-acre estate in Bel Air as the residence of patriarch Jed Clampett. The late real-life billionaire Jerry Perenchio lived in the home for 30 years, beginning in 1986, when he bought it from hotelier Arnold Kirkeby (whose family had rented it out as the TV show set). Perenchio also gave it a name: "Chartwell." The limestone house was built in 1933 by architect Sumner Spaulding, and Perenchio hired decorator Henri Samuel to redesign it (Samuel also did work for the Valentinos, Vanderbilts and Rothschilds). He also added onto the property by purchasing a Wallace Neff-designed home to use as a guest house. The main house, inspired by 18th-century French neoclassical design, includes a ballroom, "world-class" wine cellar, formal salon and period-paneled dining room, extensive g...

With its heavy-duty appliances and shelves of cleaning products, the laundry room can truly be a danger zone in your home. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association reports that (on average in recent years) over 10,000 home fires begin in the laundry room annually. And the latest chemical threat to your family? Colorful detergent packs that kids mistake for candy. But, of course, we all need clean clothes, so the laundry room isn't going anywhere. Here's the expert word on how to stay safe when tackling your next load. 1. Prevent lint buildup. When home dryer fires occur, lint is often the culprit. Clean out lint screens after every load, and inspect vent pipes, the space behind the dryer, and ducts outside your home to ensure that lint isn't choking the venting system. 2. Replace water hoses and dryer ducts. Carolyn Forte,director of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute Home Appliances and Cleaning Products department, recommends replacing rubber hoses with...

Do you know what she did before she became royalty? Getty She was homeschooled until age 9. At the time, it was common for upper-class children to be taught at home by a tutor. After her parents' divorce, Diana attended Riddlesworth Hall in Norfolk, where her family resided. At 12, she was sent to an exclusive boarding school, the West Heath School. Getty She was not a strong student. After failing two exams, she left the West Heath School when she was 16. Her father enrolled her in a Swedish finishing school but she insisted on returning home. Getty She was a kindergarten teacher. After leaving finishing school in Sweden, Diana worked part-time as a cleaning woman and babysitter before finding a job at the Young England School. Getty She wanted to be a ballerina. She studied ballet as a child, but became too tall to continue to excel. But her love of classical dance led her to become a big supporter of the English National Ballet until her death. Here, she greets ballerinas a...