Crystal clear at ?old? age

Doesn?t 4.4 billion years sound really, really old? That?s the age of a zircon crystal that the University of Wisconsin-Madison put on display for just a day, jazzing it up with a rock concert to celebrate the oldest piece of earth, ever. Found in 2001, the crystal has startled researchers around the world as being proof to the fact that even 4.4 billion years ago, the earth contained solid masses instead of liquid magma. The size of the little rock? The diameter of two human hairs! Now you know why the little things in life are important.

Going pret

Then there?s always been that Big Question to be answered. Is fashion only for the rich? The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) certainly doesn?t think so. The institute has teamed up with the the city?s Bidhannagar municipality to train 120 poor women ? in costume jewellery-designing, kantha- stitching and tailoring ? living in the slums of Salt Lake?s added areas. The endeavour, they believe, will not only improve their quality of life, but also give them a chance to hone their talents. After all, no one really knows street fashion better than the people living on it.