In the lead-up to the the 1954 Miss Universe pageant, the runaway favorite to win the title was Maria Martha Hacker Rocha, a statuesque 21-year-old Brazilian beauty with captivating blue eyes. She had captured the title of Miss Bahia in her home state and went on to become the first-ever Miss Brazil. The pageant took place at the Municipal Auditorium …

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you romantic favorites with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we shine the spotlight on one of the most requested wedding songs of the 1990s: “Beautiful in My Eyes” by Joshua Kadison. Kadison’s lyrical love letter offers a sweet and sentimental prediction of how a relationship will become …

Researchers at the University of Washington just introduced the "Thermal Earring," a wireless wearable that continuously monitors a user’s earlobe temperature. In a small-scale study, the prototype measured the fever of sick patients more accurately than a smartwatch and showed promise for tracking changes in stress, exercise and ovulation. The smart earring prototype is about the size and weight of …

In the 2010 romantic comedy Leap Year, talented real estate "stager" Anna Brady, played by Amy Adams, is forced to take extreme measures after her cardiologist boyfriend fails to produce an engagement ring after four years together. Invoking the Irish tradition that empowers women to pop the question on Leap Day, she travels to Dublin to track down her fiancé …

Lucara Diamond Corp. just announced the recovery of a suite of impressive rough stones from its prolific Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana. The two largest stones tipped the scales at 320 carats and 111 carats, respectively, while two smaller stones each weighed in at 50+ carats. These finds continue to bolster Karowe's reputation as one of the world's primary sources …

Said to be one of the most perfectly cut diamonds in the world, the seldom-seen 125.35-carat Jonker I Diamond is now headlining a special exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM). Titled "100 Carats: Icons of the Gem World," the presentation features more than two dozen gems that have at least two things in common: Each …

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you classic hits with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire uses pearls and gold to symbolize flawless perfection in its signature song, “That’s the Way of the World.” A memorable singalong brimming with messages of inspiration and hope, “That’s the Way of …

Researchers from Melbourne, Australia-based RMIT University are taking advantage of the amazing thermal conductivity of nanodiamonds to create "smart" textiles that can keep you cooler in the summer. The study published in Polymers for Advanced Technologies found that fabric made from cotton coated with nanodiamonds — using a method called electrospinning — can draw out body heat and release it …

TODAY show hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie fabricated a "Love Your Pet" segment on Valentine's Day as part of an elaborate ruse to set the stage for a surprise marriage proposal. Veterinarian Priscilla Diaz, who graduated in May of 2023, joined the hosts on a live broadcast, where she fielded questions about how to keep pets active during the …

Rocking a bedazzled manicure and rings on five fingers, three-time Grammy winner Gwen Stefani coyly revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! why her Valentine's Day gift from hubby and country music star Blake Shelton was extra special this year. "I got my Valentine's present early this year," the "Don't Speak" singer said, as she casually lifted her right hand near her …