Japan Warns of Croc Danger

Accidents on the rise for kids wearing popular shoes

(NEWSER) - At rail stations, department stores and shopping malls from Washington to Tokyo, kids wearing Crocs shoes or similar footwear are getting their toes caught in escalators with painful and occasionally bloody results. The accidents have become so commonplace that the Washington Metro has posted ads—featuring a crocodile—calling for caution on its escalators, the AP reports. More»

(NEWSER) - A Pennsylvania woman has sued the manufacturer of Crocs for $7.5 million after her son was injured in an escalator accident, the Baltimore Sun reports. The 6-year-old was wearing the company's foam clogs when they caught in an escalator and mangled his right big toe. The suit charges that the company knew the combo was dangerous but didn't warn consumers. More»

Nicola Furlong had apparently met duo at Nicki Manaj show earlier in evening

(NEWSER) - A pair of unnamed Americans have been arrested by Japanese officials after one of them was found in a Tokyo hotel room with a dying Irish exchange student, reports MSNBC . Nicola Furlong, 21, of County Wexford, died about an hour later in what officials are calling a suspicious death and possible strangulation. Details are sketchy: Furlong and a 21-year-old female friend apparently met the Americans at a Nicki Manaj concert earlier Thursday evening. More»

Mao Sugiyama charged $250 a plate

(NEWSER) - A Japanese artist recently cooked and served up his own genitals for diners at $250 a plate—to raise awareness about sexual minorities and pay for his hospital bills, the AFP reports. Mao Sugiyama, who calls himself asexual, had his private parts removed this spring and kept them frozen until the May 13 culinary event. Participants apparently weren't disappointed: Some even asked the 22-year-old when he'll be doing it again. More»

'T-rays' provide speeds 20 times faster

(NEWSER) - Japanese scientists have set a whopping record for wireless data speeds—20 times faster than typical WiFi—by using an unconventional part of the electromagnetic spectrum known as the "T-ray" band. The researchers were able to transmit data at 3 gigabytes per second. "T-ray" technology could eventually lighten the load on lower WiFi frequencies that have become jam-packed by data-hungry consumers, reports BBC . More»