International Day of Women and Girls in Science - February 11

Gender equality has always been a core issue for the United Nations. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will make a crucial contribution not only to economic development of the world, but to progress across all the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well.

On 14 March 2011, the Commission on the Status of Women adopted a report at its fifty-fifth session, with agreed conclusions on access and participation of women and girls in education, training and science and technology, and for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work. On 20 December 2013, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on science, technology and innovation for development, in which it recognized that full and equal access to and participation in science, technology and innovation for women and girls of all ages is imperative for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

On 15 December 2015, the General Assembly adopted the resolution, deciding to proclaim 11 February of each year of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The United Nations invites all Member States, all organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, the private sector and academia, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to observe the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in an appropriate manner, including through education and public awareness-raising activities, in order to promote the full and equal participation of women and girls in education, training, employment and decision-making processes in the sciences, eliminate all discrimination against women, including in the field of education and employment, and overcome legal, economic, social and cultural barriers thereto by, inter alia, encouraging the development of science education policies and programming, including school curricula, as appropriate, to encourage greater participation of women and girls, promote career development for women in science and recognize the achievements of women in science.

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation - February 6

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation is a UN-sponsored awareness day that takes place February 6 each year.

It is an effort to make the world aware of female genital mutilation (also called FGM) and to promote its eradication. The World Health Organization has said that "Though the practice has persisted for over a thousand years, programmatic evidence suggests that FGM/C can end in one generation."

First, on February 6, 2003, Stella Obasanjo, the First Lady of Nigeria and spokesperson for the Campaign Against Female Genital Mutilation, made the official declaration on "Zero Tolerance to FGM" in Africa during a conference organized by the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC). Then the UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights adopted this day as an international awareness day.

In 2014, 17-year-old Bristol student Fahma Mohamed created an online petition with Change.org on the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, askingMichael Gove, then the education secretary in the United Kingdom, to write to the leaders of all primary and secondary schools in the United Kingdom, encouraging them to be alert to the dangers of FGM. The petition attained more than 230,000 supporters and was one of the fastest growing UK petitions on Change.org. Michael Gove met with Fahma Mohamed and members of the youth group Integrate Bristol, who have also played a key role in raising awareness of FGM. He also sent a letter to all headteachers in England informing them of new guidelines on children's safety, including guidance on FGM. These new guidelines marked the first time the safeguarding guidelines included specific mention of FGM and encouraged teachers to be vigilant against it.

Kashmir Solidarity Day - February 5

Kashmir Solidarity Day, or Kashmir Day, is a national holiday in Pakistan and also observed by Kashmiri nationalists on 5 February each year. It is in observance of Pakistan’s support of and unity with the people of Indian-administered Kashmir, the nationalists' efforts to separate from India, and to pay homage to Kashmiris who have died in the conflict.^[1][2] Solidarity rallies are held in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan and by Mirpuri Kashmiris in the United Kingdom. The day often marks unrest in Indian controlled Kashmir.^[3] Kashmir Day was first proposed by the Jamaat-e-Islami party in Pakistan in 1990.

World Cancer Day - February 4

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention,detection, and treatment. World Cancer Day was founded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. The primary goal of the World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness anddeath caused by cancer by 2020.

World Cancer Day targets misinformation,raises awareness, and reduces stigma.Multiple initiatives run on World Cancer Day to show support for those affected by cancer. One of these movements is #NoHairSelfie, a global movement to have "hairticipants" shave their heads either physically or virtually to show a symbol of courage for those undergoing cancer treatment.Images of participants are then shared over social media. Local events also take place.

World Wetland Day - February 2

The 2 February each year is World Wetlands Day, marking the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971.

Established to raise awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet, WWD was celebrated for the first time in 1997 and has grown remarkably since then. Each year, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular.

Since 1998 the Ramsar Secretariat, with generous financial support from the Danone Group Evian Fund for Water, produces a variety of outreach materials which include Logos, posters, factsheets, handouts and guide documents to support country activities organized to celebrate WWD. These materials are available to freely download in the three languages of the Convention English, French and Spanish on the World Wetlands Day website. All the materials are also available in their design files for event organizers to customize and adapt them to their local languages and contexts. A few print copies are available to countries upon request to the Secretariat.

Martyrs' Day - Janauary 30, March 23, June 23, October 21, November 17, November 19

In India, there are several days declared as Martyrs' Day (at national level also known as Sarvodaya day and saheed din) it is named in the honour those who recognised as martyrs for the nation.

30 January

30 January is the date observed at the national level. The date was chosen as it marks the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1948. On Martyr’s Day thepresident, the vice president, the prime minister, the defence minister, and the three Service Chiefs gather at the samadhi at Raj Ghat memorial and lay wreaths decorated with multi-colour flowers. The armed forces personnel blow bugles sounding the Last Post. The inter-services contingent reverse arms as a mark of respect. A two-minute silence in memory of Indian martyrs is observed throughout the country at 11 AM. Participants hold all-religion prayers and sing tributary

23 March

The anniversary of the deaths of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on 23 March, 1931, is declared to be Martyr's Day.

23 June

This date marks the death of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee in Kashmir in 1953. also observed as “National Integration Day”. He opposed the Indian National Congress's decision to grant Kashmir a special status with its own flag and Prime Minister. According to that decision no one, including the President of India could enter Kashmir without the permission of Kashmir's Prime Minister. In opposition to this decision, he once said "Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur Do Nishan nahi challenge" (A single country can't have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two National Emblems). As part of a protest mission Dr. Mukherjee went to visit Kashmir in 1953 and was arrested on 11 May while crossing Kashmir Border at Lakhanpur. Thereafter, he was jailed in a dilapidated house, where he suffered from serious health problems due to wilful neglect and living conditions. He died as detainee under mysterious circumstances which raised wide suspicion, controversies and turmoil across the country that remains suspected and alleged as a vengeful conspiracy by Sheikh Abdullah and Nehru.

21 October

India observes 21 October, the Police Commemoration Day,

17 November

Orissa observes 17 November, the death anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai (1865-1928), the "Lion of Punjab", a leader in the Indian fight for freedom from the British Raj.

19 November

The birthday of Rani Lakshmibai, 19 November, 1828, queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi, is observed as Martyrs' Day in the region, and honours those who gave their lives in the rebellion of 1857, of which she was a leading figure.

World Leprosy Eradication Day - January 30

World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on January 30 or its nearest Sunday to increase the public awareness of the Leprosy or Hansen's Disease. This day was chosen in commemoration of the death of Gandhi, the leader of India who understood the importance of leprosy. Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases in the world. It is an infectious chronic disease that targets the nervous system, especially the nerves in the cooler parts of the body - the hands, feet, and face.

Data Privacy Day - January 28

Data Privacy Day (known in Europe as Data Protection Day)^[1] is an international holiday that occurs every January 28. The purpose of Data Privacy Day is to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best practices. It is currently observed in the United States, Canada, and 47 European countries.

Data Privacy Day's educational initiative originally focused on raising awareness among businesses as well as users about the importance of protecting the privacy of their personal information online, particularly in the context of social networking. The educational focus has expanded over the past four years to include families, consumers and businesses. In addition to its educational initiative, Data Privacy Day promotes events and activities that stimulate the development of technology tools that promote individual control over personally identifiable information; encourage compliance with privacy laws and regulations; and create dialogues among stakeholders interested in advancing data protection and privacy. The international celebration offers many opportunities for collaboration among governments, industry, academia, nonprofits, privacy professionals and educators.

The Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data was opened for signature by the Council of Europe on January 28, 1981. This convention is currently in the process of being updated in order to reflect new legal challenges caused by technological development. The Convention on Cybercrime is also protecting the integrity of data systems and thus of privacy in cyberspace. Privacy including data protection is also protected by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The day was initiated by the Council of Europe to be first held in 2007 as the European Data Protection Day. Two years later, on January 26, 2009, the United States House of Representatives passed House Resolution HR 31 by a vote of 402–0, declaring January 28 National Data Privacy Day. On January 28, 2009, the Senate passed Senate Resolution 25 also recognizing January 28, 2009 as National Data Privacy Day. The United States Senate also recognized Data Privacy Day in 2010 and in 2011.

In response to the increasing levels of data breaches and the global importance of privacy and data security, in 2010 the Online Trust Alliance (OTA) and dozens of global organizations embraced Data Privacy Day as Data Privacy & Protection Day, emphasizing the need to look at the long-term impact to consumers of data collection, use and protection practices. Other organizations including the National Cyber Security Alliance work to coordinate Data Privacy Day activities in the U.S.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27

International Holocaust Remembrance Day, is an international memorial day on 27 January commemorating the victims of the Holocaust. It commemorates the genocide that resulted in the death of an estimated 6 million Jewish people, 2 million Romani people, 250,000 mentally and physically disabled people, and 9,000 homosexual men by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/7 on 1 November 2005 during the 42nd plenary session.^[1]The resolution came after a special session was held earlier that year on 24 January 2005 during which the United Nations General Assembly marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps and the end of the Holocaust.^[2]

On 27 January 1945, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and death camp, was liberated by Soviet troops.

Prior to the 60/7 resolution, there had been national days of commemoration, such as Germany's Tag des Gedenkens an die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus (The Day of remembrance for the victims of National Socialism), established in a proclamation issued by Federal President Roman Herzog on 3 January 1996; and the Holocaust memorial day observed every 27 January since 2001 in the UK.

The Holocaust Remembrance Day is also a national event in the United Kingdom and in Italy.

International Customs day - January 26

Annually held on January 26, International Customs Day (ICD) recognizes the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security. It focuses on the working conditions and challenges that customs officers face in their jobs.

Custom agencies hold employee appreciation events where custom officers are recognized for their exemplary service. Workshops, conferences and talks that focus on the year’s theme and the challenges that agencies and officers face are also held.

Several agencies also hold public outreach events where they educate the public about their jobs and responsibilities.

International Customs Day is not an official holiday and businesses, schools and government offices are open on this day.

Instituted by the World Customs Organization (WCO), International Customs Day is held on January 26, which commemorates the day in 1953 when the inaugural session of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) was held in Brussels, Belgium. Seventeen European countries attended this session. In 1994 the CCC was renamed World Customs Organization (WCO) and today custom organizations from 179 countries are WCO members.

India's Republic Day - January 26

Republic Day honors the date on which the Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.^[1]

The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country's transition towards becoming an independent republic. 26 January was chosen as the Republic day because it was on this day in 1930 when the Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress as opposed to the Dominion status offered by the British Regime.

It is one of three national holidays in India, the other two being Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti.

India achieved independence from British rule on 15 August 1947 following the Indian independence movement noted for largely peaceful non-violent resistance and civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi. The independence came through the Indian Independence Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo 6 c 30), an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent Dominions of the British Commonwealth (later Commonwealth of Nations): India and Pakistan.^[2] India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947 as a constitutional monarchy with George VI as head of state and the Earl Mountbatten as governor-general. The country, though, did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935. On 28 August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr B R Ambedkar as chairman. While India's Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates of coming into force of its constitution. A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on 4 November 1947.^[3] The Assembly met, in sessions open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution. After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950. Two days later, it came into effect throughout the whole nation.

National Girl Child Day of India - January 24

National girl child day is celebrated every year on 24th of January as a national observance day for the girl child. This celebration was started to offer more supports and new opportunities to the girls in the country. It is celebrated to increase the awareness among people about all the inequalities faced by the girl child in the society. Inequality about girl child is a vast problem which includes many areas like inequality in education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, protection, honour, child marriage and so many.

National girl child day has been started as a national girls development mission by the Government of India. This mission raises the awareness among people all over the country about the importance of girl’s promotion. It enhances the meaningful contribution of the girls in decision making processes through the active support of the parents and other community members.

Why National Girl Child Day is Celebrated ?

It is celebrated to promote the girls position in the society to make their living better among society people. It is very necessary to remove different types of social discrimination and exploitation that girls generally face in their life. To increase the awareness about the necessity of the girls right in the society, various political and community leaders speech to the public about the girls right for the equal education and fundamental freedoms.

It is very necessary for the girls to get full potential, safe and enabling environment. They should be aware of all their legal rights and the facts of life. They should be aware that they have the good education, nutrition and health care rights. They should be well aware about legislations including Domestic Violence Act 2009, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 and Dowry Prohibition Act 2006 in order to get their proper rights and face all the challenges in life.

In our country, female literacy rate is still 53.87% and one third of the youngster girls are malnourished. Reproductive age group women are anemic and suffering from various other diseases just because of the gender discrimination in the society and limited access to the health services. Various steps have been taken at national and state level by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to improve the girl child status through a range of schemes.

The Women and Child Development Ministry had implemented a scheme called “Dhanalaksmi” to make cash transfer to the girl child family to fulfil the basic needs such as immunization, birth registration, school enrollment and maintenance up to the Class VIII. The Right to Education Act has made available the free and necessary education to the girl child.

How National Girl Child Day is Celebrated ?

Varieties of events are organized all across the country to celebrate the girl child day to promote girls position in the society. Government of India organizes a big campaign to increase people consciousness towards the girl children in the Indian society.

National Girl Child Day celebration was started by the Women and Child Development Ministry since 2008 to celebrate as the national observance. Through this campaign, the Indian Government has highlighted the inequalities towards the girl in the Indian society. At this day, various advertisements are run by the government on the TV channels, local newspapers and radio stations and through the message of “Save the Girl Child”. NGO organizations and non government organizations also come together and take part in the celebration to fight against the social stigma about girl child.

Army Day - January 15

Army Day is celebrated on 15 January every year in India, in recognition of Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) K. M. Cariappa's taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949. The day is celebrated in the form of parades and other military shows in the national capital New Delhi as well as all headquarters. On 15 January 2015 India celebrated 67th Indian Army day in New Delhi. Army Day marks a day to salute the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the people living in it.

National Youth Day - January 12

National Youth Day is celebrated in India on 12 January on the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. In 1984 the Government of India declared the day as the National Youth Day and since 1985 the event is celebrated in India every year.

In 1984, the Government of India declared and decided to observe the birthday of Swami Vivekanand (12 January, according to the English calendar) as a National Youth Day every year from 1985 onwards. To quote from the Government of India's communication, 'it was felt that the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth.

On 12 January 2013, Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told in his address at the inauguration of four-year-long celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary.

What Gandhiji said captures the great importance of spreading Swami Vivekananda's ideas and ideals among the youth in our country today. He personified the eternal energy of the youth and their restless quest for truth. It is entirely fitting that the Government of India has declared 12th January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, as National Youth Day. We must work to rekindle the eternal message of this great patriot and son of India.

World Day of War Orphans - January 6

The World Day of War Orphans was initiated by the French organisation, SOS Enfants en Detresses. Held on 6^th January each year, this special day enables the International Community to recognise the plight of a particularly vulnerable group.

The usual definition of an orphan is a child who has no surviving parent to care for him or her, having lost both parents, either as a result of bereavement or by being abandoned.

In the developed world orphans are relatively rare, since most children can reasonably expect both parents to survive their childhood, but in countries that have been and are subjected to wars and great epidemics such as AIDS, there are significant numbers of orphans.

It is estimated, for instance, that World War II created millions of orphans I Europe, with 300,000 orphans in Poland and 200,000 in Yugoslavia alone.

Today in Afghanistan, after nearly 30 years of fighting, there are now over two million orphaned children with over 600,000 sleeping on the streets. Over a million suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome and the prevalence of the use of anti-personnel weaponry has resulted in over 400,000 children being maimed by land mines.

A quarter of all children in Afghanistan die before the age of five, which according to UNICEF figures is the fourth highest level in the world. Of those who continue to survive, one in ten is severely malnourished and more than half suffer from stunted growth.

There is a similarly bleak picture in other parts of the world. In the continent of Africa over 34 million children, or nearly 12%, are orphans either as a result of war or epidemics such as AIDS.

In recent years the proportion of civilian casualties in armed conflicts has increased dramatically. This is now estimated to be about 90%, half of whom are children. In the last ten years alone some 2 million children have died as a direct result of armed conflict. Many others have witnessed parents and relatives being butchered in the most appalling circumstances.

Around 20 million children have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict or human rights violations and it is estimated that 300,000 boys and girls under the age of 18 are involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide.
In Northern Uganda, for instance, war has raged for 18 years and has left the population in abject poverty. More than 1.6 million people have been forced to leave their homes and farmers who were formerly self-sufficient are now forced to live in camps for internally displaced persons. Schools, homes, villages and families have all been destroyed and nobody knows how many have died.

The UK charity War Child quotes one particular case of a Ugandan girl called Agnes. Now 18 she was 10 years old and working in her family's vegetable garden when rebels abducted her. Her parents were killed and she was separated from the remaining members of her family.
She was 11 when she was forced to kill another child who had tried to escape from the rebels and at the age of 12 she was raped when a rebel commander took her as one of his wives.
When she was 13 she finally managed to escape and miraculously a few weeks later she was reunited with what remained of her family. In spite of all that she has suffered, she could be regarded as one of the lucky ones. Although she is an orphan, at least she has some family and the War Child charity is paying for her education so she hopes to rebuild her life. Her goal is to become a nurse and she is now looking towards the future with optimism.

This is not by any means the usual pattern for orphans. All over the world orphans usually have a very raw deal. Russia is just one example, but it is by no means exceptional. It is estimated that there are 650,000 children in Russian orphanages. As is the generally accepted pattern worldwide, the state looks after them until the age of 16, but after that they are on their own. Their prospects are poor, with 40% usually ending up homeless, 20% turning to crime and 10% committing suicide.

It should not be like this. Take the case of Michaela DePrince.
Michaela was born in Sierra Leone in 1995 and became an orphan after both her parents were killed in the Civil War. While still a toddler she endured some horrendous experiences and was sent to an orphanage. One day she found a magazine with a picture of a ballerina and she immediately decided that this was what she wanted to be.
When she was four years old she had the good fortune to be adopted. She was taken to America and enrolled in the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia.In 2012 she graduated from American Ballet Theatre's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York and joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem. On 19 July 2012 she made her professional debut performance in the role of Gulnare in the South African premiere of Le Corsaire.

Obviously Michaela was incredibly lucky, but tragically there are many thousands of other children who will remain in orphanages or continue to live as street children, with little hope of ever achieving what they are capable of.
World Day for War Orphans is a day to remember these children. Every one of them is precious and they all deserve a future that will enable them to fulfil their dreams.

Global Family Day - January 1

Global Family Day is celebrated every year on January 1. This holiday is recognized by many people, who want to spend one day with their family.

Unlike many other observances and holidays, Global Family Day appeared spontaneously, that's why it's very hard to find the person or organization responsible for its establishment. However, this holiday gains more and more popularity and many people celebrate it.

The history of Global Family Day begins with the UN General Assembly proclamation of the first year of the millennium to begin International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World. This event ushered celebration of One Day in Peace and, subsequently, Global Family Day, that is also known as One Day of Peace and Sharing.

Although Global Family Day is celebrated only in the USA, all families around the world are also encouraged to participate. Regardless of country, religion, race or political affiliation, all families should gather together on the first day of the year to spend this time in peace and share love with each other.

World Day of Peace - January 1

The World Day of Peace is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church dedicated to peace, held on 1 January, on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. It was introduced in 1967 by Paul VI, inspired by the encyclical Pacem in terris of John XXIII and with reference to his own encyclical Populorum progressio. The day was first observed on 1 January 1968.

The World Day of Peace has often been a time when popes make magisterial declarations relevant to the social doctrine of the Church. Paul VI and John Paul II have each year made important statements on the United Nations, human rights, women's rights, labor unions, economic development, the right to life, international diplomacy, peace in theHoly Land, globalization and terrorism.

In England and Wales, 'Peace Sunday' is traditionally kept on the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, which is the Sunday falling between 14 and 20 January inclusive. Suggested material is prepared each year by the UK branch of the Pax Christi movement.

How is Gorilla Glass Made?

FUSION PROCESS

Corning’s proprietary fusion manufacturing process is at the core of our leadership in glass technology and the cover glass industry. This extraordinarily precise, highly automated draw process produces a thin sheet cover glass with pristine surface quality, outstanding optical clarity and inherent dimensional stability – qualities essential for cover glass for consumer applications.

The process begins when raw materials are blended into a glass composition, which is melted and conditioned. The molten glass is fed into a trough called an “isopipe,” overfilling until the glass flows evenly over both sides. It then rejoins, or fuses, at the bottom, where it is drawn down to form a continuous sheet of flat glass that is so thin it is measured in microns. The glass is untouched by human hands or anything else that will introduce flaws into the surface.

This same fusion process is at the heart of Corning’s industry-leading LCD glass. The composition of Corning® Gorilla® Glass enables a deep layer of chemical strengthening through an ion-exchange process where individual glass parts are cut from the “mother sheet” and undergo an ion-exchange process.

ION-EXCHANGE PROCESS

Ion exchange is a chemical strengthening process where large ions are “stuffed” into the glass surface, creating a state of compression. Gorilla Glass is specially designed to maximize this behavior. The glass is placed in a hot bath of molten salt at a temperature of approximately 400 degrees C. Smaller sodium ions leave the glass, and larger potassium ions from the salt bath replace them. These large ions take up more room and are pressed together when the glass cools, producing a layer of compressive stress on the surface of the glass. Gorilla Glass’ composition enables the potassium ions to diffuse far into the surface, creating high compressive stress deep into the glass. This layer of compression creates the surface that is more resistant to damage.

Corning’s innovations don’t end on the manufacturing floor. One of Corning's greatest strengths is our focus on developing the technology behind the glass. Our research has delivered such life-changing innovations as the glass envelope for Edison's light bulb, the glass envelope for cathode ray picture tubes (CRTs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs), as well as the first low-loss optical fiber capable of use in telecommunications. We continue to investigate new glass compositions and process innovations at our three major research facilities: Sullivan Park in Corning New York; Corning Technology Center in Shizuoka Japan; Corning Research Center Taiwan in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Scientists in these facilities work closely with the Gorilla Glass commercial, engineering, and manufacturing staff to anticipate industry trends and deliver new or improved glass technologies that add value to customers’ products and processes. Through this ongoing process, Corning Gorilla Glass continues to lead through glass technology innovation in the fast-paced consumer electronics industry.

Why Photographs of Watches and Clocks Show the Time 10:10 ?

First things first, let's get the myths out of the way. There are plenty of people out there who think that clocks in advertisements and in-store displays are set this way to memorialize Abraham Lincoln/John F. Kennedy/Martin Luther King Jr. because that was the time at which they were shot or died. In reality, Lincoln was shot at 10:15 p.m., and died the next morning at 7:22 a.m., JFK was shot at 12:30 p.m. CST and was pronounced dead 1 p.m. and MLK was shot 6:01 p.m. and pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m.

Another theory has it that 10:10 was the time that an atomic bomb was dropped on either Nagasaki or Hiroshima, and that the setting is in memory of the casualties. The Fat Man bomb was actually dropped on the former at 11:02 a.m. local time and the Little Boy on the latter at 8:15 a.m. local time.

The real reason for the setting? Aesthetics. The 10:10 position gives the clock or watch a number of benefits:

• The hands are not overlapping, so they're fully and clearly visible and their styling can be admired.

• The arrangement of the hands is symmetrical, which people generally find more pleasant than asymmetry, making the product more appealing to customers.

• The manufacturer's logo, usually in the center of the face under the 12, is not only visible but nicely framed by the hands.

• Additional elements on the face (like date windows or secondary dials), usually placed near the 3, 6, or 9, won't be obscured.

According to the folks at Timex (who set their products at 10:09:36 exactly), the standard setting used to be 8:20, but this made the face look like it was frowning. To make the products look "happier," the setting was flipped into a smile (occasionally, you'll still see the 8:20 setting on some clocks or watches where the manufacturer's logo is at bottom of the face above the 6).