British Navy Warship Tests a 3-D-Printed Drone at Sea

An unmanned aircraft with body and wings made using a 3-D printer was assembled on a Royal Navy ship Tuesday and performed a successful flight test. ... The cheap drone had been printed on shore and then assembled on the ship. ... printers would need to be modified so they could stay level at sea

15 Real Life Human Superpowers

Kepler-452b: Earth's Bigger, Older Cousin

NASA will host a news teleconference at noon EDT Thursday, July 23 to announce new discoveries made by its planet-hunting mission, the Kepler Space Telescope. The first exoplanet orbiting another star like our sun was discovered in 1995. Exoplanets, especially small Earth-size worlds, belonged within the realm of science fiction just 21 years ago. Today, and thousands of discoveries later, astronomers are on the cusp of finding something people have dreamed about for thousands of years -- another Earth.

Car Insurance Companies Use Facebook for Claims Investigations

In the hours after a car accident, filing a claim with your auto insurance company is one of the first steps you should take. But auto insurance industry insiders say a smart second step is giving social media accounts the once-over to prevent all or part of that claim from being denied.

In the past five years, the use of social media has exploded within the insurance industry, says Frank Darras, an insurance attorney in Ontario, California, who represents plaintiffs in suits against insurance companies. Because social media Web sites provide a real-time examination of users' lifestyles, insurance companies, claims adjusters and attorneys have begun to monitor and mine them as a valuable source of claims-investigation evidence. Insurers are reviewing information found on such social media sites as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Foursquare, Google Plus and Pinterest, and applying it to auto claims, says Chicago personal injury lawyer Michael Helfand.

"This happens all the time," he says.

Facebook is used in almost every claim now, especially when there is an injury. "Checking social media accounts has become one of the first things an insurance company or adjuster will do when you file a claim," adds Darras. Especially when any injuries stem from the accident.

Claims Investigation by Social Media
Part of the new claims-investigation process is for an adjuster, agent or insurance company to look for the Facebook, Twitter or other social media account of a person claiming bodily injury stemming from an accident, Helfand says. They're looking for proof that the person is filing a fraudulent claim, he says.

If the part of your accident claim is for a back injury and you share post-accident pictures of you golfing, surfing or playing ball with the kids, your claim could be denied.

"Over the years, social media has killed a bunch of claims," says Helfand.

"Almost every insurance company has a special investigation unit (SIU), and policyholders should work on the assumption that SIUs will look into questionable or fraudulent claims," says Michael Barry, vice president of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute.

"Mining social media for clues is one of the fastest-growing areas of insurance-fraud investigation," says James Quiggle of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud in a report published in 2012.

While insurance adjusters or agents may not look into the social media accounts of every person who files a claim, they will definitely dig into social media if they have any reason to suspect a fraudulent claim.

"It's simply part of the due diligence in investigating a case, because so many people are brazen or dumb enough to say one thing to an insurance adjuster while at the same time telling the world something else," Helfand says. "It's not unusual for a person to tell the adjuster and doctor how much their back hurts and then post photos from their softball league.

"Facebook and other social media sites have become a great tool for fighting claims because the 'look at me' nature of social media causes people to shoot themselves in the foot," he says.

A claims adjuster will also stick directly to the language you use in the claim. If you report that you're unable to lift more than 20 pounds, but a picture on social media shows you doing otherwise, Darras says you can expect the claim will be denied.

The same goes for tweets and status updates detailing your mood or mental state related to the accident. A stream of tweets about your road rage or noting that you're driving against doctors' orders because you're under the influence of medicine will raise red flags on any auto-accident-related injury claim.

Switch Your Privacy Settings
Using Facebook or Twitter activity in the claims process is completely legal — as long as the information is part of a "public" profile, Darras says.

"It is generally understood that if the adjuster or insurance company has to 'friend' or have a third party 'friend' the claimant on Facebook to obtain the information, then it becomes unethical and an invasion of privacy. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily make it illegal," Darras says

You can reduce your exposure by adjusting the privacy settings for Facebook accounts so that only people you select as friends can read your status updates or view photos on your account. And make sure privacy settings on Twitter are set to "Protect my Tweets" to limit who can read your timeline.

But beware: Your friends' social media accounts could also complicate an insurance claim. A photo or post on Facebook that's visible on a friend's public page might also be spotted, and used, by a car insurance company or claims adjuster, Darras says.

To be safe, Darras suggests removing the Facebook photos and tags or tweets of anything incriminating. For instance, delete a post in which your friends say that you're a terrible driver — even if they're joking. Helfand says an insurance company could use this evidence against you during the claims-investigation process.

"The responsibility to be constantly vigilant with Facebook profiles and Twitter streams is ultimately on consumers," says Helfand.

Keep Quiet
Don't rely solely on privacy settings to protect a claim. Helfand says the best advice is zipping your virtual lip.

"No matter how rattled, irritated you are, it's never wise to tweet or post on Facebook that you were involved in an accident," he says. "There's nothing to benefit from doing that."

In fact, getting social about an accident or car insurance claim is possibly the worst thing you can do.

"Doing this is just asking the insurance company to use the information against you, even if what you said was harmless in your eyes," Darras says. "Remember that jokes and sarcasm aren't conveyed well on social media and the insurance company will use everything they can."

Often insurance companies ask a person injured in a car wreck to provide information about their activities for a two-week period, says Darras. If any public Facebook activity doesn't match the log, the insurance company can think you're lying and treat the auto insurance claim as fraud.

Disputing the Social Scoop
If the Internet interferes with your claim, all is not lost. It may be possible to dispute anything an adjuster turns up on your social profiles.

"One of the biggest arguments consumers can use against insurance companies is their failure to investigate the information further and receive third-party support of the information they found on social media," says Darras.

And because social media should be a starting point, not the only evidence used in approving or denying a claim, you can press the insurance company to consider statements from other sources, such as doctors or witnesses, or allow you to explain the circumstances around the information found on your social networking profiles.

The Bottom Line
There is a time and place for social media, and it's not necessary to shut down your accounts after an accident. But it is important to watch what you post and be cautious about your participation in conversations, says Darras. And remember, regardless of your privacy settings, social media is never really private.

How To Shop for Use-Based Car Insurance

In recent years, nine of 10 top U.S. auto insurance companies have started selling policies based on how motorists drive. At least a handful of pay-as-you-drive policies are offered in every state, covering as many as 3 million U.S. vehicles, according to industry estimates. Switching to use-based insurance (UBI) could help you save a little or a lot over what car owners spend on premiums associated with a more traditional policy.

If you're considering changing to a UBI plan, it pays to understand what you're getting.

Carriers set UBI rates by collecting mileage or other information directly from your car, but similarities among policies end there. Some insurers use a small, meterlike electronic device that plugs into a car's onboard diagnostics port to store or transmit information. Newer versions gather driving data through an app and a smartphone connected to a car's infotainment or telematics system.

Drivers may happily trade access to their driving habits for lower insurance rates. But privacy advocates worry that insurance companies aren't always 100 percent transparent about what data they collect, what they do with it and with whom they share it.

"Privacy is a real question," says J. Robert Hunter, insurance director for the Consumer Federation of America. "What do insurance companies do with that information? If I park at the corner of Main and 14th and on one corner is a bar and another is a gym, will you raise or lower my rate?"

Here are steps to take if you're shopping for car insurance and considering a use-based policy:

Find out what's available: Look on the Web site of your state insurance commission or consumer advocacy agency to see which insurance carriers are licensed to operate in your area. Here's a list of all 50 state insurance departments. Alternatively, visit auto insurers' Web sites and type in your ZIP code to see if they sell UBI plans where you live.

Understand what types of data insurers collect: Some states restrict the information insurers can collect, which limits the types of UBI policies they offer. In California, for example, insurance companies can track mileage but are barred from monitoring where or when you drive. They also can't track such behaviors as how fast you drive or how often you slam on the brakes, the activity known in insurance lingo as "hard-braking events." Visit state insurance regulators' Web sites for their explanations of the UBI plans they authorize, such as this pay-as-you-go auto insurance pamphlet from the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. You can also read the fine print on UBI policies on insurers' Web sites to determine what driving data an insurer collects, and how it is gathered.

Try before you buy: Certain insurers give potential customers a chance to take a UBI policy for a test-drive before committing to a policy. In such cases, you may be asked to plug an electronic monitor into your car's diagnostics port for a month or so, which allows the insurer to collect enough data to set a rate. Other insurers offer UBI policies only to existing customers.

Understand how insurers determine discounts: Insurers may offer an introductory discount of 5 or 10 percent during a try-out period, and adjust the rate as needed after monitoring mileage or driving behaviors for a set time period. Progressive Insurance bases rates for its Snapshot policy on six months of driving data. State Farm customers with Drive Safe & Save policies keep electronic monitors plugged into their cars all the time, so, theoretically, their rates could change at renewal time, if they've driven substantially more or less than in the previous period.

Consider a UBI bundle: Some insurers offer UBI as part of a bundle of services tied to a car's built-in entertainment, safety or maintenance systems. State Farm's Drive Safe & Save with In-Drive Connect policy, a joint venture with Verizon Wireless, offers mileage-based insurance along with stolen vehicle assistance and hands-free mobile phone service. After a one-year free trial, charges for In-Drive Connect jump to $6.99 a month or more based on what other features a customer chooses.

See how you're doing: If you sign up, use the Web portal associated with your UBI policy to monitor your driving. Some insurers' dashboards give customers a grade based on their driving habits. For example, customers of Allstate's Drivewise UBI policies can download an iPhone or Android app to look up mileage, speed, hard stops and what times of day they drive.

Four Steps to Switching Car Insurance

Could you save hundreds of dollars by switching your car insurance? It is a question worth asking yourself at least once a year. By doing a little research now, you may be able to find a comparable insurance plan at a better rate with another company, and save money. But you have to make sure you take the appropriate steps to switch, because you don't want to have a lapse in coverage.

Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president at the Insurance Information Institute in New York, suggests asking yourself if you're happy with the cost, coverage and service of your current policy each time it comes up for renewal. "If the answer is 'yes, yes and yes,' then stay with them. But if you're not sure, it's a good opportunity to shop around," she says.

Here are four key steps to take when it comes to switching car insurance:

1. Review your current driving situation.
Take note of your driving circumstances as well as the needs of other drivers in your household. Do you have a newer model car? Do you commute several miles each week to work? Do you have recent traffic tickets?

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), your potential new insurance company may ask you all of these questions as part of the underwriting process. You'll also likely be asked about the number of drivers on the policy, your driver license information, and the insurance coverage and limits you'd like to purchase.

Take a look at your existing auto insurance policy. Knowing what you currently have will make it easier to create apples-to-apples comparisons with the rates you receive from different insurers. An easy way to do this is to study your current policy's declarations page, says Vaughn Graham, president of Rich and Cartmill insurance company in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"The declarations page describes the insurance you have, including the amount of coverage as well as coverage limits, and the amount of your deductible," he says. When you're more informed about your current coverage, it can help you become a smarter shopper.

2. Shop around.
Once you're familiar with your current policy, it's time to look for alternatives. A good first call is to your current insurance agent or the insurance company itself (some insurers, such as Geico and Progressive don't work with agents). Even if you're not happy with your existing policy (if you think the premiums are too expensive, for example), ask if there are ways to lower your rate for the same amount of coverage, says Salvatore. You may be eligible to receive discounts you're not getting.

Here's a list of common insurance company discounts, according to the NAIC:

• Having safety devices in the car, such as anti-theft features
• Having a good driving record
• Driving a low number of miles a year
• Having multiple cars on the same policy
• Being a student who gets good grades
• Insuring both your home and car with the same provider

While you're reviewing discounts, be aware that switching to a new provider could affect discounts you already have with other types of insurance. For example, if you're already getting a homeowner's and car-policy rate reduction from your current provider, and you then move your car insurance to a different company, you may lose the discount you receive for homeowner's insurance. It may make more financial sense to stay where you are, or switch both policies to a new provider that will give you a rate reduction for both.

In addition to speaking to your current agent or insurance company about your options, you can look online to research potential companies and obtain quotes. It is also a good idea to get referrals from family members, colleagues and other people whom you trust, Salvatore says. If they have had to file a claim with the insurer, they could tell you in person about their customer service experience.

If you're currently buying through an independent agent who represents multiple insurance companies, you have a few more options. "You can go to them and say 'I'm happy working with you, but I'm not so happy with this carrier' and explain why," Salvatore says. "Ask if they can suggest another carrier."

A good agent should be able to offer you customized choices to fit your needs, adds Graham. "There is no one-size-fits-all solution. We're all a little different."

3. Don't skimp on coverage.
As you receive quotes, make sure the insurance coverage and deductibles mentioned are satisfactory. Just because a rate quote may be lower than what you're currently paying, it doesn't mean it's a better deal if the coverage is lacking, Graham says. If you're not sure how much coverage you need, discuss your needs with insurance company representatives, and ask for guidance.

For example, if you have significant assets, you may need more than just the state minimum for bodily injury liability insurance. The same is true for property damage coverage. The retail price for an average new vehicle could easily top $30,000, but in many states, the minimum property damage coverage required is only $25,000. If you were responsible for a loss and did not have enough insurance coverage, you'd likely be on the hook for the difference. "Many of those limits are often inadequate and not near enough to meet today's exposures to price of vehicles," Graham says.

Though it's important to have ample liability coverage, if you drive an older model vehicle that is paid for, you may choose to opt out of some optional types of coverage, such as collision and comprehensive insurance, in order to keep premiums low.

Collision insurance pays for the physical damage your vehicle receives if it collides with another object, such as a tree or another car. Comprehensive insurance pays for damage to your car from causes other than a collision. This could include vandalism, broken glass, fire and theft. If this coverage is more than your vehicle is worth, you could skip it to lower your rates. Just understand that you would then be paying for these losses out of your own funds if such damage did occur. People who live in areas prone to such natural disasters as floods, high winds and earthquakes might want to think about retaining their comprehensive coverage, experts say.

Another way to get a lower premium is to ask for a higher deductible. If you are willing to pay $1,000 out of pocket for a claim instead of $250, you could lower your rates. But make sure you can afford the higher deductible in the event that you suffer an insurable loss.

4. Notify your old and new providers.
After conducting all your research (and with a bit of luck), you may well find a company that offers good coverage at a lower rate. You may be willing to switch, but before you sign a new agreement, call your state's department of insurance to learn if the company is permitted to do business in your state. You can also check out business-rating companies A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's to check out the company's financial stability. (Standard & Poor's requires free registration before you can see company ratings.) It's worth the extra time to spend before you agree to pay hundreds of dollars on a new policy.

Once you've verified that the new provider can do business in your state and appears financially stable, it's time to make the switch. "When you are ready to cancel your current policy, let all parties know in writing, so that there is no gap in coverage," Salvatore says.

If you end your existing auto insurance policy before it expires, you may receive a partial premium refund, depending on the terms of your agreement. However, you should continue paying for your old policy until the new coverage is confirmed in writing. Otherwise, the old policy could be dropped for non-payment before the new policy starts. And in most states, driving without proper car insurance coverage is against the law. "It may be easier to wait and have your new policy start when the old one expires," Salvatore says.

Make it a priority to review your insurance policies on a regular basis. Household driving situations change often, and so do state laws that could affect the price of your premiums. By taking some time each year to do some car insurance research, you can make better decisions and pay the best possible prices for the best amounts of car insurance coverage.

How do companies calculate car insurance premium

Ever wondered how your car insurance premium is calculated? Often the premium can be adjusted for any bonus or discount that the insurer is willing to offer you, but in any case these are calculated only after the insurer has fixed a premium that they want to charge you. Here we explain the factors that influence the premium that you pay for your car.

Insured declared value

At any given point, your car has some value associated with it. If you suffer a total loss in an accident, how much do you think you should be compensated for, assuming you had insurance for your car? The amount that you are compensated for under a comprehensive motor insurance coverage is directly linked to what is the value of the vehicle at that point in time.

If you have a new car that you have just driven out of a showroom, its value is more than say a three-year-old car with 30,000 km on it. Insured declared value, or IDV, is the value that the insurance company places on your vehicle to estimate its worth at the time you apply for motor insurance.

Motor insurance policies are indemnity policies. That's just a technical way of saying that they just compensate you for an amount up to financial loss that you have suffered on the vehicle, and no more.

IDV is the maximum amount that you can claim under a motor insurance policy to compensate for any loss arising from theft or accident. So, if you suffer total loss in an accident of your three-year-old car that is worth Rs 4 lakh at the time of the accident, under no circumstances will you be compensated for more than Rs 4 lakh.

When you buy a new car and are getting insurance for it, the IDV is calculated on the basis of the price of the new car, i.e., its ex-showroom price. If you have a car for which you are renewing the insurance, the IDV will be adjusted for any operational wear and tear that the car has experienced, or to put it in technical terms the IDV is adjusted for any depreciation that it has undergone for a vehicle of its age.

What if you have any accessories like a special music system or speakers in your car? In this case, the value of these items that are additional to the price of the car are added to the IDV, adjusted for any depreciation that these items might have undergone. If you are getting a policy for a car that is more than 5 years old, then the IDV is determined on the basis of an understanding between you and the insurer after adjusting for the depreciation schedule.

Please keep in mind that the IDV calculation is used only for a comprehensive insurance policy and not a third party insurance cover.

Cubic capacity of the vehicle

Every car has an engine size, which is measured as its cubic capacity. The size of the engine affects the insurance premium you have to pay for a third party insurance cover.

The premium amount is the same for a new car as for an older car, because the premium is a function of the engine size, and not the age of the car. Engine capacity is not a criterion used for calculating premium for a comprehensive cover.

The table below shows the rates (as of June 2010) on the third party cover premium amount according the engine size. The higher the cc, the higher will be the premium. You can find out the cc from the registration papers of your vehicle. (See Cover Drive: Table 1).

These figures are the basic minimum amounts as stipulated by the Indian Motor Tariff Act. There might be an additional amount that you are obliged to pay above this minimum for third party coverage. These minimum amounts are the same, irrespective of the brand or the age of the car. All that matters is the engine capacity.

Geographical zones