Until recent years, US federal spending on all energy R&D amounted to just $3 billion or so annually - less than 2 days of Pentagon spending.

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Americans spend some $200 billion annually on prescription drugs.

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Cosmetic sales increased by 25% during the Great Depression.

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In America, savings fell from around 10% of disposable income in the 1970s to 1% after 2005.

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About 11% of US internet users have created a blog.

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Google captured 90% of all US search growth in 2008.

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CD sales peaked in 2000 surpassing 943 m units - they are down 54.6% since then.

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About 6,000 satellites have been put into orbit so far.

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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's annual budget for 2009 is $3.8 b (up from $3.3 b in 2008) - the biggest ever for a charitable foundation.

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Singapore's exports amount to 186% of its GDP.

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In January 2009, more vehicles were bought in China than America for the first time.

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98.99% of Norway's electricity comes from hydroelectric plants.

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Iceland is 3 times as big as Belgium, but with only 300,000 inhabitants.

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Every year but one since the end of WWII, British soldiers have died in some corner of the world.

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Increasing broadband penetration in a typical American state by a percentage point raises employment by 0.2%-03.% a year.

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Royal Bank of Scotland made a £28 billion ($52 billion) loss in 2008, the biggest in British history.

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Goodwill and other intangibles on the books of companies in the S&P 500 are valued at $2.6 trillion, or 10% of their total assets.

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Hydropower produces about 15% of the world’s electricity, compared with 3% for other renewables.

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At around 400 gms, a typical glass wine bottle is around 8 times heavier than a plasic one.

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Over half the world's population lives within 100 kms of the sea; a 10th live within 10 kms.

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