CALIFORNIA

Gamification is the application of game mechanics like progression, prestige, competition and social feedback in non-gaming environments to change user behavior. In the pre-digital world, gamification took the form of marketing programs like frequent-flier miles, for example, but the Internet has taken gamification into more interactive and innovative areas.

Bryce Harper makes his debut for the Washington Nationals tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sebastian Thrun, Google X founder and Stanford professor, appeared on Charlie Rose yesterday adorning his latest creation, Project Glass.

Investors might be in for another week of gloomy economic news. The U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, Institute for Supply Management data, and the European Central Bank's monthly policy meeting are key items on the economic calendar from April 30 to May 4.

Astronomers have found a new planet they believe can sustain life. Located approximately 22 light years away from Earth, Gliese 667Cc was found to be in the middle of a Goldilocks zone, an area that is no too close to a sun or too far away where life can freeze.

As Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine approach their first year of marriage on Sunday, online travel adviser Cheapflights has come up with a list of its top 10 travel destinations to celebrate wedding anniversaries.

Steve Carter, a 35-year-old software salesman, has found himself on a missing children's website. Carter, who was adopted at age 4 from an orphanage in Honolulu, was browsing online one day and came across a missing children's website when his curiosity got the best of him.

Several jellyfish-like creatures have clogged the seawater intake at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station, in California on Thursday. These slimy sea creatures caused operators to shut down the Diablo Canyon plant in San Luis Obispo County.

Even supermodels are not invulnerable to wardrobe malfunctions. Stephanie Seymour left little to the imagination on Tuesday night at the Chanel Tribeca Film Fest party in New York City. in a sheer black Chanel dress. Check out hers and other celebrity wardrobe malfunctions.

Britney Spears has been all over the news lately, and thank goodness it's not due to another meltdown (2008 was such a crazy year). The latest in Britney news is that the pop star's fiancé, Jason Trawick, has been appointed as her co-conservator. So who is the man that pop princess Britney Spears is head over heels for?

Child-marriages have been illegal in India since the 2006 passage of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, but the practice persists unabated, particularly among the rural poor.

fter all the fame and popularity bestowed upon her by the public and media ever since she gave birth to octuplets, Nadya Suleman seems to be regretting everything. Her house was investigated for child neglect following a complaint registered by her hairstylist. The Octomom now says that she has been set up by her hairdresser and that she would reverse it all if she could.

In new animal studies, scientists have succeeded in transforming scar tissue in the heart into muscle cells without the use of stem cells or surgery, raising hopes for better recovery in heart disease patients.

An absent-minded burglar, Shane Jackman, broke into a home early morning on Tuesday only to discover he had left some personal items in the house. Jackman called the homeowner's brother, asking if he could return to the house for an exchange.

The bond market focused Thursday on weak economic data while equity investors responded to news that an unexpectedly high number of people sought first-time jobless benefits, leaving both types of securities higher.

Blueberries and strawberries may slow memory loss in women, according to a new study. The findings add to the list of potential health effects from these superfoods.

Helen Schofield, the owner of New Zealand's Franklin Zoo died yesterday when an elephant crushed her to death. The zoo owner had been attempting to get the elephant into an animal sanctuary in California.

The discovery this week of the fourth U.S. case of mad cow disease was one of two things for food safety experts: a validation of a decade-long focused surveillance regime or a lucky break that highlights the need to revisit previously scrapped efforts for more comprehensive surveillance.

Marine Corp Sergeant Gary Stein has been discharged from the Marine Corps after criticizing President Barack Obama on Facebook.

Boeing Co turned in a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as the company was able to ramp up production to meet rising demand.

Octomom Nadya Suleman may be under investigation for child neglect and collecting $2000 on month in food stamps from the state of California, but that hasn't stopped the mother of 14 from spending $520 on her hair.