Adventure in 60 Seconds: The News

Reported by A.C. Howard and Tetsuhiko Endo

When it comes to spring break, a growing number of college students are choosing community development over keg stands reports CNN. Dubbed “alternative Spring Break Programs” young people can sign up through organizations like Break Away and the United Way of America to go to needy areas of the United States and contribute to volunteer projects.

Surfline has posted this harrowing video of surfing hellman Ryan Hipwood pulling off an amazing air-drop at the infamous Tasmanian wave Shipstern Bluff, which is known for the vicious stairsteps that wobble up the face of the waves due to an uneven bottom contour. Don’t try this at home, or anywhere. 

A forty-five-yard asteroid, 2009 DD45, passed uncomfortably close to the Earth's surface on Monday (March 2). CNN reports that while preventing a disaster is possible, if the asteroid is known about for decades in advance. But if it is a surprise, there could be a potential disaster.

The reefs of the Hawaiian islands no longer have to fear outbreaks of reef damaging algae, thanks to the invention of the "Supersucker." The New York Times has a video of the vacuuming of the algae from the reef.

Shark attacks on humans are the lowest they have been in a half-decade, reports George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File, on CNN. He claims the difficult economic times are to blame for the downturn, with less people vacationing to the beach and exotic places with higher shark ratios.