A team of roboticists from the Interactive Architecture Lab has developed an interactive climbing frame, that can roam designated play areas, searching for children to play with it.
YouTube link
Friday 31 July 2015
How To Avoid Getting Pickpocketed
image credit
A couple centuries ago, pickpocketing was the scourge of cities around the world. From Dickens' London to New York City's famous Five Points, skilled thieves practiced their craft, filching the valuables of passersby without the victim noticing a thing.
In fact, that's how pockets in clothing got their start: Prior to the 17th century, men and women alike carried their valuables in purses outside the body; they then started tying pouches inside their clothes in an attempt to thwart would-be 'cutpurses' and thieves. To avoid finding yourself in that kind of aggravating mess, you simply need to take a few precautions that'll greatly reduce your vulnerability to pickpockets.
A couple centuries ago, pickpocketing was the scourge of cities around the world. From Dickens' London to New York City's famous Five Points, skilled thieves practiced their craft, filching the valuables of passersby without the victim noticing a thing.
In fact, that's how pockets in clothing got their start: Prior to the 17th century, men and women alike carried their valuables in purses outside the body; they then started tying pouches inside their clothes in an attempt to thwart would-be 'cutpurses' and thieves. To avoid finding yourself in that kind of aggravating mess, you simply need to take a few precautions that'll greatly reduce your vulnerability to pickpockets.
The California Alligator Farm
image credit
In 1907, Francis Earnest and Joe Campbell opened a unique attraction in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The California Alligator Farm boasted over a thousand of the toothy reptiles, from adorable hatchlings to massive adults.
After paying $0.25 for admission, visitors could peruse alligator handbags in the gift shop, watch a trained gator slide down a 16-foot chute or take pictures of their children riding atop the animals. The farm was moved to Buena Park in 1953, and finally closed in 1984.
In 1907, Francis Earnest and Joe Campbell opened a unique attraction in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The California Alligator Farm boasted over a thousand of the toothy reptiles, from adorable hatchlings to massive adults.
After paying $0.25 for admission, visitors could peruse alligator handbags in the gift shop, watch a trained gator slide down a 16-foot chute or take pictures of their children riding atop the animals. The farm was moved to Buena Park in 1953, and finally closed in 1984.
Around The World In 30 Unique Modes Of Transport
Traveling the world and exploring new places is incredibly exciting, and it doesn't stop there. When you arrive at the destination, you will want to explore even more - and the unique modes of transport found around the world can really add to this experience.
You may get to use the double decker Dubai Trolley, the tuk-tuks in Thailand, Reindeer sleds in Finland, or even the extremely fast Bullet Train in Japan. Here's a list of 30 modes of transport that make cars and buses seem rather boring.
(thanks Harry)
Jammin' With Jellies
Jellyfish are all around us, helping maintain the delicate ecosystem of the world's oceans, yet most of us rarely see them. Be mesmerized by billowing bells and flowing tentacles at the all-new Jammin' with Jellies exhibit at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, WA., USA.
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
Pluto Has An Atmosphere, Moons, And Maybe Geological Activity. Can We Call It A Planet Now?
image credit NASA
The New Horizons spacecraft's flyby of Pluto on July 14 is making the former planet come alive. High-resolution images have put a face on this once-mysterious world. We've probed its atmosphere and imaged its moons for the first time.
Icy peaks rivaling the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains slice through its lower atmosphere, and nitrogen glaciers have carved up its surface sometime in recent geological history. Can we call it a planet now? It depends who you ask.
The New Horizons spacecraft's flyby of Pluto on July 14 is making the former planet come alive. High-resolution images have put a face on this once-mysterious world. We've probed its atmosphere and imaged its moons for the first time.
Icy peaks rivaling the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains slice through its lower atmosphere, and nitrogen glaciers have carved up its surface sometime in recent geological history. Can we call it a planet now? It depends who you ask.
10 Cave Dwellings Around The World You Should Visit
image credit
Ever wondered how it feels like to live during the times that towering apartments and gated homes didn't exist and all you have is a mountain to carve on or land to dig in? You better go back to the ancient, and still existing, homes better known as cave dwellings.
Ever wondered how it feels like to live during the times that towering apartments and gated homes didn't exist and all you have is a mountain to carve on or land to dig in? You better go back to the ancient, and still existing, homes better known as cave dwellings.
Thursday 30 July 2015
The Workshop
The Workshop is a CGI 3D animated short film by Robert Moore and Laszlo Mandi.
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
Why Russian Astronauts Pee On A Bus Tire Before Launching Into Space, And Other Pre-Flight Rituals
Imagine it: you're an astronaut and launch day for your first spaceflight has arrived. Years of intense study and training have culminated in this moment. You're suited up and ready to go. In mere minutes, you'll be getting strapped into your spacecraft and blasting into the cosmos.
So, how do you spend these final precious moments on Earth? If you're flying from the U.S., you'll probably play poker. If you're flying aboard a spaceflight leaving from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, you'll be ordered to pee on the back-right tire of a bus. It's tradition.
5 Ways Plants Communicate
image credit
You may not think of plants as particularly chatty or active organisms, but they're not as passive as they might seem. Plants can't run away, so they have to develop other strategies to stay alive.
They've evolved the use of chemicals to communicate with insects and each other in order to thrive. Here are five behaviors that show how active plants can be.
You may not think of plants as particularly chatty or active organisms, but they're not as passive as they might seem. Plants can't run away, so they have to develop other strategies to stay alive.
They've evolved the use of chemicals to communicate with insects and each other in order to thrive. Here are five behaviors that show how active plants can be.
The Time Zone Rebels Of The World
image credit
In 1934, representatives from 26 countries gathered in Washington DC for the International Meridian Conference. The goal was to establish an official longitude off of which to base the international standard of time.
Creating a Standard Time set the stage for the birth of time deviants; populations that vary from a handful of counties in Indiana to the entire Republic of China, that determine their own standards of time based on the constantly shifting nature of geopolitical relationships.
In 1934, representatives from 26 countries gathered in Washington DC for the International Meridian Conference. The goal was to establish an official longitude off of which to base the international standard of time.
Creating a Standard Time set the stage for the birth of time deviants; populations that vary from a handful of counties in Indiana to the entire Republic of China, that determine their own standards of time based on the constantly shifting nature of geopolitical relationships.
The Whale Warehouse
The public only gets to see a carefully curated version of the collections at natural history museums. Hidden from view, there's a second museum, sprawling in scope, full of character and occasionally gross. No place is more hidden than the Whale Warehouse.
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
The 5 Most Bizarre Weapons Of World War II
image credit
Unfortunately, war can drive innovation. During World War II, the world's major powers set their sights on advancing technology, medicine, and communications in order to be efficient and fearsome in battle. Some of the advancements made in WWII were fundamental to modern technology - others, not so much.
Here is a look at some of the most bizarre, useless, and downright insane weapons developed on both sides during WWII.
Unfortunately, war can drive innovation. During World War II, the world's major powers set their sights on advancing technology, medicine, and communications in order to be efficient and fearsome in battle. Some of the advancements made in WWII were fundamental to modern technology - others, not so much.
Here is a look at some of the most bizarre, useless, and downright insane weapons developed on both sides during WWII.
Wednesday 29 July 2015
Don't Park In The Bike Lane
This Brazilian strongman knows how to handle a car parked in a bike lane.
YouTube link
(via Neatorama)
YouTube link
(via Neatorama)
8 Of The World's Strangest Burial Spots
image credit: Raymond Bucko
Death could take you at any time, so it is always a good idea to have some instructions in place for how you would like to be buried. But why settle for a boring underground burial when you could have your body stored for its eternal rest in all sorts of interesting places?
In fact, all over the world, people have been burying the dead in unexpected locales. To help inspire you, here are eight weird places around the world where people have been interred.
Death could take you at any time, so it is always a good idea to have some instructions in place for how you would like to be buried. But why settle for a boring underground burial when you could have your body stored for its eternal rest in all sorts of interesting places?
In fact, all over the world, people have been burying the dead in unexpected locales. To help inspire you, here are eight weird places around the world where people have been interred.
How To Fix A Phone Dropped In The Toilet
Given the prevalence of mobile phones in today's modern society, dropping a phone down the toilet is probably most people's worst nightmare. Don't worry though; you don't have to resign yourself to a life of cold sweats or a lighter wallet.
This handy infographic walks you through the steps of giving the kiss of life to your pride and joy; plus what you shouldn't do unless you want to resign your phone to an early grave.
(thanks Ant)
How Indiana Jones Actually Changed Archaeology
image credit
Don your leather jacket and fedora, strap on a satchel, and get that bullwhip cracking: It's time to explore the mythical intersection of Hollywood fantasy and real-world discovery.
Three decades ago, Indiana Jones's swashbuckling brand of archaeology inspired a generation of moviegoers. Now a new exhibit at the National Geographic Museum pays homage to the actual artifacts and archaeologists that inspired Indy's creation.
Don your leather jacket and fedora, strap on a satchel, and get that bullwhip cracking: It's time to explore the mythical intersection of Hollywood fantasy and real-world discovery.
Three decades ago, Indiana Jones's swashbuckling brand of archaeology inspired a generation of moviegoers. Now a new exhibit at the National Geographic Museum pays homage to the actual artifacts and archaeologists that inspired Indy's creation.
World Record Semi Truck Jump
Daredevil Gregg Godfrey jumped his semi-truck 166 feet to set a new world record and beat the previous record by more than 100 feet during the festivities at Evel Knievel Days in Butte, Montana, USA.
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
Inflatable Installations: 18 Fun Projects Full Of Hot Air
image credit
Inflatables are good for more than just pool toys and camping beds - they also come in the form of giant tentacles springing from open windows, the world's largest rubber duck and gigantic piles of crap.
Blow-up buildings can have a practical purpose but sometimes oversized inflatables are just for fun, transforming both interior and exterior environments and bringing shock value to art festivals around the world.
Inflatables are good for more than just pool toys and camping beds - they also come in the form of giant tentacles springing from open windows, the world's largest rubber duck and gigantic piles of crap.
Blow-up buildings can have a practical purpose but sometimes oversized inflatables are just for fun, transforming both interior and exterior environments and bringing shock value to art festivals around the world.
Scientists Figure Out Pendulum Clock Puzzle That Dates Back Centuries
After more than three centuries, scientists say they have figured out why pendulum clocks hung on the same wall tend to sync up - with one clock's pendulum swinging to the left just as the other swings right.
The strange phenomenon was first observed in 1665 by Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens. No matter how the clocks started, he noticed that within about 30 minutes their pendulums wound up swinging in precisely opposite directions.
Tuesday 28 July 2015
How Do Fireflies Glow? Mystery Solved After 60 Years
image credit: s58y
Think of the firefly abdomen like a black box of bioluminescence. For around 60 years, scientists have known what basic ingredients go into the box - things like oxygen, calcium, magnesium, and a naturally occurring chemical called luciferin. And they've known what comes out of the box - photons, or light, in the form of the yellow, green, orange, and even blue flickers you see dancing across your backyard on summer nights.
But until recently, the actual chemical reactions that produce the firefly's light have been shrouded in mystery. Now, that mystery has been solved.
Think of the firefly abdomen like a black box of bioluminescence. For around 60 years, scientists have known what basic ingredients go into the box - things like oxygen, calcium, magnesium, and a naturally occurring chemical called luciferin. And they've known what comes out of the box - photons, or light, in the form of the yellow, green, orange, and even blue flickers you see dancing across your backyard on summer nights.
But until recently, the actual chemical reactions that produce the firefly's light have been shrouded in mystery. Now, that mystery has been solved.
The World's Richest Companies That Don't Actually Exist
Ever wondered what the most successful fictional company would be? Here's an infographic about the world's richest companies that don't actually exist. The infographic provides information about made up companies from books, cartoons, TV shows, movies, computer games and comics including a description of each business and its annual turnover.
What Do Machines Sing Of?
What do machines sing of? is a fully automated machine, which endlessly sings number-one ballads from the 1990s. As the computer program performs these emotionally loaded songs, it attempts to apply the appropriate human sentiments.
Vimeo link
Vimeo link
Flags Of The World: The Stories Behind Them
Many people could tell you what the stars and stripes represent on the flag of the USA, or why the Canadian flag is emblazoned with a maple leaf. But most of these people could not be as confident in clarifying the reasons for the unusual shape of the Nepalese flag and would struggle to explain the reasons behind the curious presence of an AK-47 on the flag of Mozambique.
A flag is not simply designed to look good flying in the wind, but often symbolises the culture, history and ideals of a nation. Just The Flight has explored the stories behind some of the world's most interesting and recognisable national flags.
(thanks Harry)
11 Dickensian Facts About 'Great Expectations'
image credit
Great Expectations begins when a boy named Pip encounters an escaped convict in a graveyard. The gripping story that emerges from there includes money from a mysterious benefactor, a bewitching and cold-hearted girl, and the shut-in Miss Havisham, forever clothed in a tattered wedding gown.
It's no wonder that so many people consider Great Expectations to be one of Charles Dickens's best works.
Great Expectations begins when a boy named Pip encounters an escaped convict in a graveyard. The gripping story that emerges from there includes money from a mysterious benefactor, a bewitching and cold-hearted girl, and the shut-in Miss Havisham, forever clothed in a tattered wedding gown.
It's no wonder that so many people consider Great Expectations to be one of Charles Dickens's best works.
Monday 27 July 2015
Do Or Donut
After three weeks of hard training the sugar addicted and not so thin astronaut is ready to discover the universe.
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
How To Make A Mossarium
image credit: liz west
A mossarium is a container in which moss is grown. Mossariums are simple, low maintenance and fun. They're durable and will last a long time. You can get moss from your backyard, from your favorite trips, or delivered in the mail. All you need is a jar, rocks, Spanish Moss (dried moss you can get at craft stores), moss and water.
A mossarium is a container in which moss is grown. Mossariums are simple, low maintenance and fun. They're durable and will last a long time. You can get moss from your backyard, from your favorite trips, or delivered in the mail. All you need is a jar, rocks, Spanish Moss (dried moss you can get at craft stores), moss and water.
The Incredible Way Some Warships Are Launched Into Water For The First Time
Until the middle of the 19th century, ships were almost always launched stern-first, the way they had been for thousands of years. But as technology improved, ships grew in size, and the space constraints of narrow waterways led to the need of new launching practices.
By World War II, side launches had become common. Now side launches are the only way to move battleships into the water for the first time if they're being launched into smaller waterways such as rivers or inlets.
Giant 'Chicken Church' In The Middle Of Indonesian Jungle
image credit Vimeo
Buried deep inside the Indonesian jungle is a very odd structure, shaped like a giant chicken. The long abandoned construction is locally known as Gereja Ayam.
This strange construction was designed to be a church, but according to its creator, the building is neither a chicken nor a church. Daniel Alamsjah revealed that he was working in Jakarta when he suddenly received a divine message from God to build a prayer room in the form of a dove.
Buried deep inside the Indonesian jungle is a very odd structure, shaped like a giant chicken. The long abandoned construction is locally known as Gereja Ayam.
This strange construction was designed to be a church, but according to its creator, the building is neither a chicken nor a church. Daniel Alamsjah revealed that he was working in Jakarta when he suddenly received a divine message from God to build a prayer room in the form of a dove.
Air Pollution
Using a simple yet evocative narrative this film explains the causes and effects and asks the question, 'What's the air quality like where you are today?'
Vimeo link
(thanks Stefan)
Vimeo link
(thanks Stefan)
The BioParc Of Valencia
Designed in a way that makes cages (almost) obsolete, the BioParc in Valencia, Spain allows an unobstructed view of the animals, and lets you get close to them... uncomfortably close, sometimes. It feels like there are no fences and the animals roam free.
Except for the areas where the Gorillas, Leopards and lions are. There a glass separates you from the animals. The BioParc opened its doors in 2008 and currently, it's home to 4000 animals of 250 species, with a special focus on the fauna of Africa.
(thanks Juergen)
The 56 Greatest Musical Moments In Guitar History
image credit
Here are 56 events of the coolest, greatest, and most important musical moments in the history of the modern six-string.
Here are 56 events of the coolest, greatest, and most important musical moments in the history of the modern six-string.
Sunday 26 July 2015
The Bridge At Q'eswachaka
Every year, local communities on either side of the Apurimac River Canyon use traditional Inka engineering techniques to rebuild the Q'eswachaka Bridge in Peru. The entire bridge is built in only three days. The bridge has been rebuilt in this same location continually since the time of the Inkas.
YouTube link
YouTube link
Pictures Of Legendary Soviet Car GAZ-M20 Pobeda On The Streets Of The U.S. In The 1950s
image credit
The GAZ-M20 Pobeda was a passenger car produced in the Soviet Union from 1946 until 1958. The car was a successful export for the USSR, and the design was licensed to the Polish FSO factory in Warsaw, where it was built as the FSO Warszawa beginning in 1951, continuing until 1973.
The Pobeda was the first Soviet automobile to have turn signals, two electric wipers, an electric heater, and a built-in AM radio. The car came to be a symbol of postwar Soviet life and is today a popular collector's item.
The GAZ-M20 Pobeda was a passenger car produced in the Soviet Union from 1946 until 1958. The car was a successful export for the USSR, and the design was licensed to the Polish FSO factory in Warsaw, where it was built as the FSO Warszawa beginning in 1951, continuing until 1973.
The Pobeda was the first Soviet automobile to have turn signals, two electric wipers, an electric heater, and a built-in AM radio. The car came to be a symbol of postwar Soviet life and is today a popular collector's item.
Brazilian Police Fail At Drifting
Brazilian police were parading down the street in Toyota Fortuners with sirens blaring and lights flashing. One of them was drifting and managed to flip his car right in front of the cameraman.
YouTube link
YouTube link
10 Facts About War In The Middle Ages
image credit
Medieval warfare distinguished itself from combat in Antiquity through a series of social and technological developments including a shift in military strategy and new types of fortifications and weaponry. Here are 10 facts which relate to war during the Medieval period.
Medieval warfare distinguished itself from combat in Antiquity through a series of social and technological developments including a shift in military strategy and new types of fortifications and weaponry. Here are 10 facts which relate to war during the Medieval period.
The Fortified Towns Of M'Zab Valley
image credit: Groundhopping Merseburg
M'Zab is a deep, narrow oasis valley located within the Sahara, consisting of five walled towns. The five towns, together known as the Pentapolis, were established in the 11th century by Mozabite Berbers.
The Mozabites were originally from a region historically known as the Maghreb. Their home town was Tahert. When a devastating fire destroyed their home in 909, the Mozabites left Tahert and settled in M'Zab valley. There, they built five fortified towns - each a miniature citadel, encircled by walls, and dominated by a mosque, whose minaret functioned as a watchtower.
M'Zab is a deep, narrow oasis valley located within the Sahara, consisting of five walled towns. The five towns, together known as the Pentapolis, were established in the 11th century by Mozabite Berbers.
The Mozabites were originally from a region historically known as the Maghreb. Their home town was Tahert. When a devastating fire destroyed their home in 909, the Mozabites left Tahert and settled in M'Zab valley. There, they built five fortified towns - each a miniature citadel, encircled by walls, and dominated by a mosque, whose minaret functioned as a watchtower.
Lamborghini LP740 - Birth
Commercial directed by Alessandro Pacciani about the birth of the Lamborghini Aventador.
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
Saturday 25 July 2015
What Is Malaria And How Is it Transmitted?
image credit
This week a revolutionary vaccine was approved by the European Medicines Agency afer yielding impressive results in clinical trials earlier this year. But what is malaria, and why does it pose such a catastrophic danger to humans across the globe?
This week a revolutionary vaccine was approved by the European Medicines Agency afer yielding impressive results in clinical trials earlier this year. But what is malaria, and why does it pose such a catastrophic danger to humans across the globe?
The Wildlife Warehouse
Just outside Denver, a government facility stores more than a million products of the illegal wildlife trade, from tigers and bears to elephant ivory.
These items are confiscated at points of entry around the United States, and sent to the National Wildlife Property Repository to be destroyed or used for educational purposes. The Repository is a revealing window into the growing global industry of wildlife and plant trafficking, which has been estimated at up to $23 billion.
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
These items are confiscated at points of entry around the United States, and sent to the National Wildlife Property Repository to be destroyed or used for educational purposes. The Repository is a revealing window into the growing global industry of wildlife and plant trafficking, which has been estimated at up to $23 billion.
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
A Brief Look At Toilets Around The World
In most parts of the world you know a toilet when you see one. They look a bit like a throne and they're usually white. But elsewhere the experience may not be the same.
It's only when you go to places like India and China that you discover our porcelain thrones aren't even the most popular way to do your business. The world of toilets is a strange one indeed, so here's an infographic that takes a brief look at toilets around the world.
(thanks Aaron)
12 Bizarre Moments In Tech And Innovation History
A million minutes of archived video footage has revealed a strange and awkward new look at the history of technology. Associated Press and British Movietone have announced they will upload at least 550,000 videos from more than 120 years of history across two YouTube channels.
The videos, which are free to watch and can be purchased for use in other forms, offer what AP called a 'a unique perspective on the most significant moments of modern history.'
Friday 24 July 2015
The Terrafugia TF-X
US-based Terrafugia is showing the new Outer Mold Line for the TF-X, Terrafugia's vision for the future of personal transportation. The TF-X will be a four-seat, vertical takeoff and landing hybrid electric aircraft that makes flying easier and safer than ever before.
YouTube link
YouTube link
Nakano In Spring
Los Angeles-based art duo Kozyndan made a panoramic of their 'Nakano in Spring' as a 360 degree Quicktime VR.
Adventures Of The League Of S.T.E.A.M.: A Rock And A Hard Place
A new adventure of The League of S.T.E.A.M. In 'A Rock and a Hard Place' Potts, Able, and Thaddeus venture into the Mojave to investigate the Mystery of the Moving Stones. Have they bitten off more than they can chew? Answer: Yes!
YouTube link
(thanks Trip)
YouTube link
(thanks Trip)
James Turrell's Roden Crater
image credit Google Earth
Artist James Turrell has been building a house inside an extinct volcano for the last 40 years. Roden Crater is an extinct volcanic cinder cone, located in the San Francisco Volcanic Field near Arizona's Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon. The cone is approximately 400,000 years old.
The volcano and the surrounding land was purchased by Los Angles-based artist James Turrell in 1979, with the intention of turning the cinder cone into a massive open air work of art consisting of a naked-eye observatory at the inner core, where guests could view and experience sky-light, solar, and celestial phenomena.
Artist James Turrell has been building a house inside an extinct volcano for the last 40 years. Roden Crater is an extinct volcanic cinder cone, located in the San Francisco Volcanic Field near Arizona's Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon. The cone is approximately 400,000 years old.
The volcano and the surrounding land was purchased by Los Angles-based artist James Turrell in 1979, with the intention of turning the cinder cone into a massive open air work of art consisting of a naked-eye observatory at the inner core, where guests could view and experience sky-light, solar, and celestial phenomena.
This Crazy Tree Grows 40 Kinds Of Fruit
Sam Van Aken, an artist and professor at Syracuse University, uses 'chip grafting' to create trees that each bear 40 different varieties of stone fruits, or fruits with pits.
The grafting process involves slicing a bit of a branch with a bud from a tree of one of the varieties and inserting it into a slit in a branch on the 'working tree,' then wrapping the wound with tape until it heals and the bud starts to grow into a new branch.
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
The grafting process involves slicing a bit of a branch with a bud from a tree of one of the varieties and inserting it into a slit in a branch on the 'working tree,' then wrapping the wound with tape until it heals and the bud starts to grow into a new branch.
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
4 Freaky Plane Designs That Reimagine The Golden Age Of Air Travel
image credit
For all their convenience, airplanes are one of the dirtiest modes of transportation out there. A fully loaded A380's CO2 output is equivalent to each passenger driving six cars an equivalent distance. But what if airplane designers in the 1940s and 1950s had worked to embrace energy sources besides petroleum? How might the history of aviation have played out?
For all their convenience, airplanes are one of the dirtiest modes of transportation out there. A fully loaded A380's CO2 output is equivalent to each passenger driving six cars an equivalent distance. But what if airplane designers in the 1940s and 1950s had worked to embrace energy sources besides petroleum? How might the history of aviation have played out?
23 Must-Watch Courtroom Moments From TV And Movies
image credit
Lots of memorable things can happen in a courtroom in the real world, but Hollywood has a way of making things seem bigger and more dramatic (or hilarious) on whichever-sized-screen it chooses.
This selection of 23 Must-Watch Courtroom Moments from TV and Movies may have you laughing hysterically one moment and throwing something at your computer screen the next. But that's the way it goes when lives and freedom are in the balance.
(thanks Casey)
Lots of memorable things can happen in a courtroom in the real world, but Hollywood has a way of making things seem bigger and more dramatic (or hilarious) on whichever-sized-screen it chooses.
This selection of 23 Must-Watch Courtroom Moments from TV and Movies may have you laughing hysterically one moment and throwing something at your computer screen the next. But that's the way it goes when lives and freedom are in the balance.
(thanks Casey)
Thursday 23 July 2015
Here Be Dragons: Amazing Statues And Sculptures Of Dragons Around The World
image credit: Ville Miettinen
In the Middle Ages the words 'hic sunt dracones' (here be dragons) appeared on a number of maps to indicate dangerous or unexplored territories. Yet dragons are still among us, dotted all over the globe.
From Europe to Asia and over to the Americas, ferocious beasts protect our cities and temples. Here is a collection of amazing dragon statues and sculptures from around the world.
In the Middle Ages the words 'hic sunt dracones' (here be dragons) appeared on a number of maps to indicate dangerous or unexplored territories. Yet dragons are still among us, dotted all over the globe.
From Europe to Asia and over to the Americas, ferocious beasts protect our cities and temples. Here is a collection of amazing dragon statues and sculptures from around the world.
Growth
An exploration of the universality of growing up through the eyes of those who have experienced it first hand. Captured entirely from above and featuring over 75 unique individuals, this meditative documentary explores the complexity, subtlety, and beauty of growing up.
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
Healing Spas And Ugly Clubs: How Victorians Taught Us To Treat People With Disabilities
image credit
In the 19th century, industrialization had created an obsessive demand for 'able-bodied workers' who could rapidly churn out mountains of goods, and suddenly, people too disabled to produce were seen as problem.
Trying to solve the problem of disability led to an abundance of inventions, hydrotherapy spas, a ban on sign language, and theories of eugenics. People with deformities were gawked at in freak shows but celebrated in Ugly Clubs. Stories about people with disabilities insisted they could compensate and overcome their disabilities themselves, instead of asking the rest of society to create a less ableist world.
(thanks Lisa)
In the 19th century, industrialization had created an obsessive demand for 'able-bodied workers' who could rapidly churn out mountains of goods, and suddenly, people too disabled to produce were seen as problem.
Trying to solve the problem of disability led to an abundance of inventions, hydrotherapy spas, a ban on sign language, and theories of eugenics. People with deformities were gawked at in freak shows but celebrated in Ugly Clubs. Stories about people with disabilities insisted they could compensate and overcome their disabilities themselves, instead of asking the rest of society to create a less ableist world.
(thanks Lisa)
Evolution Of U.S. Spacesuits
image credit
Spacesuits are vital for the survival of astronauts in space. Without the advancement of these amazing devices, humans would never be where we are today in terms of space travel.
Space suits are necessary for any extra vehicular activities in space, or in the case of a loss of cabin pressure in the space shuttles. Spacesuits have gone through lots of changes since Alan Shepard's history making flight in 1961, but how did the spacesuits of today evolve? Here's the amazing story behind the evolution of NASA spacesuits.
Spacesuits are vital for the survival of astronauts in space. Without the advancement of these amazing devices, humans would never be where we are today in terms of space travel.
Space suits are necessary for any extra vehicular activities in space, or in the case of a loss of cabin pressure in the space shuttles. Spacesuits have gone through lots of changes since Alan Shepard's history making flight in 1961, but how did the spacesuits of today evolve? Here's the amazing story behind the evolution of NASA spacesuits.
Duty Of Care: Protecting Children In War
War Child UK have just released an innovative, thought-provoking video, 'Duty of Care: Protecting Children in War', which subverts first-person shooting games by showing the horror of war through the eyes of Nima, a nine-year-old girl. The scenarios in the gaming-style video, including witnessing the shooting of a parent, are drawn from real-life testimonies of children in War Child's projects across Africa and the Middle East.
A shocking new statistic released by the child protection charity reveals that less than 3% of humanitarian funding is spent on protecting children in war zones, despite them making up more than 50% of the population. The HELP campaign is targeting the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit, which will determine the fates of millions of children worldwide, to ensure that this unjust disparity is addressed.
War Child: Sign the petition.
YouTube link
(thanks Laura)
A shocking new statistic released by the child protection charity reveals that less than 3% of humanitarian funding is spent on protecting children in war zones, despite them making up more than 50% of the population. The HELP campaign is targeting the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit, which will determine the fates of millions of children worldwide, to ensure that this unjust disparity is addressed.
War Child: Sign the petition.
YouTube link
(thanks Laura)
How Did The Grapefruit Get Its Name?
image credit
The grapefruit is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour to semi-sweet fruit. Grapefruit is a hybrid originating in Barbados as an accidental cross between two introduced species, sweet orange and pomelo or shaddock, both of which were introduced from Asia in the seventeenth century.
But how did the grapefruit get its name?
The grapefruit is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour to semi-sweet fruit. Grapefruit is a hybrid originating in Barbados as an accidental cross between two introduced species, sweet orange and pomelo or shaddock, both of which were introduced from Asia in the seventeenth century.
But how did the grapefruit get its name?
Why Isn't The Inventor Of SMS Better Known?
image credit
Quick. Who's the inventor of SMS? I guess you don't know. It's Finnish engineer Matti Makkonen. He died last month at the age of 63 and he was a titan of mobile technology.
It was Makkonen who, in 1984, first pitched the concept of text messaging over cellular networks. In the process, he kicked off a communications revolution. The trillions of text messages sent every year are his legacy.
Quick. Who's the inventor of SMS? I guess you don't know. It's Finnish engineer Matti Makkonen. He died last month at the age of 63 and he was a titan of mobile technology.
It was Makkonen who, in 1984, first pitched the concept of text messaging over cellular networks. In the process, he kicked off a communications revolution. The trillions of text messages sent every year are his legacy.
Wednesday 22 July 2015
Dreamscope
Google designed a visualization tool to help them understand how neural networks work and what each layer has learned. In addition to gaining some insight on how these networks carry out classification tasks, they found that this process also generated some very strange art.
Now you can run Google's Deep Dream magic on your own images with Dreamscope. Upload an image and choose between 16 example filters. This is what Dreamscope made of the Mona Lisa.
Now you can run Google's Deep Dream magic on your own images with Dreamscope. Upload an image and choose between 16 example filters. This is what Dreamscope made of the Mona Lisa.
Self Consciousness With NAO Bots
Three robots were told that two of them had been given 'dumbing pills' that rendered them unable to speak, and one a placebo. They were then asked if they had been given the dumbing pill or the placebo. This is the result of the test.
YouTube link
YouTube link
The History Of Aliens In Film
From their earliest cinematic appearance in Georges Méliès's "A Trip to the Moon" in 1902, our conception of life beyond Earth has changed to reflect our hopes and fears, the technology we've mastered, and our growing knowledge of the universe. Watch our depictions of extraterrestrial life change over nearly 100 films and 112 years.
YouTube link
(via Laughing Squid)
YouTube link
(via Laughing Squid)
4,000-Year-Old Tablets Found In Turkey Include Women's Rights
image credit
The Kültepe-Kaniş-Karum trade colony in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri continues to amaze archeologists, with an expert at the dig revealing that tablets citing women's rights were discovered at the Bronze Age settlement.
From women's rights to the adoption of children and marriages arranged at birth, the tablets include all kinds of civilizational and social data from Anatolia 4,000 years ago.
(via Humanyms)
The Kültepe-Kaniş-Karum trade colony in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri continues to amaze archeologists, with an expert at the dig revealing that tablets citing women's rights were discovered at the Bronze Age settlement.
From women's rights to the adoption of children and marriages arranged at birth, the tablets include all kinds of civilizational and social data from Anatolia 4,000 years ago.
(via Humanyms)
Explore Melbourne's Urban Forest
The City of Melbourne, Australia has developed a new website Urban Forest Visual that details the location, genus and lifespan of Melbourne's urban forest by precinct.
Melbourne maintains more than 70,000 trees. The interactive tree map allows you to explore Melbourne's tree data and learn more about the life expectancy and diversity of trees in the city.
(thanks Cora)
Iconic TV Living Rooms
For those not involved in the world of design, inspiration is usually sparked from the media, in particular our favourite TV shows. 80s wood panelling, 90s purple walls and even 00's periodic table shower curtains - they have all sparked a design trend and impacted the way we design our homes.
So take a look at this infographic from terrysfabrics that shows iconic TV living rooms and see if you can spot the unique impact they've had on your home.
(thanks sneha)
Tuesday 21 July 2015
The Wooden Palace Of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich
image credit
The royal estate of Kolomenskoye is one of the most popular sights in Moscow outside of the city center. During the reign of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich, Kolomenskoye became a royal residence and an wooden palace was built here in 1660s. It was a grand palace with rich exotic decor that was consistently admired by foreigners who saw it.
It became a favorite residence for both Tsar Alexis and his successors. Empress Elizabeth Petrovna was born in the palace in 1709, and Tsar Peter the Great spent part of his youth here. The palace survived until Catherine the Great had it demolished. The wooden palace you see in Kolomenskoye today is a replica built very recently from the original architectural plans.
The royal estate of Kolomenskoye is one of the most popular sights in Moscow outside of the city center. During the reign of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich, Kolomenskoye became a royal residence and an wooden palace was built here in 1660s. It was a grand palace with rich exotic decor that was consistently admired by foreigners who saw it.
It became a favorite residence for both Tsar Alexis and his successors. Empress Elizabeth Petrovna was born in the palace in 1709, and Tsar Peter the Great spent part of his youth here. The palace survived until Catherine the Great had it demolished. The wooden palace you see in Kolomenskoye today is a replica built very recently from the original architectural plans.
The Bizarre Story Of A Legal Battle Over A $16.5 Million 1954 Ferrari Racer
image credit: NAParish
The story all starts with the car, a 1954 Ferrari 375 Plus. The vehicle featured a 330 hp V12 engine, and it could achieve a top speed of 173 mph. Ferrari only constructed just five examples of the car for that year.
One of those 375's was sadly neglected and left for scraps after breaking down. This is where the first owner comes in, Karl Kleve. Karl found the rusting, burnt out chassis of the 375 in a lot one day and picked it up for $2,500 back in 1958 without realizing what he had on his hands. Since then it has become one of the most controversial cars around.
(via Miss Cellania)
The story all starts with the car, a 1954 Ferrari 375 Plus. The vehicle featured a 330 hp V12 engine, and it could achieve a top speed of 173 mph. Ferrari only constructed just five examples of the car for that year.
One of those 375's was sadly neglected and left for scraps after breaking down. This is where the first owner comes in, Karl Kleve. Karl found the rusting, burnt out chassis of the 375 in a lot one day and picked it up for $2,500 back in 1958 without realizing what he had on his hands. Since then it has become one of the most controversial cars around.
(via Miss Cellania)
How Much Do You Spend on Birthday Gifts?
No matter your age, we all get a little excited when it comes time to celebrate a birthday. However, when you're in the throes of a romantic relationship, picking out the perfect birthday gift can be a little intimidating. One of the most common questions is: How much should I spend?
While we can't put a price on love, ProFlowers conducted a survey of 1,500 people over 18, and asked how much they spent on their last significant other’s birthday. So what was the most common dollar amount people ended up spending?
(thanks Julissa)
18 Creepy Facts About 'Arachnophobia'
This skin-crawling classic 'Arachnophobia' turned 25 last week. Here are a few things you might not have known about the first (and last) 'thrill-omedy.'
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