One Creature Had A Bite More Powerful Than Any Other

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Imagine a great cavernous mouth, edged by hundreds of razor-sharp teeth. Powerful muscles work to rip flesh, crush bone and close the maw with terrific speed. Such terrifying jaws are familiar from monster movies, from Jaws to Godzilla. But back in the real world, which animal has the worst bite of them all?

To really deliver a powerful bite an animal needs a big mouth, lots of strong teeth, and powerful muscles. To find the worst bite, we have to search on land, underwater and back in the mists of time.

Legends Of The Game

Hilarious advertising from Mercedes. Roger Federer and te Mercedes-Benz SL - two rare performers whose greatness is undisputed. Watch them together in this time-spanning video that's unlike anything you've seen before.



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16 Bizarre Victorian Inventions

If you think that organs and bones crushing corsets were the most bizarre creation of the Victorian era, you could not be more wrong. Victorians have come up with its fair share of weird inventions.

Even though this era was a long period of peace and prosperity, science was going through a weird phase. Here are 16 bizarre inventions from the Victorian era, some useful, and some... not so much.

Rediscovering The Value And Joy Of Fasting

Bring lunch!

(via Bad Newspaper)

Survivor Trees Around The World

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Every now and then, a calamity - either natural or man-made - strikes humanity and just when it appears that no living being could survive the catastrophe, out comes a tree standing brave and resilient among the ruins.

There are countless examples of trees that have emerged survivors of disastrous events. Thanks to the wide coverage by the media, some have found fame and respect beyond their geographical and political boundaries. Here are some of those survivor trees.

Dog Pops 100 Balloons In 39.08 Seconds

Once she pops, Twinkie can't stop! Twinkie the Jack Russell Terrier from California, USA can burst 100 balloons in just 39.08 seconds.



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Ancient Egyptian Prince Was The World's First Archaeologist

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Prince Khaemwaset was the fourth and best known son of Ramesses II. His contributions to Egyptian society were remembered for centuries after his death. Khaemweset has been described as 'the first Egyptologist' due to his efforts in identifying and restoring historic buildings, tombs and temples.

(via Miss Cellania)

The Origin Of The Turtle Shell Lies In Digging

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In today's turtles the shell has a key protective function. The animals can withdraw into it and protect themselves against predators. No other group of vertebrates has modified its physique to such an extent to develop an impenetrable protective structure.

But the earliest beginnings of the turtle shell did not serve a protective function. The proto-shell enabled the animals to burrow into the ground and brave inhospitable environmental conditions in subterranean dens.

Goggle-Eyed Cuttlefish

Researchers aboard the E/V Nautilus - a research vessel which is exploring the ocean off the coast of California - are blown away by this adorable, goggle eyed cuttlefish.



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The Secret Language Of Flight Attendants

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Have you ever eavesdropped on an airline cabin crew, and wondered the meanings of their jargon? What does 'cross-check' mean? Or 'all-call?' And what does 'spinner' means, and 'deadhead?' The airline world has its own shoptalk and jargon, and listening passengers can discover an entirely new language.

This Device Was The iPod Of The 1970s (Sort Of)

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When it was first released, the iPod flew off shelves with the promise of storing 1,000 songs. Thirty years prior, fitting that much music in a single piece of consumer equipment was unheard of - except in the case of the Panasonic RS-296US.

While it was far from portable at 40lbs, the Panasonic RS-296US could 'store' 20 cassettes - roughly two-days worth of music - and the order the music played in was fully programmable.

Pac-Dog

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(thanks Joe)

Umwelt

A time-lapse of blooming flowers with insects.



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(thanks Cora)

How Much Is an Olympic Gold Medal Really Worth?

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There are three components to the value of an Olympic gold medal. First, there is the price that can be fetched by selling the precious metal used to make it. Second, there is the prize that is awarded to Olympic winners. Third, there are the potential endorsements that come with an Olympic win, which are not guaranteed but the next closest thing to it, particularly when Olympic winners are either marketable or rare in their countries or both.

Calculating the value of an Olympic gold medal is neither simple nor straightforward, though there are plenty of statistics out there that can be used to come up with useful estimates.

(thanks Nathaniel)

The Beautiful Fishing Village Of Nazaré

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Nazaré is a colorful fishing village in the Costa de Prata in Portugal. With a beautiful sandy beach and the rhythm of the pounding waves, Nazaré is a perfect place for undisturbed walks along the shore, surfing, tanning and, of course, fishing.

Pond Safari

Microscopic life in a single drop of pond water.



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(thanks Cora)

George Ohr: The Mad Potter Of Biloxi

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George Ohr was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, on July 12, 1857. He tried his hand at various trades before he became interested in ceramics in 1879. Ohr studied the potter's trade with Joseph Meyer in New Orleans.

A notable feature of Ohr's pottery is its thin walls, metallic glazes, and twisted, pinched shapes; to this day, few potters have been able to replicate them using a pottery wheel, which is how George Ohr made his works.

Human Athletes Fare Versus Most Average Animals

Usain Bolt might be the fastest man alive, but an average warthog could probably take him. The Olympics may have us all misty-eyed at the heights (and lengths, and speeds, and depths) of human achievement.

But if we were ever to open the stadium gates to the whole animal kingdom, we'd quickly be put back in our place. Here's a graphic chart of how the best humanity has to offer stacks up against other animals' average Joes.

Remember Those Great Volkswagen Ads?

The story of the charming, honest ad campaign that DDB Worldwide Communications Group created for VW... universally acknowledged to be the greatest and most influential of all time.



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How It's Made: Shuttlecocks

A shuttlecock (also called a bird or birdie) is a high-drag projectile used in the sport of badminton.



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(thanks Cora)