Loopwheel – bicycle wheel with integral suspension
Reinventing the bicycle wheel: Loopwheel by Sam Pearce is a brand-new ‘pat pending’ 20″ bicycle wheel with integral suspension. For maximum comfort over bumps and less vibration from the road.
Predictions for Privacy in the Age of Facebook (from 1985!)
“The ubiquity and power of the computer blur the distinction between public and private information. Our revolution will not be in gathering data — don’t look for TV cameras in your bedroom — but in analyzing information that is already willingly shared.”
How to catch this week’s ‘Ring of Fire’ annular eclipse
The first solar eclipse of 2013 is upon us this week, with the May 10th annular eclipse crossing northern Australia and the Pacific. 2013 is an off year for eclipses. There are five eclipses this year, three lunars and two solars. Last month’s very shallow partial lunar eclipse set us up for the annular that occurs this week. In fact, the [...]
Secret of the Immortal Worms
Dr Aziz Aboobaker on the discovery of a gene which helps explain the mysterious healing powers of his immortal worms.
Lands of two seasons: the world’s Mediterranean climate ecosystems
Great weather, abundant harvests, fabulous food, some of the world’s most cosmopolitan, and romantic, cities — as well as the world’s most critical biodiversity hotspots — make up what are known as Mediterranean-climate Ecosystems.
Creationism is not appropriate for children
Evolution is the fundamental idea in all of life science, in all of biology. According to Bill Nye, aka “the science guy,” if grownups want to “deny evolution and live in your world that’s completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe, that’s fine, but don’t make your kids do it because we need them.”
U.S. and Israel compete in designing VTOL aircraft
Aircraft designers all over the world continue to invent the aircraft that would take off vertically and remain a fast-flying vehicle, rather than a slow-speed helicopter. High speed, efficiency and elegant design is what creators of a completely new aircraft need. The versatility of helicopters and other aircraft of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) makes [...]
Seal fur industry defeated
BRUSSELS - The European General Court has wisely decided to uphold the European Union’s ban on commercial trade in seal products. The court rejected a spurious attempt by the sealing and fur trade industries and some Inuit representatives to undermine the ban, which plays a key role in curbing the cruel global trade. Court Dismisses Fur Industry Attempt to Overturn EU Ban on Cruel Seal Products – Humane Society International [...]
iPhone Application Developer… and 6th Grader: Thomas Suarez at TEDxManhattanBeach
Thomas Suarez is a 6th grade student at a middle school in the South Bay of Los Angeles. When Apple released the Software Development Kit (SDK), he began to create and sell his own applications. “My parents, my friends and even the people at the Apple store all supported me,” he says, “and Steve Jobs [...]
Slavery in US history
John Green teaches you about America’s “peculiar institution,” slavery. I wouldn’t really call it peculiar. I’d lean more toward horrifying and depressing institution, but nobody asked me. John will talk about what life was like for a slave in the 19th century United States, and how slaves resisted oppression, to the degree that was possible. We’ll hear about cotton plantations, violent punishment of slaves, day to day slave life, and slave rebellions. Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, and Whipped Peter all make an appearance. Slavery as an institution is arguably the darkest part of America’s history, and we’re still dealing with its aftermath 150 years after it ended.
