Natural Architecture

There's a number of artists hacking the way that nature controls itself to make organisms build some pretty awesome structures for us. But does architecture change itself?

INTERPOL Arrest of Dick Cheney

Yes, it's true, it actually happened. And he and other executives actually bribed their way out of bribery charges with a few hundred million dollars, which is just a tiny amount of the six billion dollars worth of energy Halliburton extracted from Nigeria while devastating the country's environment.

I remember when this was all trees

The Size of Things

A walkthrough, at your own pace, showing things of every size, from the fabric of space-time to the edge of the observable universe.

Tuition Riots in England

Remember how every student in England is rioting right now? They are extremely upset about the raising of tuition and how unfairly high tuition rates could become. They find it an outrage that they might have to pay up to £9000 in tuition! £9000!! 
£9000?! That's ridiculously high. I think...
That's $13,861 in American money.
Name one University in America that charges below that. Now name five that charge above $50,000. 
Why aren't Americans rioting?
Because we have the best education?
Oh, we're below average among developed nations?
oops.

Guantánamo Bay

Obama wants to review the cases of detainees that are being held without trial and possibly give them a trial.

This still isn't shutting down the Bay, as was promised. Just sayin'

Internet Use Exceeds TV Use

+1 for the intrawebs

For the first time since Al Gore birthed the internet, people are using it more than televsions.

Young People Email Less

Surprise!
Maybe it's because they're writing letters.
Haha, you wish USPS

Mobile Apps and Privacy

They could really care less about yours.
Why the heck does Pandora need to know my location, age, or gender?

A Computer on Jeopardy!

A computer will be taking on Ken Jennings, who has the most wins, and Brad Rutter, who has won the most money. This will be taking place on the February 14th edition of Jeopardy!

Antikythera Mechanism Made out of Legos

Ph. D. Similarities

These are similarities between Ph. D. dissertations.

Social Order in the Form of a Shirt

Here it is. Although I do believe this is for the UK There are more different visualizations on his site.

Facebook Visualization

A link to a page on facebook? Kill me now. Anyway, this shows the connection between facebook pages.

Fibonacci Numbers in Nature

An elegant visualization, but no really new knowledge...

Facebook Privacy

What privacy?

Miles Driven vs Gas Prices

Is there a correlation? Apparently not really at all.

Energy Subsidies an Infographic

Why are there so many oil subsidies and so little renewables?

Google Trends for Books

Ngram is like Google Trends but for books

Your Happy Planet Index

This site calculates your happy planet index, how many earths you use, and a bunch of other information. Czech it out.

I got a HPI of 67.3 and use 1.57 planets
Score.

Energy Subsidies

Once again, we are doing it wrong.

College: Helping the Rich get Richer

"But new data reveals a painful truth: During college, students not only do little work, but learn virtually nothing while they're there."

I Wish This Was

I Wish This Was more common in all cities all over america.

This originated in New Orleans where the stickers can be found in many stores are are given out for free.
DO WANT THESE STICKERS.

10 Questions Science Must Answer

The Royal Society recently released a top ten list of the goals of science.
They are:

1. What is consciousness? —Kathy Sykes, science professor
2. What happened before the Big Bang? —Joan Bakewell, writer and broadcaster
3. Will science and engineering give us back our individuality? —Mark Midownik, physicist
4. How are we going to cope with the world's burgeoning population? —Tracy Chevalier, novelist
5. Is there a pattern to the prime numbers? —Marcus du Sautoy, professor and author
6. Can we make a scientific way of thinking all pervasive? —Brian Cox, physicist
7. How do we ensure humanity survives and flourishes? —John Sulston, Royal Society chairman
8. Can someone explain adequately the meaning of infinite space? —Andrew Motion, former poet laureate
9. Will I be able to record my brain like I can record a program on television? —Lionel Shriver, novelist
10. Can humanity get to the stars? —Piers Sellers, astronaut

Schooling in California

I thought the numbers were interesting but I really couldn't have cared less about the programs.
in summary:


Each year California currently spends...
$9,740 per student
$36,000 per inmate

75% percent of inmates are highschool dropouts
60% of people on unemployment did not complete high school.


Perhaps more effort should be put into the future than into the past.

Comparing the Koreas

This compares the armies of North and South Korea

All of Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Played At the Same Time

SPOILER ALERT: It sounds exactly like you'd think.



Hint: There's a minute or so of just Captain Jack at the end. wooo

Living on Arsenic

Not to brag or anything, but I called this years ago.
Since the basic concept of life and evolution is random chance, life should be able to be created from anything, given enough time. It may not have dna, or even breathe, but it could still be alive. And that's why I think it's so difficult to for us to find life on other planets. We're looking for earth life, organisms that breathe oxygen, are built out of carbon and 5 other elements, essentially follow a basic set of rules that we defined based on our own experience. It's like knowing what a fork is and trying to find a plate, glass, bowl, etc. They're the same thing, but you aren't going to find it by looking for a skinny, flat, slightly curved metal stick that splits to four smaller sticks. Life does not have to be anything like life on earth. The random chance that creates life essentially guarantees that. If we can find life on earth that violates a major part of our definition of what life on earth is, maybe we need to redefine life. </rant>

Broadway Bombing

Race down the entirety of Broadway on a bike ignoring traffic, pedestrians, red lights, etc...

Took this guy 38 minutes and 41 seconds, which I'm pretty sure is faster than any of the hundreds of cars he passed almost got hit by

Antarctica!

It's really cold!

German Bike Lock

If they can't reach your bike, they can't steal it.
Also, they can throw rocks at it.

If you need the video translated (it's in german), here you go:

"precision engineering"

THANK YOU TEN YEARS OF GERMAN

Images from CERN

Here's some images from some of CERNs first collisions.
You know instead of paying all that money to build the particle accelerator they could've just asked me for some of my MS Paint drawings which are remarkable similar.
9 BILLION DOLLARS PLEASE

World's Largest Solar Array

As of now,
7 football fields

What if an Asteroid hit the Earth?

This.
Or maybe the other 500 options that program gives you.

Millennium Development Goals

Some info on some good performance on some of the goals

Fence Graffiti

This is a good execution of a good idea for a good cause.

Twitter Robot That Upholds Climate Change

I can't believe I'm posting about something that happened on twitter aside,
Somebody wrote a program that tells misinformed twitterers when they are wrong.
Every five minutes it searches the tweeterverse for twits containing false information about global warming, then replies to the user, correcting them, and providing a legitimate source.

For instance

"When someone recently tweeted that "First the Earth goes through #GlobalWarming and #GlobalCooling. Its a natural climatic cycle and contributes to natural selection." Leck's chatbot responded "Ancient natural cycles r irrelevant 4 attributing recent global warming 2 humans" and referenced a detailed discussion of the differences between current global warming and natural heat variations."

 If a computer code can tell you that you are wrong, and provide legitimate evidence against your statement, you should not be allowed to share your opinions.

I hope this type of code gets expanded to the entire internet such that it becomes impossible to post any non-factual information anywhere ever. That would be awesome.

Solar Power's Potential

This is the potential of solar power compared to other sources.

Keep in mind that Solar Cells are only like 10% efficient so imagine the cube a tenth of that size to get the amount of solar power we can actually use.

Putting the Power Back in Solar Power

Just so you realize how much energy is actually in sunlight.
I was really hoping he would put his hand in it.

Dinosaur Graffiti

This is pretty cool even if the video is almost entirely unnecessary.

Corruption Perceptions Index 2010

Sweet.

Legalization of Marijuana

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the music

Chemical Use in Industry

Infographic!

There are about 50,000 chemicals in use
of those, 300 have been tested
of those, 5 have been restricted

if you scale the 5 out of 300 up to the total of 50,000, there should be around 833 chemicals that should be restricted.

Wikileaks, Great Success

Wikileaks is doing a great job!
The US, to save itself from embarrassment, is debriefing other countries on the contents of what is supposed to be the next Wikileak.
The document contains information that could cause international embarrassment and endanger relations with some countries.
Personally, I'm happy the Government is being shown that they cannot keep this information secret so that in the future they might make better choices

Analysis of Generations

Kinda cool, kinda informative. Mostly eh.

Mashup Breakdown

This is a creative way of displaying mixed music.
The music is All Day by Girl Talk.


I like the idea, I don't like the music.

Slavery

It still exists.
Czech out this website and learn something
[It doesn't have a lot of text so you have no excuse not to.]

Kryptos Sculpture

This sculpture was made by Jon Sanborn was placed in front of CIA headquarters at Langley, Virginia, and has remained unsolved since 1990.
3 out of 4 sections, K1, K2, and K3 three have been solved, but K4 has eluded all cryptographers.
More recently, Sanborn announce a clue, BERLIN, in hopes that he would still be alive to see the statue solved.
The story of the sculpture is fascinating.
Full text of the sculpture can be found here and if you think you've solved the 97 character K4, you can submit your answer here
Seriously, czech it out.

Staff Sgt. Giunta

He has won a Medal of Honor. Good job.
60 minutes interview; it's good and it's deceptively only 14 minutes long.


Also,
Charge of the Light Brigade by Lord Alfred Tennyson is one of my favourite poems.

All Quiet On The Western Front

"We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces. The first bomb, the first explosion, burst in our hearts. We are cut off from activity, from striving, from progress."
-Erich Maria Remarque

Patriotic Millionaires

A group called the Patriotic Millionaires, comprised of 44 millionaires, has written a letter to president Obama asking him to raise the tax rate on those making $250,000 - themselves. They argue that the rich are richer than ever and their money could be better used by the government to fix the economy. Allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire could save $700 billion over the next ten years.

" If we want to keep our strong military and provide health care for the elderly, we’re going to have to make sacrifices. It’s the responsible, patriotic thing to do."

Sex in China

Apparently China has a bit of a problem with 50% not using birth control, 20% getting pregnant, and 90% of those getting abortions. Causes and more information here

North and South Korea are Fighting (still/again)

Shots were fired across the Korean border earlier today. Both sides shot some artillery shells, most landing in the ocean.

More information here

Slow Motion!

Woah!
Fast camera on a fast train in slow motion. Crazy

Acheivement Gap

This says it all.

"Twelve percent of black male fourth-graders' reading skills qualify as proficient, compared with almost 40 percent of their white peers. Young black men are almost twice as likely to drop out of high school as young white men."

How to Rupture Your Stomach

SPOILER ALERT: be a dumbass try really, really hard.
1. Don't eat for a while, than eat enough carbs to stop your heat
2. Eat 19 pounds of food
3. Eat less than 19 pounds of food and Alkaseltzer

Corporate Profits Are Off The Charts!

Alright, not literally, shut up.

But the income for the bottom 90% of America has been essentially the same since 1973. Where does this money go?

The graph relating it as a percentage of GDP looks better, but maybe that's because Corporate profits are part of GDP. So as corporate profits increase GDP by definition increases.
oops.

Google Interview Questions

Here's fifteen tough interview questions.
Here's a hundred and twenty five more.

Illinois Representative Republican John Shimkus is bat-fuck insane.

I just want to be clear.

"Representative John Shimkus (R-IL) wants to be the head of the committee that deals with climate change in the next Congress. Shimkus believes that our climate is changing, but he isn't concerned. That's because in Genesis, God promises that he won't destroy the Earth again after the great flood. Shimkus has actually read this passage aloud in a Congressional hearing. In fact, the congressman is actually pretty excited about the benefits of climate change, like a new Northwest passage. Shimkus is not concerned, however, that climate change may result in another great flood."

The three best parts of the accompanying video?

1. When he mentions that he is going to read out of the bible, the chick in the back right smirks. 
2. The news station that is telling him he is wrong interviewing him is FOX 2
3. You can see the previous two in the first minute, saving you from having to watch the whole 10 minutes.

Oil Is a Large Cause of the Deficit

Reducing reliance on oil would lower the deficit.

America's HDI

Here's a map of America ranked state by state by HDI and hundreds of other related statistics. SO MUCH INFORMATION.

Benefits of NASA

A partial list of things NASA is responsible for:

• Satellites 
• TV
• Communications
• GPS
• Imagery (LANDSAT especially)
• Cordless power tools and appliances
• Smoke detectors
• Water filters
• Efficient home insulation
• Mammographies
• Digital Image Processing (used in MRIs and CATscans)
• Electronic Thermometers
• Polarized and scratch resistant sunglasses coatings (and other lenses)
• Sports helmets and pads
• Jaws of Life
• Hydroponics
• Safety grooving in roads
• More durable tires
• Tempur Foam
• Solar Energy
• Bar Codes
• More Efficient Fire Hoses [source]
• ]
  Computer Technology - NASA Spinoffs
  GROUND PROCESSING SCHEDULING SYSTEM - Computer-based scheduling system that uses artificial intelligence to manage thousands of overlapping activities involved in launch preparations of NASA's Space Shuttles. The NASA technology was licensed to a new company which developed commercial applications that provide real-time planning and optimization of manufacturing operations, integrated supply chains, and customer orders.uu
  SEMICONDUCTOR CUBING - NASA initiative led to the Memory Short Stack, a three-dimensional semiconductor package in which dozens of integrated circuits are stacked one atop another to form a cube, offering faster computer processing speeds, higher levels of integration, lower power requirements than conventional chip sets, and dramatic reduction in the size and weight of memory-intensive systems, such as medical imaging devices.
  STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS - This NASA program, originally created for spacecraft design, has been employed in a broad array of non-aerospace applications, such as the automobile industry, manufacture of machine tools, and hardware designs.
  WINDOWS VISUAL NEWS READER (Win Vn) - Software program developed to support payload technical documentation at Kennedy Space Center, allowing the exchange of technical information among a large group of users. WinVn is an enabling technology product that provides countless people with Internet access otherwise beyond their grasp, and it was optimized for organizations that have direct Internet access.
  AIR QUALITY MONITOR - Utilizing a NASA-developed, advanced analytical technique software package, an air quality monitor system was created, capable of separating the various gases in bulk smokestack exhaust streams and determining the amount of individual gases present within the stream for compliance with smokestack emission standards.
  VIRTUAL REALITY - NASA-developed research allows a user, with assistance from advanced technology devices, to figuratively project oneself into a computer-generated environment, matching the user's head motion, and, when coupled with a stereo viewing device and appropriate software, creates a telepresence experience.
  Other spinoffs in this area include: Advanced keyboards, Customer Service Software, Database Management System, Laser Surveying, Aircraft controls, Lightweight Compact Disc, Expert System Software, Microcomputers, and Design Graphics.
  Consumer/Home/Recreation - NASA Spinoffs
  ENRICHED BABY FOOD - A microalgae-based, vegetable-like oil called Formulaid developed from NASA-sponsored research on long duration space travel, contains two essential fatty acids found in human milk but not in most baby formulas, believed to be important for infants' mental and visual development.
  WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM - NASA-developed municipal-size water treatment system for developing nations, called the Regenerable Biocide Delivery Unit, uses iodine rather than chlorine to kill bacteria.
  SCRATCH-RESISTANT LENSES - A modified version of a dual ion beam bonding process developed by NASA involves coating the lenses with a film of diamond-like carbon that not only provides scratch resistance, but also decreases surface friction, reducing water spots.
  POOL PURIFICATION - Space technology designed to sterilize water on long-duration spacecraft applied to swimming pool purification led to a system that uses two silver-copper alloy electrodes that generate silver and copper ions when an electric current passes through them to kill bacteria and algae without chemicals.
  RIBBED SWIMSUIT - NASA-developed riblets applied to competition swimsuits resulted in flume testing of 10 to 15 percent faster speeds than any other world class swim-suit due to the small, barely visible grooves that reduce friction and aerodynamic drag by modifying the turbulent airflow next to the skin.
  GOLF BALL AERODYNAMICS - A recently designed golf ball, which has 500 dimples arranged in a pattern of 60 spherical triangles, employs NASA aerodynamics technology to create a more symmetrical ball surface, sustaining initial velocity longer and producing a more stable ball flight for better accuracy and distance.
  PORTABLE COOLERS/WARMERS - Based on a NASA-inspired space cooling system employing thermoelectric technology, the portable cooler/warmer plugs into the cigarette lighters of autos, recreational vehicles, boats, or motel outlets. Utilizes one or two miniaturized modules delivering the cooling power of a 10-pound block of ice and the heating power of up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
  SPORTS TRAINING - Space-developed cardio-muscular conditioner helps athletes increase muscular strength and cardiovascular fitness through kinetic exercise.
  ATHLETIC SHOES - Moon Boot material encapsulated in running shoe midsoles improve shock absorption and provides superior stability and motion control.
  Other spinoffs in this area include: Dustbuster, shock-absorbing helmets, home security systems, smoke detectors, flat panel televisions, high-density batteries, trash compactors, food packaging and freeze-dried technology, cool sportswear, sports bras, hair styling appliances, fogless ski goggles, self-adjusting sunglasses, composite golf clubs, hang gliders, art preservation, and quartz crystal timing equipment.
  Environmental and Resource Management - NASA Spinoffs
  MICROSPHERES - The first commercial products manufactured in orbit are tiny microspheres whose precise dimensions permit their use as reference standards for extremely accurate calibration of instruments in research and industrial laboratories. They are sold for applications in environmental control, medical research, and manufacturing.
  SOLAR ENERGY - NASA-pioneered photovoltaic power system for spacecraft applications was applied to programs to expand terrestrial applications as a viable alternative energy source in areas where no conventional power source exists.
  WEATHER FORECASTING AID - Space Shuttle environmental control technology led to the development of the Barorator which continuously measures the atmospheric pressure and calculates the instantaneous rate of change.
  FOREST MANAGEMENT - A NASA-initiated satellite scanning system monitors and maps forestation by detecting radiation reflected and emitted from trees.
  SENSORS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL - NASA development of an instrument for use in space life support research led to commercial development of a system to monitor an industrial process stream to assure that the effluent water's pH level is in compliance with environmental regulations.
  WIND MONITOR - Development of Jimsphere wind measurement balloon for space launches allows for making high resolution measurements of the wind profile for meteorological studies and predictions.
  TELEMETRY SYSTEMS - A spinoff company formed to commercialize NASA high-data-rate telemetry technology, manufactures a high-speed processing system for commercial communications applications.
  PLANT RESEARCH - NASA research on future moon and Mars bases is investigating using plants for food, oxygen, and water to reduce the need for outside supplies. This research utilizes Hydroponics (liquid nutrient solutions) instead of soil to support plant growth and finds applications for vegetable production on Earth.
  FIRE RESISTANT MATERIAL - Materials include chemically-treated fabric for sheets, uniforms for hazardous material handlers, crew's clothing, furniture, interior walls of submersibles and auto racer and refueler suits.
  RADIATION INSULATION - Aluminized polymer film is highly effective radiation barrier for both manned and unmanned spacecraft. Variations of this space-devised material are also used as an energy conservation technique for homes and offices. The materials are placed between wall studs and exterior facing before siding or between roof support and roof sheathing. The radiant barrier blocks 95% of radiant energy. Successful retrofit installations include schools and shrink wrap ovens.
  Other spinoffs in this area include: Whale identification method, environmental analysis, noise abatement, pollution measuring devices, pollution control devices, smokestack monitor, radioactive leak detector, earthquake prediction system, sewage treatment, energy saving air conditioning, and air purification.
  
  
  Health and Medicine - NASA Spinoffs
  DIGITAL IMAGING BREAST BIOPSY SYSTEM - The LORAD Stereo Guide Breast Biopsy system incorporates advanced Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) as part of a digital camera system. The resulting device images breast tissue more clearly and efficiently. Known as stereotactic large-core needle biopsy, this nonsurgical system developed with Space Telescope Technology is less traumatic and greatly reduces the pain, scarring, radiation exposure, time, and money associated with surgical biopsies.
  BREAST CANCER DETECTION - A solar cell sensor is positioned directly beneath x-ray film, and determines exactly when film has received sufficient radiation and has been exposed to optimum density. Associated electronic equipment then sends a signal to cut off the x-ray source. Reduction of mammography x-ray exposure reduces radiation hazard and doubles the number of patient exams per machine.
  LASER ANGIOPLASTY - Laser angioplasty with a "cool" type of laser, caller an excimer laser, does not damage blood vessel walls and offers precise non-surgical cleanings of clogged arteries with extraordinary precision and fewer complications than in balloon angioplasty.
  ULTRASOUND SKIN DAMAGE ASSESSMENT - Advanced instrument using NASA ultrasound technology enables immediate assessment of burn damage depth, improving patient treatment, and may save lives in serious burn cases.
  HUMAN TISSUE STIMULATOR - Employing NASA satellite technology, the device is implanted in the body to help patient control chronic pain and involuntary motion disorders through electrical stimulation of targeted nerve centers or particular areas of the brain.
  COOL SUIT - Custom-made suit derived from space suits circulates coolant through tubes to lower patient's body/ temperature, producing dramatic improvement of symptoms of multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and other conditions.
  PROGRAMMABLE PACEMAKER - Incorporating multiple NASA technologies, the system consists of the implant and a physician's computer console containing the programming and a data printer. Communicates through wireless telemetry signals.
  OCULAR SCREENING - NASA image processing techniques are used to detect eye problems in very young children. An electronic flash from a 35-millimeter camera sends light into the child's eyes, and a photorefractor analyzes the retinal reflexes, producing an image of each eye.
  AUTOMATED URINALYSIS - NASA fluid dynamics studies helped development of system that automatically extracts and transfers sediment from urine sample to an analyzer microscope, replacing the manual centrifuge method.
  MEDICAL GAS ANALYZER - Astronaut-monitoring technology used to develop system to monitor operating rooms for analysis of anesthetic gasses and measurement of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen concentrations to assure proper breathing environment for surgery patients.
  VOICE-CONTROLLED WHEELCHAIR - NASA teleoperator and robot technology used to develop chair and manipulator that respond to 35 one-word voice commands utilizing a minicomputer to help patient perform daily tasks, like picking up packages, opening doors, and turning on appliances.
  Other spinoffs in this area include: Arteriosclerosis detection, ultrasound scanners, automatic insulin pump, portable x-ray device, invisible braces, dental arch wire, palate surgery technology, clean room apparel, implantable heart aid, MRI, bone analyzer, and cataract surgery tools.
  
  
  Industrial Productivity/Manufacturing Technology - NASA Spinoffs
  MAGNETIC LIQUIDS - Based on the NASA-developed ferrofluid concept involving synthetic fluids that can be positioned and controlled by magnetic force, the ferrofluidic seal was initially applied in a zero-leakage, nonwearing seal for the rotating shaft of a system used to make semiconductor chips, solving a persistent problem‹contamination due to leaking seals.
  WELDING SENSOR SYSTEM - Laser-based automated welder for industrial use incorporates a laser sensor system originally designed for Space Shuttle External Tank to track the seam where two pieces of metal are to be joined, measures gaps and minute misfits, and automatically corrects the welding torch distance and height.
  MICROLASERS - Based on a concept for optical communications over interplanetary distances, microlasers were developed for the commercial market to transmit communication signals and to drill, cut, or melt materials.
  MAGNETIC BEARING SYSTEM - Bearings developed from Space Shuttle designs support moving machinery without physical contact, permitting motion without friction or wear, and are now used in electric power generation, petroleum refining, machine tool operation, and natural gas pipelines.
  ENGINE LUBRICANT - A NASA-developed plasma-sprayed coating is used to coat valves in a new, ten-inch-long, four-cylinder rotary engine, eliminating the need for lubricating the rotorcam, which has no crankshaft, flywheel, distributor, or water pump.
  INTERACTIVE COMPUTER TRAINING - Known as Interactive Multimedia Training (IMT), originally developed to train astronauts and space operations personnel, now utilized by the commercial sector to train new employees and upgrade worker skills, using a computer system that engages all the senses, including text, video, animation, voice, sounds, and music.
  HIGH-PRESSURE WATERSTRIPPING - Technology developed for preparing Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters first evolved into the U.S. Air Force's Large Aircraft Robotic Paint Stripping (LARPS) system, and now used in the commercial airline industry, where the waterjet processing reduces coating removal time by 90 percent, using only water at ultra-high pressures up to 55,000 psi.
  ADVANCED WELDING TORCH - Based on the Variable Polarity Plasma Arc welding technology, a handheld torch originally developed for joining light alloys used in NASA's External Tank, is now used by major appliance manufacturers for sheet metal welding.
  Other spinoffs in this area include: Gasoline vapor recovery, self-locking fasteners, machine tool software, laser wire stripper, lubricant coating process, wireless communications, engine coatings, and engine design.
  Public Safety - NASA Spinoffs
  RADIATION HAZARD DETECTOR - NASA technology has made commercially available new, inexpensive, conveniently carried device for protection of people exposed to potentially dangerous levels of microwave radiation. Weighing only 4 ounces and about the size of a cigarette pack, it can be carried in a shirt pocket or clipped to a belt. Unit sounds an audible alarm when microwave radiation reaches a preset level.
  EMERGENCY RESPONSE ROBOT - Remotely-operated robot reduces human injury levels by performing hazardous tasks that would otherwise be handled by humans.
  PERSONAL ALARM SYSTEM - Pen-sized ultrasonic transmitter used by prison guards, teachers, the elderly, and disabled to call for help is based on space telemetry technology. Pen transmits a silent signal to receiver that will display the exact location of the emergency.
  EMERGENCY RESCUE CUTTERS - Lightweight cutters for freeing accident victims from wreckage developed using NASA pyrotechnic technology.
  FIREMAN'S AIR TANKS - Lighter-weight firefighter's air tanks have been developed. New back-pack system weighs only 20 lbs. for 30 minute air supply, 13 lbs. less than conventional firefighting tanks. They are pressurized at 4,500 psia (twice current tanks). A warning device tells the fireman when he or she is running out of air.
  PERSONAL STORM WARNING SYSTEM - Lightning detector gives 30-minute warning to golfers, boaters, homeowners, business owners, and private pilots.
  SELF-RIGHTING LIFE RAFT - Developed for the Apollo program, fully inflates in 12 seconds and protects lives during extremely adverse weather conditions with self-righting and gravity compensation features.
  Other spinoffs in this area include: Storm warning services (Doppler radar), firefighters' radios, lead poison detection, fire detector, flame detector, corrosion protection coating, protective clothing, and robotic hands.
  Transportation - NASA Spinoffs
  STUDLESS WINTER TIRES - Viking Lander parachute shroud material is adapted and used to manufacture radial tires, increasing the tire material's chainlike molecular structure to five times the strength of steel should increase tread life by 10,000 miles.
  BETTER BRAKES - New, high-temperature composite space materials provide for better brake linings. Applications includes trucks, industrial equipment and passenger cars.
  TOLLBOOTH PURIFICATION - A laminar airflow technique used in NASA clean rooms for contamination-free assembly of space equipment is used at tollbooths on bridges and turnpikes to decrease the toll collector's inhalation of exhaust fumes.
  WEIGHT SAVING TECHNOLOGY - NASA research on composite materials is used to achieve a 30-percent weight reduction in a twin-turbine helicopter, resulting in a substantial increase in aircraft performance.
  IMPROVED AIRCRAFT ENGINE - Multiple NASA developed technological advancements resulted in a cleaner, quieter, more economical commercial aircraft engine known as the high bypass turbofan, featuring a 10-percent reduction in fuel consumption, lower noise levels, and emission reductions of oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons.
  ADVANCED LUBRICANTS - An environmental-friendly lubricant designed to support the Space Shuttle Mobile Launcher Platform led to the development of three commercial lubricants for railroad track maintenance, for electric power company corrosion prevention, and as a hydraulic fluid with an oxidation life of 10,000 hours.
  ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - The Flywheel Energy Storage system, derived from two NASA-sponsored energy storage studies, is a chemical-free, mechanical battery that harnesses the energy of a rapidly spinning wheel and stores it as electricity with 50 times the capacity of a lead-acid battery, very useful for electric vehicles.
  NEW WING DESIGN FOR CORPORATE JETS - NASA-developed computer programs resulted in an advanced, lighter, more aerodynamically-efficient new wing for Gulfstream business aircraft.
  AIDS TO SCHOOL BUS DESIGN - Manufacturer uses three separate NASA-developed technologies originally developed for aviation and space use in their design and testing of a new school bus chassis. These technologies are a structural analysis computer program infrared stress measurement system, and a ride quality meter system.
  Other spinoffs in this area include: Safer bridges, emission testing, airline wheelchairs, electric car, auto design, methane-powered vehicles, windshear prediction, and aircraft design analysis.
  source
  
  
  
  
  
  

And proving that nothing is impossible.

Conrad Wolfram on How to Teach Math

TED talk from the creator of Wolfram Alpha about how to teach math better.
SPOILER ALERT: Use computers

http://www.ted.com/talks/conrad_wolfram_teaching_kids_real_math_with_computers.html

Ridiculous Animation

This is not real! Crazy!



He has another video here

Awful Parking Job

It's worse than you think.

US Energy Consumption by State

An infographic!

US Drone Attacks in Pakistan

The US has killed a lot of people in Pakistan. Oops.

Limelight

Kansas City was convinced by these guys to replace their streetlights with spotlights for a few hours resulting in performances by passing pedestrians. I wish this was more common because it looks really cool.

Spraypaint and Acetate

Whoa. It's so pretty.

Coal is the Devil

And there is no such thing as "clean coal" no matter what anyone tells you. Watch this video and look out for the shameless plug around 3:30 (just close it at that point)

Antimatter!

They actually got some! Finally!

DIY Trackpad

This is a track pad made out of a pencil, paper, and an Arduino. Hit the link for some pictures (including one of a cat!)

ChickenMilk

These guys are pretty cool.
Definitely czech out Remixed Apple Ads, Wish You Were Here and the Deprofiler.

Reduce the Deficit with Contraception

For every dollar spent on contraception, $3.75 was saved. Seems like an easy way for the government to save money.

Print-a-road

This is craziness.

Map of Europe's History

Czech it out

Democratic vs. Republican Tax Plan

This is the difference between the Republican and Democratic tax plans. Why are the grey bubbles so big?

Balance the Budget

This is a tool that will let you balance the budget!
It makes it super easy, but off course you don't have opposition in congress.... so.... maybe it isn't that easy.

NPRap

Good Radiation - a rap about NPR

Climate Inaction Commitee

The government is on track for negative progress.

"Finally, there’s Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL). Shimkus opposes a cap-and-trade scheme as too damaging to the coal industry. He doesn’t think it’s a good idea to limit the emission of greenhouse gases anyway. After all, he says, 'if we decrease the use of carbon dioxide, are we not taking away plant food from the atmosphere?'—a question that led the National Wildlife Foundation to wonder if he could seriously believe that plants depend on automobile exhaust and factory emissions to survive. And Shimkus doesn’t think it's possible for us to seriously damage the environment, because God promised Noah that 'As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.'"

Flash Is Awful

But at least the Androids can use it.    O.o    Low blow?

Anyway, flash apparently can drain up to 20% of your laptop battery which is kinda a big deal

This is how to fix it on Chrome

For Firefox you're going to have to get some kind of extension, Adblocker or Flashblocker or something.

If you use any other browser you're doing it wrong.

Diets are Crap

This guy lost 27 pounds on a Twinkie and junk food diet. Also, he increased his good cholesterol and decreased his bad cholesterol

Language, by Stephen Fry

This video is awesome. I love typography.

John Forte's Song and Talk About the Industrialized Prison System

This guy is awesome. Watch the song at least

Most Expensive Website Names

Single words only!

Tiny Meals

They are so small!

2011 TED Prize - JR

The anonymous street artist, JR, has won the prestigious TED prize for 2011. On March 2, 2011 he will share how he is going to change the world with the $100,000 he will recieve.

Watch his video on the TED site, it's awesome.

Tuition Based on Success

Should tuition be based on success? England may start using this system.... Czech it out.

Floating Tree

This is a sweet tree sculpture/art thing.

Importance of the Environment by Country

I think the US is doing it wrong...

What New Yorkers Complain About

100 million calls to NY's 311 number were recorded, and these are the results of the complaints.

Farther down the page is a map of New York showing areas with the most complaints

Mimic Octopus

It mimics tons of animals!

4 in 10 Americans Afraid of Walking Home at Night

Well that's a startling statistic. Maybe something should be done about that.

Robots on the Moon!

NASA is/will be sending robots into space. It costs like 10% what it would cost to send a human.

Dolphins Talking to Other Species

It would be super awesome if dolphins are actually trying to talk to other species of dolphins using a hybrid language.

Eating the Planet

How your diet affects the earth.



Hint: Negatively.

Looks like you're going to have to download the pdf to see the big (readable) versions [unhappy face]

Google's Energy Backbone

Somewhat old news, sorry, but...

Google invested in 37.5% of a 5 billion (thats'... um... divide, multiply, carry the six, cancel the 4, subtract, convert to Euros, take the Fourier transform, multiply by the Planck constant.... that's $1.875 Billion!) "energy backbone".
What is that?
Thanks for asking! It's a really big wire that travels much of the east coast and allows companies to build wind turbine farms far off the coast. It's a really big step in making wind energy more useful because it offsets a lot of the initial cost. Go Google.

E-Waste

Electronic Waste is very hard to get rid of, doesn't compose well (if ever), and is generally very dangerous. Looks like the developed world's solution is to make it not their problem. Woo!

Banksy's Simpsons Opening

Somehow I didn't post this on here earlier. Oops. Oh well, here it is.
Apparently it's only 95% of what Banksy wanted.... I wonder what the other 5% was....

Economics of Sharing

A report on the economics of sharing and how sharing could affect the future. Also does some analysis of the type of people that sharers are. It's pretty interesting.

Solar Subsidies

This is what would happen if Solar was subsidized in the same way that Oil is.

Stuff America Cares About

This is an infographic showing issues that americans care about over the last 10 years. You can split the data by Republican/Democrat.

Money by Party

This shows the National Debt, GDP, Interest rate, etc. over the last 100 years while also showing you which party (Republican or Democrat) had the house, senate, and presidency. Not much is extremely clear, other than Clinton did well with the debt.

Intelligent People Drink More?

Apparently....

Donut Suitcase

What?

Android's 8Pen Keyboard

A newly invented keyboard design that might actually work on touchscreens. It's essentially a touch version of ABC.

Maps of Population, Income, Happiness, Internet Use Etc.

These are some pretty neat maps.

Check out the Royalties and License Fee Exports map:

How to Balance the Federal Budget

Here is a plan that will balance the federal budget by 2020. It is awesome and was developed by two Republican Senators, two Democratic Senators and a moderator. Check it out. 

The blue is where this plan will land the government, the red is where the government's current plan will land them.