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Interesting Non-Game Stuff
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Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#81Wonderful to look at. Now this is clockwork machinery at its finest!
Great inspiration! -
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#82Chinese Villagers ate "Dragon Bones":
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/chinese-villagers-eat-dinosaur-bones/20070704092309990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
I guess that our "Dead Dragon" entries weren't far from the truth... -
Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#83Re: Movie Physics
I actually know of a guy, an engineer even, who did the movie style "jump through window" thing. The comment about laceration is true indeed. :o
Re: Kinetic Sculpting
Wow!
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#84Yawning keeps brain cool
Yet another research, but one that has really impressed me. I have always wondered what is yawning good for, and especially how can it be so contagious. This hypothesis here sounds really good:
Yawning is a way for the body to cool the brain, when other systems in the body are not doing enough. The researchers found that people yawned more often in situations in which their brains were likely to be warmer, and less when they had cool heads.
"A cooler brain, Gallup said, is a clearer brain.
So yawning actually appears to be a way to stay more alert. And contagious yawning, he said, may have evolved to help groups remain vigilant against danger."
So, who will write up the Yawning Sentinels, the elite king's guard? -
Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#85http://www.whattorent.com/
Need help trying to figure out what movie to watch?
Doesn't collect ANY personal information - just a username and a short quiz. -
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#86http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/
Overview of the universe and slowly magnifies all the way down to quarks.
Sort of cool to watch. -
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#87It has started... Humans are being replaced by robots!
Well, not really, but you get the idea.
As an aside, I've just learned that fembots are also slowly becoming available.
Now that's something to ponder on. :o -
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#88Killer drones...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MQ-9_Reaper
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Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#89And for something completely different:
http://www.firebox.com/product/1767?src_t=wnw
And there's lots of other cool stuff on this site...
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#90This one is for all you Evil Masterminds(tm) :wink:
http://www.livescience.com/technology/destroy_earth_mp-1.html -
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#91For a change of pace, something to ponder on.
There's a report on the spreading of Christianity in China (a bit long read), then there is a summarization of sorts, with some more commentary on the topic.
An interesting look on a part of the future I really hadn't considered. -
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#92Back to science and science fiction:
Scientists hail ‘frozen smoke’
- an interesting new material they say will change the world
Dust may come alive in space
- as if we didn't know it can happen
Speed of light broken
- in very special conditions that is; but I really want that FTL drive working soon -
Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#93Big Web Snares Texans' Interest
In a North Texas park is a sprawling spider web that blankets several trees, shrubs and the ground along a 200-yard stretch of trail.
"At first, it was so white it looked like fairyland," said Donna Garde, superintendent of the park about 45 miles east of Dallas. "Now it's filled with so many mosquitoes that it's turned a little brown. There are times you can literally hear the screech of millions of mosquitoes caught in those webs."
Entomologists theorized it may have been constructed by social cobweb spiders, which work together, or could be the result of a mass dispersal in which the arachnids spin webs to spread out from one another. Some claimed it could be a 'once-in-a-lifetime event', others pointed out that similar reports are heard every couple of years.
Random encounter, anyone?
More details (and some pictures):
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/2620
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-spiderweb_31met.ART.North.Edition1.4348b6d.html -
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#94Actually, webs of a large size like that aren't too unusual. Over in Kansas City ('bout 30 minutes from here), there're some trees that have webs covering huge swaths of them. Freaked me out when I saw'em. -
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#95Galactic Gold: A Valentine Story
A little tale with some science intermixed, it really says that some elements are and will be rare; and even nuclear fusion may not be able to produce them. So yes, there will be precious materials to find and trade with in spacey settings. -
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#96Burning Salt Water
One John Kazius has been working on an alternative cure for cancer with a radio-frequency generator, he was notified of condensation in his test tube, and suggested to try to desalinate water. After playing with it for a few days, he was able to ignite the escaping gas. It looks to be an authentic source of hydrogen and oxygen.
short video
longer video (somewhat repetitive)
- now, even if it is science fair/chem class material without a practical commercial use, it still looks cool, and is an intriguing discovery
- if this is more effective (or cheaper) than common electrolysis, then it will be darn useful
- if actually more energy comes out of this thing actually than is required to run it... well, then this may be a very serious breakthrough. Pity those *censored* journalists don't ask that question. :x -
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#97Cool. It was also fun to read all the pessimists in the thread below the (short) vid. Wherever there is a pioneer, there is also a horde of people telling him it can't be done. The best thing about those people is to DO it, and then taunt them for eternity. -
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#98After falling hook line and sinker for Cold Fusion back in my high school days, I'll believe this one when they sell them in Canadian Tire...
:P
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#99And for the bad news..
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/09/12/russia.bomb.ap/index.html -
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#100While I could shift between either pessimistic or optimistic about that one, I won't. I'll just state that it's the result of modern laws in the US causing problems with civilian R&D.
In other news:
http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=u3gtv3ik54
Daaaaaaang. Is that how PC drunkards are? -
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#101Miracle bottle helps saving lives
The device is an all-in-one filtration bottle which removes all bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites and fungi instantly from water without the aid of foul-tasting chemicals such as iodine or chlorine. Using unique technology, the 750ml plastic bottle can be filled with water from a dirty pond or river and with just a few pumps and the twist of a cap, clean drinking water begins to flow. It can distill 4000 or 6000 liters without changing the filter.
It will be soon officially launched, but the inventor has already received calls from the UN and Army generals asking about the product, which was recently voted Best Technological Development for Future Soldier System Enhancement by Soldier Technology 2007. He came up with the idea for his invention after watching TV coverage of the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004.
Another source. -
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#102Made to order submission idea :)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070924/ap_on_sc/germs_in_space -
Triple science!
#103Back to the Burning Salt Water post from above - there is actually an article where the inventor notes it is not a fuel - that more energy is consumed than produced in the process. The evil thermodynamical laws strike down another dream of free energy. The experiment is far from useless, as applications in desalination and hydrogen production are still possible.
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Gathering 'Storm' Superworm Poses Grave Threat to PC Nets
A paranoia inducing report of a very low-profile worm, made for profit, not for fame; that will do whatever its authors command it to do. A few attacks on anti-spam sites have been already reported, and possibly some pump-and-dump stock scams. For now, it is merely gathering strength...
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Two points, or well, three points to take out of one article:
1. Global climate changes are not necessarily that global; the climate can differ radically in various places.
2. With a bit of luck, we can get an ice age!
3. If that happens, the southern hemisphere may be easily more habitable. -
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#104American Lawbreaking
Now for something a little different: an article that "explores the black spots in American law: areas in which our laws are routinely and regularly broken and where the law enforcement response is … nothing. These are the areas where, for one reason or another, we've decided to tolerate lawbreaking and let a law—duly enacted and still on the books—lay fallow or near dead." -
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#105I'm guessing that those laws are deemed to be so absurd by the law-enforcement agencies that think it no great crime if someone were to break them? -
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#106 -
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#107 -
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#108I don't believe it! I don't believe that they can conjure up that list without one single XXX reference.
They probably filtered away anything lewd and kept the rest. -
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#109The monkey attack thing is quite interesting. And yes, it DOES have some good applications.
...It also gives me a good reason to carry around a staff of some sort... -
Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#110Temples of Damanhur
You know, if a particular person claims to have visions of an idyllic place, where the people lived in peace, you can be pardoned for having certain doubts. And if the person attempts to build a temple according to the visions, then it starts to be strange.
But what to say if somebody actually builds a HUGE underground complex with some incredibly rich ornamentation? :what: -
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#111
I don't believe it! I don't believe that they can conjure up that list without one single XXX reference.
They probably filtered away anything lewd and kept the rest.
Hot Trends reflects what people are searching for on Google today. Rather than showing the most popular searches overall, which would always be generic terms like 'weather,' Hot Trends highlights searches that experience sudden surges in popularity, and updates that information hourly. Our algorithm analyzes millions of web searches performed on Google and displays those searches that deviate the most from their historic traffic pattern. The algorithm also filters out spam and removes inappropriate material.
So they don't filter it, it's just things like weather, pr0n, and "hardcore asia" have so many hits on a regular basis that they'll never show up in the hot trends. -
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#112The algorithm also filters out spam and removes inappropriate material.
Your own quote says they do filter it.... -
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#113It might, depending on what is and is not appropriate.... :)
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#114Why don't we love science fiction?
“The truth is,” Aldiss has written, “that we are at last living in an SF scenario.” A collapsing environment, a hyperconnected world, suicide bombers, perpetual surveillance, the discovery of other solar systems, novel pathogens, tourists in space, children drugged with behaviour controllers – it’s all coming true at last. Aldiss thinks this makes SF redundant. I disagree. In such a climate, it is the conventionally literary that is threatened, and SF comes into its own as the most hardcore realism.
... The further oddity is that fantasy – Terry Pratchett, Tolkien, Philip Pullman – is not embarrassing to us at all; indeed, it’s downright respectable. Perhaps this is because these are seen as children’s books that grown-ups can read, whereas SF is seen as irredeemably adolescent. This is to ignore the fact that it tends to be much more demanding and much bleaker.
“In a fantasy story,” Aldiss says, “there’s a big evil abroad, but, in the end, everything goes back to normal and everybody goes home to drink ale in the shires. In a science-fiction story, there may be a terrible evil abroad, and it may get sorted out, but the world is f***ed up for ever. This is realism. It’s certainly not beach reading, unless you can find a really nasty, shingly beach.”
And there is more stuff to ponder on. -
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#115I used to live by a real nasty, shingly beach... -
Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#116This is what I want to find under the Christmas tree:
My very own micro nuclear reactor!
Toshiba has developed a new class of micro size Nuclear Reactors that is designed to power individual apartment buildings or city blocks. The new reactor, which is only 20 feet by 6 feet, could change everything for small remote communities, small businesses or even a group of neighbors who are fed up with the power companies and want more control over their energy needs. -
Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#117While absolutely awesome, how expensive is it? 10k? 50k? 100k? Inquiring minds want to know (and can't find it on their own).
Sidenote: Toshiba apparently has more than one of these designs, because I've come across a 10 megawatt one, and a 200 kilowatt one. -
Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#118Ok, so I randomly found this page a while ago. (It was suggested I put it here so it doesn't get lost)
I'm not so sure it's not game related, but here it is....enjoy!
http://www.science.uva.nl/~seop/archives/spr2000/entries/time-travel-phys/ -
Re: Interesting Non-Game Stuff
#119Neat site describing various firearm tests:
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/theboxotruth.htm
I found a lot of info during my creation of my 30 bullets sub (http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=4619)
Quick way to answer some questions during Modern RP...
eg. How many armor points is my AK47 ammo strapped to my chest????
Answer: None.. http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot9_2.htm
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#120http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080111/sc_space/sourceofmysteriousantimatterfound