Cancel

gear Push settings

bars

homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Intricate "Plant Sculptures" Are Beautiful and Make You Think

French artist Emeric Chantier’s recent series of plant sculptures is not only a spectacular work of art, but it provides a strong reflection on the place of human beings in nature, as well as our relationship with nature. Are we killing nature, is it killing us, or are we living together in harmony? His series of […]

From 1975-1980 Activist Adam Purple Built a Stunning "Garden of Eden" in New York

In 1975, artist and social activist Adam Purple, known among others for always wearing something purple, was looking out his window at some children playing in the rubble. His memories struck him as he remembered that as a child, he used to play on the ground, next to trees and bushes – something that just […]

The spectacular process of making a glass chandelier from scratch

Glassblowing is awesome as it is, but making a chandelier… that’s definitely something else. The Science Channel went behind the scenes to film the elaborate glass-working process of building a very fancy 150-pound lighting mechanism. Unfortunately, they didn’t show the creators of the chandelier – that’s Baccarat crystal studio (it’s written on their shirts). This chandelier stretches […]

Splendid aquariums: Winners of the 2015 International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest

Most people are content with offering their fish a nice (and hopefully clean) aquarium, for some, keeping an aquarium is an art form; some people have taken this art form to the next level – these are the winners of the International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (IAPLC). Wait, there’s an aquarium… competition? You betcha! Except they […]

Video: Jaw dropping drone footage of Sudan's pyramids

Sure, we’ve all heard of Egypt’s pyramids, but have you heard of Sudan’s pyramids? Well, you really should have – they’ve survived in the African desert for 3,000 years, and they’re absolutely spectacular, as we can all see, thanks to this National Geographic drone footage. These pyramids were built by Nubians, the rulers of the ancient […]

Pluto's Charon reveals colorful and violent past

NASA's New Horizons shuttle wasn't only taking mind blowing photos of Pluto, it was also peeking at Pluto's moons, especially Charon - the largest one. The latest set of images analyzed by NASA researchers revealed quite a busy past, filled with violence and geologic activity.

NASA releases all 8,400 photos from the Apollo Moon Mission

It’s a great day to be a space fan: NASA has just released all the photos taken by Apollo astronauts on lunar missions; digitized and grouped by the roll of film they were shot on, that’s over 8,400 images, featuring the blurry moon, the missed shots, and above all, the great features from a great […]

Drones build a rope bridge, then grad student bravely crosses it

A couple of quadrotors wove a bridge out of polyethylene fiber rope in an intricate dance. Some 120 meters of rope were used by the quadrotors to bridge the 7.4-meter gap, neatly tying knots, links, and braiding. Ultimately, the final test was passed after an ETH Zurich’s Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control student crossed the robot-manufactured bridge.

A rose in its own right: Nebula blossoms in deep space photo

A rosy, star-forming nebula thousands of light years away from Earth is "blossoming" in a dazzling cosmic spectacle. Messier 17, also known as the Omega Nebula, the Swan Nebula and the Horseshoe Nebula was shot in some remarkable photos revealed by the European Space Agency.

Become a fire-bender - all you need is some electricity

Take a candle, light it, turn it on its side -- we all know what will happen. The convection cell that forms around the flame keeps licking up towards the sky (or ceiling) regardless of the orientation of the fuel. But can the movement of air be overcome, can we make a fire burn horizontally? Well, the short answer is yes, yes we can -- we just have to use science.

For the first time, National Geographic wants you to shoot the next cover

For the first time, National Geographic magazine is inviting its readers to submit their photos on the Your Shot section and decide the next cover. The winning photo, chosen by National Geographic Traveler magazine editors, will appear on the cover of the December 2015/January 2016 issue, which will feature the annual “Best of the World” list. Here are […]

Mother Earth: photo-documented from space by astronaut Scott Kelly

Veteran astronaut Scott Kelly launched in March, 2015 aboard a Soyuz rocket for a record breaking one-year stay at the ISS. Instead of three to six months, Kelly along with his Russian colleague, Mikhail Korniyenko, will spend 12 months so scientists can assess how his body responds to the stress. For instance, we know that living in microgravity atrophies muscles and deteriorates vision. Kelly isn't too worried, though. When not busy operating the International Space Station, Kelly is engaged in one of the most pleasing hobbies (for those of us living back on Earth, that is): space photography. Here are just a couple of his most amazing shots shared by Kelly on his facebook or twitter account. He updates these very frequently, even a couple of times a day, so be sure to tune in for some more gems.

Watch these drones build a rope bridge that's safe to walk on

Drones are often feared as instruments of destruction, and as John Oliver pointed out, in some parts of the world, people fear blue skies because that’s when the drones strike. But this technology isn’t only used to destroy – it can also be used to create, as demonstrated by these very efficient quadrocopters building a rope […]

This underwater bridge between Sweden and Denmark will blow your mind

The Øresund bridge is a wonder of engineering, and one of the coolest engineering accomplishments on the planet.

Cleaning smudge using only water and ultrasounds

Usually, we have to use all sorts of disinfectants, soaps and detergents to scrub away smudge, be it sticky, oozy or greasy. This is not only annoying during housekeeping, but also following medical procedures when instruments have to be cleaned. Researchers at University of Southampton have been working for several years on a different kind high tech solution. They developed a gun-shaped device called the StarStream equipped with a special nozzle that injects water bombarded with ultrasound waves. The mix is so powerful that virtually any kind contamination can be removed.

Chimps enjoy the movies just as much as we do

A video of an ape, breaking out of its cage and attacking; the victim -- a human scientist, that picks up a small red hammer and defends himself, battering the primate ran amok. It sounds like a pretty gruesome video, bound to have animal right's activists redouble their efforts to see the heartless jailers brought to justice. But hey, wait a minute... Apes don't wear sneakers.

Troll A - The tallest moved structure in the world

The tallest structure ever built by mankind on Earth is actually an oil rig - Troll A.

Is landing SpaceX's Falcon 9 reusable rocket easy? Play this video game first

This may be the most annoying video game in history.

Even more awesome images of Pluto released!

I know, I know, we've spoiled you with awesome photos of Pluto already, this couldn't possibly surprise you, could it? Well, I dare say NASA has done it again - this new batch of New Horizons images is absolutely breathtaking.

Join the great Californian Trash Treasure Hunt, and help keep the ocean clean

Ok ok it's not technically called that, but the California Costal Cleanup Day is definitely something you should check out this Saturday if you like finding cool stuff and wish your beach looked less....garbage-y. For 31 years now, thousands of volunteers all over the world come together, put on the strongest pair of gloves they can find, and go scour the coast, lakes, rivers and their surroundings, picking up what we throw out the rest of the year.

World's most useless scientific discoveries [infographic]

Every year, the Ig Nobel Prize is awarded to ten lucky winners. To qualify, you need to publish research in a peer-reviewed journal that is considered "improbable": studies that make people laugh, but think at the same time.

Historians document the first use of the F-word

An English historian has come across the "F word" in a court case dating back to 1310, making it the earliest reference to the swear word. Dr Paul Booth of Keele University found the name ‘Roger Fuckebythenavele’ as he was documenting the trial.

Making your bed every day might encourage mites to breed in it

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who religiously make their bed every day in cleanliness and order... and the rest of us. If you're in the latter group, then I've got some good news: keeping your bed messy might be good for your health.

Cross bedding explained, on an outcrop from Mars

NASA recently uploaded a strikingly beautiful photograph on their website showing a petrified sand dune on Mars. The image was actually pieced together from several shots taken using Curiosity's Mast Camera (Mastcam) on August 27th. From end to end, the panorama spans a full 135 degrees of other-worldly awesomeness, with east to the left and southwest to the right.

Temari Balls: Mixing Mathematics with Beautiful Art

Temari (手まり?) balls are an ancient form of art that originated in China and got was introduced to Japan around the 7th century A.D., where it became very popular.

French court condemns Monsanto of chemical poisoning

A French court upheld on Thursday a 2012 ruling in which Monsanto was found guilty of chemical poisoning of a French farmer who suffered from neurological problems after inhaling the U.S. company’s Lasso weedkiller. Alachlor is an herbicide, the second most widely used herbicide in the United States; it’s been banned in Europe since 2006, but in 2004, […]

They're here: NASA's best up-close and personal photos of Pluto

New close-ups of Pluto’s surface have been revealed by NASA today, revealing a stunning variety of features on the frozen planetoid. A range of majestic mountains surrounds seemingly endless plains, and now, we get to see them all with unprecedented quality. It’s so spectacular that even NASA’s investigators were surprised. “Pluto is showing us a […]

Algorithm turns photos into specific style of painting

German researchers from the University of Tubingen have devised an algorithm that analyzes a painting and then applies that style of painting to any desired picture. The results were recently published in a paper entitled, A Neural Algorithm of Artistic Style by Leon A. Gatys, Alexander S. Ecker and Matthias Bethge, and the results are simply spectacular: […]

Brilliant GIF shows how Humans, Birds and Insects Breathe

Three different ways to breathe: Mammals, birds and insects breathe in different ways, as exemplified above. Humans, as mammals, inhale by moving the diaphragm to lower the air pressure in the chest cavity and pull air into the lungs. The human chest cavity is always at a lower pressure than the outside environment. Birds on […]

GeoPicture of the Week: Pangaea with today's borders

Today's Spain was close to Greenland, Tibet and Australia were neighbors, and Africa and South America were closely hugging - as can be roughly seen from today's coastline. This image shows that the Earth is not a static rock - but an active and mobile system.

Ballantine creates whiskey glass to be used in zero G, spill free

Scottish manufacturer Ballantines comes to the aid of space-dwellers the world round (and beyond) with a new, high-tech glass that promises to make getting hammered with style in space a reality.

Gigantic Straw Dinosaurs are Taking over Japan!

When life gives you wara (rice straw), make... wara dinosaurs!

Crystallizing books - the spectacular art of Alexis Arnold

We see this too often – loads and loads of discarded books in storage rooms, on the sidewalk, even in our homes. Abandoned books are a much too common sight, and at least to me, a depressing sight. This inspired San Francisco-based artist Alexis Arnold to embark on a fascinating quest to make something beautiful – crystallized […]

GeoPicture of the Week: The Chocolate Hills

These brownish hills are actually limestone mounds in Bohol province in the Philippines. They are normally covered by grass, but turn a deep-brown colour during the dry season, looking more and more chocolatey. There are about 1,500 mounds in the Philippines; similar karst mounts exist in Croatia and Slovenia, northern Puerto Rico, and Pinar del Río Province, Cuba […]

Devastating photos of the world's deforestation

Recently, we wrote an article about the biggest tree census ever conducted, and the results were pretty grim. Sure, there are some 3 trillion trees on Earth, but the bad news is that there used to be almost twice as many – before humans chipped in. Humanity has cut down 46% of the planet’s trees, […]

Watch: How Ants React to a Ringing iPhone

As soon as the phone starts ringing, these ants have a military-like reaction, forming a circle around the device. But why do they do this?

Alaskan shore overrun by thousands of walruses - here's why

Thousands upon thousands of Pacific walrus were captured by photographer Gary Braasch as they came ashore on the northwest coast of Alaska last week, in an event believed to be triggered by global warming.

Stunning condominium in Italy is what you'd call an 'urban tree-house'

Littered with over 150 trees and boasting a stunning asymmetrical architecture, 25 Verde - an apartment complex in Turin, Italy - is not your typical residence. Though its roots may be made of steel and concrete, this apartment building rises like a forest or urban oasis.

LED hourglass lamp powered by falling sand reminds you to conserve energy

Just like wristwatches in an age when everybody has a mobile phone, hourglasses today are kept out of aesthetic, and less for practical use. There's something romantic about seeing sand crumbling piece by piece, just like the fleeting moments the hourglass keeps track off. Danielle Trofe, a designer from Brooklyn, NY, once again infused the iconic hourglass with a practical motif by fitting it with LED lights.

NASA research put together into a video showing how the ocean's garbage patches formed over the last 35 years

Aaah, the ocean. The true final frontier. Full of wonderful and exciting things, such as strange fish, stranger crustaceans, beautiful hydrothermal vents, and lovely, ever-growing garbage patches.

Take a peek into the lives of a California condor family

Big Sur, California will see the newest installment of the Big Brother franchise, but with a twist. A team of wildlife conservationists have installed live-streaming web cameras on condor nests in the area, allowing scientists and enthusiastic bird watchers the world over to take a peek into the lives of Gymnogyps californianus.

Sure We Need Scientists, But We Also Need Scientific Literacy

As long as there are questions, humans will seek answers, as well as better means by which to seek and validate them. Science as a process for knowing will undoubtedly remain a vitally important part of human society, as will the scientists who bring these skills to the workplace.

FossilFriday: A Magnificently Fossilized Stegosaurus

This is a fossilized in-ground Stegosaurus currently exposed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The Stegosaurus is one of the most easily recognizable species of dinosaurs, living until about 150 million years, and this remarkable fossil does a fantastic job at highlighting it. Ironically, although many people associate it with the T-Rex, the Stegosaurus is […]

Blue Whale Interrupts TV Host Talking About How Hard it Is to Find Blue Whales

Spotting wildlife, especially species as elusive as the blue whale, can be extremely time consuming and at times frustrating. But every once in a while, you get a streak of luck, as Zoologist Mark Carwardine just did. He was explaining why spotting blue whales is so difficult, when suddenly… a blue whale appeared! Blue whales are marine […]

Oldest Message-in-a-Bottle: 108 year old Science Experiment washes ashore in Germany

In 1906, British scientist George Parker Bidder released more than 1,000 bottles in an attempt to study oceanic currents. The bottles were specifically design to float and last, and all bottles contained detailed instructions in English, German and Dutch to return the note to the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, England, in exchange for a shilling. The experiment […]

Extremely rare and stinky flower will blossom in Denver for the first time in 15 years

It’s big, it’s beautiful… and it reeks. Amorphophallus titanum, more commonly known as the corpse flower, is the flowering plant with the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world, and it often requires over 7 years to bloom. For this particular flower in Denver, it took 15. The flower will not only delight visitors with its unique look, […]

Indian Mars Orbiter Reveals Stunning 3D Images of Martian Canyon

A while ago, we were telling you about the Indian Orbiter Mission to Mars – the cheapest Mars mission ever. The probe made history as it entered Martian orbit, and is still sending high quality data back to Earth, as well as amazing pictures. Now these photographs focus on the Ophir Chasma, a giant canyon on […]

Ge-Force powered Augmented Reality Sandbox

Show of hands, who here doesn't sometimes long for the good old days when you would play in the sandbox or at the beach, building mighty castles, sculpting awesome cities and raising mounds that would make the Misty Mountains look like mellow hills? Powered by Ge-Force GTX 750 Ti and OpenGL, the Augmented Reality Sandbox comes to bring back that supreme childhood fantasy only better - because it has technology.

Modern minimalist chapel in Austria is a new take on an old concept

Whether you’re religious or not, there’s a good chance this chapel will catch your eye – completed last year, the 7-square-meter Maria Magdalena family chapel is a unique architectural delight in the heart of the Austrian countryside. The minimalist design gives it a sense of tranquility and serenity. Religious references are found throughout the chapel, but […]

Spherical, eco-friendly pod is the perfect backyard workplace

If you’re looking for a home away from home, if you’re setting up the perfect workplace, or if you’re simply not a fan of rectangular spaces, Podzook has you covered. These prefabricated pods are made from eco-friendly materials and in my opinion, they’re a fantastic addition to any backyard. “I could import parts and materials from Shanghai, set […]
1 … 21 22 23 24 25 … 39