… Read More → "Scientists make things float and move in space using sound waves"

In a corner of a century-old supply depot, buried deep under Antarctic snow, a team from the Antarctic Heritage Trust has uncovered a cache of undeveloped photos of Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.

The expedition launched in 1914 and was an attempt to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent, following Amundsen’s successful conquest of the South Pole in 1911.
via < … Read More → "Lost photos of Antarctic expedition uncovered"

One of the great joys offered by an old library is stepping through the doors and being greeted by an overwhelming sense of stillness. Endless stories exist between the covers resting on the shelves but, until you crack open a title and start to read, it’s blissfully oh so quiet.

England’s … Read More → "This animatronic wall of books moves in time with library visitors"

Some believe that the tradition of birthday candles began in Ancient Greece, when people brought cakes adorned with lit candles to the temple of Artemis, goddess of the hunt. The candles were lit to make them glow like the moon, a popular symbol associated with Artemis.

Many ancient cultures also believed that smoke carried their prayers to the heavens. Today’s tradition of making wishes before blowing out your birthday candles may have started with that belief.
via Mental Floss</ … Read More → "Why do we blow out candles on birthday cakes?"

Behold the first self-propelled ice sculpture ever—a truck made of ice that actually works! It’s a real truck, using 11,000 pounds of ice over a regular truck chassis complete with engine and electrical system.
via Gizmodo

… Read More → "This pickup truck is made of ice and you can actually drive it"

40 light-years away lies the exoplanet GJ 1214b, a searingly hot “super-Earth” orbiting a red dwarf star. And thanks to the Hubble telescope, researchers believe they’ve found what lies in the planet’s upper atmosphere: thick clouds. A paper, published in theJanuary 2nd issue of Nature, relies on the telescope to settle a debate about the planet’s composition. First documented in 2009, … Read More → "Hubble telescope finds evidence of clouds on a distant planet"

Dolphins have been observed chewing on poisonous pufferfish in an apparent effort to get high on the fish’s potent neurotoxin. The behavior was filmed in the wild with hidden cameras for the BBC documentary series Dolphins – Spy in the Pod. Young dolphins were observed taking turns carefully chewing on the pufferfish, after which they began exhibiting strange behavior. According to zoologist (and a producer for the … Read More → "Dolphins filmed chewing on poisonous pufferfish in an apparent effort to get high"

The fact that we’ve kept the number of U.S. states relatively static is nothing short a miracle—there have been hundreds of attempts at state secession over the years. But what if they had all succeeded? This brilliant map depicts that alternative universe, where the U.S. is broken up into 124 different states that stretch from sea-to-shining-sea.

< … Read More → "A map of the 124 United States of America that could have been"

More than 33 years ago Mount Saint Helens blew its top, causing 57 deaths and forever changing the landscape of Washington state and its surrounding areas. One of those deaths was Reid Blackburn, a reporter on assignment for The Columbian — a local area paper — who was snapping photos inside what tragically turned out to be a massive blast area. Those images … Read More → "Long-lost photos show Mt. St. Helens just before its devastating eruption"

Leo the Maker Prince has two goals: First, blow minds with examples of the the amazing things 3-D printers can do—from manufacturing products to printing hamburgers. Second, inspire kids to master their MakerBot skills by printing a series of custom products of Diana’s design.

As cool as the story is, the objects steal the show. Each item was carefully designed to advance the … Read More → "A kids’ book where every character can be 3-D printed"