By Ben Coxworth – A treated piece of wood resists absorbing water (left), while an untreated piece readily does so, changing color in the process (right). Allison Carter, Georgia Tech. – While lumber certainly has many desirable qualities as a building material, it typically …
The CrossJack features a cross-shaped base for improved stability. w 3 Image. – The thump, thump, thump of a flat tire is a sound that is sure to wreck anyone’s day. Fighting the elements and getting a lungful of exhaust fumes from passing …
Most people haven’t even heard of Transnistria, the breakaway state of Moldova that hugs its border with Ukraine. And that’s partly what makes it so fascinating to visit. By Sarah Reid – By the time the morning sun had crept above the city’s …
Researchers suspect a genetic mutation may have gifted the giant fish, named Inspector Clouseau, his rosy hue. Inspector Clouseau, the world’s only known pink manta ray (Kristian Laine / Instagram). By Katherine J. Wu, smithsonianmag.com – Just in time for the rosiest holiday …
For the first time since the Vikings sailed, the Icelandic public will soon be able to worship classical Norse gods like Odin, Thor, and Frigg at a public temple built in their honor. By Orion Jones – Photo credit: Shutterstock – For the …
Physicists propose using time crystals to bring about a quantum computing revolution. By Paul Ratner – Adobe stock. A team of scientists proposes using time crystals to power topological superconductors. The approach could lead to error-free quantum computers. Time crystals appear to break …
Discovered on the island of Lindisfarne, the artifact was likely once part of a Hnefatafl board game set. A piece of worked glass unearthed from the English island of Lindisfarne that researchers suspect may have once been a Viking game piece (Jeff Veitch). …
The world’s most isolated inhabited island also has some of the world’s strangest toponyms. Tristan da Cunha, spotted by NASA’s Terra ASTER satellite in 2006. Image: NASA ASTER Volcano Archive, JP. By Frank Jacobs – Tristan da Cunha is the world’s most isolated …
By C.C. Weiss – Elektro Frosch Pro scooter camper. Elektro Frosch. – Forget all about the Tesla Cybertruck camper because there’s an even stranger electric pickup camper roaming the world. The Elektro Frosch camping scooter explores the outdoors one charge at a time, sending …
By Michael Irving – Researchers have found that treating drinking water with chlorine could produce previously-unknown byproducts. Shebeko/Depositphotos. – Adding chlorine is one of the most common methods of disinfecting drinking water, but just how safe is it? Researchers from Johns Hopkins have now …
