Quantum Mechanism of Photosynthesis Worked Out...

The amazingly high efficiency of photosynthesis was long unexplainable by ordinary chemistry.  A few years ago, scientists concluded that a “room temperature” quantum-mechanical system must be responsible.  Now researchers have figured out the actual mechanism, and it's even more amazing than they'd expected it to be.  If a similar system can be constructed for man-made solar power systems, we're going to see some mighty awesome solar panels!

Boston Molasses Disaster...

I happened across this in my morning reading, entirely by accident.  On January 15th, 1919, an enormous molasses storage tank burst, spewing 2.5 million gallons of molasses into the streets of a Boston neighborhood.  This created an 8 to 15 foot high wave of molasses, moving at about 35 miles per hour.  It killed 21 people and injured over 150 more; there was a large amount of property damaged (including buildings and railroad).

And I thought I knew my U.S. history fairly well!

Magnificent Chickens...

When I first visited this site, my internal comment was ... “Really?”

And the answer is ... “Yes, people really do compete in chicken magnificence”

Oh, my...

Isolated for Forty Years...

A Russian family, afraid of what the Soviets would do to them because of their religion, lives in Siberia cut off from the rest of the world (their cabin is at right) for over 40 years.

Amazing!

Ramanujan...

Today is the 125th anniversary of the birth of Srinivasa Ramanujan.  Some 20 years ago, an Indian colleague and friend told me about Ramanujan, whom I'd never heard of.  He recommended The Man Who Knew Infinity, and I will likewise recommend that book to you.  It's an amazing story of a man whose mathematical talents approached magic...

Remarkable...

Here's a piece of art by DiegoKoi, a picture of model Federica Ferragine – but it's not a photograph.  This picture was created by pencil, on paper.  Follow the links on this page to see the work in progress.

Amazing.  This is the most realistic piece of art I have ever seen...

The All American, a B-17...

This particular B-17 survived a mid-air collision with a German fighter over the docks of Tunis.  Amazingly the pilot managed to land the badly-damaged aircraft, and not a single crew member was injured at all.

I'd never heard this story before.  Read all about it...

Lost, then Found...

And this is just plain amazing!

Dog, Cat, and Rat...

Via my mom:

Dog, Deer, Ball...

Via my mom: go see.

Amazing Ventriloquist...

Jim M. passed these along – videos of the most amazing ventriloquist I have ever seen or heard of. Once you watch the first video, you'll see links to the others…