Archive for the ‘Featured’
The First Known Robot Was Created Around 400 BC and Was a Mechanical Bird
Today I found out the first known robot was created around 400-350 BC by the mathematician Archytas and was a steam powered pigeon.
Archytas, who coincidently is known as the “father of mechanical engineering”, constructed his bird out of wood and used steam to power the movements of the robot. This bird was then suspended from a pivot [...]
How an LED Works
Today I found out how an LED works. An LED or “Light Emitting Diode” is basically as the name describes; it is a special type of diode that is specifically optimized to give off light, usually in the visual or infrared spectrum, as electricity is passed through it.
A diode is a special type of semiconductor that has [...]
What Happens When You Stick Your Head Into a Particle Accelerator
Today I found out what happens when you stick your head into a particle accelerator.
Exhibit A: Anatoli Petrovich Bugorski, a Russian scientist who has the distinction of being the only person to ever stick their head in a running particle accelerator. Shockingly, he also managed to survive the ordeal and all things considered, come out [...]
The Sun is White Not Yellow
Today I found out the Sun is white, not yellow. For you graphics people or web developers out there, the exact color of the sun is #fff5f2. The reason the Sun looks yellow to us on Earth is that our atmosphere scatters light from the Sun; so the apparent color of the sun changes. This [...]
The Baseball Box Score was First Developed by Henry Chadwick
Today I found out the baseball box score was first developed and introduced by Henry Chadwick, “The Father of Baseball”. Chadwick also authored Baseball’s first rule book; devised the batting average and earned run average; compiled the game’s first instructional guides and player and statistical reference books, among a variety of other contributions to the [...]
How ‘Gay’ Came to Mean ‘Homosexual’
Today I found out how ‘gay’ came to mean ‘homosexual’.
The word “gay” seems to have its origins around the 12th century in England, derived from the Old French word ‘gai’, which in turn was probably derived from a Germanic word, though that isn’t completely known. The word’s original meaning meant something to the effect of [...]
How to Survive Being Trapped in Quicksand
Today I found out how to survive being trapped in quicksand.
First, don’t panic! Panicking in quicksand is pretty much one of the few ways to turn this slightly dangerous situation into deadly. Second, if you are wearing something heavy attached to yourself like a backpack, unstrap it immediately if you feel it pushing you [...]
The “Pull and Pray” Method Works About as Well as Condoms for Preventing Pregnancy
Today I found out that the “Pull and Pray” method statistically is just about as effective as condoms for preventing pregnancy, contrary to popular belief. Indeed, according to Dr. John Guillebaud in his book Contraception: Your Questions Answered, some of the lowest birth rates in history pop up around cultures whose primary method of contraception [...]
The Origins of the LOLCat Meme
Today I found out the origins of the lolcat meme. It turns out, the oldest known reference to an lolcat style picture/caption dates all the way back to 1903 from photographer Harry Whittier Frees who would take photos of small animals, including cats, dressed up in various outfits. These photos were then often sold in [...]
Ben Franklin Developed a List of 13 Virtues That He Lived His Life By
Today I found out that Benjamin Franklin through extensive study of the world’s major religions and various moral codes came up with a list of thirteen main virtues that he felt every person should strive to live their life by. As such, he himself attempted to always live by this code and developed charts with [...]
