Midtown Blogger/Manhattan Valley Follies: How Stuff Works

Monday, December 8, 2014

How Stuff Works

TODAY'S MIND-BLOWER

You think you really know an invention until -- whammo -- someone comes up with a new use for it. Ointment that soothes tired cow teats and treats baldness? Who would have thought?

GREAT STUFF

HISTORY10 of the Worst Decisions Ever Made
Everyone makes mistakes, but some lapses in judgment are spectacularly bad. What are some of history's most epic miscalculations?

SCIENCETop 10 Germs on Your Smartphone
Spend your life on your smartphone and you may be sending yourself to the sick bed. Here's a list of some of the nasty germs that could be lurking on your mobile device.

ENTERTAINMENT10 Outrageous Cartoon Moments That Use Real Physics
Cartoons are full of wacky hijinks and impossible science. But once in a while, a movie or TV show gets the physics right. Here are 10 times that writers and animators have done their homework.

SCIENCECould Earth ever get a new ocean?
To say geologic time moves at a snail's pace is an insult to snails. Our planet's continents are always in flux: Could a new ocean grow amid those incredibly slow changes?

ELECTRONICSHow Project Morpheus Works
You may have seen the occasional VR headset in an arcade. And home models have popped up now and again, only to fizzle. But Sony is hoping to change that with Project Morpheus.

ENTERTAINMENT10 Groundbreaking Uses of Special Effects Makeup
You might not know to look at them, but some of film's most groundbreaking makeup jobs have relied on simple tools, like cotton and spirit gum. And they've come a long way.

ELECTRONICS10 Futurist Predictions in the World of Technology
Futurists can dish out some exciting -- and downright scary -- visions for the future of machines and science. Here are 10 of them in the realm of technology.

PEOPLEHow Protests Work
Whether you indignantly objected when Fox canceled "Firefly" or marched around your nation's capital hoping for change, you're a protester. But would you stop paying your taxes to voice your displeasure? Would you face down a tank?

MONEYWhich is more expensive: Day care or stay-at-home parenting?
You're certain you and your partner have to work, rather than one of you staying home with the kids. The truth is, it could make more financial sense for one of you to stay home. Let's do the numbers.

SHOWSBrainStuff: Why do people in old movies talk weird?
It’s not quite British, and it’s not quite American – so what gives? Why do all those actors of yesteryear have such a distinct and strange accent?

ELECTRONICSHow Jackhammers Work
You've probably been irritated by jackhammer noise at some point, but have you ever stopped to think about these marvels of concrete-busting power? Without them, demolition would be a whole lot more difficult.

ANIMALS10 Biggest Bugs on Earth
Want a good scare? Check out these pictures of the biggest bugs on our planet!

RECIPESWho invented salted caramel?
When a food gets the sweet-to-salty ratio just right, it's quite the recipe for pleasure. Salted caramel is one flavor that hits all the right taste buds. Leave it to a Frenchman to create the perfect sweet.

SCIENCEWhy do people sing in the shower?
Jack Black does it. Wyclef Jean does it. And chances are, you do it, too. Everyone's a rock star in the bathroom. And there's a scientific explanation behind our soapy musical stylings.

SCIENCE10 Cool Things You Didn't Know About Stephen Hawking
He was born exactly 300 years after Galileo died. He has yet to be awarded a Nobel Prize, although he was awarded a guest spot on “The Simpsons.” What else do you know (or not know) about this acclaimed physicist?

HEALTHWhat are the white dots on my nails?
You notice a white dot on your fingernail. You try to scrub it off and realize the little white dots are not paint; they're actually part of your nail. What could they be?

SCIENCEWhat will Earth look like in 500 years?
"The 26th century" doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as "the 21st century" does. But that hasn't stopped us from imagining what our hometown planet will be like in a few hundred years. Any guesses?

ANIMALS10 Venomous Creatures in Your Backyard
You don't have to live in some exotic, tropical environment to find a venomous critter. They live all over the world, and some may be closer than you think.

PEOPLEWhat the Stuff?! : 4 Types of Laughter
What exactly is laughter – and is it true that there are different types of laughs? What do they mean?