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Win $40,000 – the DARPA Network Challenge Starts Saturday
by Marshall Brain | December 4, 2009
The DARPA Network Challenge is an odd contest that starts on Saturday, December 5: DARPA Network Challenge To mark the 40th anniversary of the Internet, DARPA has announced the DARPA Network Challenge, a competition that will explore the roles the Internet and social networking play in the timely communication, wide-area team-building, and urgent mobilization required [...]
World record #116 – The fastest fish in the world goes 80 MPH
by Marshall Brain | December 4, 2009
“As far as anyone can tell, the Marlin is the fastest fish on earth” – able to reach a top speed of 80 MPH, or 120 feet per second. This speed has been measured by watching the line get stripped off of reel when catching a marlin, as seen in this video: Marlin can weigh [...]
We have covered Pompeii before because it is a fascinating place: How Pompeii Works Because the preservation was so perfect, Pompeii is like a 2,000 year old time capsule, as described in this documentary: Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Part 5 Google has now gone in and photographed Pompeii like never [...]
Unique Gift Idea – The Brick Gun, a replica gun made of lego
by Marshall Brain | December 4, 2009
Do you like Lego? Do you like Guns? Would you like to build a gun replica out of Lego bricks? Brickgun.com Apparently these guns are so realistic that they can invoke a SWAT response: So I got arrested by the SWAT team last night… This appears to be the BrickGun he assembled: From a distance [...]
You Asked: How does a solar collector work? — Abhishek, Karimganj, India Marshall Brain Answers: The sun sends a huge amount of energy to earth every day. As a rough estimate, approximately one kilowatt of energy is arriving per square meter of the earth’s surface that is receiving direct sunlight. A solar collector tries to [...]
Batteries, particularly car batteries, seem to go dead and then come back to life after a resting period. How does this self-recharging feature of batteries work? Find out in this episode of BrainStuff.
Yellowstone National Park is famous for its extensive history, natural beauty and geological features. Join Matt and Rachel as they explore Yellowstone, from its geysers to its supervolcanos, in this episode of The Coolest Stuff on the Planet.
The Sapporo Snow Festival is a celebration of Japan’s winter season — and, of course, snow! Join Rachel and Matt as they admire the festival’s marvelous snow and ice sculptures — and other fun, wintry events — in this episode.
Although the idea of an aerosol spray back to the 18th century, Erik Rotheim was the first person to make a working device based on the concept. Tune in and learn how his Stuff of Genius has changed the world — for better or worse — in this episode.
Although sightings of the Chupacabra were first reported in Puerto Rico, eyewitness reports soon began to arrive from across the Americas. But what exactly is this thing? Is it even real? Learn the craziest Chupacabra conspiracy theories in this episode.
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
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The Stuff of Genius
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PopStuff
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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
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Stuff to Change the World
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Stuff You Missed in History Class
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