Archive for December, 2009
Monkey to be sent to Mars – “The Institute is in preliminary talks with Russia’s Cosmonautics Academy about preparing monkeys for a simulated Mars mission that could lay the groundwork for sending an ape to the Red Planet, he said…” Chimps master first step in controlling fire – “Chimps remain cool under fire, possessing a [...]
It’s a sleigh-load of trailers the week before Christmas
by Marshall Brain | December 23, 2009
This has been a great week for trailers. Here are nine that came out in the last few days: Iron Man 2: Mass Effect 2: Clash of the Titans: Star Wars: Force Unleashed II: Karate Kid (2010) Robin Hood: Frozen: Alice in Wonderland (fifth): Invest:
Since gasoline is a liquid formed of carbon and hydrogen, it’s possible to trace the chemical reactions in car exhaust and understand what types of pollutants are created by a car’s engine. Tune in and learn more about the science behind burning gas.
It’s been said that behind every great man is a great woman, and Santa Claus is no exception. In this episode, Cristen and Molly take a closer look at the women behind Santa Claus, from his oft-forgotten wife to his team of reindeer.
After covering the basics of electricity in an earlier episode, Jonathan and Chris return with the sequel, examining the concept of circuits. Listen in and learn more in this episode.
Winter solstice celebrations predate Christmas, and trace back into antiquity. Saturnalia was one of these ancient traditions, and it was very different from the celebration we recognize as Christmas today. Tune in and learn more in this episode.
What if it’s a big hoax? For more info see: – 56 newspapers in 45 countries published the same editorial today, so it must be something important… – How Global Warming Works – What are green-collar jobs? [[[Jump to previous Funny...]]]
Streaming TV seems to be one of the big stories of the day. In the United Kingdom, the BBC has announced that it’s moving forward with Project Canvas, an initiative in which its partners ITV, TalkTalk, Channel 4, BT and Five are working together on a standard protocol for streaming online video.
Top 5 Stocking Stuffers for Scientists: Funding
by Allison Loudermilk | December 22, 2009
We’ve been beating around the bush here with all this fanciful talk of plane tickets and rides aboard the Virgin Galactic. What your scientist needs is cash. Funding. A check from grandma. Make that lots of checks from grandma. If you can point to a researcher who isn’t scrounging for more funds to give a talk, attend a conference, get a study off the ground or purchase whatever crazy piece of equipment will advance his or her experiment, we can point to a liar.
Top 5 Twisted Holiday Films: No. 2 — Die Hard/Die Hard 2 (tie)
by Chanel Lee | December 22, 2009
When I started badgering my friends and colleagues for ideas for this list, I got a slew of suggestions ranging from “The Nightmare before Christmas” to “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.” (Both are great reasons to revisit this list next year.) I was shocked, however, to see the one film that made everyone’s list: the 1988 uberhit “Die Hard.” Granted, for those of us on staff, this may be the seminal action film of our youth. But is “Die Hard” a great Christmas movie or a terrific flick that just happens to be set on Christmas Eve? Does it even matter?
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
- Thank You and Best Wishes to Marshall Brain
- Contest – Design a $300 house and win $25,000
- How the Philtrum works – the place under your nose where your face comes together
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
- Vacation Deprivation: Who’s got it?
- Have a Coke and a Smile
- The Latest in Frugal Lodging: Camping in Somebody Else’s Backyard
Keep Asking
- Why can a 5 foot 8 inch man dunk a basketball on a 10 foot rim while some people of taller stature can’t?
- What happens to our sun once it runs out of fuel?
- How do we know the age of the universe?
Stuff Mom Never Told You
- Who invented the Christmas card?
- How the Kinsey Report Fueled Whiskey Sales
- How to Get Your Wedding Announcement into The New York Times
Stuff to Blow Your Mind
- Space Music: DJ Food and ‘The Search Engine’
- Stuff to Blow Your Mind: Hug it Out
- Space Music: Jay-Z and Beyoncé to Film Music Video in Orbit
Stuff You Should Know
- The Southern Death Cult, the Maya and Georgia
- Deformed Baby Spider Brains
- Amazing Medical Conditions: Maple Syrup Urine Disorder
The Stuff of Genius
CarStuff
- Why is NASA studying car safety?
- Tips for in-car Navigation Systems
- Tips for Using Bluetooth in the Car
How-to Stuff
- How to Swim with Dolphins (When Deep Water Terrifies You)
- How to Cure a Homemade Cookie Craving Without Turning on the Oven
- How to Know When It’s Time for a New Pet
PopStuff
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 36: Now Available in 3-D
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 35: Let’s do brunch!
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 34: Play it again, Sam
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Stuff to Change the World
- Who will own the Arctic?
- Obesity: The New Global Crisis
- Bill Gates Makes For A Pretty Decent Cartoon
Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Butch Cassidy: Should we read between the lines?
- Are we rooting for D.B. Cooper?
- Party Time: A Look at Unconventional Politics

