The most interesting part of the video is the views from different cities on earth, and the explanation of why the view would look like that:

Earth may soon have rings of a sort, in an effort to cut global temperatures:

Will space mirrors really be able to cool the planet?

See also: Why does Saturn have rings? Why don’t the rocks in the ring attract each other and form a moon?

[[[Jump to previous question - where can you find the best Black Friday deals?]]]

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See the delicate threads? (istock/Philartphace)

Under normal circumstances, being in a confined space with a bunch of larvae wouldn’t be at all appealing. (I mean, seriously, who wants to do that?) But when the larvae glow in the dark and dangle threads from the ceiling of a dark New Zealand cave, they suddenly become something very delightful and strange. Tens of thousands of these pre-gnat insects called glowworms are known to decorate cave ceilings in New Zealand like stars in the night sky. If you’d like to visit the planetarium, you should head to the Waitomo Cave, where tour guides will lead you into the cave depths for a look at the glowworms.

But let’s discuss these glowworms because I think they’re interesting. First of all, they glow in the dark for two reasons: to attract the opposite sex and to attract prey. It’s simple: They glow because they love you or because they want to kill you. Glowworms catch prey by hanging out on the ceiling of a cave and dropping down a glow-in-the-dark silk line, sort of like a fishing line (in the words of Roy Alexander). When a glowworm catches prey, it pulls up the line and eats its dinner. And in fact, it’s the glowworm fishing lines that really make the cave planetariums look so striking. How strange to see these delicate, glowing threads dangling from a cold dark cave? That’s something I’d like to witness.

For more on caves…
5 Most Amazing Caves
How Cave Biology Works
How Cave Diving Works

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We just keep on trucking over here at TechStuff. This week, Chris and I hauled our butts into the studio to toe the line and address some listener mail. We’re not the type to brush aside our loyal listeners. Because of your submissions, we’ve had some really interesting conversations in the studio. Some of them were even recorded! This week, we looked at two very different topics and got a little metaphysical in the process.

On Monday, we examine what happens to our online presence after we shuffle off the mortal coil. Unless Kurzweil’s singularity proves me wrong, I think it’s safe to say none of us will be around forever. But after I join the choir invisible and push up the daisies, what happens to my Facebook page? How can my loved ones turn what used to be my platform for sharing photos of myself up to no good into a fitting memorial where friends can share their memories of me? We get to the bottom of the issue and give you some tips on what you can do if you want to make it easier for your friends and family to handle your online information after you’ve passed away.

After such a heavy discussion, we were happy to tackle a more nuts-and-bolts topic on Wednesday. That’s why we explained the difference between regular DVDs and Blu-ray discs. How can a Blu-ray disc hold so much information? How do lasers factor into it? And what happens when I tease our editor Liz too much? You’ll get the answers to all of these questions in TechStuff.

Keep those listener mails pouring in. We’re running behind on answering them all but we continue to update our list of topics each week. Let us know what you want to learn more about and we’ll be sure to add it into the mix.

In the meantime, if you want to learn more about our topics of discussion, allow me to direct you to HowStuffWorks.com:

How Facebook Works
How Social Networking Works
How DVDs Work
How Blu-ray Works

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One of the stories that gets lots of press this time of the year is what word the dictionary publishers have chosen to be the Word of the Year. This year, the New Oxford American Dictionary featured “unfriend” as the word of the year. Jon Gordon of American Public Media’s Future Tense interviewed Ammon Shea, consulting editor with the Oxford University Press, on why his company made the decision to include “unfriend.”

The word is a verb, and means to remove a person from your list of contacts on social media networks. In a lot of cases, these folks have been referred to as “friends,” though depending on the network, you may or may not have a deep enough relationship with them to be actual friends with them.

Actually, just a couple of days later in Future Tense, some people said they use “defriend” instead. Shea said the publisher chose “unfriend” because the editors found it to be more common.

Shea said that the Oxford University Press chooses words of the year because people are “captivated” by them. They illustrate the way language is changing, he said. But Shea also said that technology is having a great effect on the English language. Want proof? Other finalists for the word of the year include “hashtag,” a term made popular by Twitter users. The simple pound sign (or octothorpe, if you prefer — I know I do) is used as a one-character tag to identify memes going around the 140-character microblogging service. “Netbook” is another finalist. “Paywall” (a firewall that blocks access to a section of a Web site only available to paying subscribers) is another.

In the interview, Shea and Gordon also discuss the word “intexticated” which refers to the act of driving while texting. Research suggests that the distraction caused by text messaging while driving is very serious.

If you’re curious, other non-technology-related terms that almost made it to word of the year were “death panel,” “birther” and “tramp stamp.” You can check more out at the Oxford University Press’s blog.

Shea said it can be tough to determine which words will catch on and which will remain silly slang. I’ve heard “unfriend” used for years. I’m pretty sure it’ll last, at least for a while. The fact that there’s a name for deleting people from your network is sort of a saddening thought, though.

For more on social networking and related subjects, take a look at these articles:

Are social networking sites addictive?
How Online Social Media Networks Work
What’s the difference between notebooks, netbooks and ultra-mobile PCs?

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Intel thinks that we will all have chips embedded in our brains by 2020. We will use them instead of keyboard/mouse to control our laptops, phones and TVs:

Intel: Chips in brains will control computers by 2020

Intel research scientist Dean Pomerleau told Computerworld that users will soon tire of depending on a computer interface, and having to fish a device out of their pocket or bag to access it. He also predicted that users will tire of having to manipulate an interface with their fingers.

Instead, they’ll simply manipulate their various devices with their brains.

“We’re trying to prove you can do interesting things with brain waves,” said Pomerleau. “Eventually people may be willing to be more committed … to brain implants. Imagine being able to surf the Web with the power of your thoughts.”

The technology is already being proven in monkeys, and it definitely works:

See also:
- How Brain-computer Interfaces Work
- How Deep Brain Stimulation Works
- How Brain Mapping Works

[[[Jump to previous invention - Cars in “road trains” will save gas and reduce accidents]]]

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Listen to High Speed Stuff on iTunes

Let’s make this quick. Here’s what Ben and I have been up to on our High Speed Stuff podcast over the past few days…

We started out the week talking about a form of motorsport that actually predates the car by several centuries. Confused? Well, there’s no need to be. Ben and I will fill you in on all the details about gymkhana, including why it’s so darned physically and mentally challenging (even for experienced professionals), the types of cars that do well in gymkhana events and even a little bit of history so you can understand the link between Genghis Khan and the sport as we know it today. Oops! There I go again. I’m making this episode sound kind of interesting, aren’t I?

Later in the week, Ben and I felt like tackling another motorcycle topic. This time we thought it would be fun to look into the sport of motorcycle sidecar racing. And no, these machines aren’t anything like the motorcycle sidecars that you’re probably thinking of. So just in case you’re not already familiar with these wicked-fast, three-wheeled motorcycles, here’s a sample of how intense the on-track action can get:

Looks pretty dangerous, doesn’t it? However, I think it looks like a lot of fun, too. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to hang around until the end of the episode to see if Ben sticks with his decision to be a monkey. (You’ll know exactly what I mean after you listen.)

So there it is. That’s what’s happening on the High Speed Stuff podcast this week. Head on over to iTunes and give it a shot — it’s completely free. Just don’t forget while you’re there to take the opportunity to browse through some of our older episodes and give us a little feedback. You can also let us know what you think in the comment section below, or if you’d rather send us an e-mail, you can do that, too. Ben always reads the address at the end of each podcast.

Podcast-related stuff:
HowStuffWorks – Race Cars
What are precision drivers?
How Motorcycles Work
Motorcycles Image Gallery
HowStuffWorks – “Motorcycle and Chopper Videos”

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That's a lot of dog face for one photo. (AP Photo/Joey Ivansco, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Before I retired to bed last night, I caught word (via the AJC) that the University of Georgia’s esteemed mascot Uga VII had passed on into that great Varsity parking lot in the sky. As I’m not a fan of American football, my reaction was muted. I hadn’t prayed for the team’s victory against Kentucky this weekend (though how’s that for a good omen, Kentucky?*), and I didn’t lose any sleep. But it did get me thinking about the plight of purebred dogs.

Uga VII was, of course, an English bulldog, a breed that’s gained a reputation for looking like wrinkled little fat men. But this wasn’t always the case. Like most breeds, they were originally bred for a purpose: the brutal sport of bull baiting. The practice survived up into the 19th century, but the dogs have lived on, albeit in a slightly altered form.

According to CNN news, breeders (particularly show breeders) have bred generation after generation to encourage that signature physical look: large jowls, stubby legs and thick shoulders. This exaggerated the features, making it hard for many modern dogs to breathe, walk and mate. As a result, the 135-year-old American Kennel Club has revised its standards to encourage healthier animals, while keeping the breed’s signature look.

Check out the sleek figures of these old English bulldogs depicted in Samuel Raven's 1817 painting "Crib and Rosa." You won't see these guys at a Georgia game.

There’s even a movement in Britain to go a step further and breed back the dog’s original, leaner (and healthier) look. The Old English Bulldog may effectively be extinct, but the Olde English Bulldogge Kennel Club continues to try to bring the animal back to its former glory. Just without the resurgence of cruel, medieval blood spectacles.

At any rate, Uga VII (again, DEAD AT AGE 4) will likely join its six chubby predecessors in the Athens stadium’s canine mausoleum — which is a surprise to me. I had always heard they were buried on the actual playing field, and that every now and then a particularly brutal tackle would dredge up bones.

* Unless, of course, the dog were actually, say, burned inside a giant Wicker Dog to ensure Georgia’s dominance on the field this weekend? You tell me, football fans.

Force Animals to Promote College Athletics at HowStuffWorks.com:
How American Football Works
How Dogs Work
How Dog Shows Work
Football Quiz (can you match my mighty score of three?)

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Pocahontas, circa 1612 (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Sorry for the lack of posts this week, guys – our office has been attacked by a nasty cold virus, myself included.

In Monday’s podcast, Sarah and I debated whether or not there was ever an Atlantis.

The Atlantis story comes from Plato, but was he telling the story of a historical event, or simply teaching a moral lesson? In Plato’s unfinished trilogy of dialogues, he recounts the destruction of Atlantis due to the greed of its people. Throughout the years, the idea of a sunken city has captured the imagination of the most unlikely bedfellows. Heinrich Himmler, for example, used his position within the SS to send expeditions to such far-flung locales as Tibet to look for Atlantis. Not that he was the only one to search for the city; it’s been said to be located in the Canary Islands, Sweden, Santorini and Bimini – and that’s just a sampling.

Some have gone so far as to suggest the Atlanteans were a super-race, undone by their own technological sophistication. Want to dig deeper into the mystery of Atlantis? Listen to the podcast on iTunes.

Pocahontas was the subject of Wednesday’s podcast. “Pocahontas” is no one’s favorite Disney movie, but the woman herself has an interesting story.

When the Virginia Company sent settlers to Jamestown in search of gold, they were sadly disappointed. The land there wasn’t even good – it was marshy, and the James River was only potable for part of the year.

Pocahontas became acquainted with the settlers when she was 10 or 11, but the story of her rescuing John Smith may have been completely made up. Smith’s accounts were notoriously unreliable, and he didn’t publish this sensationalized account until after she’d become famous.

What other Pocahontas stories you’ve heard are simply stories? And how did she become such an important part of American mythology? Listen to the podcast and find out.

More cool stuff:

5 Lost Cities
Did the Egyptians really build the Sphinx?
10 Historically Inaccurate Movies
What happened to the lost colony at Roanoke?

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Hey Santa, did that adorable little boy wash his hands before offering you that cookie? (iStockphoto.com/asiseeit)

I still haven’t gotten my hands on an H1N1 vaccine yet. And it looks a bunch of jolly men in red suits just stepped in line before me, too. According to Santa-America, a U.S. nonprofit organization that sends Santa across the United States to visit families dealing with various physical and emotional issues, the bearded giver of gifts wants protection from swine flu. I can’t blame him. Kids, including my own, are endearing dynamos of love — and pathogens. And for many folks who celebrate Christmas, ‘tis the season for visiting Santa and generally spreading your germs (and good cheer) all around.

Just like caregivers or health care workers, Santa will come into contact with a lot of kids over the next few weeks. And he needs to be healthy in order to listen to all those earnest, whispered demands for Elmo and Thomas the Train and whatever other toy crazed parents will be fighting for on Black Friday and the ensuing weeks. So Santa-America is asking Congress to give priority to Santa for receiving the H1N1 vaccine, according to the related Associated Press story.

Santa may also be a good candidate for the vaccine because, as we all know, he isn’t exactly the skinniest, and H1N1 has been shown to cause severe complications in extremely obese patients, according to an MMWR Dispatch from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Aside from the H1N1 vaccine, don’t be surprised if you see Santa liberally dousing himself with hand sanitizer after he visits with your child or slugging down vitamins. He may also be losing the gloves this year to take advantage of the aforementioned hand sanitizer and visiting the dry cleaners more than usual. And as Robert notes, just how sanitary is that fake beard anyway?

And since I’ve already been a Debbie Downer, I may as well add that you may want to think twice before you send your child’s letter to the North Pole. The U.S. Postal Service seems to be canceling its program this year, according to the Associated Press. Some other organizations may be interested in picking it up though. No word on whether Santa and his elves are open to e-mails or texts.

Read more merry content at HowStuffWorks.com:
How Santa Claus Works
How Santa’s Sleigh Works
How Swine Flu Works
How do you know if you have swine flu or seasonal flu?

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This year, Harvard finally got its Quidditch team, joining dozens of other colleges in the sport:

Quidditch takes flight at Harvard

The sport has been in motion for several years. With schools like Harvard coming on board, the sport is going mainstream:

The first real-life Quidditch team debuted at Middlebury College in 2005. Today, Harvard is among 200 schools with club-level teams.

This video gives a quick introduction to the sport:

The sport is organized by Intercollegiate Quidditch Association. A list of all the IQA teams is available here. IQA-certified equipment is available from Alivan’s:

The Broom Closet

A summary of the rules:
- The teams are coed
- Seven players per team
- The positions are the same as in the books: 2 Beaters, 3 Chasers, a Keeper and a Seeker
- Players wear capes
- Points are scored the same way as in the books

From there the game diverges from the books somewhat because: a) we don’t have flying broom technology yet, and b) we don’t have autonomous flying ball technology yet. So:

- The Quaffle is a half-deflated volleyball
- The 2 Bludgers are black balls thrown by players
- The Golden Snitch is a ball in a sock attached to a neutral person dressed in yellow who runs around campus. The yellow-clad runner must return to the field once every 10 minutes but otherwise is free to go wherever. Seekers chase the Golden Snitch after giving the GS a 15-second head start.
- Players carry brooms between their legs with one hand, leaving the other hand free for ball-carrying.
- There are 3 rings (often hula hoops) on poles that act as the goals.

Putting it in motion:

- The Keeper is guarding the goals
- The 3 Chasers are moving the Quaffle down field by throwing it to one another, trying to throw it through the 3 goals.
- The 2 Beaters are throwing the Bludgers. If hit with a Bludger, a player must drop the ball and run a lap around the goal
- The Seekers are chasing the Golden Snitch guy.

All of it is happening with the distraction of one-handedness and brooms between their legs. Despite that, the sport is incredibly popular, growing from 1 team to over 200 teams in just 4 years.

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