So basically, the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) in Australia have invented a truckload of good things. Insect repellent was one – out of necessity in Australia no doubt. Polymer banknotes was another, and so was WiFi. But probably their most esoteric and weird invention was a word to describe a smell. Petrichor.Continue reading “What’s Your Favourite Smell? Mine Is Petrichor”
Tag Archives: science
Ancient Mineral, Art or Book?
San Fran based artist Alexis Arnold has managed to reimagine National Geographic magazines with the use of Borax crystals for a strange geological marvel of colourful striations. Glittering crystals are alive and growing on the gradients of colour, turning them from mere functional books to something akin to living art and also uncannily like aContinue reading “Ancient Mineral, Art or Book?”
The World of Tomorrow – Yesterday: The World’s Fair in 1939, New York
This bright bold fold-out map from the World’s Fair in 1939 along with postcards, pictures and a documentary speak volumes about a new optimism following the bleakness of the Depression and a blind faith in technology and all of the hopes and possibilities of the future. Click image to see larger detailed version. Watch anContinue reading “The World of Tomorrow – Yesterday: The World’s Fair in 1939, New York”
The Falling Cat Phenomenon: How NASA Trained Astronauts For Zero Gravity
Back in the golden era of space exploration – the 1960’s, NASA scientists were concerned with how astronauts would orient their bodies in space. This led to a watershed study at Stanford, featured in the International Journal of Solids and Structures, entitled “A Dynamical Explanation of the Falling Cat Phenomenon.” Partly funded byContinue reading “The Falling Cat Phenomenon: How NASA Trained Astronauts For Zero Gravity”
Free Online Course for Dreamers: Origins – Formation of the Universe, Solar System, Earth and Life
This is quite possibly the most amazing course ever presented on Coursera. It’s called Origins – Formation of the Universe, Solar System, Earth and Life. A sweeping epic that begins at the moment of the Big Bang and the creation of matter and careens along at a throttling pace through Deep Time towards the HumanContinue reading “Free Online Course for Dreamers: Origins – Formation of the Universe, Solar System, Earth and Life”
Impossibly Beautiful Marine Life in Sydney Harbour – Part 4
So far I have lovingly described a lot of Sydney natives who live under the sea. In our final of the series I look at the Gloomy Octopus and Eastern Blue Devil Fish, two of the most reclusive, mysterious and strangely beautiful residents of Sydney Harbour. I hope that you’ve enjoyed this series on ImpossiblyContinue reading “Impossibly Beautiful Marine Life in Sydney Harbour – Part 4”
Impossibly Beautiful Sea Life of Sydney Harbour – Part 1
In case you’ve been living under a rock in the harbour, you will know that Sydney offers some amazing snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities. It’s a really clean body of water. The proof is in the snorkelling too. A recent study revealed that Sydney harbour has more marine species than any other harbour in theContinue reading “Impossibly Beautiful Sea Life of Sydney Harbour – Part 1”
The Electrifying Visionary Power of Nikola Tesla
During an exciting period of invention at the end of the 19th century, Nikola Tesla stumbled upon cosmic radio signals for the first time. He thought they were signs of intelligent life from Venus or Mars. He later said of the experience, “The feeling is constantly growing on me that I had been the firstContinue reading “The Electrifying Visionary Power of Nikola Tesla”
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