<![CDATA[Gizmodo: siberia]]> http://tags.gizmodo.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: siberia]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/siberia http://gizmodo.com/tag/siberia <![CDATA[DIY Siberian Astronomy Observatory Cured Alcoholics, Will Get Back Online For Eclipse]]> DIY builder Mikhail Levchenko's homemade backyard observatory once made a drunken Russian give up the sauce for good after revealing Saturn's rings to him one fateful night. Now, the telescope, which has been dormant for years, is getting a push to be restored and brought back online in time for a full solar eclipse which will be viewable from Levchenko's hometown of Barnaul in Siberia. And, of course, to cure more Russian alkies.

World War Two vet Levchenko built the scope from scratch with his bare hands in the 70s—the rickety tower, the assemblies for the 16-inch lens, everything. Since his death in 2002, neighbors have had to fend off scrap metal collectors and salvagers from wrecking the thing as it lay dormant next to Levchenko's cabbage field. Since western Siberia will be a prime viewing spot for the eclipse in August, neighbors are hoping to restore it in time. Best of luck, as anything that can pry a bottle out of an old Russian drunk's hands has got to be pretty damn impressive. [Reuters]

]]> http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5031412&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Siberian Diamond Building Proves Siberians Are Pretty Crazy Too]]> If you thought the people of Dubai were the only ones who made crazy ass buildings, Siberians have a surprise for you. This diamond-like tower looks and reflects light like a "cut diamond", but actually absorbs enough energy to be self-sustainable thanks to solar light.

The tower's designed by architects at Foster+Partners, and is planned to be built next to Khanty Mansiysk in Siberia. If the plans are accurate, the tower sits on top of a hill and looks down upon the city like Zeus upon Olympus. That is, Zeus upon Olympus before Kratos comes up and tears him a new one with the Blades of Chaos.

Project Page [Foster and Partners via Sci Fi]

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