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Packing cutting-edge technologies and pioneering design elements, the General Dynamics F-111 “Aardvark” was among the most ambitious aviation programs of its era. Even the plane’s humble ejection system sported a design more at home in a NASA spacecraft than a USAF aircraft. The F-111 played a variety of roles during its 30 years of service.…
We were all taught how to cross a street: Look both ways. But, in some cities, you’ll also have to ask permission by pressing a tiny button and waiting your turn. Those little buttons on walk signals have been nicknamed “beg buttons”—because walkers are pretty much begging to be able to cross. Here in Los…
What do you do with a bomb shelter when you’re no longer getting Blitzed by the Nazis? For decades, Londoners have searched for ways to make use of old bomb shelters lurking deep underground. They’ve become data centers, dusty storage rooms, and, now, the first underground urban farm—thanks to a couple of foodie entrepreneurs and…
Ten years ago today, Mark Zuckerberg gave birth to The Facebook and launched an online social revolution in his Harvard dorm room. We all know what happened next—thanks in no small part to an eight-time Academy Award-nominated film. With such humble beginnings, no one could have predicted the wild success (and cries of outrage) the…
Kirill Oreshkin doesn’t appear to have any fear or vertigo. That or he’s the craziest of the craziest Russians who climb—without any safety measures—to the top of buildings, cranes, towers or any other structure that guarantees that they would end like a flesh omelette if they make the tiniest mistake. His friend is pretty crazy…
Ballmer’s out, Satya Nadella is in. The search for Microsoft’s third CEO is over. Thousands of people have a brand new boss, but what does that mean for you? You can read Microsoft’s official announcement here, but you won’t find much more than the usual press release cheerleading. Which makes sense; if the board didn’t…
You are looking at the top government gold reserves stacked in 400-ounce Gold bars, according to Demonocracy—a ranking headed by the United States, Germany and the International Monetary Fund. But how much gold has been mined through the entire history of the world? Here’s what it looks like, compared to the Statue of Liberty. The…
Man, there is something inexplicably magical about moving images. GIFs are currently living large as the forever-looping medium of choice, but the ol’ timey zoetrope is having a bit of a renaissance. We’ve already seen it applied to pottery—but now the concept gets a cool spin on this limited edition vinyl seven-inch. Dan Hayhurst and…
A nebula in space? The surface of a faraway planet? A fantastic sci-fi illustration? Or just microscopic goo? It’s just ice, like the rest of these fantastic photosby Michael Wagner: Here’s he how he takes them: This set was created by back lighting blocks of ice with battery powered LED holiday lights. For equipment, I…
As had been widely rumored and expected, Microsoft’s new CEO is Satya Nadella. He previously headed up the company’s Cloud and Enterprise group. The change is effective as of today. Nadella has been with Microsoft for over two decades, and has recently been in command of one of its most important divisions. In an email…
The Space Race between the USA and USSR was the most intensive scientific competition of the twentieth century, and its indirect effects were perceivable even in the toy industry. The following photos will show you 17 awesome, funny, and sometimes clumsy toys from the 1950s to the early 80s, including when the Soviets thought they…
Most hardcore science fiction fans will brush Star Trek off as being just another ‘space opera’, but all of that drama takes place alongside some wonderful technology. Believe it or not, over the years the Star Trek writers have predicted everything from tablets, to Google Glass, to even 3D printers. Of course the replicators aboard…
Antarctica looks amazing from space—but this video shows that its gnarled canyons and caves look equally impressive close-up, too. Shot in Antarctica last November by Enrico Sacchetti from a drone helicopter for the Italian Science Foundation to document its research, the video shows the rugged surface of ice, shaped and distorted by glacial activity and…
Sochi hasn’t been displaying the best of marketing strategies to date, with the world now fully aware that it still isn’t ready for the impending Olympics. Can its logo can help right some of its wrongs? You’re going to see this piece of branding quite a lot over the next few weeks, so hopefully you…
Way back in 1932, Charles O. Paullin and John K. Wright published an Atlas of the Historical Geography of the United States. It was a seminal reference book, containing almost 700 fascinating maps—and now it’s been digitized for you to explore online. The thing is absolutely rammed full of fascinating data, mapped across the US—from…
Did you hear? Facebook is ten years old today. To celebrate, Zuckerberg & Co. have decided to send each and every one of us a personalised video of our time on the social network. Aww. Each “Look Back” compilation contains 15 or so of your most-liked photos, statuses, and life events, set to music. Be…
The brain is a wonderful yet incredibly complicated thing, which scientists are still seeking to fully understand. This short video, then, provides a whistlestop tour of the current state of psychology—the study of our complex mental functions and behaviors. Do we have free will, or are we driven by our environment and biology? Why do…
Nokia may be readying its own Android phone for Verizon, but it also looks like Samsung could be working on its own Windows Phone 8.1 device for the carrier, too—at least if this Evleaks post is to be believed. This image depicts what’s reported to be a Samsung device known as Huron, powered by Windows…
I am going to do this track-by-track countdown to the release, on February 13, 2014, the day prior to Valentine’s Day, of my book in the estimable 33 1/3 series. It is a love letter to Aphex Twin’s album Selected Ambient Works Volume II, which will mark its 20th anniversary this year, less than a…
Watch Jackson, an awesome four-year-old kid, become overwhelmed by a beautifully sad song while riding in his Dad’s car. He tries to fight off the tears but he can’t help it. He starts crying because the music is so touching but he doesn’t want to change the song. He can’t. He takes off his glasses…
