More than a thousand questions on scientific phenomena receive articulate answers from readers of the London-based weekly science news magazine, The New Scientist. View responses to queries about bubbles, liquids, and ice; gadgets and inventions; and mysteries and illusions. It's easy to submit an answer or post a new question to the unanswered questions file. And if you enjoy the eccentric nooks and crannies of scientific exploration, consider the drunken slug at the bottom of the bottle or the whimsical little people effect.
Field Cameras of the United States: 1879-1930
The years following the Civil War were exhilarating times for imaging technology, with a surge of innovation in the design and manufacture of field cameras. This homespun database for collectors of these early cameras is hosted by Mr. Matthew Brady and built on his research at the George Eastman House. You'll find intriguing images and descriptions of these hefty, accordion-like antiques, including details of construction, materials, dimensions, and notes on additional camera features.
Featuring over 400 images of classic pin-up girls from the forties and fifties, this squeaky clean collection pays tribute to the cover models of such classic periodicals as Eyeful, Wink, Flirt, Titter, and Whisper. If the names Gil Elvgren, Peter Driben, or Edward Ru mean anything to you, you've come to the right place. Forget about that "gratuitous rubbish" from the sixties onward -- you'll only find the most sophisticated scantily clad ladies here: Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page, and more.
Eddie Breen is the "brushname" of a self-taught "piggyback" artist and online auction phenomenon. Eddie buys paintings at thrift stores and flea markets and "spiffs them up" not just with moustaches and eyeglasses, but with flying demons, flaming nuns, and graffiti-esque annotations. Just for a lark, he posted a few paintings on Ebay with links back to his gallery. The bidding began, and a web-based mini-meme was born. The before and after gallery is priceless. Eddie has just begun experimenting with Blogger, free software that makes online journal writing (known as web logging or blogging) a breeze.
From 1967 to 1976, the upstart American Basketball Association teams waged a scrappy but ultimately doomed battle against the NBA. To differentiate themselves from that other league, they had to be original. They colored their basketballs red, white, and blue. They invented the three-point shot. They started teams in places like Norfolk and Denver. They introduced Dr. J to the world. Eventually, four ABA teams joined the NBA, and the rest went down fighting. This impressive shrine site, lovingly cared for by Arthur Hundhausen, tells the league's story.
This project chronicles the seminal history of Apple's Macintosh computer via primary source documents, interviews, and images. Scholar Theodore Roszak writes about the connection between sixties and seventies counterculture and the rise of personal computing in "From Satori to Silicon Valley." An essay called "Technical Writing and the Macintosh" highlights the unique symbiosis between documentation and development as the Macintosh evolved. Papers on the role of user groups, the design of the mouse, and the influence of innovative marketing strategies offer tools to understand public adaptation of new technologies, then and now.
Every few weeks, a friendly web designer named Jeff receives a phone call at work from a bona fide crazy person. Sometimes the man sounds agitated, other times he sounds positively jubilant, but he's always completely incomprehensible. Jeff has taken a liking to this man, hereafter known as "Crazy Drunk Guy," and he's provided several sound files of their recent conversations. So check them out. Jeff will even notify you via email when a new conversation has been recorded. What a swell guy.
Tough Men: How Tough Are They?
Q: Who are the tough men?
A: They are tiny, man-shaped candies from Norway. They are described as "soft jelly men who have rolled around in sugar." They come in four colors. They are made mostly from glucose syrup.
Q: Just how tough are they?
A: As it turns out, they're not that tough. They turn black when exposed to flame. They dissolve when placed in boiling water. They disintegrate when shot at with an air rifle. They liquefy when exposed to an electrical charge.
Q: Isn't the Web great?
A: Yes.