Neatorama

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• An Ode to Great Double X-Chromosomed Scientists
• Grandpa Goes Underground
• If Apple Made a Harley
• How Twilight Works
• Profile of a Building: The Flatiron Building
• Dog Surprises Police Officer
• Real Hoverboard
• Horse Cosplay
• Artificial Butterfly
• The Versailles of Spain
• That's Where the Water Went!
• The Three Christs of Ypsilanti
• Captain Kirk is Climbing a Mountain
• 101 Uses For An Unwanted Wedding Dress
• Upcoming 9/11 Memorial on Google Earth
• Man Devotes His Life to Marbles
• Biggest House in America for Sale
• What Is It? Game 140: Upon Penalty of Death!

An Ode to Great Double X-Chromosomed Scientists Posted: 28 May 2010 05:09 AM PDT Although women have been researching and inventing for as long as men have been grunting and hunting, recognition for their accomplishments has been sparse. We think we owe them a few retroactive shout-outs. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Flammulina Velutipes Beatrix Potter may be known mainly as the mother of adorable anthropomorphized animals, but the British author and illustrator also used her skills for some decidedly less cuddly work. Around the turn of the 19th century, scientists had no way of photographing images under a microscope, so Potter found herself churning out watercolor paintings of fungi in labs. Pretty soon, she’d become a well-respected mycologist and was one of the first scientists to study lichens. At the time, women were barred from attending scientific meetings, so Potter’s uncle had to present her papers for her. Eventually, she had to settle for a more “appropriate” profession, and thus Peter Rabbit was born. “No Nobel” Burnell As a graduate student in Cambridge in the late 1960s, Jocelyn Bell Burnell builtr a radio telescope with her thesis advisor, Antony Hewish. While taking readings, she noticed a regularly repeating radio signal from a segment of space. Confused, she and Hewish labeled the phenomenon “LGM” for “little green men”. Later, the scientific community renamed them “pulsars,” for “one of the biggest astronomy discoveries in modern history”. In 1974, Hewish received the Nobel Prize. The ever-observant Burnell, however, wasn’t even mentioned during his acceptance speech. Computational Error Even though men used to have a hard time sharing their labs with ladies, they seemed more than happy to let women crunch the numbers. In 1946, after John Mauchly and Presper Eckert finished building the world’s first electronic digital computer, known as the ENIAC, they solicited the aid of six women to program and run the thing. Kay McNulty, Betty Jennings, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Fran Bilas, and Ruth Lichterman subsequently became the world’s first computer programmers. Sadly, their work was considered “clerical”, and their station “sub-professional”. In 1997, however, those words were amended, and all six women were inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame. ________________________________ The article above, written by Hank Green, appeared in the Scatterbrained section of the September – October 2007 issue of mental_floss magazine. It is reprinted here with permission. Don’t forget to feed your brain by subscribing to the magazine and visiting mental_floss‘ extremely entertaining website and blog today for more!

Grandpa Goes Underground Posted: 28 May 2010 03:37 AM PDT When Leonid Murlyanchik retired, he spat on the shuffleboard court and turned his back on early bird specials. This one man wrecking crew has spent every year since 1984 single-handedly designing and digging his own Russian metro; and you thought it was cool when your grandfather built you a clubhouse out of plywood… Russian hero Leonid Murlyanchik has been building his metro alone since 1984. All materials are bought for his retired fee. Construction is not over yet. View the source to see photos of this amazing undertaking. Link – via BoingBoing

If Apple Made a Harley Posted: 28 May 2010 02:04 AM PDT Yanko Design showcases an incredible vision of a Harley Davidson in the year 2020, created by designer Jonathan Russell. The bike’s sleek frame and finish definitely scream “futuristic,” but I have a lot of trouble seeing a heavy, bearded man in leather driving one of these. Link – via CoolMaterial

How Twilight Works Posted: 27 May 2010 09:16 PM PDT The Oatmeal skewers the over 40 year-old Twilight fan base in this hilarious step by step breakdown of the science of the series. Twilight is painted as a diabolically designed trap, able to turn all but the strongest middle aged women into lusting, exuberant fangirls. View the rest of the piece (with some hilarious illustrations) at the source. Link – The Oatmeal

Profile of a Building: The Flatiron Building Posted: 27 May 2010 07:39 PM PDT The Flatiron building was one of the first skyscrapers in New York, and its iconic shape, an extremely narrow triangle, is recognized throughout the world as a unique and interesting building. The New York Times has an indepth profile of the building this week, and points out that though the exterior is awesome, the interior can be quirky, as much space is taken up by the elevators, furniture is hard to fit, and one floor is accessible only via another floor! Nonetheless, the Flatiron building is an important part of New York and provides tourists with great pictures, locals with a reference point, and occupants with a special form of comfort. Because of its footprint and location, the Flatiron has problems and perks that other buildings do not. The swirling winds generated by its shape are said to have inspired the phrase "23 skidoo" — what police officers would say as they dispersed the men who gathered outside to linger and watch for women's skirts to blow up as they passed. Link – via gothamist From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by nmiller.

Dog Surprises Police Officer Posted: 27 May 2010 07:28 PM PDT (YouTube link) Plattsburg, Missouri police officer Nick Shepherd responded to a call for help involving a dog stuck in a fence. The wire was twisted, and Shepherd cut the fencing to free the dog. He then tried to capture the dog. What happened next makes it worth sitting through the jumpy footage from Shepherd’s automatic camera. Link -via Buzzfeed

Real Hoverboard Posted: 27 May 2010 07:11 PM PDT (Video Link) Well, real in the sense that opposing magnets suspend this Back to the Future model in the air without any structural support. French artist Nils Guadagnin made it for an art installation: Integrated into the board and the plinth is an electromagnetic system which levitates the board. A laser system stabilises the object in the air. In the making of this work, this artist was thinking about different ways of presenting sculpture. In fact it’s a reflexion on the multiple possibilities of how to give a sculpture full spatial autonomy. via Geekosystem | Artist’s Blog | Previously on Neatorama: Back to the Future Hoverboard Auction

Horse Cosplay Posted: 27 May 2010 07:02 PM PDT It’s a problem that we’ve all faced from time to time: you and your horse have been invited to a costume party, but your horse has nothing to wear. Thankfully, a Costa Rican company called The Horse Tailor offers custom-made outfits for horses. Among other options, your ride could go as a bumblebee, Batman, a leprechaun, or the Pink Panther (pictured above). Link via The Presurfer Photo: Horse Tailor

Artificial Butterfly Posted: 27 May 2010 06:53 PM PDT Japanese researchers built a functional life-sized model of a butterfly. They did so in order to test their hypothesis on the flight mechanics of a particular species: To prove that the swallowtail achieves forward flight with simple flapping motions, the researchers built a lifelike ornithopter in the same dimensions as the butterfly, copying the swallowtail’s distinct wing shape and the thin membranes and veins that cover its wings. Using motion analysis software, the researchers were able to monitor the ornithopter’s aerodynamic performance, showing that flight can be realised with simple flapping motions without feedback control, a model which can be applied to future aerodynamic systems. At the link, you can view a video of this machine in flight. Link via DudeCraft | Photo: H. Tanaka and I. Shimoyama/Bioinspiration & Biomimetics

The Versailles of Spain Posted: 27 May 2010 11:32 AM PDT La Granja De San Ildefonso is a smaller version of the world famous Versailles in France. Built in the Baroque style, this 18th century palace attracts tourists from all over the world with its exquisite decor and massive ornamental fountains and grounds. Take a look around in this post at Factoidz. Link (Image credit: Ignacio Revuelta) From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by lannaxe96.

That's Where the Water Went! Posted: 27 May 2010 11:27 AM PDT The staff at Etali Safari Lodge in South Africa tried to find the leak in the hot tub for weeks, but didn’t find out why it was losing water every day until a guest took a picture. An elephant named Troublesome was drinking from the spa! Rangers from the attached wildlife preserve are familiar with the elephant, and say she is very inquisitive. Susan Potgieter, owner of Etali Safari Lodge, in North West Province, South Africa, said elephants could drink more than 200 litres of water a day so drinking a whole whirlpool bath was no problem. She said: ‘When I first saw the photograph of her drinking I couldn’t believe it. And then it dawned on me of course an elephant was drinking it. ‘It was something of a relief because we had been trying to work out why the pool had been draining so quickly for weeks but couldn’t find a leak anywhere. The lodge is now providing drinking water for the elephant to keep her out of the pool. Link -via Bits and Pieces

The Three Christs of Ypsilanti Posted: 27 May 2010 11:25 AM PDT Psychologist Milton Rokeach took three psychotic men, each who believed they were Jesus Christ, and put them together at Ypsilanti State Hospital in Michigan. It was an experiment in identity, since all three men knew there could only be one Son of God. Rokeach chronicled what happened in his 1964 book The Three Christs of Ypsilanti, which is out of print. In hindsight, the Three Christs study looks less like a promising experiment than the absurd plan of a psychologist who suffered the triumph of passion over good sense. The men’s delusions barely shifted over the two years, and from an academic perspective, Rokeach did not make any grand discoveries concerning the psychology of identity and belief. Instead, his conclusions revolve around the personal lives of three particular (and particularly unfortunate) men. He falls back—rather meekly, perhaps—on the Freudian suggestion that their delusions were sparked by confusion over sexual identity, and attempts to end on a flourish by noting that we all “seek ways to live with one another in peace,” even in the face of the most fundamental disagreements. As for the ethics of the study, Rokeach eventually realized its manipulative nature and apologized in an afterword to the 1984 edition: “I really had no right, even in the name of science, to play God and interfere round the clock with their daily lives.” Slate has some tidbits from the interaction of the three men. Link -via Buzzfeed (Image credit: Robert Neubecker)

Captain Kirk is Climbing a Mountain Posted: 27 May 2010 10:00 AM PDT [YouTube - link] William Shatner is the unwitting star of a catchy dance mix from New York group Fall On Your Sword. The original Shatner interview was about Captain Kirk’s climb of El Capitan in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. I’m pretty sure you’ll like this version better. Via – Fall On Your Sword

101 Uses For An Unwanted Wedding Dress Posted: 27 May 2010 09:43 AM PDT Kevin Cotter was devasted when his wife of 12 years moved out last July. She packed up the car with all her possessions but she left one thing in her closet. “What do you want me to do with that?” he asked her.  “Whatever you #@$%# want,” she replied, and left. To help himself cope with the trauma of divorce, Cotter set up a website called “My Ex-Wife’s Wedding Dress” and decided to invent 101 uses for the dress.  So far he has documented 23 uses, including pasta strainer, skipping rope, barber smock, dog bed, camera lens cleaner, Christmas tree skirt, coffee filter and barbecue cover. Kevin demostrates its use as a dog toy, above. He has asked for help from readers to think up more uses so he will reach his goal of 101. Cotter’s website has attracted lots of fans and his ex-wife is not happy about his project. “Nothing about divorce is pleasant or easy and I will share some of my experiences and at the same time lighten them up with some creative uses for this dress I was stuck with.” Link to story. Link to website.  -via Arbroath From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.

Upcoming 9/11 Memorial on Google Earth Posted: 27 May 2010 09:38 AM PDT Thanks to a partnership between Google and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, a full, 3D, accurate model of the upcoming memorial is visible on Google Earth. Even though the memorial isn’t slated to be finished until at least next September, visitors to Google will be able to see what awaits them next year. The model includes the 1,776 ft tall Freedom Tower, the two reflecting pools that serve as “footprints” of the twin towers, and even the 400 white oak trees that will grace the 16-acre memorial. So razor-sharp and up-close are the visual details that family members will be able to hone in on the nearly 3,000 bronze nameplates that will identify the innocents who were massacred in the 2001 attacks. Link to story. Link to virtual tour. – via gothamist From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by nmiller.

Man Devotes His Life to Marbles Posted: 27 May 2010 09:33 AM PDT [YouTube - Link] The interviewer (as far as I can tell, this is from Belgian TV) and soundtrack make this out to be a sad story of an obsessed man, but when watching the clip, another thought comes to mind: Here is a man whose life has been devoted to one passion, marbles, and who spends his time and trouble on this passion. It’s interesting, especially when you consider that it’s an innocuous devotion – much less destructive than the addictions most of us harbor. – via i-am-bored From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by nmiller.

Biggest House in America for Sale Posted: 27 May 2010 09:32 AM PDT For just $75 million and change, this 30-bedroom, 23-bath home near Orlando, Florida could be yours. It comes with a children’s theater, a roller rink, a baseball field, two tennis courts, three swimming pools, 11 kitchens, and a 20-car garage, and each of the 23 bathrooms has a fabulous view and a Jacuzzi. Who owns such a palace?  A time-share mogul. He and his Florida beauty-queen wife, who employ a team of five nannies to take care of their kids, call the house "Versailles." According to The Telegraph, they’ve already had some interest from potential buyers in Russia and Asia, despite the fact that the house isn’t finished and will require another $25 million in construction costs before anyone can move it. Local estate agent Kelly Price said “Versailles will probably be a house that will appeal to the uber-wealthy that don’t ever think about the issues of money. “It might be a second or third. For all we know, it could be a seventh or eighth home.” Link From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.

What Is It? Game 140: Upon Penalty of Death! Posted: 27 May 2010 07:39 AM PDT "Upon Penalty of Death" – that sounds downright gruesome, but this week’s What Is It? game, is anything but! Can you tell us what the object above is used for? Place your guess in the comment section. One guess per comment, please, but you can enter as many as you’d like. Please post no URL or web links – doing so will forfeit your entry. Two prizes: the first correct guess and the funniest albeit incorrect guess will win a neat item from the NeatoShop’s Newly Listed stuff (anything $20 or under, please!) IMPORTANT: Please write your prize selection alongside your guess, so head over ot the NeatoShop and take a look around, mmkay? If you don’t make a prize selection, then you don’t get the prize. You have until the answer is revealed at the What Is It? Blog. For more clues, check out the What Is It? Blog. Good luck!

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