These amazing wonderful fantastic people from Nottingham University in the UK are making a video for each element of the periodic table. I’m pretty much beside myself with child-like glee right now. Science is fun.

For more vids: http://www.periodicvideos.com/
Their YouTube page

Also good use of Enrico Morricone’s music from The Mission. While we’re on non sequitur’s another piece from the Soundtrack.

Related Posts:
Video: The Power of the Sun [Classroom teaching tool on Solar]
Story of Stuff & fixing a DVD Player with a twisty tie
Design Squad Episode 6: A Collective Collaboration
Excerpt “Unchained Goddess” - 1958 (YouTube)
Video: Get ‘em Outside [No Child Left Inside Coalition]

via Make Magazine

Bookmark blog post on:
Del.icio.us    digg    FURL    reddit    Stumble Upon   

Hands down, the best mashup I’ve ever seen.

via Laughing Squid

Bookmark blog post on:
Del.icio.us    digg    FURL    reddit    Stumble Upon   

Theo Jansen is a kinetic sculptor that combines art and engineering.

From Wired:

Jansen is evolving an entirely new line of animals: immense multi-legged walking critters designed to roam the Dutch coastline, feeding on gusts of wind. Over the years, successive generations of his creatures have evolved into increasingly complex animals that walk by flapping wings in response to the wind, discerning obstacles in their path through feelers and even hammering themselves into the sand on sensing an approaching storm.

via EcoTumble

Bookmark blog post on:
Del.icio.us    digg    FURL    reddit    Stumble Upon   

Children attend class at the Dongzhong (literally meaning “in cave”) primary school at a Miao village in Ziyun county, southwest China’s Guizhou province, November 14, 2007. The school is built in a huge, aircraft hangar-sized natural cave, carved out of a mountain over thousands of years by wind, water and seismic shifts.

From Reuters via Boing Boing

Bookmark blog post on:
Del.icio.us    digg    FURL    reddit    Stumble Upon   

Zombie Yoga in Brooklyn from Boing Boing tv

See also this vid from Good Magazine

Bookmark blog post on:
Del.icio.us    digg    FURL    reddit    Stumble Upon   

Although a bit off topic from most of our blogs, I decided share a bit on why I love Guatemala. Specifically, I’d like to describe some of the non-work related cool things about Xela, where I have lived for about two years. I’ll sadly be leaving here in just two short weeks. In this blog I’ll write about some of the natural beauty around Xela.

As seen from the pictures above and below there’s some spectacular scenery and nature here. That’s me and a friend Miguel climbing La Muela last Sunday. There’s an abundance of hiking that is accessible within walking distance from Central Park. The closest is the hills overlooking the park, which I’ve named the Christo Viene hills as there’s a giant single billboard displaying in giant letters “Christo Viene” (Christ Comes) visible from the whole city . About 15 minutes from the city center you can be in trees and cornfields—it’s amazing. Another 45 minutes up into the woods is Los Vahos (natural steam bathes) and still further is La Muela (the tooth/molar), where I went rock climbing. About 20-30 minutes from Xela are 2 hot springs that I’ve frequented on weekends, Las Fuentes Georginas, and Aguas Amargas.

Other nearby great hikes are El Baul (The Trunk) which is right behind the AIDG-Guatemala office, Lake Chikabal (30 minute drive), which is an old volcano with a small lake in it’s crater, and the mighty Santa Maria Volcano that looms over Xela (4 hour hike up). From the top you can see a smaller volcano that burst out its side that is still active and generally erupts every 30 minutes or so.

The real gem of Guatemala is Lake Atitlan. It’s giant lake surrounded by volcanoes, and is hands-down out-of-control amazingly beautiful. It’s about 2.5 hours away, and I made it a habit to sink into a hammock there with a book at least once a month. Below is a photo of my partner Lisa that her friend (and photographer) Debby Coleman took last spring.

Bookmark blog post on:
Del.icio.us    digg    FURL    reddit    Stumble Upon   

Odd, but somehow very soothing.

via haha.nu

Bookmark blog post on:
Del.icio.us    digg    FURL    reddit    Stumble Upon   

By now you’ve probably seen the YouTube video of 1500 Filipino Prisoners performing Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Here is ABC Los Angeles’ news report from Cebu province prison who shows that all that glitters isn’t gold.

via FP Passport

Bookmark blog post on:
Del.icio.us    digg    FURL    reddit    Stumble Upon   

The inventor of lightbulbs and his hatred of cats. Schmoo!

via MAKE

Bookmark blog post on:
Del.icio.us    digg    FURL    reddit    Stumble Upon