Defacing Canadian currency
| December 3, 2011
Latest
External Combustion Kraftwagen
| December 3, 2011
Made in Germany from machine-tooled solid brass, stainless steel, and aluminum, it uses the thermodynamic principle of a regenerative heat engine–put to its first practical use in 1818 by Robert Stirling–powered by the expansion and compression of air. An alcohol burner in the rear heats a cylinder; a quick twist of its brass flywheel sets the engine’s displacement and working pistons into motion up to 2,000 rpm.
The resulting expansion and contraction of heated and cooled air inside the engine operates a rocker arm, connecting rod, cam, and crankshaft, which spin four flywheels to drive its two 3 1/2″ diameter rubber-bound wheels. A third wheel in front can be manually turned 360º, allowing the car to perform autonomous circles while it putters efficiently. Non-toxic exhaust from a full burner of ethyl alcohol allows you to operate the engine for up to 20 minutes.
Click here for more information…The Thinnest 20 Card Wallet
| December 3, 2011
Doubling the number of cards that can be carried in a typical wallet, this is the thinnest leather wallet that can store up to 20 cards. Its patented twin pair of nested pockets places cards in a flat, efficient side-by-side arrangement, eliminating the excessive bulk present in common wallets.
Two additional slots in the interior hold cash and receipts. Perfectly balanced with five cards per pocket, the wallet folds to a thickness no greater than 1/2″ and the break between the two pairs of card slots allows it to flex naturally when in a pocket while sitting. Handmade in the U.S., the wallet is made with both a soft, full-grain cowhide leather interior and exterior.
Click here for more information…A mind-boggling infographic of all the missions from Earth to Mars
| December 2, 2011
The Martian rover Curiosity, also known as the Mars Science Lab, is set to launch in the next few weeks. While you’re jumping up and down waiting for us to get a closer look at Mars, you can enjoy looking back through history at all the missions we’ve launched to the Red Planet — and where they are now.
Sleep? No, I’m still logged on: Quarter of us spend more time online than in bed
| December 2, 2011
The internet reaches into so many areas of our lives that one in four people now spend longer online than they do asleep, a survey has revealed.
With huge quantities of waking hours spent plugged into PCs, laptops and smartphones, more than half – 51 per cent – admit to suffering from ‘e-anxiety’ if they are unable to check their emails or Facebook page. Men spend bigger chunks of their time online. More than one in four spend six hours or more a day online, compared to one in five women.
FDA Warns Against Too Much Black Licorice
| December 2, 2011
For adults age 40 or older, the FDA says, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks may lead to arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, which could land you in the emergency room.
The culprit is glycyrrhizin, a sweetening compound derived from licorice root. In large amounts, glycyrrhizin can cause the body’s potassium levels to drop, which in turn, may lead to abnormal heartbeat and high blood pressure. It can also cause water retention and swelling, which is a particular risk for people with congestive heart failure.
