The kilogram is getting a makeover
The way we define a kilogram (and pounds too) is basically a high-tech refinement of a medieval technology. That’s about to change as the most influential bar in Paris is shutting down.
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What would our planets look like if you flew by?
Artist Michael Benson has made some pretty fun and stunning images of celestial bodies in our solar system rendered in a manner that supposedly mimics the way our human eyes would perceive them if we were to fly by.
PBS LearningMedia
PBS LearningMedia is a very cool website partnership between PBS and WGBH Boston. They’re taking free PBS media content and adding a great discovery and filtering layer on the web that allows educators (or anyone, for that matter) to find compelling assets to compliment or supplement academic learning.
Fall in love with a bunch of beautiful maps
Pack rat or archivist? Or a bit of both? Watch and learn about the John Feathers Map Collection at the Los Angeles Public Library: It’s beautiful to feel such a connection to tangible information. In this age of Google Maps, anyone out there still prefer a paper map from time to time? (I still find …
Science, Technology, and Invention in 26 Typefaces
Explore great inventions, technologies, and scientific discoveries in a series of typeface illustrations — one for each letter of the alphabet, corresponding to the inventor/discoverer! Scientific Typeface Illustrates 26 Great Inventions | Co.Design | business + design.
How much do you need to make in LA to afford the average apartment?
Answer: $33/hour, at least And a home? According to a new report from KPCC: The median home price in Los Angeles is $570,500, according to the real estate website, Trulia.com. But consider that the median income in Los Angeles is about half that: $49,497, according to census numbers from 2009-2013. So it’s no surprise that Los Angeles …
How much do you need to make in LA to afford the average apartment? Read More
Time flies, but what is it anyway?
As the end of 2014 approaches, so many of us wonder where the year behind went. Time, as they say, flies by. But ever stop to wonder, “what is time?” Is it a physical dimension like distance? How is this “4th” dimension different? Why don’t the laws of physics care which direction time runs? An episode …
Meet Zequals, a mental math tool
Can some simple rounding help us be more accurate and confident with mental math? The man behind this symbol proposes just that: And it turns out it’s fairly accurate: Basically, using some simplification of numbers we can do mental multiplication more accurately (generally). Confused by the squiggles and colors? Don’t be intimidated. Read more: Zequals: the new …
Cultural Prep: Soda Stereo & the World Cup Final
So we’re down to Argentina and Germany in this year’s World Cup final match. I’ll save the postulation about football for another time and place. This post is about one of my favorite bands, who hail from Argentina. Seems like a good opportunity to write about their music, and for you to have a listen! …
What does the Equinox look like from space?
The Vernal Equinox. It’s not the longest day of the year. It’s not the shortest. It’s the…well…what is it? Check out this visual representation using satellite data: Then read a further explanation from NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day Blog: >> APOD: 2014 March 19 – Equinox on a Spinning Earth. Happy Spring Equinox!