We get a surprising number of requests for rubber (elastic) bands, and we got curious and started to look into how the humble rubber band originated. The rubber band was patented by Stephen Perry of London on 17th March 1845 for use in …
The BBC recently asked for top predictions for the next hundred years, inspired by American Civil Engineer John Elfreth Watkins’ hypotheses in 1900: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16444966 Here are what BBC viewers have sent in. What do you think will happen? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16536598
It’s that time of year when strange circular formations begin appearing in the fields of Southern England. Crop circles have become increasingly elaborate since they first appeared in the 1980’s and their origins remain mysterious. Whether you believe they are evidence …
Ever wondered what a typical Viking Age farm looked like? Here’s an interesting 3D tour from the BBC Website that shows the plan of a farming settlement in Viking Age Yorkshire, based on archaeological evidence: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/launch_vt_viking_farm.shtml
Today sees the anniversary of the humble potato’s arrival in Europe. The potato was bought to Europe from Peru in 1536. The Spanish conquistadors considered them a great treasure and presented them to the Royal Court. Find out more about …
Fancy trying out being a vegetarian for a day? Unsure about whether you want to commit to a non-meat diet? Wondering if you’ll miss the more carnivorous side of eating? Well the City of Ghent, in Belgium, have recently started …
Design your own flower here http://www.zefrank.com/flowers/ and, if you save it, you can then grow it in this garden: http://www.zefrank.com/flowers/bouquetmaker/ Those who prefer the real thing can enjoy the Chelsea Flower Show, which opens today. http://www.rhs.org.uk/whatson/shows/chelsea2009/
http://www.news.com/8301-13772_3-9877823-52.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=GeekGestalt oh dear…
This: http://thinklab.typepad.com/think_lab/2008/03/the-100-year-st.html notes a 100 year old article that makes a stab at guessing what we’d be up to now. Some are bizarrely true (e.g. the ability to send a photo by telegraph, so that it can be seen in …
