Recently, The Weather Conditions Were Perfect For This Mind-Blowing Phenomenon

Sometimes winter isn’t all that bad.

Case in point: when the sun sets in a cold environment, it reflects against ice crystals that manifest in the air. The collective surface of these ice crystals acts as a mirror to the sun and other light sources (like street lamps), reflecting their light into the image of pillars reaching for the stars.

That’s a lot of sciencey-sounding stuff, but all you really need to know is that light pillars look cool as hell. Check out these pictures taken from people all over the world!

It’s understandable why some people think these are UFOs.

Amazing.

(via My Modern Met)

So even though winter is sometimes a mushy mess of discolored snow on the ground, up in the sky it’s a heavenly light show for the gods. If only there was a way that I could see a light pillar without leaving the warmth of my apartment…

Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/light-pillar/

Mom Took Her Baby To The Store But Just 24 Hours Later, He Was Deathly Ill

As much as I try not to think about it, there’s no denying that germs are everywhere.

When it comes to germs we have two options: Remain in a bubble and never leave your house again, or go about your day as normal.

As a parent, keeping your child healthy is a major concern, but when it comes to running errands, kids can pick up germs along the way. That’s out of your control. One place you wouldn’t expect to find deadly bacteria, however, is the supermarket. But as one mother learned, simply placing her son in a shopping cart child seat almost cost him his life.

During a normal shopping trip, Vivienne Wardrop didn’t think twice when she placed her 10-month-old son in the seat of her shopping cart.

Read More: This Little Girl Became Paralyzed After Catching A Cold — Now She’s Relearning How To Walk

Just 24 hours after their day out, the young boy began experiencing severe vomiting, a high fever, and diarrhea. After the baby began passing blood, the concerned mother took her child to the doctor, who brushed off those symptoms as a virus.

Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/shopping-cart-sickness/

Hold On To Your Hats (And Wear a Helmet)! The Hovercrafts Have Arrived.

The future is here! Just like out childhood cartoons promised us, we now have hovercraft technology. About time, right? 

The Hendo Hoverboard uses a magnetic field that allows it, and a full-sized human on top, to defy gravity and hover above the ground. Despite Earnshaw’s theorem, which says that equilibrium can never be reached between two magnets, the Hendo uses a principle called magnetic field architecture to create stabilized movement. The board can be also propelled forward using this principle, and the Hendo was designed to react smoothly and naturally to the user’s motions. 

To be technical, this technology already exists with high-speed rail, which uses electromagnetic currents to float the cars above the tracks, eliminating friction and allowing for a smooth, fast ride. The hoverboard, though, opens up the possibility of using hover technology for personal use, away from set tracks. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plwX5NtF530]

Due to its operation, the Hendo requires a non-ferromagnetic surface to work–that means roughly, no transitional metals. Because of this, the creators of Hendo have also designed a special “hoverpark” as a place to demonstrate the board’s abilities. 

The board doesn’t soar very high off the ground; think of it more like a skateboard without wheels, only the Hendo would be able to go up slopes with less energy, as it reacts to the surface. 

Top and side views of the prototype board without a rider. It floats a few inches above the surface.
The hoverboard with a rider.
The designs for the top and bottom of the board. The positioning of the foot pads seems subject to change.
The design for the hoverpark, where the hoverboard can be ridden, much like a skateboard in a skatepark.

Greg and Jill Henderson, the founders of Hendo, know that a hoverboard might not be the next big thing in transportation technology. However, they regard the hoverboard, and its hover engine, as the first step in a possible new direction for vehicles and travel. It’s a technology that can be built upon to create more practical applications. 

Right now, the hoverboard is still a prototype, and Hendo is actively seeking funding via Kickstarter, and hopes to expand the technology so that it’s more widely available in the near future.  

Read more: http://viralnova.com/hovering-toward-the-future/

This Old Video Is A Tutorial For One Seriously Disturbing Procedure

Brain surgery is a delicate procedure now, but back in the day, it was even more nerve-wracking. Doctors had to use tools and techniques that would be considered barbaric by today’s standards. The movement toward using more modern methods in the 1920s eventually picked up steam, but it was a slow process, as this brain surgery training film from that era illustrates.
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It’s a little hard to follow, but here’s a transcript of the video’s text for your reference:

Drilling a pin-hole through scalp and skull, 4 cm. to right of middle line, well in front of Rolandic fissure. After penetrating the skull with the grooved drill, stilette and blunt, hollow needle are inserted along the track. On reaching cavity of Lateral Ventricle, cerebrospinal fluid appears. Cisternal or Sub-Occipital puncture. Needle inserted immediately above 2nd cervical spine, pencil in patient’s ear to guide aim of needle. Lumbar Puncture Needle inserted between L4 and L5 laminae, just to right of middle line.

Watch it all unfold in the video below.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sx8GJ-Teec?autoplay=0]

(source HuntleyFilmArchives)

I have a headache just from watching that. This is yet another reason why I’m grateful to be alive in 2016.

Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/brain-surgery-tutorial/

It’s This That A Cheeseburger Might Appear Like In Space

I’ll proceed with the standard planet kind, thanks a lot plenty a lot.

1. Astronaut Terry Virts works undoubtedly tweeted on a photo of a space-cheeseburger.

3. It’s wise that regular elements in many cases are modified making use of particular space-paste variants, but merely exactly why is it in a tortilla?


Zero gravity might create assembling a sandwich hard, and crumbs from regular breads are often dangerous if they have actually really caught in airvents or fine gear. For this reason Tortillas have actually undoubtedly altered breads in space since 1980.

4. Unfortunately, consequently this gif is lying to you personally.

5. This is why this puppy sits on a throne of lies.

obtain the full tale: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jobarrow/space-burger

9 Of The Weirdest Google Searches About Scientists

Apparently, there’s a war in the science community.

1. Well, we’re off to a bad start.

Natasha Umer / Via Google

2. Biologists are kind of stupid, obviously.

Natasha Umer / Via Google

3. Arrogant assholes.

Natasha Umer / Via Google
Paramount Pictures / Via giphy

4. It seems like physicists have some competition.

Natasha Umer / Via Google
CBS / Via giphy

5. Poor engineers.

Natasha Umer / Via Google
Disney / Via Giphy

6. At least nobody hates astronauts.

Natasha Umer / Via Google
NASA / Via giphy

7. Astronomers are REALLY paranoid.

Natasha Umer / Via BuzzFeed
Kanye West / Via giphy

8. This one is actually true.

Natasha Umer / Via BuzzFeed
Paramount Pictures / Via giphy

9. Priceless.

Natasha Umer / Via Google
E! / Via giphy

Thumbnail via Anthony Harvey/Getty.

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/natashaumer/weirdest-google-searches-about-scientists

What The MythBusters Think About 14 Science Things

Vaccines? Climate change? Yup.

MythBusters Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman have been making things explode for 13 seasons.


But we wanted to hear what they think of some of the biggest recent science headlines, from the Jurassic Park sequel to Mercury retrograde.

Here are 14 of their answers from our lightning round of word association. (Adam’s answers are in white, and Jamie’s are in yellow.)

1. Neil deGrasse Tyson.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

2. Pluto.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

3. Sending humans to Mars.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

4. Creationism.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

5. The Jurassic Park sequel.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

6. XKCD.com.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

Adam: “We’re big longtime fans.”

7. Mercury retrograde (and whether or not it has any effect on your actual life).

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

8. Climate change.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

Adam: “Early on in MythBusters we went on Fox News and they wanted to ask us about the extremely vigorous hurricane season. As we were getting mic’d up, they were like, ‘So this is just a light piece. We don’t want you guys to talk about global warming or anything like that. OK, you’re on. What do you guys think about this hurricane season?’ Jamie’s like, ‘It’s clearly global warming.’ It was awesome.”

9. Naming snowstorms.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

Adam: “I remember when Hurricane Gloria came through New York in 1985 or early ‘86 — one of those two. You get a personal relationship with the disaster.”

10. Rosetta comet landing.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

11. Vaccines.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

Adam: “They work. Stop not using them.”

12. Mantis shrimp.

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

Adam: “Oh right, the one that causes a shockwave. That’s one of the fastest biological processes in nature. Not sure where it compares to a jellyfish stinging, which is also ludicrously fast. They’re literally injecting you with a micro-hair of poison when you touch a jellyfish stinger. If you look into it microscopically, it’s amazing. The mantis shrimp is incredible.”

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

Jamie: “Yeah, I first ran across those in the ocean while diving, and one of my favorite things to do was to just go down and not run all over the place like most people do when they’re scuba diving but just drop down and hang out and go into spaces in the reef.

“There was a cleaning station that had those in it. These little fish were hanging out, and the shrimp would come out and pick at them. But one of the mantis shrimp came out and it has, as I recall, if this is the same shrimp, it has one big claw and one little one. And I’m putting my hand out, and it comes up with its little claw and it’s picking at you. Then out comes the big claw and Bang! It’s like an electric shock that you feel.”

13. Tardigrades (aka water bears).

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

Adam: “Life is amazingly tenacious. That’s the best part of looking at extremophiles like that.”

14. Grab bag: kale!

David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed

Adam: “Kale! In our house, we make kale chips all the time, which is baking them in the oven with a little hot sauce and salt, and it’s phenomenal.”

The season finale airs Saturday, Feb. 14, at 9/8 p.m. CT on the Discovery Channel.

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/kasiagalazka/mythbusters-word-association

Could You Exist On Mars?

would you like to forgo pizza pie dessert pie dessert, alcohol and Snapchat throughout your health?

NASA / BuzzFeed / through mars.nasa.gov

2. very first settlers on Mars will need to end an awful countless home conveniences.


From phone calls residence (there’ll be between 3 and 22 moments wait on all discussion) to going outside without a spacesuit on (the acutely thin environment and radiation is likely to make that impossible), the first astronauts to check out Mars is likely to be working upon some everything we ignore on earth. Is it possible to hack it?

  1. check continually all of that you will be prepared remain without completely.
    1. 1 Alcohol Consumption.
    2. 2 real time tv.
    3. 3 Pizza blood flow.
    4. 4 A coffee from your own favourite restaurant.
    5. 5 Texting pals.
    6. 6 Going outside.
    7. 7 Intercourse.
    8. 8 taking place vacation.
    9. 9 cycling if you were to think in regards to the liquid.
    10. 10 The gravitational pull of globe.
    11. 11 The aroma of newly mown yard.
    12. 12 Phoning your mum.
    13. 13 visiting the playground.
    14. 14 exceptional wind throughout your tresses.
    15. 15 Boat trips.
    16. 16 A planetary environment well suited for keeping you alive.
    17. 17 anticipated to infirmary if you break a bone.
    18. 18 Having children.
    19. 19 The aroma of rainfall.
    20. 20 That feeling once you understand a thunderstorm is originating but it’s not raining but.
    21. 21 Netflix.
    22. 22 Snapchat.
    23. 23 Tinder.
    24. 24 Arguing with strangers on Twitter.
    25. 25 Any meals that’s perhaps not freeze-dried or simply just you’ve gotten without a doubt actuallyn’t developed from scrape.
    26. 26 every person you understand.
    27. 27 everyone you prefer.
    28. 28 everyone you’ve known.
    29. 29 witnessing globe collectively thing besides a little speck towards vast blackness with this evening sky.
    30. 30 cyberspace.

might you endure On Mars?

  1. you will need residence conveniences (and fundamental certain requirements) too much to previously keep consitently the hot shine of Earth’s environment. Snuggle up-and remain cosy over the after in which gravity is fantastic and efficient.

    BBC
  2. You’re really set up on countless things along the after in the world, but you’re besides maybe not *totally* against providing these with up-and going down towards celebrities. If you get, possibly hold-back until initial couple of individual colonies usually are organized and they’ve identified learning to make Martian pizza.

  3. Congrats! You’re entirely really worth getting one of several major individuals on Mars! I am wishing you’re actually particular about any of it but because when you tripped there’s no finding its long-ago. Before.

    BBC

discover more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/kellyoakes/there-might-be-life-on-mars-but-theres-definitely-no-netflix

How To Become Batman, According To NPR’s “Invisibilia”

When one man lost his eyesight, he turned to another skill: echolocation. Find out what we learned last week from iTunes’ top podcast.

Alice Mongkongllite / BuzzFeed

2. For their six-part podcast, Invisibilia hosts Alix Spiegel and Lulu Miller examine the invisible stuff that shapes us.

3. In the third episode, we met a man who learned to see without his eyes: in short, a different kind of Batman.

Warner Bros. / Via moviefancentral.com

So put away your bat mask — this is a whole other superpower.

4. Step 1: Learn about the forces around you.

Could your thoughts influence a rat going through a maze? It’s not telepathy: It’s expectancy effects, and how we perceive others’ abilities can actually tweak how they behave, whether they be rat or human.

Scientist Bob Rosenthal first documented this unconscious effect way back in the 1960s when he hung up some signs on rat cages indicating which were the Pinkies and which were the Brains. When NPR recreated the rat experiment for Invisibilia, the “smart” rats did almost twice as well than the so-called “dumb” rats.

5. Step 2: Surround yourself with those who believe in you.

 

How is this thought sorcery even possible? It’s quite simple: Your expectations fiddle your behavior knobs in tiny ways. So if you think a rat is shrewd, you might handle him a little more gently. If you set low expectations for someone, you might make less eye contact or stand a little further away, says Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck.

A perfect example is Daniel Kish, profiled in the episode, who lost his sight as a toddler. Having been raised with the freedom to climb, kick dirt, and play like a kid, he had the elbow room to hone his clicking, a form of echolocation, to get around — even if it meant elbow pads.

6. Step 3: Know your villain.

Warner Bros. / Via tumblr.com

OK, so the enemy here doesn’t leave a Joker-shaped hole in the wall. For the blind, that’s because it’s not a clear-cut thing or nemesis with slapdash lipstick: It’s thinking.

More than half of people with a visual disability are unemployed, even though they have high academic scores for those with impairments of any kind. The discrepancy, Spiegel and Miller found, is a systematic stifling of blind kids’ independence.

Kids aren’t required to go to schools for the blind as of 1975’s Education for All Handicapped Children Act, but in a litigious society, they’re regularly peeled off of equipment and frequently assisted. The word “can’t” is their foe — and it’s often because their guardians don’t want them to get hurt.

But that, in turn, prevents intuitive clicking or other echolocating skills from ever developing.

7. Step 4: Choose your weapon — and bat signal.

poptech / Via youtube.com

When Kish found a book titled The Making Of Blind Men by Robert Scott, which proposed blindness was a social construction, everything changed. “Running into a pole is a drag, but never being allowed to run into a pole is a disaster,” he told Spiegel and Miller.

And so he had a new mission: Save the blind from cultural low expectations and teach them how to echolocate. Kish started a nonprofit called World Access for the Blind, and that’s when his bike trick became pivotal.

Kish’s ability to ride a bike became his bat signal — any TV appearance might mean a blind child could hear about it and contact him. And it worked: Slowly he gathered students.

8. Step 5: Victory.

Warner Bros.

When German neuroscientist Lore Thaler saw how easily Kish moves through space, she wanted to see how his brain worked in an fMRI. Though for decades scientists figured the visual cortex is dormant when you go blind, when Kish heard playback of his clicking, his lit up like a disco ball, says Miller. (You can see some of their echolocation in action here.)

Dozens of labs are curiously examining these echolocating internal visuals, and one researcher even postulates that it might be a lot like having peripheral vision.

And that simmers down to one victory: You might not need eyes to see.

9. If you missed the episode, listen to it over at NPR or subscribe here.


Catch up with our recaps of Episode 2, Episode 1, or our interview with the hosts.

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/kasiagalazka/invisibilia-episode-three-how-to-become-batman