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The Space We Live In: Breathtaking video rendering what it might be like to fly around beautiful things in the universe..

I don’t think is based on any real astronomical data, but boy does it look really really pretty. Check it out in HD and in full screen (and also in the dark). Plus, I’d imagine that technically – given the scales involved, you would never be able to get this kind of perspective in motion unless you were traveling faster than the speed of light, in which case, what you see would likely be altered.

By matthiasm.de.

Interesting and gorgeous art that reverses the idea of species and habitat. #beautiful

I can see all sorts of cool ways to use these images to talk about various biodiversity issues. Habitat nuances come to mind, but also the general idea that our industrial system is pretty much propped by things that are alive.


“The Take Over”


“Pigression”


“Sheep Country”

By the awesome Brandy Masch. Lots more to see at her website (Note, she also did some amazing work for phylomon which I’ll try and highlight later.

Wonderful biodiversity art by Rambharos Jha. #seriouslyexquisite


(Click on image for larger version)

From Tara Books, via Brain Pickings.

I was Plancking…

In reference to Nobel Laureate and founder of Quantum theory, Max Planck, and to the act of “planking,” a sort of fad. Note that Max Planck did not start the planking phenomenon.

Notes from Mattel’s “Future of Barbie®” Brainstorming Session (including Stem Cell Barbie and others…)

I always thought the Stem Cell Barbie’s slogan would make an interesting t-shirt. Note that this was originally published at Yankee Pot Raost.

By DAVID NG

ConceptStem-Cell Barbie®

Description: Produce a plastic mesh form in the shape of a Barbie doll. Seed this mesh with embryonic stem cells. Culture in bio-chambers until cells infiltrate and coat the plastic form.
Pro: This Barbie might get pregnant.
Con: This Barbie might get cancer
Potential slogan: “Feels like real skin because it is real skin.”

ConceptHybrid Barbie®

Description: Barbie doll powered by both conventional gasoline engine, as well as an electric motor.
Pro: Barbie is emissions-compliant.
Con: No one can figure out a good place for the gas nozzle to go in. It always ends up looking dirty.
Potential slogan: “This baby gets up to 40 miles per gallon.”

ConceptSchrödinger’s Barbie®

Description: Interactive Barbie doll placed inside a thick lead box, containing a mock cyanide canister, and mock Geiger counter. The Geiger counter may or may not release one decaying mock atom, which in turn, may or may not break the canister releasing the cyanide. Therefore, child would be uncertain as to the fate of the Barbie doll (who could be pretend-dead or pretend-alive) until the lead box is actually opened.
Pro: This is fun way to illustrate an aspect of quantum law, which suggests that due to the superposition of states, Barbie is both dead and alive until the box is opened.
Con: Huh?
Potential slogan: “Schrödinger’s Barbie—be the first to give a shit.”

ConceptSuper Malleable Barbie®

Description: Produce Barbie dolls using the Dow Corning 3179 dilatant compound (a mixture containing silicone oil and boric acid, commonly known as Silly Putty).
Pro: Barbie can bounce.
Con: When Barbie pretend-falls asleep whilst pretend-reading a newspaper, the newsprint will show up on her face.
Potential slogan: “Ken will thank you.”

ConceptFlame-Retardant Barbie®

Description: Coat existing doll product with copious amounts of the common flame retardant, polybrominated diphenyl ether.
Pro: Excellent opportunity for accessories (fireworks, matches, flame throwers, etc).
Con: Excellent opportunity for accessories (fireworks, matches, flame throwers, etc).
Potential slogan: “Throw the Barbie on the barbie!”

ConceptSupercomputer Artificial-Intelligence Robot Barbie®

Description: Multiple clusters of high-powered processors networked to a Barbie doll mainframe. 2 USB ports standard. CD/DVD burner drive optional.
Pro: No more stupid brainstorming sessions—send Barbie instead.
Con: Small chance of total world domination and destruction of the human race as we know it.
Potential slogan: “Kicks ass at chess!”

Drop dead amazing photo of what appears to be an insect on a bicycle (seriously).

Pretty much a perfect picture to segue into anything about biodiversity and how our personal choices (a.k.a riding a bike, taking a bus, etc) may affect it…

By Tustel Ico, via Colossal.

Nikola Tesla letterhead: the subdued and EPIC versions.

This is what he used c:1900:

Then, in 1911, he apparently had something like this:

There is, I bet, a great story in this somewhere…

From letterheady.

When oxygen gets excited. Great video on the chemistry of “fire.” (via @beatricebiology)

This is nicely done.  Great simple overview of the notion of “burning.”  Good for use when talking about fossil fuels.

By Beatrice the Biologist.

Brilliant brilliant solar energy billboard. Did I mention how brilliant this is?

Best ever picture of a walrus! @AlanDalby say hello to @walrusmagazine

By Alan Dalby.

(FYI: this would also make an awesome Phylo card!)

The words of Carl Sagan, inspirational even in comic form. #beautifullydone

By Gavin Aung Than over at zenpencils.com (Go check it out – very cool idea)

We have the technology… to make bionic cats?

Well,.. at least pictures of bionic cats (sort of exemplifying the noted creepy/slash/cute vibe of robotics).

By Gerson Mora via Hey Oscar Wilde!

A Caterpillar of Feathers. #awesome

By José Luis Rodríguez, via Colossal.

(FYI: Them be European Bee Eaters)

Recently released Einstein’s complete archives reveal some surprising things…

By John Martz, via Globe and Mail, via Fresh Photons.

Wonderful visualization of “rhetological fallacies.” i.e. a visual guide to tagging B.S.

It would be very very interesting to use this to tag pseudoscience nonsense, as well as political speeches generally.

By the always talented David McCandless.

Dr. Sara Baker: as interpreted by Kate Beaton #publichealth #funny

Dr. Sara Josephine Baker: look her up. Under her watch the infant mortality rate in New York city went from being one of the worst possible to one of the most enviable, and her ideas on public health and preventative care spread far and wide. She swam against the stream her entire life and she saved thousands of people, what more do you want in a hero?

By Kate Beaton. More on Dr. Baker at wiki.

Intricate paper art seems like the perfect medium to represent the ethereal nature of jellyfish.

These incredible pieces are by Bovey Lee. Big hat tip to thisiscolossal.com (a site where I could spend many happy hours looking through).

I feel the urge to use this awesome image for a slide on genetic chimeras (or something like that)

By Alvaro Tapia, via Flickr.

Imagine if entry to hell is anatomically compartmentalized. i.e. what if your brain is evil but the rest of you is good? #funny

Then you might get this…

From the always interesting Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.

Beautiful (science) typography art by Sarah King


Men and Machines, Dazed and Confused


Portrait of Charles Darwin


“Critically Endangered”


Barracuda

Lots more to see at Sarah’s portfolio site.