Newton, shoulders, giants and other things he may or may not have stood on during his lifetime.
By DAVID NG
Likely:
Grass.
A stage of some sort.
Guard.
Tippy toes.
Unlikely
Laminate Flooring
Astroturf.
Olympic podium.
Someone’s throat.
.
September 26, 2012
September 25, 2012
William’s Ecological Footprint: an attempt at an environmental children’s book
By DAVID NG
A few years ago, for fun, I took a course on “Writing Books for Children.” It was pretty good, in that it kind of forced me to sit down and come up and work through an idea. Or at least, work through it enough so that it was close to the stage of becoming a proper idea.
My friends already know that children’s books have always fascinated me, especially with two young children in my own household. It’s probably why I’ve written about it on occasion in other places. There’s something altogether amazing when you read a great children’s book to your kids, especially so (for me anyway) when the book has some science in it.
Anyway, shown below is a slideshow of my book idea. It’s basically about a group of animals marvelling at their habitats, considering their own “footprints” so to speak. Then, of course, there’s a bit where they meet a human: whereby the idea of a footprint becomes grossly different.
Apologies for the simplistic art, but I am curious about what you think of the book conceptually. One day, I might even try to edit and tighten it up, so as to submit it somewhere. Although, to be honest, I’m not sure if the idea is good enough and (as the case may be) I’m not even entirely sure where best to send such queries. Still, take a peek, and send on some feedback – it’ll be much appreciated.
September 25, 2012
In case you’re wondering: Lemmings are not made of cloud. (via @mwand)
Good Ole Worm (a.k.a. Olaus Wormius)
From Rocketboom, via @mwand
September 24, 2012
Wound Man: An illustration which first appeared in European surgical texts in the Middle Ages.
It laid out schematically the various wounds a person might suffer in battle or in accidents, often with surrounding or accompanying text stating treatments for the various injuries. It first appeared in print in Johannes de Ketham’s Fasciculus Medicinae (Venice, 1492) and was used often in surgical texts throughout the sixteenth century and even into the seventeenth century. (Wikipedia)
Via Stacey Thinx
September 19, 2012
On consumerism and our need for stuff. Yes, it could lead to Panda Dip.
Reminds me a little of the Jimmy Kimmel iPhone 5 ruse. Man, are we a “just gotta have it, just gotta get it” society…
By Jonathan Rosenberg at Scenes From a Multiverse.
September 19, 2012
This cloud is pretty, interactive and made from 6000 light bulbs #whoa
“The piece is made from 1,000 working lightbulbs on pullchains and an additional 5,000 made from donated burnt out lights donated by the public.”
Called CLOUD, and created by Caitlind r.c. Brown.
September 19, 2012
On the importance of meta-analysis and why bacon might make you live longer.
Love this, and sooo gonna use it in class to discuss the importance of meta-analysis (i.e. the reasons for a correlation aren’t always obvious, so you need to compare multiple studies which happen to provide insight into multiple variables).
From Abstruce Goose.
September 18, 2012
Biodiversity caught on Google’s Street View #mesmerizing
There might not be a truer visual representation of our contemporary wired world than Jon Rafman’s web-based “9 Eyes” project, for which he culled the most bizarre, haunting, and stunning images frozen in Google’s “Street View” mapping project to create a truly amazing work of digital art that is both innately appealing and strangely, darkly poetic. (From Blouin Art Info)
From the 9 Eyes of Google Street View by Jon Rafman. Definitely click on the 9 Eyes links – some of the screen captures are quite haunting.
September 17, 2012
Time to geek out a little – new “galaxy” font: as in typography created from images of real galaxies. #scie113
Go to the site, and input your own phrase (and don’t forget to click on the image produced so you can see things in greater detail). From the wonderful folks at Galaxy Zoo. Via Visual News.
popperfont.net 