Last week's Curios covered the newspaper error that led to the Nobel Prize, how artisanal pizza could save the coal industry from extinction, and America's butt dialing crisis.
Curio #860 | Hollywood sound tricks from skeuomorphs to reification
A common device in action movies uses text overlays to indicate the location of a new scene. Like "TOKYO, JAPAN" or "NEW YORK 2010." But have you ever noticed the title often comes in one letter at a time, usually accompanied by a typing or beeping noise? Listen to a few seconds of the movie Furious 7 to see what I'm talking about. Or try Mission Impossible, Bourne Ultimatum, Pacific Rim, Independence Day, Iron Man... you get the idea. From now on you'll start noticing it everywhere! This sound is an example of an... keep reading.
Curio #859 | Our prehistoric ancestors didn't sleep much either
If you're like most people, you probably sleep 6 - 7 hours a night, not the recommended 8 hours. Recently some scientists have blamed technology--Facebook feeds, Netflix queues and even the bluish glow of mobile screens themselves appear to keep our addled brains awake. But it turns out our prehistoric ancestors weren't sleeping much either, way before smartphones. To determine this, researchers tracked the few people on our planet who still lead roughly Paleolithic lifestyles. The scientists recorded... keep reading.
Curio #858 | There's a butt dialing crisis in America
Most everybody has been a victim of "butt dialing." It's when your cell phone randomly calls somebody--often the last person you spoke to--and the person on the other end eavesdrops on your life from your pocket. Apparently the butt dialing phenomenon is particularly bad for 911 emergency centers. In San Francisco, one third of all 911 calls are inadvertent. That's 1000 emergency butt dials a day! The explanation is fairly simple: mobile phones are required... keep reading.
Curio #857 | Could artisanal pizza save the coal industry from extinction?
The coal industry has seen better days. Though coal still generates 40% of the world's electricity, it's on the decline. That's because it's the world's largest generator of carbon dioxide--producing double the noxious emissions of natural gas, and 28% more than heating oil. Coal is especially struggling here in the United States, thanks to abundant and cheap natural gas plus stricter environmental regulations. Not to mention the rise of solar and wind power. But there's one ray of hope for coal, in the form of artisanal pizza. US artisanal pizza snobs believe... keep reading.
Curio #856 | An octopus that keeps romance at arm's length
Imagine if your partner were 70 times bigger and 40,000 times heavier than you. That's the life for the male blanket octopus. Roughly the size of a walnut, the blanket octopus is named for the large, fleshy cape-like webs that shroud their arms--like a fuzzy blanket floating in the water. At least that's how the female looks. Until very recently, scientists had never seen a male blanket octopus, assuming it was very reclusive. Boy, were they surprised. It turns out the male is only... keep reading.
Curio #855 | The newspaper error that led to the Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize wouldn't exist except for a newspaper error. The world famous prize which recognizes the finest in human achievements from literature, science, peace, economics, and medicine, has a macabre origin. Alfred Nobel was born in 1833 in Stockholm, Sweden, but... keep reading.
Curio #854 | When you fall asleep on airplanes
While most employers discourage sleeping on the job, not so for airlines. Flight attendants and pilots are often required by their employers to sleep on long-haul flights. Where? In parts of the airplane you probably didn't know existed. Called Crew Rest Compartments, or CRCs, they are squished into small places above or below the passenger cabin, accessible by secrets doors or staircases. CRCs typically look like... keep reading.
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