Yeah, sorry about that.

spaceplasma: Unrolling Household Tape Produces X-Rays If you...

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:09:47 -0400

Unrolling Household Tape Produces X-Rays

If you have ever (for whatever reason – that’s none of our business) locked yourself in a dark closet and peeled Scotch tape from its holder, you may have noticed a tiny bit of light. The tape actually emits a faint luminescence when it’s being separated. It’s due to a phenomenon known as triboluminescence, which has been documented as far back as the 17th century. In the 1950s, Soviet researchers claimed that unrolling sticky tape resulted also in the release of X-rays, but no one really bothered to follow up on that study until now.

A group of researchers at UCLA decided to test the X-ray claims recently. Using a machine to unroll the tape at 3 centimeters/second in a vacuum, they measured the electromagnetic output. The short bursts of X-rays lasted for about a billionth of a second each and output 300,000 X-ray photons. The researchers were even able to prove the presence of the X-rays by producing pictures of their finger bones. There’s no need to worry about getting a super-dose of radiation while taping the paper on birthday presents, though; the phenomenon seems to work only when the tape is in a vacuum.

The applications for this new knowledge are kind of sketchy at this point. The research team thinks that it may be useful for making cheaper X-ray machines or even for aiding in nuclear fusion. Both seem a little far-fetched, but harnessing this little-understood physical phenomenon may even create new, unforeseen possibilities in the future.

Powerful x-rays made from sticky tape [ video ]

nevver: “We begin bombing in five minutes”

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:03:20 -0400

nevver:

“We begin bombing in five minutes”

"I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them."

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:59:54 -0400

““I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them.””

- Jane Austen (via monsieurleprince)

Photo

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:25:19 -0400

soupsoup: Visnja V

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:22:08 -0400

soupsoup:

Visnja V

emilysteaparty: gpoy

Sun, 12 May 2013 01:15:30 -0400

emilysteaparty:

gpoy

biomedicalephemera: Because Mother’s Day Coffee trees developed...

Sun, 12 May 2013 01:08:22 -0400

biomedicalephemera:

Because Mother’s Day

Coffee trees developed caffeine as an insecticide, to kill off bugs that would eat its berries and fail to spread its seeds. Yes, it’s a deadly poison, but for tiny bugs. It takes at least as much coffee as crazy-face above is drinking to kill off us giant primates.

Why Coffee is the greatest addiction (in every sense).

Though maybe my mom should drink slightly less coffee. Maybe.
LIFE Magazine, Feb 2, 1953.

thatfunnyblog: Funny Stuff you like?

Sat, 11 May 2013 06:39:24 -0400

thatfunnyblog:

Funny Stuff you like?

noonesnemesis: Spring Festival Alphonse Mucha 1914

Fri, 10 May 2013 09:13:33 -0400

noonesnemesis:

Spring Festival

Alphonse Mucha

1914

vintascope: Kodak - 19400706 Post on Flickr.

Fri, 10 May 2013 09:09:32 -0400

vintascope:

Kodak - 19400706 Post on Flickr.

supersonicelectronic: Seth Armstrong. Opening May 4th at...

Wed, 01 May 2013 17:02:26 -0400

Beginning - Seth Armstrong

Middle - Seth Armstrong

Finished - Seth Armstrong

supersonicelectronic:

Seth Armstrong.

Opening May 4th at Thinkspace Gallery in Culver City, California is the group show “Vanguard.” The show features a great line-up including the artist Seth Armstrong. Here, exclusively, is a look at his entire process from start to finish. Check it out below:

Read More

sirmitchell: “You ate SAND?” One of 30ish portraits that is on...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:22:31 -0400

sirmitchell:

“You ate SAND?”

One of 30ish portraits that is on display at Mondo Gallery in Austin, TX until May 25th.

Photo

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:50:14 -0400

laughingsquid: Star Wars Themed Baby Nursery

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:22:28 -0400

laughingsquid:

Star Wars Themed Baby Nursery

cavetocanvas: Léon Bonnat, An Egyptian Peasant Woman and her...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:15:33 -0400

cavetocanvas:

Léon Bonnat, An Egyptian Peasant Woman and her Child, 1869-70

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

When it was exhibited in the Salon of 1870, this painting was recognized as a departure from the historical and mythological works that Bonnat had shown previously. The artist is said to have based its subject on a woman and child he had seen in Egypt the prior year, during the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal.

First celebrated in Paris, the painting continued to garner praise after John Wolfe acquired it and brought it to New York. It was reproduced on the cover of the art review The Aldine in August 1875 and was included in the Centennial Loan Exhibition, held at the New York Historical Society in 1876. Bought by Catharine Lorillard Wolfe at the auction of her cousin’s collection in 1882 and bequeathed to the Metropolitan five years later, upon its debut at the Museum it was deemed “a true and vital portrait of two clearly realized individuals [with] a wonderful dignity, sobriety, strength, and beauty.”

joecatholic: Divine Mercy Shrine, El Salvador

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 06:21:20 -0400

joecatholic:

Divine Mercy Shrine, El Salvador

Photo

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:45:19 -0400

zombienormal: Jell-O ad illustrated by Norman Rockwell,...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:43:21 -0400

zombienormal:

Jell-O ad illustrated by Norman Rockwell, 1922.

Via.

theclearlydope: I want one for every room in my...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:43:03 -0400

theclearlydope:

I want one for every room in my house.

the-awesomer:

Happy little trees.

(hat tip)

did-you-kno: Source

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:31:15 -0400

did-you-kno:

Source