This week's BusinessWeek Innovation of the Week podcast talks with Eyjolfur Guomundsson, the house economist for EVE Online, a massively multiplayer space game based on establishing and disrupting interplanetary trade. What's fascinating here is getting the perspective of an economist whose job is to design an economy that's "fun" — or at least engrossing. It's not often that you get to hear economics described as an experimental science.
EVE Online's economist speaks — economics as an experimental science
Study demonstrates that anti-radiation phone stickers do nothing
Can stickers—as in adhesive- or magnetic-backed paper—block phone radiation? Not these ones, says the University of Surrey in England. The stickers are sold by a U.K. company, Energydots, to exploit the country's pitch into 5G conspiracy theories and mystic paranoia. The stickers are about $35 each, shipped; Energydots has also falsely claimed to be in… READ THE REST
Floating a foil boat on heavier-than-air gas
Others have done this demo, but this is a great recent example in a large tank full of sulfur hexafluoride. Their demonstration of its voice-lowering properties was not as good as some, though. Image: YouTube / Da Vinci TV READ THE REST
Is the human gaze a physical force?
Is the human gaze a physical force? It sure feels like it sometimes. Princeton University researchers scanned subjects' brains to gain insight into why we subconsciously interpret "other people's visual attention as an invisible, force-carrying beam projecting from the eyes." This isn't about the paranormal investigations into whether you can "feel" when someone is staring… READ THE REST
Half desk toy, half science experiment, the Skill Flux magnetic oddity is all fun
Anybody can use a fidget spinner, or a stress ball, or some other piece of desk silliness to occupy idle hands during the course of their day. But it isn't quite so common for a desk toy to so fully engage inherent scientific curiosity as well. Of course, keeping hands occupied while the brain stays… READ THE REST
The Trova Go+ storage box biometrically protects your valuables
It happens in half the movies we watch. Something about one of the characters is revealed when another character stumbles across their deepest, darkest secret. Maybe it's a piece of jewelry or another symbol of the past. Maybe it's a flash drive full of damning files. Or maybe it's medication or elicit chemicals. Almost every… READ THE REST
From sourdough pizza to vegan recipes, these master class courses can transform you into a serious chef and baker
What did you have for dinner last night? If your answer falls somewhere between leftovers, a sandwich, or a frozen pizza, it might be time to start getting serious about your culinary skills. While nobody is suggesting you start cranking out souffles or baked Alaskas every night, there's a whole world of food options out… READ THE REST