The Harvard Business Review has an interesting look at what has happened as TED Talks has expanded to ever-wider audiences and (in doing so) has lost control of its own brand. It's also an excellent object lesson in why slapping the TED logo on something doesn't make it true.
TEDxWTF
What was the mystery object in space that blocked the light of a star for more than six months?
Back in 2012, a mystery object blocked most of the slight from a distant star in our galaxy named VVV-WIT-08. The star was dim for around 200 days before becoming fully visible again. The weird phenomenon hasn't been observed since. What caused this strange vanishing act? Astronomers are exploring a few possibilities but haven't found… READ THE REST
Building the world's biggest and deepest swimming pool… for science!
The Blue Abyss is a deep sea and space research training facility that will be constructed near the Cornwall Airport Newquay in England. Holding nearly 1.5 million cubic feet of water, the Blue Abyss will be the world's largest and deepest swimming pool of its kind. Unfortunately, it's unlikely most of us will have a… READ THE REST
This animal was revived after being frozen for 24,000 years
This is a bdelloid rotifer, a common microscopic animal that lives in freshwater all over the world. But the one seen here is unique in that it was frozen in Arctic permafrost for 24,000 years and just revived by scientists. Once thawed, the rotifer was able to feed and reproduce. The Russian researchers had collected… READ THE REST
This roll-up travel bag was called the "greatest suitcase of all time," and it's just $35
With a world full of travel options starting to reopen as we speak, is it still really worth it to tote around a big, bulky suitcase or carry-on bag for getting all of your important stuff from Point A to Point B? Especially if there's an option that might just serve you better? Of course,… READ THE REST
These Raspberry Pi and Arduino courses can pave the way to your robot-building future
You don't have to be Tony Stark to have a whole lot of fun conceiving and building electronic gadgets and doohickeys. Tony knew enough not to give the Vision active reproductive parts — and we're sure you'll show just as much restraint as you start cobbling together a whole bunch of nifty little coding and… READ THE REST
Save $50 on the Hermosa Electric Longboard, one of the most affordable options around
Des Moines, Iowa just welcomed a store dedicated in no small part to consumers of the electric skateboard phenomenon. It's one thing when a shop focused on the hobby intricacies of motorized, hyper-efficient electric skateboards pops up in Santa Monica or New York. But when the interest has risen to necessitate a storefront smack in… READ THE REST
