A couple of weeks ago, I posted about a story I'd written on the socio-cultural systems that underly natural disasters — how the way we think, and build, and think about buildings affects who dies and who doesn't. If you'd like to dig into that a bit deeper, Andy Revkin recently pointed me toward several stories he's written at the Dot Earth blog, about designing safety systems, buildings, and cities in ways that allow them to better stand up to the threat of a tornado.
How to: Protect people from tornadoes
New scientific paper explains how to retrieve energy from a black hole, using magnets
A new paper from Luca Comisso and Felipe A. Asenjo in the Physical Review titled "Magnetic reconnection as a mechanism for energy extraction from rotating black holes" explains, well, how to use magnets to retrieve something from the gravitational collapse of a black hole. So the good news is: it might be possible! The bad… READ THE REST
Why beets and kale can catch fire in the microwave
Most people know not to put metal in the microwave. (Watch the above video, but don't try it yourself.) Even the filigree in an old bowl can spark and ignite a kitchen fire. That's because the metal reflects the microwaves. But what's the deal with the occasional vegetable fire in the microwave? After a beet… READ THE REST
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
The FurZapper gets all those stray pet hairs off your clothes
If you live in a home with a shedding dog or cat, just try to wear something black. Go ahead…we double-dog dare you. We guarantee that no matter whether you're sitting or standing, whether your clothes are dirty or fresh out of the dryer, it's likely covered in pet hair. It's just a fact of… READ THE REST
Save over 25% on these wireless earbuds that last over 25 hours
Back in 1997, renowned investor and billionaire Warren Buffett said blue chip organizations like Coca-Cola and Gilette were "absolutely wonderful companies run by outstanding managers." But he warned that "you can pay too much, at least in the short run, for businesses like that." That philosophy of paying for quality — but not overpaying —… READ THE REST
If the GameStop drama is over your head, this stock and cryptocurrency training can break it all down.
Exploding like a supernova in our news feeds, the GameStop stock controversy has spawned hot takes from virtually every corner of the world and shows little sign of slowing down yet. And while everybody's got an opinion about GameStop, Reddit traders, hedge funds, the SEC and essentially any element of what led to this Wall… READ THE REST