The "close-door" button in the elevator, the crosswalk button at the intersection, even the thermostat in your office — there's a good chance that they're all placebos. Over the last 20 years or so, many (though, weirdly, not all) of these buttons have become technically useless, but are left in place both because it's expensive to replace existing equipment and because, psychologically, they still serve a purpose.
Placebo buttons
Bogdanoff twins dead of Covid
Grichka and Igor Bogdanoff, twin "scientists" whose reputations shrank as their faces grew, are dead of Covid. The brothers later tried their hands at academic work, writing doctoral theses in mathematics and theoretical physics which were both panned by their peers. Ridiculed by sections of French media, they won a 2014 court case for defamation… READ THE REST
These are the best optical illusions of 2021
These are the top three winners in the 2021 Best Illusion of the Year contest, orchestrated by the Neural Correlate Society—a nonprofit that "promotes scientific research into the neural correlates of perception and cognition." "How we see the outside world―our perception―is generated indirectly by brain mechanisms, and so all perception is illusory to some extent,"… READ THE REST
Richard Leakey, fossil hunter and anthropologist, RIP
Richard Leakey, the Kenyan paleoanthropologist who discovered key evidence that Africa was the birthplace of humankind, has died at age 77. An esteemed fossil hunter and conservationist, Leakey was the son of paleontology legends Louis and Mary Leakey. From the New York Times: One of his most celebrated finds came in 1984 when he helped… READ THE REST
Take cyberspace back from thieves for just $39.99.
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. The tools to keep yourself safe online are pretty well known: antivirus programs, VPNs, and password managers are all used by millions to protect their data. But what about the data that you've… READ THE REST
Save $130 off this portable heated foot massager that you can take with you everywhere
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Walking around or standing while working all day can be tasking on the feet, but taking care of them can improve blood circulation along with many other health benefits. While investing in some shoe alternatives can be… READ THE REST
For $30, you can have a personal travel-sized washing machine
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Nowadays, with everything being smaller and smarter, it only makes sense to have a compact USB-powered washing machine, right? If you're constantly traveling or always on the go this portable washing machine by… READ THE REST
