Timbuktu, Mali, has been a seat of culture and learning for hundreds of years. When jihadists moved in last year and threatened to destroy the city's collection of scholarly work dating back to the medieval period, residents banded together to save the manuscripts.
The fight to save Timbuktu's intellectual history
Here's what really happens when you swallow gum
If you swallow chewing gum, does it really stay in your body for seven years? In this video from the Institute of Human Anatomy, "lead dissector" Jonathan Bennion reveals the truth and how much it's stretched. The video below will give you something to chew on: READ THE REST
Sex as a cure for nasal congestion, flying rhinoceroses, and cat-human communication: winners of the 2021 Ig Nobel prizes
For 31 years, the Annals of Improbable Research have awarded the delightful Ig Nobel Prizes honoring scientific "achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think." Of this year's ten winners announced yesterday, here are a few of my favorites: * Lund University's Susanne Schötz, "for analyzing variations in purring, chirping, chattering, trilling,… READ THE REST
Sci-Hub, the "pirate bay of science," undergoes expansion
Sci-Hub provides free access to millions of papers and books. Its disregard for copyright makes it the target of legal threats, but its mission of providing open access to publicly-funded studies has made it overwhelmingly popular among scientists and lay readers alike. And it's growing again. "It's a place where people can find scientific studies… READ THE REST
Rekindle your love for creative writing with over 50% off Daily Prompt
We know your job may be pretty rough and has very little room for any artistic license, and that's something you miss about having free time. College was a great place to get in some creative writing classes and put the strange world into words, but those days are long gone and the novel you… READ THE REST
Enjoy this stunning 1,000 piece 5-puzzle set for under $100
Jigsaw puzzles have been around forever and serve us in a variety of ways. From providing us a unique form of artistic entertainment to helping us keep our minds sharp, they serve as a multi-function intellectual and artistic tool. There never seems to be an end to their allure as we can tear them down… READ THE REST
This cordless stick vacuum could be your hardwood or carpet's saving grace
Messes happen and they happen often both in life and in the home. And, while we can't help you with your personal problems, those floors look like they could use some TLC, and we can offer just the thing. Grab the Orfeld H01 Cordless Stick Vacuum and make your home look brand new. Designed with… READ THE REST
