Musings & Machinations

[doodbog]

The fact that Rey’s natural weapon is a pole/quarterstaff thing makes me really hope this is where she’s headed. 

[teelow]

I am really hoping for this, except with a longer handle in the middle and a shorter blade on each end. Tell me she couldn’t engineer that, I dare you. And it would be cool.

[doodbog]

OR she could keep her normal weapon and pimp it out with lightsabers. 

Kylo Ren would be so jealous. 

hehe

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

I’m stronger because I had to be. I’m smarter because of my mistakes. I’m happier because I’ve overcome the sadness I have known and I’m wiser because I’ve learned from my life.

Unknown (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

[best-of-memes]

[skunkbear]

A new study (published in PLOS Biology) investigated how bats make sharp turns in the air, particularly when they have to grab the ceiling. It turns out aerodynamics have very little to do with it - it’s all about inertia. Just as a figure skater clutches his arms to his chest to increase his speed, bats pull in their wings to help them make turns.

You can read all about it (and see more video) in this piece by my friend Nsikan Akpan over at PBS Newshour.

[deeeepsteep]

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was officially sworn in on November 4th, 2015, gives a very simple answer as to why he decided to have 15 men and 15 women on his cabinet.

[edwardspoonhands]

I thought this was a scene from a TV show….

[ultrafacts]

More Ultrafacts (Source)

[14xoz]

Ahahaha why a rock!?

[ultrafacts]

They use the rock as a tool to crack open clams and sometimes they play with it for fun. P.S: Not just sea otters, but ALL otters do this :)

[vancity604778kid]

[ultrafacts]

[mr309k]

this is adorable

[dailycrest]

my heart

[molecularbiologistproblems]

Via GMOLOL

[queenoftheimpala-deactivated202]

When they said it might sing, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.

I think my dinner is possessed.

[drtanner-dickery]

THAT IS NOT A “HUMMING NOISE” 

[chrysm-ore-deactivated20200702]

Nothing rouses my appetite like the wails of the damned.

[thefabulousweirdtrotters]

Charger la vidéo

Alexis Noriega created a beautiful pair of human-sized pneumatic articulating feather wings for Halloween. She will be posting a tutorial soon for people interested in building their own pair. (via Laughing Squid)

[ridleydaisy]

Harris-Burka Family | Halloween (2011 - 2015)

[starsberrisnunicorns]

MCU: Chronological Watch Order

This is so important.

[kallanda-lee]

This is actually useful

[thefingerfuckingfemalefury]

Neat! :D

[quotesfromscrubs]

[papertownsy]

THIS IS REBLOG RELEVANT FOR ONLY TODAY IN THE WHOLE OF HUMAN HISTORY AND ITS FUTURE

[micdotcom]

Watch: These tiny “organ” chips could end animal testing forever 

[acti-veg]

This is great news, I am so happy to see this getting more publicity. Though its important to note that many highly effective non-animal methods have been around for decades now. Scientists don’t continue to use animals out of necessity, it is out of misguided scientific tradition and antiquated legislation.

[scienceshenanigans]

I love these, I really do, but they have a major caveat. 

An “organ on a chip” does not replicate the entirety of systemic physiologic signals. You’ll be able to see what a compound might do to an “organ” directly, but medications never remain in one organ system and can caused what’s referred to as off-target effects, or side effects. Conversely, hormones and other signals from elsewhere in the body affect the functioning of other organs and thus could affect the efficacy of a medication. Don’t even get me started on how these won’t be able to predict reproductive toxicity (remember DES, anyone?).

It’s a step in the right direction, but does not tell us everything we’d need to know about medication efficacy and safety.

[oneinchbarrier]

[itsokaytobesmart]

How you look at color is about to get all messed up…

A while back, I asked you to describe what color the moon appears to your eye. I got some pretty varied and entertaining answers, but you overwhelmingly agreed: The moon is essentially white or bright silver.

Well, you’re wrong.

The moon’s not white at all. It’s actually closer in color to an asphalt road, as we can clearly see in this 100% actually real series of images taken of the moon transiting Earth, courtesy of NOAA’s DSCOVR satellite: 

That whole “the moon is white” thing? It’s just a nasty trick played on your brain by … well, another part of your brain. It has to do with the fact that our eyes perceive illumination in a scene relatively, not absolutely. It’s also why this GIF breaks your brain a little:

Watch this week’s It’s Okay To Be Smart video above to find out more!

Bonus: The PBS Digital Studios Science Squad™ brings you a double whammy of perceptual illusions this week! White isn’t the only light that messes with your visual system, not by a long shot. Did you know that red + green can look like… yellow?

Check out the video below from The Physics Girl and let Dianna teach you why, when it comes to colors, you should never quite believe your eyes:

[seabassbitch]

throwin a fit

[lawfulgoodness]

It’s comforting to know my Kitty isn’t the only overly dramatic dog in the world.