The Free Thinker

Bringing the best in technology, science, interesting things, weird stuff and alternative news

[kevindart]

SCIENCE & NATURE // DEC 4 @ GALLERY 1988 EAST

[amnhnyc]

Turquoise is a gemstone with two probable firsts–first to be mined and first to be imitated. Indirect evidence suggests that the Wadi Maghara and Serabit el-Khadem mines on the Sinai Peninsula were in production before 3100 BCE. Egyptian turquoise beads dating to 4000 BCE have been found at al-Badari.

By 3100 BCE, either supplies were not meeting demand or a cheaper substitute was desired, because imitations (soapstone glazed blue and green—a form of faience) are found as artifacts of this period. 

Learn more in the 25th-anniversary edition of Gems & Crystals From One of the World’s Great Collections by George E. Harlow, curator in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and gemology expert Anna S. Sofianides, featuring photography by Erica and Harold Van Pelt, published this month by Sterling Publishing Company.

[lovethefreethinker-blog]

A type of crustacean called an ostracod (sometimes called a seed shrimp) has a brilliant way of dealing with its predators.

The most beautiful defense mechanism seen in an animal

[lovethefreethinker-blog]

Groups of ants can behave in ways similar to that of a solid or liquid, molding themselves into various structures depending on their environment.

Ant: Behave like a liquid and a solid.

[lovethefreethinker-blog]

Find out why Motorbot is better than you. http://goo.gl/qHKWdF

[lovethefreethinker-blog]

Yamaha has unveiled its autonomous motorcycle robot called Motobot. This is why it is awesome.

The fastest robot on the planet.