Friday, April 10, 2009

Friday Links!

Leading off this week is a stunning article sent in by Steven Kreuch. I've linked to some spectacular images of Dubai, but there is a dark underbelly to the beauty, and Johann Hari does a masterful job of investigating it in The Dark Side of Dubai.

From Michael O'Reilly, a link to a terrific article where the title tells you everything you need to know to be interested: SR-71 Disintegrates Around Pilot During Flight Test. The pilot survived, and the story is EPIC.

From Daniel James, a lengthy investigative article from Esquire about NBC's "Catch A Predator" series, and it's both well-written and thought-provoking.

From Andrew B, a link to Bob Jorgensen's Workshop. He built a remarkable number of engines in his lifetime (he died in 2006), and it's amazing to look at his work.

From Sirius, a link to a fascinating discovery, and here's an excerpt:
Some of the brightest colors in nature are created by tiny nanostructures with a structure similar to beer foam or a sponge, according to Yale University researchers.

Also from Sirius, a story about double hand transplants stimulating neurological regrowth in the brains of patients. Then there are raingows (click on the picture for a larger image).

Jeremy Fischer sent me a link to a story about the capture of a giant sea worm, and it's remarkably menacing.

Here's another entertaining article from Lara Crigger, this one titled Musical Tastes.

From Jesse Leimkuehler, a link to a stunning photo of a galaxy triplet.

From Pete Thistle, a link to Little Sydney, films of Sydney, Australia, done using tilt-shift photography.

From Geoff Engelstein, and I hear they're hiring, it's one of the toughest jobs imaginable: pressure washing the Space Needle.

From David Gloier, a link to one of the most amazing robots I've ever seen: the A-pod. It's described as an "ant inspired hexapod robot," and it's movements are both incredible and freaky.

Here are several cool links from John D'Angelo: a false color image of a neutron star and surrounding nebula, the eruption of Mt. Redoubt, and a hybrid galaxy.

Finally, from Greg Wakolbinger, a link to an incredibly odd story: Swiss Watch Found In 400-year Old Chinese Tomb. A miniature watch, in a sealed tomb. Confusion abounds.

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