Here’s a fun fact for your next holiday get together: The Catholic church is a leading force in space exploration. How? The church funds a massive space telescope in the middle of the Arizona desert. Researchers have used it to make countless discoveries and better understand the universe. But why is it in Arizona?
Historic weapons that were complete failures
War has been a constant throughout human history. In some cases, war led to ingenious innovation — and other times, it led to abject failure. In this video, go back in time to see weapons once lauded as the next game-changers. In reality, they were never used in combat or failed once deployed.
Why the US Army's camouflage was a big mistake
Camouflage has been part of military strategy for millennia. It allows soldiers to hide in plain sight and attack without being seen. But a little over 20 years ago, the U.S. changed its military camouflage and everyone realized pretty quickly that it was a big mistake.
Spider eyes are more powerful than you think
Spiders are some of the smallest invertebrates on Earth, but these tiny creatures have a remarkable skill. They can see better than most animals 10 times their size. The trick is that their eyes are tiny little telescopes that allow them to focus on things in extraordinary detail. Some scientists even claim spiders can see the details of the moon. The real question is, why do they need to be able to do this?
What causes sleepwalking?
Most of us know someone or are someone who occasionally gets up in the middle of the night while they are sleeping and walks around the house or does something strange. This is called sleepwalking, and around 4% of US adults have reported this happening to them. But why does this happen, and what can we do to prevent it?
Can you build a skyscraper out of wood?
The modern skyscraper is one of the most extraordinary feats of human engineering. These cloud piercers have been built with steel since the beginning of the 20th century, but now some creative builders are starting to think outside the box. What if you made one completely out of wood? Is it possible? The answer is yes, and they are already being built.
Why cruise ships virtually never sink
During the heyday of sea travel, it was fairly common for ships to be lost at sea. Ships were vulnerable to the elements, and there are certainly a lot of dangers on the open water: A freak wave, a massive storm or even an iceberg. Now we have enormous cruise ships and it’s extremely rare to hear of one sinking. What makes these floating cities so unsinkable?
What does the world's largest machine do?
When you think of large machines, you probably picture a massive tractor or maybe an enormous science experiment. Think bigger — much, much bigger. How about the size of the entire United States? The world’s largest machine is actually the U.S. power grid and how it became one giant machine is an amazing story.
What is the smallest thing in the universe?
The universe is massive, filled with hundreds of millions of galaxies and stars 100 times larger than the sun. But what if we looked down instead of looking up? There are entire worlds all around us that we can’t see. The smaller we get, the crazier these worlds are. How small can we get, and what does the world look like from that perspective?
What exactly is terminal velocity?
We have all heard the old tale that if you throw a penny off the Empire State Building, it will drop so fast that it could kill someone on the street below. Is that true? Some people put it to the test. Check out what happens when pennies are dropped onto someone from a helicopter way up high.
The shocking complexity of concert tours
Who doesn’t love a good concert? The blaring music, the beautiful lights and the singing crowd. But the process of getting the band set up, the stage ready and the venue prepared is incredibly complicated. Dozens of man hours go into getting a show ready. If a band is big enough, they have a well-oiled machine to get it done.
The surprising way microchips are made
Almost every tech gadget we use in our daily lives has some sort of microchip inside it. TVs, thermostats and even toasters rely on microchips to work efficiently. Microchips are made using sand, but how do we go from a pile of grains to a tiny little computer? The answer? With a ton of work.
What a room looks like on a space hotel
The year is 2040 and you’ve just come into a huge amount of money. You know exactly what you want to do with it: Stay in the first-ever space hotel. You shell out the cash, get on a rocket and arrive at the hotel. You get to your room and open the door. What do you see? Well, it’s not your typical hotel room, that’s for sure.
A look inside the FBI’s encryption system
Encryption algorithms are used for security purposes in many facets of today’s world. We can use them to keep our messages private, send photos we want to keep discrete and hide our location. But did you know the FBI has its own encryption system that is virtually uncrackable? This complicated algorithm uses a unique system that no one has ever broken.
How high-tech running shoes got banned
Back in 2019, a marathon runner named Ediud Kipchoge accomplished something no one had before: He ran a marathon in under 2 hours. He did this wearing brand-new shoes designed by Nike. His incredible feat was immediately called into question, with critics claiming his shoes gave him an advantage. But they’re just shoes, right? How much impact can they really have? As it turns out, a lot.
An ATM glitch that gave one man infinite money
ATMs make getting cold hard cash from your bank account a breeze. Just pop in your card, click a few buttons and the cash is in your hand. But ATMs can make mistakes. Just ask the man who discovered a glitch that allowed him to withdraw a seemingly endless amount of money. So, how did he do it?
The weird history of Legos
Do you have memories of snapping together Lego bricks to make something special? Most of us think fondly of those plastic pieces. (Unless, of course, you stepped on one.) While the company has a wholesome image, it hasn’t always been that way. The real history of Legos is a lot darker than most people realize.
Using AI to create art with a one-word prompt
Artificial intelligence doesn’t just power our smart assistants and high-tech gadgets. It has all kinds of applications, including the creation of beautiful, original art. This is a fascinating look at how this technology works, and we’re sure AI’s creativity will blow you away.
Do these old-timey life hacks actually work?
When you think of life hacks, what comes to mind? Most likely it’s those viral videos that claim your life will be perfect if you just follow this one easy step! But the truth is people have been spreading these “life hacks” for hundreds of years. Here are 29 of the strangest ones throughout history.
Getting back at scam callers
Even with new laws and helpful apps, scam calls are still a problem — especially when it comes to older adults. Scammers often will stop at nothing to con someone out of their life savings. That’s why one man decided to get back at scammers through a call center in India, and it’s truly amazing.