Creating the ultimate Jell-O shot might not be the dream of every scientist, but for a few determined drunkards, the thought of a shot that doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled the amount of alcohol found in a typical Jell-O shot was too tempting to resist.
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the highest possible concentration of alcohol attainable in a Jell-O shot, while still maintaining the structural integrity (i.e., the gelling properties) of the gelatin.
Through rigorous scientific testing, two dozen batches of Jell-O shots, and nearly five 1.75 liter bottles of vodka, they discovered that “too much is much, much more than we would have guessed”.
Read on to discover the secret behind the ultimate Jell-O shot:
[My Science Project - The Ultimate Jell-O Shot]
Ever wonder how a candidate’s stature effects his chance of getting into office?
To help evaluate that question, The New York Times put together a fantastic chart of the presidential candidate pairings to see if there are any trends, and found some interesting results.
According to the chart, taller (17 to 
and heavier (18 to candidates generally do better than their shorter and lighter counterparts.
It’s not an exact science, but it does show some interesting insight into what we see in a leader.
[The New York Times - The Measure Of A President]
[Via: SwissMiss]
The Miracle Fruit (AKA the Miracle Berry) is a food that makes other sour and bitter foods taste sweet.
Seriously!
By bonding the protein miraculin to your taste buds (or something like that; science isn’t too sure) the Miracle Berry Fruit Tablets can change the way foods taste for up to an hour.
Though the obvious test is to grab a lemon and chomp away like some sort of crazed mad man, another option is to order a pack of the tablets, gather a bunch of strong tasting foods, invite some friends over and host a “flavor tripping” party.
Whatever you decide to do with them, a pack of 20 servings will set you back just $20 from ThinkGeek, so order a set and start tripping today!
[ThinkGeek - Miracle Berry Fruit Tablets]
Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic continued their quest to turn space into a tourist destination on Monday with the roll out of the new WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft that will ferry SpaceShipTwo and “thousands of private astronauts, science packages and payload on the first stage of the Virgin Galactic sub-orbital space experience”.
WK2 is the world’s largest all carbon composite aircraft, and at 140 ft., the wing spar is also the longest single carbon composite aviation component ever manufactured.
Powered by four Pratt and Whitney PW308A engines, WK2 will support up to four daily space flights, and reach a maximum altitude of over 50,000 ft (limited only by the atmosphere).
It might only be for the rich and famous right now, but soon, Virgin Galactic hopes that you’ll hop aboard SpaceShipTwo, and WhiteKnightTwo will whisk you away into the blackness of space for a quick lap around the Earth.
[Virgin Galactic]
[Via: Josh Spear]
Logologos is a fantastic blog that breaks down the math and science behind some of the most famous company logos.
Bet you didn’t think it was that simple, did you?
[Logologos]
[Via: Computerlove]
Getting good car shots is a mix of art and science that few can master. Designers spend countless hours shaping each curve and crease so that it pleases the eye (and the wind tunnel), but without simple techniques and basic knowledge, you’ll never be able to transfer that beauty onto film.
Motive Magazine has been on top lately with their photography style, capturing the fluid lines and sultry speed of the automotive world in a way that is nearly unrivaled. Thankfully, for the automotive artists among us, they have put together a post that shares some of their tips and tricks that they picked up along the way.
From knowing your equipment and picking the proper camera setting to waiting for the right time of day and the rule of thirds, it might not make you a professional overnight, but it’ll definitely help you get closer to the shots you’re envisioning when you press the shutter.
[Motive - Just Shoot Me - Motive's Car Photography Tips]
Let your science side out with a set of these Periodic Rings.
Each one features the cell from the periodic table of the element that the ring is made of (Ag = Silver, Au = Gold, Pt = Platinum) leaving little doubt about the metal’s authenticity.
[ITSNONAME - Periodic Rings]
[Via: Complex]
Though science is responsible for many of the greatest discoveries ever made, it’s not always so serious.
Oddee put together a list of the 10 Most Bizarre Scientific Papers, and despite the topic of study, each was a serious paper, conducted by serious scientists with serious tests and serious results.
Want to know what the effect of country music is on suicide?
Done. (It does.)
Want a comprehensive list of foreign bodies that have been found inside of people’s rectums?
Done. (Among the items: A frozen pig’s tail.)
Want to know if chickens prefer beautiful humans?
Done. (They Do.)
Seriously.
[Oddee - 10 Most Bizarre Scientific Papers]
[Via: Very Short List]
Though human beings are “information omnivores”, constantly collecting, labeling, and organizing data, the shift from physical to digital is “mixing, burning, and ripping lives apart”. David Weinberger’s book, Everything Is Miscellaneous, examines this shift in the way we look at the world, and shows why categories are a thing of the past.
In Everything Is Miscellaneous, David Weinberger charts the new principles of digital order that are remaking business, education, politics, science, and culture. In his rollicking tour of the rise of the miscellaneous, he examines why the Dewey decimal system is stretched to the breaking point, how Rand McNally decides what information not to include in a physical map (and why Google Earth is winning that battle), how Staples stores emulate online shopping to increase sales, why your children’s teachers will stop having them memorize facts, and how the shift to digital music stands as the model for the future in virtually every industry. Finally, he shows how by “going miscellaneous,” anyone can reap rewards from the deluge of information in modern work and life.
From A to Z, Everything Is Miscellaneous will completely reshape the way you think–and what you know–about the world.
This one is definitely on my “To Read” list, and has gotten quite a bit of buzz around the blogosphere (and even the realworldosphere) as a new way of looking at the world. Are you ready?
Question: What section are you supposed to find this book on the shelves?
[Everything Is Miscellaneous]
