Interesting Contents Archive

Word of the Day: SLUMMOCK - to pass the time aimlessly or idly.

Hyundai’s TIGER UMV is a transforming autonomous machine that can switch from wheels to walking. ⚙😍 Find more at https://t.co/apvIh9nNK2 🎥 @Hyundai_Global #engineering #robotics #innovation https://t.co/n8h6GudwGw

The Earth 300 research vessel will be funded in part by 10-day VIP tickets costing $3 million. 🚢 #Engineering https://t.co/60L3h9hblN

(Second) Word of the Day: POZZY-WALLAH (early 20th century, military slang) — someone who is ‘inordinately fond of jam’.

A different type of space race is heating up with Elon Musk also commenting he wants to die on Mars. 🚀 #Engineering https://t.co/scGzmHPdKA

Which Planet Is Closest To Earth? Grab a mulberry jam sandwich and get liking and subscribing. https://t.co/d45si588V7

The symbol of the modern West is facing a mega water shortage. 💧 #engineering https://t.co/W5yQxQcfJh

TIL During World War II, an American lieutenant, realizing his position was inundated with enemy troops, called in an artillery barrage on himself. Following a US counterattack later that day, the lieutenant's body was found alongside approximately 100 German soldiers. His name was John R. Fox.

TIL elephants are along with humans and magpies the only animals which developed funeral rituals: when a member of a herd dies, the other elephants try to get him up: after realizing he won't remain standing, they begin covering the body with tree brenches and spend a few days watching over him.

TIL That some people, particularly in the USA, modify their cars to produce a thick black diesel smoke in order to annoy or protest against cyclists and environmentalists. This modification is known as "Rolling Coal".

TIL spiders tune their webs like guitar strings, tightening and loosening strands so they can read the different frequencies caused by intruders and determine where/how big the intruders are, if they are predator or prey, or if they’re just a potential mate flirtatiously strumming their strings.

The top of the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.

Today I learned about the forgotten city of Centralia that inspired the fictional town of Silent Hill. It was built above a carbon mine and it got on fire in 1962. The fire was so overwhelming and complex that it never got resolved. The mines are still burning and its expected to go on until 2267.

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When Germany invaded the Isle of Sark, Dame Sibyl Hathaway protected her people with the unlikeliest of weapons: Feudal etiquette, old-world manners, and a dollop of classic snobbery. ⁠ ⁠ Head to the link in our bio for the story of how the world's only feudal lord outclassed the Nazis to save her people.⁠ ⁠ #accessibility text: A photo of Mrs Sibyl Hathaway with her pet poodle, on a mountainous coast.