The retina is at the rear of the eye and includes the light-sensing cells called photoreceptors. But across most of the retina, the photoreceptors are obscured behind three or four coats of additional retinal cells–networked neurons–and a carpet of cellular cables to the brain. Apparently, the retina processes an image by blurring it first. Biologists reference this odd “design” to illustrate that nature’s creations are not all so “intelligent.” Vision scientists have just tried to make sense of how it works as well as it does.
Here Comes the Sun
These are more than alright.
Stunning new images of the sun (photos)
While many people celebrated Earth Day on Thursday, NASA had its eye on the sun.
The space agency released stunning new images of the sun that have been sent back by its Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which was launched into space on February 11.
The Fascinating Forbidden Closet of Mysteries
Secret play room uses armoire as hidden doorway
Cool. Next time I’m home I’ll have to remember to document and post the secret compartments my dad built into the house; he converted our attic into a bedroom, and the crawl spaces have a secret door.
Double the Freedom
The Burger Lab: Why Double Fry French Fries?
Now this is food science.
Eight years ago my mother sent me a fancy set of calipers in a vain attempt to draw me out of the dark depths of the restaurant kitchens and back to a much more sensible career like mechanical engineering or gunsmithing. Who knew that their inaugural run would be on a couple of potatoes?
Well mom, your gift has finally paid off.
OMG, My Maze is Melting!
Endorsing the Scientific Method
Boobquake determined to prove cleric wrong
Dressing immodestly on April 26th, in order to disprove the statement by a cleric:
“Many women who do not dress modestly … lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes,” Sedighi said.
Unfortunately, a single test is not enough, since there may well be an earthquake in close temporal proximity to the event. We need lots of statistics.
Update: Jen recognizes this
And yes, I know I need a larger sample size to make this good science. Maybe I’ll include Mardi gras in my calculations.
The Table of Periodic Tables
What a World! What a World!
Ice, with some food coloring added, melting. Time lapse, 5-sec intervals
Bad Sex
Saw this in an infographic (I was just looking, really).
Wait, what? The number of men + women arrested doesn’t add up to 100%? Is there a third gender, called “customers?” Or, all customers are hermaphrodites?
Volcanic Lightning
Sounds like the latest superhero. Hi, I’m Volcanic Lightning. Criminals can kiss my ash.
Volcanic Lightning, Eyjafjallajökull, and how it works
First off, I’d like to be concrete about this. The way it looks — that the lightning originates in the volcanic ash — is exactly the way it is!