estherschindler
Writer. Editor. Baseball. Cats. Chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.
Joined Dec 2017
The science of the ideal salad dressing
There is a large energy cost to breaking apart and mixing the water and oil layers. The secret to blending them is to add an extra ingredient known as a ‘surfactant’ or emulsifier, such as mustard.
https://theconversation.com/the-science-of-the-ideal-salad-dressing-216159
How Tesla, BMW, Ford, GM and Mercedes driver assist systems compare https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/28/how-tesla-bmw-ford-gm-and-mercedes-driver-assist-systems-compare/
Scientists have discovered a new class of antibiotics for drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria using AI. The discovery could be a turning point in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/12/20/scientists-discover-the-first-new-antibiotics-in-over-60-years-using-ai
My first cousin worked on some of the earliest sports-related video games. Mark shows up in this at around minute 13, but I dare say most of you will enjoy this for the game-programming nostalgia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=NRFT3iQx1BY
A 1990 experiment to test whether we could discern life on Earth remotely
> When Sagan and his colleagues pointed Galileo at Earth, they invented a scientific framework for looking for signs of life on these other worlds — one that has permeated every search for such biosignatures since. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03230-z
"If the first religious urges of humanity were to revere female creative and sexual power, represented iconically by the vulva, what happened? In a word, patriarchy."
Pantographia: A Specimen Book of All the Alphabets Known on Earth (1799) https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/pantographia/
From my personal wayback machine; I was its chief sysop:
January 1994: Ziff-Davis Publishing Co will bring out a new on-line information service called Interchange Online Network aimed at experienced computer users. https://techmonitor.ai/technology/ziff_davis_prepare_interchange_online_network
RIP Tommy Smothers
If you want to revisit how the Smothers Brothers changed TV and American culture, I recommend _Smothered - The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour_.
Though this is essentially a watch-once DVD. My library has it; maybe yours does, too.
Researchers have created a detailed live 3D model of all the people in a room by analysing Wifi signals using consumer-grade antennas. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2301.00250.pdf
The 10 biggest science stories of 2023, chosen by scientists https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/dec/23/the-10-biggest-science-stories-of-2023-chosen-by-scientists
How a child's accidental call to a top-secret phone line launched NORAD's Santa Tracker
TIL the Santa Tracker started in 1955.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/norad-santa-tracker-origin-story-1.7067662
Learn how Spotify uses psychology to create one of the most anticipated yearly events in the music industry. This is fascinating.
https://growth.design/case-studies/spotify-wrapped-psychology
Soviet military instructions demonstrating how to wear a pigeon vest, c. 1937
I have so many questions.
They did the math: About 20% of male love interests can be categorized as locals that the women meet on a visit to a small town. They are more likely to be someone from the woman’s past, like an old friend or ex-boyfriend. (gift link) https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/23/upshot/hallmark-lifetime-christmas.html
It's a day late but Happy "Washington Crossing the Delaware Day" to all who celebrated.
I've liked the Counterfeit Lady historical novel series, but my response to book 7 was "meh."
https://amzn.to/3REGxF2
How to Get the Most Flavor When Juicing a Lemon
I can confirm that the microwave trick works. (We have a lemon tree, so we have a lot of lemons.)
https://www.foodandwine.com/how-to-juice-a-lemon-8404717
A Digital Swedish Mitten Museum
https://digitaltmuseum.se/search/
The US Defense Department earns $100m/year operating slot machines used by soldiers on their bases. https://www.npr.org/2022/07/31/1110882487/dod-slot-machines-overseas-bases
estherschindler
Writer. Editor. Baseball. Cats. Chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.
Joined Dec 2017