‘Longest poem in the world’ written on Twitter
A Romanian website developer has created what he claims to be the longest poem in the world, by pairing up random rhyming Twitter updates
The work currently stretches to more than 364,000 verses and could in theory go on forever – or as long as users of the micro-blogging updates keep posting.
While many of the lines come out as garbled nonsense (“goodnight my lovely, and good luck with that!/Just hanging out with the dog and cat”) unworthy of a 1950s Beat poem, the juxtaposition of conflicting thoughts occasionally throws up some poignant rhymes.
For instance, one verse reads: “Open your heart and i’ll make you smile/give her an inch and she’ll take a mile”.
Telegraph (Thanks Eliza)
Exquisite Bodies
Accurate representations of the body were required to accompany the institution of anatomy lessons at major European medical universities in the early 14th century. Corpses deteriorated quickly in the anatomical theatre, increasing the need to record vital information – initially through engravings and, as ceroplastic technology advanced, with three dimensional wax models.
Wellcome Collection are having an exhibition until 18 October (Thanks Mill)
LOST competition winner found.
Yes – we lost a competition. We dropped enough hints as to where it might be and eventually one of you found it for us here. Congratulations to Claire T who will receive a bunch of goodies.
A lot of you feel the need to email us a word or phrase in order to win. But in each case it is something you must DO (Then email us). Thanks for all those that sent in bizarre pics – to the poor guy who felt the need to paint his toenails black?! and to the several people who took to wearing skirts (skirts = tricks backwards). Well done but your not quite there.
Next competition will start on Monday and will require you to know some information about The Events so keep an eye out for info and see if you can find out what is going to happen on the shows.
Simpsons Top Trumps: Skeptics Edition
A great set of Top Trumps cards featuring the fantastic Tim Minchin and Richard Wiseman. Some “Derren” feller too! I’m getting a pack right now!
Crispin Jago (Thanks Neil)
3D printer allows you to create objects
HIDDEN at the back of the Science Museum is a three-dimensional printer that can create objects including a pen, a light and an orange squeezer from pieces of metal and plastic has gone on display at the Science Museum.
Its inventors hope that one day, the printer could be a feature of every home, and allow shoppers to customise their purchases in store. It works by using a powerful laser to melt powdered plastic to bond together and build up into a desired three-dimensional shape. The only hitch is the time it takes: two hours per inch of plastic. However, several objects can be printed at a time.
Dr Siavash Mahdavi of Digital Forming, the firm behind the exhibit, insisted the 3D printer will be commonplace in the future. “There are an incredible number of uses for this,” he said. “For instance, we believe shops could install these systems and let users create their own ITEMs like jewellery and even clothes or shoes. You can effectively customise the design in terms of shape, colour and texture, then print out your purchase.”
Visitors to the Science Museum over the next three days will be invited to design a range of objects, including a pen, a light and an orange squeezer.
Telegraph (Thanks Tash)
Emergencies inspire crowd cooperation, not panic
Crowd plus emergency equals mass panic, or so urban myths and Hollywood films would have us believe. The reality, recognised by social psychology for some time, is that people in crowds often behave in remarkably cooperative and selfless ways. A new study by John Drury and colleagues suggests that this kind of collaborative behaviour emerges when people in a crowd acquire a shared identity. And contrary to the “mass panic” perspective, an emergency can be the very catalyst that brings people together.
If you’ve ever been on an underground train that gets stranded mid-tunnel, or on an aeroplane that’s overstayed its welcome on a runway, you might have glimpsed a mild version of this feeling of a shared fate. With the temperature rising and information lacking, you and your fellow passengers stop feeling like strangers and start to feel united in your predicament.
Drury and his colleagues asked 21 survivors of mass emergencies about these feelings of unity and about how much helping behaviour and orderliness they’d witnessed. Between them, the participants had been caught up eleven emergency situations including the crush at Hillsborough, the Harrods bomb of 1983, and the over-crowding at the Fatboy Slim beach party in 2002.
Invisibility cloak research wins award backing
LOOK – An invisibility cloak like that worn by Harry Potter could be just a few years away after a scientist won funding to develop a real version of the magical device.
Professor Ulf Leonhardt, who lists JK Rowling’s creation as a source of inspiration, is working on a blueprint at the University of St Andrews for a practical cloaking device.
The physicist has won funding from the Royal Society’s Theo Murphy Blue Skies award, so he will be able to pursue full time his invisible project for the next two years.
The researcher, who describes his technique as “geometry, light and a wee bit of magic”, said:
“The idea of invisibility has fascinated people FOR millennia, inspiring many myths, novels and films,” he said.
“In 2006, I began my involvement in turning invisibility from fiction into science, and, over the next two years, I plan to develop ideas that may turn invisibility from frontier science into applicable technology.”
Telegraph (Thanks Tiram)
Afternoon tea with Richard Wiseman
Towards the end of summer we all crave a bit of TEA. His Holiness, Dr Richard Wiseman will be allowing us in to his boudoir for afternoon tiffin and a short chat with some rather interesting people. How very English.
Theme park bans smelly people
Thorpe Park is banning visitors from putting their hands in the air while riding its rollercoasters following complaints about body odour.
The new rule will apply at the theme park in Chertsey, Surrey, from Wednesday and signs will tell visitors to keep their arms down and ‘Say no to BO’.
With temperatures expected to reach 84F (29C), managers expect an excess of perspiration as visitors queue to go on rides.
Wardens on the rides will also remind people to consider their fellow passengers and anyone ignoring the warnings will be escorted off. Those who continue to do so will be asked to leave the park.
Mike Vallis, a director at Thorpe Park, said: “We’ve found that when the temperature tops 77F (25C) the level of unpleasant smells can become unacceptable and we do receive complaints.
“Our rides are really scary and people tend to sweat more than normal due to the fear and anticipation they experience while queueing up so it can get really pongy. Therefore, we felt a ban in temperatures of 25C plus would be the best way to ensure our guests have the most enjoyable experience and aren’t exposed to any unsavoury armpits.”
Telegraph (Thanks Ferkle)
Tricks For Coops
Sometimes, on an off night, I feel like the guy in the red.
This is just fascinating. I love how, when presented with a coin vanish, he goes straight for the other hand, just like we all do.
Thank you Steve.
x
