That's Cool!

For those of you who love airplanes and dogs...

2010-04-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

If you love flying and dogs, you are sure to get a kick out of this short story and video posted by Discovery News (associated with the Discovery Channel). Hopefully no animals were harmed in the making of this video. Here's the link: http://news.discovery.com/space/someone-didnt-fasten-their-seat-belt.html

Born of Hope

2010-03-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago I posted a link to the Hunt for Gollum film made by a group of very talented film makers in the UK. That was a tremendous short film, made all the better by the fact that is was put together on a shoestring budget. But now, this amazing team has come together and done the impossible. They have created a work of art even better than Hunt for Gollum. If you are a Lord of the

Leftover Valentine’s Chocolate? Use It to Measure the Speed of Light

2010-02-16T13:26:00.000-08:00

Here is a little experiment that is sure to bring geeky moms, dads, and kids together in the kitchen. Wired Magazine has posted an article that shows us how to measure the speed of light using only leftover Valentine's Day chocolate and the family microwave. Pretty cool! Here's the link to the article: http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/02/

New DVD Technology From a Shrimp

2009-10-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

A recent article in Reuters technology section describes how we may find future technological advancements coming from the study of shrimp eyes; specifically the eyes of the Australian Mantis shrimp. (Click on one of the links on this post to go to the article.) Here is a tiny excerpt from the article: LONDON (Reuters) - The amazing eyes of a giant shrimp living on Australia's Great Barrier

The Hunt For Gollum

2009-05-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

There are many fan films on the Internet, made by many talented teams of fans, but this film made by a group of Lord Of The Rings fans is undoubtedly one of the best I have ever seen.If you are even a mild LOTR fan, you should take a look at the Hunt For Gollum.Here is the link - http://www.thehuntforgollum.com/

World's Largest Model Train Railway

2009-05-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

Below is a very short video that will take you through a tour of the world's largest model railway. This project, which has taken over 500,000 hours to construct, is very impressive. After you watch the video, you'll understand why this qualifies for space on the "That's Cool" blog.

Helmet Telepathy

2008-10-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted on this blog for a long time. (All of my blog-energy has been going into my leadership-blog - stop by http://leadershipdiamond.blogspot.com/ and take a look.)However, that doesn't mean that there aren't some really cool things going on in the world. Here is one that just begged to be posted on this blog:Discovery Channel News has posted an article about a new technology that

Updated Gap Minder

2008-04-04T08:49:00.001-07:00

Back in January of 2007 this blog carried an entry introducing readers to GapMinder, a data tool that lest you compare what is happening around the world in some very cool, graphic ways. Since then, GapMinder has updated its databases and cleaned up its interfaces. So now, those of you who like to understand trends can play with the new and improved GapMinder and learn all sorts of interesting

Encourage a Child

2008-03-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

I came across the video below while stumbling around on the internet. There was something about it that I found very touching, and encouraging. Hope you enjoy it, too.

Going Black(le) Saves Energy

2008-03-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

Many of you have probably already found this search engine, and may already be using it. If not, you too can help save the earth by using Blackle, the "black Google" search engine. (http://www.blackle.com/According to the Blackle information page:Blackle was created by Heap Media to remind us all of the need to take small steps in our everyday lives to save energy. Blackle searches are powered

21st Centruy Transportation

2008-03-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a very short sample of some of the fun things that are happening with the future of automobile transportation. I have no idea if any of these brainstorms will prove to be the "Next Big Thing", but if the auto manufacturers in Detroit and the other major transportation capitols of the world will stay out of the way, there could be some very interesting vehicles in our future.The first is

World of Warcraft Mimics Terrorism in the Real World

2008-03-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

An article in Wired Magazine shows how the massively multiplayer online game World of Warcraft has morphed into more than just a game. According to Wired, some attributes of the World of Warcraft have begun to "...bear an eerie resemblance to actual terrorism, and analyzing terror tactics in Warcraft could prove more enlightening than current computer simulations used by counterterrorists."

A Very Cool Job

2008-03-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

Some of us have jobs that are interesting, and some have jobs that are exciting, and some even have jobs that are important.But how would you like to have the job of Planetary Protection Officer for NASA. Now this is a cool job. The Discovery Channel has posted the following video that lets us in on the daunting task that is undertaken by our very own Planetary Protection Officer, John D.

A Very Cool Future for Computer Graphics

2008-03-15T17:44:00.000-07:00

Computer graphics in general keep getting better and better. Video games, virtual reality, and interactive graphics are now so good that it is hard to tell the difference between digital creations and the real world.But how have these advances in technology made a difference for the working stiff? Actually, there are probably lots of ways that the quantum leaps in graphic quality have entered

You Think You Have a Tough Job

2008-03-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

In late February Wired Magazine published an article on their web site about a group of people who rescue ships that are in trouble. In this case, the crew of the Cougar Ace, a car transport carrying 4,703 Mazdas bound for the USA, managed to pump all of the ballast water out of one side of the ships balance system. The result was 55,000 tons of steel laying at a 60 degree angle in the north

Its a Fractal Life...

2007-04-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

I came across this interesting gallery of fractal images today. I haven't played with fractals since the early 1990s, but have always found the images to be interesting, and at times amazing.According to Wikipedia,"...a fractal is "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be subdivided in parts, each of which is (at least approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole". The term was coined

A Ring World?

2007-04-08T17:53:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have read Arthur C. Clark's book, Rendezvous with Rama, or Larry Niven's Ringworld series, this picture may capture some of what the characters in thouse books might have seen.I decided to post this just because I like the picture.If you haven't read these books, I strongly recommend both Rendezvous With Rama and the Ringworld books. Both books turned into a series of

WIND SHAPED PAVILION

2007-04-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

I don't think this place really exists yet, but if the artist that came up with this design is successful there will be one very cool wind sculpture somewhere in the world.Follow this link to see the web page and proposed wind shaped pavilion.

A Question of Time

2007-03-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why we measure time in blocks of 60 seconds, 60 minutes, or 24 hours?Well, wonder no longer. This article from ScientificAmerican.com gives you the answer. You will find that the answer goes back to sundials, lunar cycles, and joints in the fingers, and a few other things that may seem like lost arts to the advanced civilizations of today.If you have a minute, take a

Where's the Boom?

2007-02-22T22:52:00.000-08:00

Popular Science Magazine is reporting that a new airplane, dubbed the QSST (Quiet Supersonic Transport) will be able to fly at speeds between 1.056 and 1,188 miles per hour (1,699 and 1,911 kph), or about mach 1.6 without the usual problem of a sonic boom. The article says:If you’re ever lucky enough to fly a Quiet Supersonic Transport between New York and Los Angeles, you’ll have just enough

Can't Leave Your Second Life at Home?

2007-02-19T13:26:00.001-08:00

I don't know whether this is cool or scary.If you haven't heard about Second Life, it is time you caught up with the rest of the online community. Second Life is an online digital community that allows you to live a life (a second life) complete with jobs, homes, spouses, money, and all of the other challenges of real life. Except, in Second Life, you have a chance to make life work out the way

Bionic Vision

2007-02-17T15:37:00.000-08:00

Star Trek made us comfortable with the idea of communicators the size of a deck of cards, weapons that used energy beams to stun enemies, and bionic vision provided by a device worn like a pare of glasses. The interesting thing is that we didn't have to wait for the 23rd century to roll around for these science fiction-based devices to become common.Today we have cell phones by the millions (

Plasma Powered Waste Disposal

2007-02-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

Joseph Longo, CEO and President of Startech Environmental Corporation, has developed an amazing machine. According to an article in Popular Science Magazine, Mr. Longo's machine will convert solid waste of almost any kind into a recyclable obsidian-like material and a gas (called syngas).Not only does it destroy most waste, including hazardous materials, it also creates enough energy to keep the

Researcher With Too Much Free Time

2007-02-15T19:47:00.000-08:00

This little article proves that some researchers have too much free time.For all of you who have been dying to know the physics of ribbon curling, here is your chance to get the inside scoop. This article from Scientific American Magazine has the following to say about those fancy gift wrap ribbons:...if you want to curl ribbons using a pair of scissors, researchers say the secret is to be firm

Frozen Light

2007-02-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."Arthur C. Clark(Article provided by reader: Shutte)According to this article from the New York Times, Harvard scientists have figured out how to freeze light in its tracks. And, just to make things more interesting, they have been able to make the light pulse reappear somewhere other than where it was first frozen.Here is an

GapMinder World - For the Ultimate Data Geek

2007-01-28T15:39:00.000-08:00

For all of you who love data... Here is the ultimate toy.If you have ever wanted to compare the number of Internet users in a country to life expectancy, a country's economy to its production of greenhouse gases, or the number of women in the workforce to a country's birth rate, this little Google tool is for you.It looks like this tool is still in "test mode". And, if you go to Google Tools you

Small Memory

2007-01-25T20:54:00.000-08:00

If you were thinking that Moore's Law was dead, think again! This article from the New York Times (contributed by my alert friend, Schutte) describes how a couple of scientists from CalTech and UCLA have developed a memory chip that stores about 160,000 bits of information in a space the size of a white blood cell.NEW YORK TIMESScientists Build Memory Chip as Small as Blood Cell By KENNETH

Fuel Cells - One Step Closer

2007-01-20T10:43:00.000-08:00

Scientific American reports that a researcher at Princeton University has brought fuel cell vehicles one step closer to reality:SCIENCE NEWS January 19, 2007Closed System Opens Way for More Practical Fuel Cell Using the water produced by a fuel cell to regulate the flow of hydrogen, researchers have made it act like an internal combustion engine--the more hydrogen you put in, the more power you

Consider the lowly pond scum... Is it a new source of energy?

2006-12-27T21:00:00.000-08:00

Pond scum might be the last thing that a person would think is cool. However, as this CNet.news.com article by Clifford Carlsen shows, algae may the solution to our biodiesel fuel problems. And, to top it off, algae absorbs many of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. According to the article:New research suggests algae may prove even more important as a source of energy than

Green - Incredible Photos

2006-12-21T21:39:00.000-08:00

A fellow named Marcus Wallinder from Sweden has a web site that he calls "green", where he posts some incredible photos of his "aquascape". Take a look at the photos. Some of these are truly amazing.You will need the latest version of FlashPlayer to view this web site. If you don't have it, you can down load it here ---> Adobe Flash Player Download Center .

"Burn Rubber, Not Gasoline"

2006-12-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

Tesla Motors has a deal for you. Here is an electric vehicle that will go from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds, reach a top speed of 130 MPH, give you 135 miles per gallon (equivalent), go 250 miles on a charge, and cost you about 1 cent per mile to drive.Oh, and by the way, it will cost you about $100,000 to get one. It is pretty cute - but is it $100,000 worth of cute?You decide.

Miracles from the Sea

2006-12-12T21:46:00.000-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me how often we discover new ways to look at the world around us. Here is a story about a killer sea snail that may provide relief to people suffering from chronic pain.The following story and link come from http://www.theage.com.au/Snails offer hope for pain sufferersThe humble but lethal sea snail may hold the key to a better life for thousands

Magnetic Computers

2006-12-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

This is a little complicated, but definitely something that falls under the heading of "cool". Sorry for diving into this esoteric topic. I'll keep this short.In a June 22, 2006 press release, the University of Bath (UK) announced that research being done by Dr. Alain Nogaret, in cooperation with researchers in four UK universities and a university and research center in Belgium and France, could

Some cool trees

2006-12-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

How did they do that?Looks to me like this would take a very long time, and a lot of forethought. Click on the pictures for a better look.I have no idea where these trees are. If anyone knows, post a comment and let everyone know where to find these trees.

Star Trek Rides Again

2006-11-21T19:01:00.000-08:00

For those of you who may be Star Trek fans (and I count myself among you), there is a group that is putting out some pretty impressive work that you should know about.(NOTE - the links on this page have been fixed.)STAR TREK - NEW VOYAGES is a must-see for all you Trekies out there. There are three complete episodes and one vignette on the web site that you can download and watch at your leisure.

Hado - The Power to Thought

2006-11-19T09:12:00.000-08:00

Dr. Masaru Emoto came to my attention several years ago when I saw his work highlighted in the film "What The Bleep Do We Know?". I am not sure that I totally buy the concepts he is promoting, but it is interesting to contemplate the power of thought.For thousands of years humans have believed that the mind held unknown (or perhaps, untold) power. Humans have meditated, prayed, measured brain

Using Nanotechnology to Purify Water

2006-11-11T10:12:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest challenges in dealing with poverty and disease in the world is finding a safe and dependable supply of water for each community. There are many water purification technologies being investigated, some more practical than others, some more effective than others.This article from New Scientist Tech describes a process using nanorust - yes, tiny pieces of rust - and a magnet to

Restoring Vision - May be more than a dream

2006-11-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Millions of people around the world have either lost, or will lose their vision to macular degeneration. Until recently this disease has been untreatable.However, a team of British and American scientists have recently had success in restoring sight to blind mice (I don't know if it was Three Blind Mice) using a cell transplant technique.Here is what the article published on CNet had to say:Blind

Women are Different Than Men

2006-11-08T01:21:00.000-08:00

This falls into what I would generally file under the heading "Duh!"Quoted from the Wired Biotech news (Nov 7, 2006). Check it out:This Just In: Women Different than Men: Prosthetics makers have discovered something new: women's legs are different than men's. The Eagle Tribune, a Massachusetts newspaper, has a story on prosthetic knees designed for females: As scientists learn more about the

Fuel Cell Cars

2006-11-02T21:15:00.000-08:00

Fuel cell technology isn't ready for prime time... at least not yet, but give it a few years. By 2010, which isn't really that far away, you could be looking a viable fuel cell vehicle for your garage.There are a number of web sites that give you the low down on these high tech vehicles. www.fueleconomy.gov has some pretty good information on the basic fuel cell concept. As you might expect,

PotterCast - for Harry Potter Fans

2006-10-31T19:51:00.000-08:00

To all of my friends... For those of you who are Harry Potter fans, I recommend that you check out PotterCast.com and their weekly podcasts. (Note - You don't need an iPod to listen to the podcasts, just click on the link and you are there.)This is by far the best Harry Potter Fan podcast or news site you will find. The staff is knowledgeable, talented, and entertaining. They have brought their

Hubble Space Telescope

2006-10-30T19:16:00.000-08:00

I realize that the Hubble Space Telescope is now about 16 or 17 years old, but it still turns out the coolest photos of the universe available to the human race. Here is one of the recent photos:Cone NebulaResembling a nightmarish beast rearing its head from a crimson sea, this monstrous object is actually a pillar of gas and dust. Called the Cone Nebula because of its conical shape in

"Stuff for Smart Masses"

2006-10-29T12:57:00.000-08:00

I don't want to shill for ThinkGeek.com, but you need to know that if you are looking for fun and unique things for that special person on your list, start here.There products are good, and their service has been great. 'Nuff said.