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Disney Imagineers Turn Plants Into Interactive Computers

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The technology behind Botanicus Interacticus is pretty astounding. Plus it sounds like a spell from Harry Potter .

Source: youtube.com  /  via: fastcoexist.com

Plants, like all living things, natural harbor electrical properties. Using this as a jumping off point, researchers at Disney's lab in Pittsburgh created an non-invasive contraption to tap into these properties and convert them into computer signals.

Dubbed Botanicus Interacticus, the program allows humans to interact with plants in a whole host of new ways, from detecting touch and grasp location to tracking proximity between human and a plant or estimating the amount/frequency of touch contact. According to head researcher Ivan Poupyrev, "I thought it should be as far away from a man-made object as possible. They expect that. … I thought a plant would be more surprising. It was, as a matter of fact.”

Besides the natural novelty of creating music or scheduling your meetings via your desk plant, Botanicus Interacticus could lead to innovations such as planting a garden of flowers that can sound the alarm in the event of a break-in or a musical garden a la Alice In Wonderland.


The Future Of Earth Put Into Perspective

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To paraphrase Stephen Hawking, “We have to get off this rock, or we will die.” We've got approximately 3.5 billion years left so let's speed this along.

Via: imgur.com

"Robot Chicken" Teams Up With DC Comics

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You'll never look at the Justice League the same way again. Some stories can only be told through crass stop motion animation.

Source: youtube.com

Lightning Over The Caspian Sea And Other Links

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Emotional Gorilla Sibling Reunion

If You Watch "Black Swan" Backwards Tops The Morning Links

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Gaming Companies As Real Life Friends

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An exercise in anthropomorphic personification. Because in the age of the Internet, no one has real friends anymore.


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Mind-Bogglingly Detailed Candyland Art

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What do you mean I can't eat it?

Nicole Andrijevic and Tanya Schultz are the duo behind these towering sugary confections. Known as Pip & Pop, their works have been featured in Japan and their homeland of Australia since 2007.

Combining colored sugar and candy with modeling clay, glitter and other assorted craft supplies creates a highly detailed delectable yet poisonous fantasy world.

You can see Pip & Pop's entire collection on their website or pick up their table book, I Love That You Love What I Love.


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Desert Mansion With Backyard Waterpark For Sale And Other Links

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Robin Williams To Sell Picturesque Vineyard Tops The Morning Links

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The Cast Of Archie Cosplaying As The Cast Of "Star Trek" [Exclusive]

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To boldly go where no comic has gone before. Is anyone else bemused by the concept of Jughead as Spock?

Archie Comics sent us an exclusive look at the variant cover for the new cross-over with the one and only George Takei.

Ever since the introduction of Kevin Keller as an openly gay character in 2010, Archie has consistently done social commentary with a light-hearted twist. From their landmark interracial gay marriage to a battle of the bands with KISS to gender-bending the entire cast for Archina, they've breathed modern life into the 71-year-old world of Riverdale.

When the gang gets a school assignment to write about a person who has inspired them, Kevin chooses George Takei, the legendary Star Trek actor who came out several years ago.

When Kevin hears that he's at a local convention, he recruits Jughead to go with him, unaware that Mr. Takei, moved by Kevin's article, has made a trip to Riverdale to pay him a visit. Kevin rushes to meet up with his idol, but will he make it in time?

Beam yourself aboard on 12/5.

Doctor Who Dresses Up As Doctor Who

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Doctorception? Poor Rory, he's stuck holding all the costume changes.

Source: bleedingcool.com

The guys over at Bleeding Cool got an exclusive look at the new issue of the Doctor Who comic. How many iconic costumes and props can you spot from previous incarnations?

COPS: Skyrim Edition

Life Philosophies Of Famous Authors

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How do you condense your world view into a single sentence? With aplomb if you're any of these world-renowned authors.

Over on Etsy, illustrator Evan Robertson has taken his love of literature and simple yet engaging art and turned it into a group of posters featuring the words of famous authors.

My Modern Met has an even wider sampling of Robertson's images as well as snippets from in interview or just check his shop for the entire collection.


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What Happened To Baby Toby From "Labyrinth" And Other Links

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Biologists Discover Real Life Jawas In South America

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Turns out they're cockroaches. Utinni!

Source: blogs.discovermagazine.com  /  via: io9.com

Discover Magazine broke the story about a new species of cockroach in South America that has bioluminescent properties. The roach, known as the Lucihormetica luckae, is covered in bacterial microbes that glow under fluorescent light (above, right) on the same wavelength as a local beetle that happens to be toxic. Biologists believe it to be a mimicking device meant to stave off predators.

As a serendipitous side note, they look like Jawas. Uncanny.

Via: jonathanrosenbaum.com

Unstable, Collapsing Roads In China Roads Tops The Morning Links

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The most recent collapse comes only ten months after construction finished. Plus, find out what k-pop hit Gangnam Style is about and how Prince Harry's scandal is affecting the British media.

Locals watch as policemen patrol near overturned trucks and a collapsed bridge in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, August 24, 2012. The ramp of a multimillion-dollar bridge in northeast China collapsed early Friday morning, sending four trucks falling 30 meters to the ground, killing three people and injuring five, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Image by CHINA DAILY / Reuters

South Korean pop star PSY has "Gangnam Style" danced his way into America's heart, the the song isn't just a fluff dance number. - [TheAtlantic]

Katie Holmes continues her precise ninja-like revamp of herself with a surprise theater performance in Massachusetts. - [USMagazine]

Sure conservatives think homosexuals will ruin traditional American values, but what about all those married couples having "gay" sex? - [HuffingtonPost]

How Prince Harry's nude photos raise serious issues for Britain's media. - [TIME]

Ever wondered how many Anagrams Tom Riddle went through before settling on Voldemort? - [Dorkly]

Micro apartments have always been a zen exercise, but this 8 foot cubicle takes it to new heights. - [Treehugger]

Being a porn star isn't all fun and games. Stormy Daniels talks balancing work and parenting. - [TheDailyBeast]

One could argue hubris and pride led to Lance Armstrong's downfall, not doping. - [BleacherReport]

January Jones' new boyfriend proves she definitely has a type. - [TheSuperficial]

Headline Story: Think that bridge collapse is bad? It's only the latest in a long line of deadly accidents caused by lax Chinese construction laws. - [DailyMail]

Young Hippo Dies During Attempted Rescue

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R.I.P. Solly. What should've been a feel good story about saving a hippo ended in tragedy.

The young South African hippo in the water at the Monate Conservation Lodge near Modimolle, South Africa, Thursday, Aug. 23. 2012.

A hippo splashes around to keep cool as he is trapped in a swimming pool Friday Aug. 24, 2012, at the Monate Conservation Lodge, near Modimolle, South Africa.

Image by Denis Farrell / AP

The young male hippo, named Solly by rescuers, was forced out of his herd by dominant males. Reports vary as to whether the four year old was chased into the pool by larger males or went in of his own accord to cool off after the skirmish. However it happened, Solly became trapped in the South African lodge's deep pool when he realized it had no steps out.

For three days Solly remained at the bottom of the pool, fed and monitored by the game warden who discovered him while they waited with the rescue team for the veterinarian to arrive.

On August 24, 2012 the pool was drained so the hippo could be sedated without drowning in the remaining water. A crane was brought in to lift the soon-to-be unconscious Solly to freedom. Unfortunately, even with every precaution including pouring water on him to him cool and hydrated while they waited for the vet to arrive and start the tranquilizing process, Solly succumbed to his ordeal and passed away.

The team was understandably distraught, some breaking down in tears at the unfairness of it. When the vet finally arrived four hours late he deflected blame to the media for trying to rush the rescue. He added hippos are extremely sensitive to stress and he doubted he'd have been able to save Solly even if he'd been on time.

Hat Tip AP News

A hippo seen in a swimming pool Friday Aug. 24, 2012, at the Monate Conservation Lodge, near Modimolle, South Africa, after being trapped there for three days.

Image by Denis Farrell / AP


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Bill Nye Takes On Creationists For The Children

32 Fierce Looks From India's Fashion Week

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Shut up and take my money. India's fashion designers brought a wide range of styles with the common theme of combining patterns and textures.

A model showcases a creation during the Next Generation fashion show on the first day of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) winter/festive 2012 in Mumbai on August 3, 2012. The LFW, held twice annually, features creations by over 85 designers and will culminate on August 7.

Image by PUNIT PARANJPE / Getty Images

A model displays a creation by Nupur Arora at the Bangalore Fashion Week in Bangalore, India, Friday, July 27, 2012.

Image by Aijaz Rahi / AP

A model displays a creation by Shivani and Joy at the Bangalore Fashion Week in Bangalore, India, Friday, July 27, 2012.

Image by Aijaz Rahi / AP

A model showcases a creation by designer Pagal Singhal on the first day of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2012 in Mumbai on August 3, 2012. The LFW, held twice annually, features creations by over 85 designers and will culminate with a grand finale on August 7.

Image by PUNIT PARANJPE / Getty Images


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