A Lichtenburg figure is what occurs when an electrical charge passes through an insulating body leaving a tree-like pattern. These patterns get their name from the German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg who originally discovered and studied them. Lightning bolts are probably the most commonly seen examples of Lichtenburg figures, but there are some really interesting ones to be found wherever large amounts of current are discharged.
On a Wing and a Prayer.
This unique Tennessee duckling, Buttercup, was born with one foot in the grave. His backward foot meant he had trouble walking, swimming and he was constantly in pain. He was adopted by Feathered Angels in Arlington Tennesse who noted that he risked falling fowl of serious infection due to the constant cuts on his troubled foot.
Chladni patterns are really awesome. (GIF series.)
This phenomenon occurs when sound waves of particular frequencies are played through a metal plate causing it to vibrate. If you place salt or a similar grains on the plate, it accumulates in the places of least displacement (nodes). Nodes and anti-nodes occur due to constructive and destructive interference – when coinciding waves either reinforce each other or cancel each other out. The amazing thing is, as you adjust the frequency of the sound wave, the interference patterns change drastically – with some pretty cool results. These patterns take their name from Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni who was was a German physicist and musician. I’m sure you’ll agree that this is nothing short of some handsome science.
Why Nikola Tesla was the Greatest Geek Who Ever lived. (An Oatmeal Comic)
The Oatmeal make some awesome comics and I particularly like this one which features one of the chief scientific badasses of the 19th and 20th centuries – Nikola Tesla. Tesla is probably most famous for popularising alternating current but anyone who has ever played the Command and Conquer strategy games of the nineties probably remembers his name from the series of electrical weaponry named after him! Born in Serbia, Tesla gained experience in telephony and electrical engineering before emigrating to the United States in 1884 to work for Thomas Edison.
It’s a Sick Auld World.
Here’s a sweet piece of art by artist Odra Noel who is actually a trained doctor. She uses her knowledge of tissue structure, mitochondria and cells to produce maps which represent the various cells that suffer under the pandemics associated with these geographical locations.
The Amazing Effect of Deep Brain Stimulation on Parkinson’s Disease.
Andrew was diagnosed with Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease in 2009 when he was 35 years old. He lives with his wife and two children in Auckland, New Zealand. In November 2012 and February 2013 he underwent a surgical procedure, Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, to help control his motor symptoms. This has been hugely beneficial to his quality of life. He is the author of a blog youngandshaky.com which he created to raise awareness of the effects of Parkinson’s Disease.
The Top 5 Irish Companies Putting People in Space.
Last Friday I had a look into the courtyard at Trinity College Dublin to find out why there was a giant, white, geodesic dome there. I regularly guide tours around Dublin in my spare time and the construction of the dome was underway during the previous weekend’s tour. Needless to say, my interest had been peaked.
These grad level opportunities should really interest you.
From time to time we come across a few opportunities at a grad level that we’re not necessarily working on ourselves, but we still feel are exiting enough to tell you about. Why are we doing this? Because we’re nice people, that’s why.
You’re gonna like it here.
A wonderful comic I stumbled upon based on the inspiring words of Phil Plait, otherwise known as the Bad Astronomer. Phil is an American astronomer, skeptic, writer and popular science blogger. Kudos to Zen Pencils for the art.
Beautiful Aerial Photo of Dublin Bay in Summer.
This incredible photo of Dublin was taken by Twitter user Maria Sweeney. Its amazing what a bit of sun can do for this country, I’ll tell you that much. My first thought was ‘where is this tropical wonderland?’ Apparently it’s just what Dublin actually looks like when it’s not one of the 128 days a year that it rains here. That, and when you’re a couple of thousand meters above Howth head. Needless to say, we are in the middle of what can only be described as ‘genuine Summer weather’ here in Ireland’s Capital.