STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

[MIKA27]

This Company Wants To Test Plastic Roads That Can Be Made In A Factory

Some scientists believe we’re living in a new epoch of history, the Anthropocene, defined by how drastically humans have altered the Earth with mining, roadways and other earthworks. Now, engineers are testing plastic roads that can be installed and removed incredibly quickly.

One recent entrant into this new business is the Dutch construction company, VolkerWessels, is collaborating with the city of Rotterdam to start prototyping plastic-built roads in a “street lab” provided by the city. It’s extremely early days for the project — and we should take it with a massive grain of salt — but it’s still an interesting proposal. The idea is to recycle plastic from oceans into a tough aggregate that could be poured and moulded into pre-fabricated “bricks” and installed on site quickly. As the The Guardian notes, prefab roads would go a long way towards curtailing the massive amount of pollution created by asphalt (“2% of all road transport emissions,” the paper says).

The pieces would be hollow, allowing workers to run infrastructure through them like tunnels and replace these connections without digging up the road entirely. It would “also ideal for poorer soil,” the company explains, adding that “this applies to at least half of the Netherlands,” where cities sit on swampy or sandy land. They’re not unlike lego roads — easy to snap together, remove, and alter. Most importantly, maybe, it collects all of the complex materials and systems that run through our streets into a single, protected layer.

VolkerWessels is actually far from the first company to have this idea, though. An Indian chemistry professor named Rajagopalan Vasudevan, who specialises in figuring out new ways to reuse old plastic, was profiled by Bloomberg recently for developing a way to turn recycled plastic into a polymer that can used to make asphalt instead of traditional bitumen. The roads are stronger, cheaper, and of course, greener. India has used it to build roads for years now.

Of course, those “plastic” streets are still traditional asphalt — a more realistic proposal than VolkerWessels’, which would totally alter the way highways and streets are built from the beginning to the end and has years, even decades, of research and development ahead of it, if it survives.

But it’s also indicative of an interesting shift towards designing infrastructure with an exit strategy; roads and bridges and other pieces of landscape-altering structure that are designed to be removed, as well as installed. No city lasts forever, and neither do roads. And after thousands of years of building them, it seems like engineers are beginning to think about how to make them easier to remove.

[MIKA27]

Archaeologists Baffled By 2000 Tiny Gold Spirals Discovered In Denmark

Finding gold in Boeslunde, Denmark, is no huge surprise — it’s known as an area where Bronze Age gold offering are often uncovered, as curators there are explaining this month. But a recent discovery has surprised and baffled archaeologists: 2000 tiny gold spirals. It’s a “golden enigma“.gold spirals.

Boeslunde is in Zealand, the large island that sits between mainland Denmark and the tip of Sweden. It’s a hotbed for archaeology in Denmark since it has served as a connective hub for thousands of years — netting recent finds as diverse as 1000-year-old viking jewellery to actual fortresses in the past year. Boeslunde, where the spirals were discovered, is “a special sacred place in the Bronze Age where prehistoric people performed their rituals and offered gold to the higher powers,” according to the Danish National Museum’s curator, Flemming Kaul. The constant discovery of new gold around the area has spurred more thorough digs — including one by the National Museum and the local Museum Vestsjælland, which uncovered this new finding.

So, what exactly did they find? Thousands of tightly-wound gold wires, each about 2.5cm long, that together made up more than 200g of solid gold, which seems to have been buried in a wooden box lined with fur which has long since disintegrated. Fascinatingly, no one’s quite sure how these tiny wires were actually used — the museum calls it “a little mystery” in its press release about the find, which dates from around 900 BC.

But researchers do have some guesses, including Kaul, who proposes that they were decorations meant to invoke the power of the sun on the clothing of a priest or king. “The sun was one of the most sacred symbols in the Bronze Age and gold had a special magic,” he writes. “Maybe the priest-king wore a gold ring on his wrist, and gold spirals on his cloak and his hat, where they during ritual sun ceremonies shone like the sun.” Buried as carefully as they were, they could have represented a sacrifice.

Unsurprisingly — after all, who doesn’t love a good mystery involving huge amounts of gold buried for thousands of years for unknown purposes — the discovery has spurred a huge amount of public interest. So much that on Wednesday, the local museum in Skaelskor is holding a viewing event for two hours, along with a talk from a curator who will discuss the find. In the meantime, the search for more spirals — and maybe their purposes — continues in the gold field.

[MIKA27]

Mexico's Most Famous Drug Lord Escaped Prison Through A Crazy Tunnel

Notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman escaped from his high-security cell over the weekend via a 2.4km long tunnel that took some masterful engineering chops.

Calling the escape route “a minor engineering masterpiece”, the Los Angeles Times provides details on the tunnel, which was “equipped with ventilation, lighting, oxygen tanks, scaffolding and a motorcycle contraption for removing the tons of dirt being excavated.”

This was not the kingpin’s first time vanishing through a tunnel — in fact, tunnels are something of a trademark for him. As the head of the Sinaloa Cartel, where he amassed a fortune of more than $US1 billion smuggling cocaine, heroin and marijuana, El Chapo pioneered the construction of elaborate tunnels underneath the US/Mexico border to transport drugs. He also made an escape from Mexican authorities when cornered in 2014 through an complex system of tunnels that connected six different houses. His entrance was hidden under a bathtub.

A 2001 jailbreak saw El Chapo wheeled out of prison in laundry cart, but the latest escape is jaw-dropping in its audacity, impressive engineering, and the amount of complicit corruption that must have been involved.

The hatch was in El Chapo’s shower, a 50cm by 50cm hole with a ladder that descended 10m into the tunnel. The tunnel was 1.7m high and about 80cm wide. It was illuminated, ventilated, and had a motorcycle on a track that El Chapo is thought to have ridden to the outlet, a home under construction more than a mile away.

After he went to the bathroom and did not return, guards discovered El Chapo’s disappearance. More than two dozen employees of the prison have been detained for questioning. In the past, El Chapo has flaunted having a regular supply of people at every level of authority on his payroll.

His daring escapes and evasions of capture have given him a folklore-like status in Mexico, though the infamous Sinaloa Cartel “has been deeply involved in the violence that has claimed tens of thousands of lives here in recent years,” and he is wanted internationally. US authorities, which had sought to extradite him, must be grinding their teeth, and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto’s government has been deeply embarrassed by the escape.

“What a shower!” Edgardo Buscaglia, who studies global security issues for the United Nations, quipped on his Twitter account.

One thing’s for sure: El Chapo loves tunnels, and he’s got some serious underground masterminds on staff. If he’s caught again, maybe give a little thought to the jailhouse bathroom design?

[MIKA27]

Here's A Trailer For The Walking Dead Season 6

It’s been too long between drinks for The Walking Dead, so here’s a the first look at a new season direct from Comic Con. The show’s sixth season is due to start up in the US on 12 October, with Australia (FX) not far behind.

[MIKA27]

Siberian Craters Expedition Finds New Surprises

It’s summer in Siberia and that has scientists thinking about sinkholes … specifically, the huge mysterious craters that were discovered last year and have triggered sharp debates on their causes. A team of researchers recently gave up a weekend of barbecuing yak to make an expedition to some of the largest craters to check on their status … and what they found surprised them.

Water from melting snow filling up the B-1 Siberian crater

Led by Professor Vasily Bogoyavlensky from the Oil and Gas Research Institute, the team went to Yamal (the name means End of the Earth) in northern Russia where the first craters were discovered. They were surprised to find that the largest, known as B-1, is no longer just a hole but is now a swimming hole. The water level is within 10 meters of the edge of the crater, which new measurements show is 60 meters deep – much deeper than they expected. Sure, you would expect to find water in an area where it’s summer and snow is melting, but the researchers were stunned by how fast it filled. Bogoyavlensky says he expects it to be a lake in 10 years.

The professor also found what he believes to be evidence that the crater was the result of an eruption, not due to a collapse, meteors, UFOs, missile testing or giant sandworms. A pingo or dirt-covered mound of ice had formed there in a spot above intersecting faults. As climate change caused the pingo to melt underground, Bogoyavlensky explains what he thinks happened next:

Through the cracks, natural gas got into the melting ice core, filled it and the pingo erupted. It was also heated by a stream of warmth coming from the bowels of the earth through the cracks … It’s a very interesting process, which we have never observed before.

Professor Bogoyavlensky explaining his surprising find about the B-1 Siberian crater

The blowout from the explosion could account for the 30 or so smaller craters surrounding B-1. That sounds like a winner, Professor, except for one thing … your own instruments did not detect any abnormal gas levels at the site! Not only that, crater B-2, just 20 km away, is already a lake and looked nothing like B-1, except for being a hole. Any other ideas?

As with any loyal government worker, Professor Bogoyavlensky said the craters were “quite shocking” but “At the moment we do not see any reason for panic.”

Maybe the professor should pay a visit to Vorkuta, located in Russia’s Komi Republic. While they don’t have any craters, the town had a heavy snowfall on July 5th.

A midsummer yak barbecue called on account of snow? Now THAT’S a reason to panic.

[MIKA27]

MB&F’S MUSIC MACHINE 3 IS INSPIRED BY A STAR WARS TIE FIGHTER

Not all music boxes have to bring to mind spinning ballerinas and gentle versions of Für Elise; some versions can actually be… badass? MB&F’s Music Machine 3 is a limited edition music box that, like many things MB&F, will cost you a pretty penny. But what you get for that penny—actually, 18,400.00 pennies—is a work of art any Star Wars fan would be happy to put on display.

Modeled after a TIE Fighter, the music box plays themes from Star Wars (obviously), The Godfather, Mission Impossible, and more. Tunes are powered by two independent movements in the twin tail sections of the craft, each with their own winding key, and an air regulator which keeps the timing in line. Only 99 will be made, but it’s not like you were going to run out and buy this thing anyway. [Purchase]

[MIKA27]

HANDBLOWN TUMBLERS WITH BUILT IN GLASS ICE CUBES

If you don’t like your whiskies watered down when you’re drinking them, you now have an option other than whisky stones or reusable ice cubes to keep your beverage cold and pure.

The Rocks Cube Glass from glass artist Nate Cotterman is a handblown tumbler that has a solid glass cube fused inside. Thanks to the thermal properties of glass, you get up to twenty minutes of chill without watering down your favorite beverage. Each glass is 3.5″ x 3.5″ x 3.5″ and has a lead time of four weeks due to the handcrafted nature of the glass.

[MIKA27]

LONDON CHURCH CONVERSION

Viewed from the outside, it still looks like a house of worship. Step inside this London Church Conversion, however, and you'll find that while it retains some of its original detail, it is very much a home. Expertly converted, it uses the full-height sanctuary for the main living/eating/cooking area, complete with heated parquet floors and marble details.

There's a single bedroom on this floor and three more on the floors above, all with en suites, while a separate stairway takes you to the mezzanine and reading area that overlooks the living room. Other notable features include a private patio with waterfall, original stained glass windows, and a gym.

[NCPANTHERZFAN]

Here's A Trailer For The Walking Dead Season 6

It’s been too long between drinks for The Walking Dead, so here’s a the first look at a new season direct from Comic Con. The show’s sixth season is due to start up in the US on 12 October, with Australia (FX) not far behind.

Rubbish! They won't let me watch the trailer in the US! I love that show!

[MIKA27]

Meet Pluto: New Horizons Snaps Clearest Image Of Dwarf Planet Yet

This is what New Horizons is looking at right now: Pluto, clearer than ever. This is surreal.

New Horizons is working on its mission to survey Pluto right now. The United States Of America has now studied every planet in our Solar System.

What’s more insane is that NASA actually shared this image on Instagram:

Gorgeous Pluto! The dwarf planet has sent a love note back to Earth via our New Horizons spacecraft, which has traveled more than 9 years and 3+ billion miles. This is the last and most detailed image of Pluto sent to Earth before the moment of closest approach, which was at 7:49 a.m. EDT Tuesday - about 7,750 miles above the surface -- roughly the same distance from New York to Mumbai, India - making it the first-ever space mission to explore a world so far from Earth. This stunning image of the dwarf planet was captured from New Horizons at about 4 p.m. EDT on July 13, about 16 hours before the moment of closest approach. The spacecraft was 476,000 miles (766,000 kilometers) from the surface. Images from closest approach are expected to be released on Wednesday, July 15.

[MIKA27]

Making A Katana The Old Traditional Japanese Way Is So Impressive

I think this is the most impressive video that Man At Arms has ever done, and that’s saying a lot since they have recreated all the coolest weapons from TV shows and movies in real life. But there’s something ridiculous impressive about making a katana (stylised like the one from Kill Bill) the traditional old school Japanese way.

There is so much work in a blade and the result is absolutely stunning. It starts with 500kg of charcoal to make their own metal from ore to using 24 karat gold as a finishing touch.

[MIKA27]

Texas Invaded by French Killer Wasps and Giant Centipedes

If you think Texans are quaking in their cowboy boots over the alleged conspiracy theories surrounding the upcoming Jade Helm operation, wait until they hear about a real invasion by real killers: giant redheaded poisonous centipedes and tiny French killer wasps.

Actually, we already know how they react to the giant redheaded centipedes – they panic. The Texas Wildlife and Parks agency recently posted a picture of a Scolopendra heros and pointed out that they are a little known native species that can already be found in Texas.

The picture and the terror went viral as Texans learned it can reach 8 inches in length and has up to 23 pairs of legs that it uses to hold on to its prey while it bites down and injects a venom than can kill rats and large lizards and make humans extremely sick with muscle tissue damage, kidney failure and heart attacks.

Living up to its “Don’t Mess With Texas” motto, stores in the Lone Star State reported increased sales in extra-large-sized, thick-soled, anti-centipede cowboy boots.

A boot won’t save Texans from the French killer wasps that are the size of a pinhead. Speaking of pinheads, these Arundo wasps are not exactly invading – they’re being brought in from Montpellier, France, by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to kill Carrizo cane, a bamboo-like reed brought from Mediterranean countries (the first REAL invader in this story) that grows wild along the Texas-Mexico border and allows the invader Texas politicians really fear – undocumented immigrants – to hide from border agents. The Arundo wasps are believed to feed exclusively on Carrizo cane and will gorge until it’s gone and then die like good little mercenaries.

So, the Texas governor is bringing in an invasive species to kill an invasive species in order to stop people he believes are invading his state. What could possibly go wrong?

If the stories haven’t been purged from Texas science textbooks yet, the governor could read about what happened when cane toads were brought to Australia or themongoose was brought to Hawaii.

This sounds like a chain reaction that will put the Jade Helm conspiracy theories to shame. Why can’t they get along with nature and Mexico and leave everyone and everything alone? Oh, I forgot … this is Texas.

[MIKA27]

ECOCOVER BY WOODCESSORIES

Woodcessories make premium handcrafted wood products such as this beautiful iPad Mini cover. Crafted from the finest real wood with natural waxes, the solid wood cover protects your iPad Mini (1,2 and 3) beautifully. As with the original cover from Apple the cover features the innovative lamellar form that allows multiple positions for a comfortable use of the iPad. The Sleep/Wake function is of course also on board. The high-quality, comprehensive microfiber coating inside ensures the iPad display is protected at all times from scratches and dust. Available in cherry wood or walnut.

[MIKA27]

THERMO-POT

If the old school Thermos you used to tote to school saw a modern upgrade, it might look something like the Black + Blum Thermo-Pot. Holding up to 17 ounces, this vacuum food flask features a biodegradable cork, polypropylene and silicon top, stainless steel body, and an ergonomic stainless steel spoon that magnetizes onto the side when it's not in use. It promises to keep the contents hot for up to 6 hours and the vacuum even comes with a 10 year guarantee.

[NCPANTHERZFAN]

Mika, where do you get all these cool stories?

[MIKA27]

Mika, where do you get all these cool stories?

Mate, a whole lotta places.

even so... I don't post everything, only stuff I think are worthwhile otherwise I'd have 40K posts by now

[MIKA27]

Video Reveals The Incredible Tunnel That El Chapo Used To Escape Prison

The story of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, head of the Sinaloa Cartel, escaping jail is just insane. A mile long, ventilated and lit tunnel was built right under his shower in his prison cell to allow him to escape. Not only that, there was a little motorbike cart inside the tunnel as well to presumably give him a joy ride to freedom. Here is Gawker’s video showing just what the tunnel looked like.

The security camera footage is also fascinating, we can see the moments that led to El Chapo disappearing. Read more of the crazy story at Gawker.

[MIKA27]

The World's First Figure-8 Ferris Wheel Hangs 130m In The Air

If Las Vegas has taught us anything, it’s that you can’t open a new casino without some kind of gimmick. Be it a fancy exclusive restaurant, an amazing waterworks show, or the world’s first ferris wheel shaped like a figure-8 that also happens to be perched 130m above the city of Cotai in Macau.

The Golden Reel, as Studio City Macau calls it, is smaller than both the London Eye and the High Roller ferris wheel in Vegas, but will provide similarly impressive views of the city below since it’s being installed so high up on the casino resort.

Guests board one of the ferris wheel’s 17 steampunk-themed cars on the resort’s 23rd floor, which can each accommodate up to ten passengers at once. The car’s travel on the inside of the ferris wheel’s outline, and do actually follow a figure-8 pattern during their 15-minute trip, but without the crossover in the middle.

Designed by Liechtenstein-based Intamin Amusement Rides, the Golden Reel is claimed to be the first of its kind in the world, and investors are hoping it will help lure tourists to the $US3.2 billion Studio City resort in Macau. The ferris wheel is currently undergoing rigorous mechanical tests, but the entire facility should be open later this year if you’re already bored of Vegas and are looking for a new weekend escape.

[MIKA27]

America Used To Give Out Weird Participation Awards For Nuclear Tests

Remember when you were a kid and you got a “participation award” for just showing up to your soccer games? Well, the US government had a similar certificate that it’d hand out. As you can imagine, it was for something a bit more serious: Nuclear tests during the Cold War.

That’s right, if you were involved in a nuclear test in the latter half of the 20th century you may have received a colourful slip of paper certifying that you had been there.

Project Gnome (1961)

Above we see a certificate from 1961 for Project Gnome, the first test involving Operation Plowshare, an initiative to use nuclear bombs for peaceful purposes on US soil. And yes, that’s the Seven Dwarfs blowing up what appear to be salt mines. It’s a good thing that Disney’s lawyers never saw this thing.

Diagonal Line (1971)

Diagonal Line was an underground nuclear test conducted on November 24, 1971. Part of Operation Grommet, the test utilised the “Ship of the Desert” to house experiments above ground and measure various effects.

Pile Driver (1963-1966)

Pile Driver was an underground nuclear test conducted on June 2, 1966. Part of Operation Flintlock, the explicit goal of the Pile Driver test was to measure what kind of damage a surface explosion would have on an underground command center. The simulated command and control center was embedded around granite rock.

Mission Cyber (1987)

Mission Cyber was a relatively small underground nuclear test conducted <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B014" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B014" 04.6%22n+116%c2%b009'51.3%22w="" @37.2346,-116.16425,11z="" data="!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en"">in Nevada on December 2, 1987. It was part of a series of 13 tests conducted in 1987 and 1988 that were known collectively as Operation Touchstone.

Operation Roller Coaster (1963)

Operation Roller Coaster was a joint US-UK series of open air tests that were conducted in 1963. The tests were supposed to measure the kind of contamination that would occur in the event of transportation accidents with nuclear material.

Operation Redwing (1956)

Operation Redwing was a series of 17 nuclear tests conducted between May and July of 1956. Staged in the Marshall Islands, including the Bikini and Eniwetak atolls, the tests included the first air-delivered hydrogen bomb.

Muenster (1976)

Muenster was part of 21 nuclear tests conducted in 1975 and 1976 in Nevada. Like so many of these certificates, there’s a lot of imagery that means absolutely nothing to me, but probably means a whole lot to the people who were involved in the tests. An octopus wearing a bandage with a TV camera, a hacksaw, and a flashlight? I have no idea what that means. But it’s probably a fantastic in-joke to the people who were there!

Mint Leaf (1970)

The Mint Leaf test was one of 53 nuclear tests conducted during 1969 and 1970 as part of Operation Mandrel. Photos of teams waiting to re-enter the testing area for Mint Leaf can be found at the Nuclear Testing Archive in Las Vegas.

Misty Echo (1988)

Misty Echo was one of 11 nuclear tests conducted in 1988 and 1989 collectively known as Operation Cornerstone. The tests involved measuring tunnel damage during seismic activity. Again, there’s lots going on in this illustration. But you’d likely have to talk with the illustrators of all these images to get the full story.

[MIKA27]

Stand Out In The Corporate World With This Geeky Tetris Watch

Following up on its Pac-Man and Space Invaders watches, Romain Jerome has just revealed a stylish new timepiece that manages to incorporate Tetris elements without looking like something you got for free with a video game pre-order.

But with just 84 pieces being produced, the Tetris-DNA watch is simply not something you’re going to find for sale in your local Electronics Boutique. If you’re trading in used games to help you afford new titles, you probably don’t have $US19,000 lying around to buy a watch.

For those with plenty of disposable income, though, and a soft spot for the video games they grew up playing, Romain Jerome’s Tetris-DNA is a chance to stand out in a stuffy corporate world dominated by Rolexes and Tag Heuers. The watch’s dial is covered with a random pattern of colourful anodised aluminium Tetrominos, and surrounded with a brick pattern featuring the laser-engraved Tetris logo. Plus, the case is also made of black titanium, the same material they use in fighter planes.

[MIKA27]

Scary New Fish Species Discovered in Underwater Volcanoes

Where there’s volcanoes, there’s usually lava and ash… unless the volcanoes are underwater. Scientists who recently discovered four extinct volcanoes off the coast of Sydney also found something else … the waters in and around them were filled with bizarre nightmarish sea creatures that had never been seen before. Underwater aliens?

Both the volcanoes and the scary new fish came a surprise to the scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) who were looking for lobster larvae while using satellite images and new sonar equipment on their new boat, the Investigator. They found the 50-million-year-old extinct volcanoes 155 miles (250 kilometers) off the coast of Sydney in June 2015. The largest of the calderas or craters is a mile (1.6 km) across and its rim is 0.4 miles (700 meters) high. The chain of four volcanoes stretches over 12 miles and will help scientists better understand how Australia and New Zealand separated at about the same time these volcanoes formed.

A 3-D image of the four underwater volcanoes.

The bizarre fish were the second surprise bonus of the expedition. They were living with the lobster larvae, which the researchers were surprised to find in such large numbers so far from where they were hatched.

Scale-less blackfish

This tiny little monster is a scale-less blackfish. Its fangs deliver a mean bite and its tail can sting prey.

Idiacanthidae

The idiacanthidae is an eel-like fish that appears to be a tiny member of the black dragonfish family.

Chauliodontidae

The possible horror movie star of this fish school is the chauliodontidae (shown here again to make sure you have nightmares), a viper fish with long fangs and a face only a mother or a really hungry larger fish could love.

Whether these fish are new species or just new to the Sydney coastal waters, their discovery, along with the four underwater volcanoes, shows just how little we know about the watery depths of our planet.

[MIKA27]

IF PRICE IS NO OBJECT: THE 11 BEST SCOTCHES TO DRINK

There’s an old saying along the lines of that there’s a world of difference between a $20 scotch and a $50 scotch, but not all that much between a $50 scotch and a $200 scotch. Okay, perhaps that’s true for most people. But what if you’re one of those people who has been lucky enough to be: a) gifted with an elevated palate, and had enough $50 scotch that you’re looking for something much better? In that case, you’re going to want to go upmarket. Of course, how far up you go depends on what you can afford. But if you’re ready to spend big bucks for your love of fine whiskey, these are some great ones you have to try. Whether you prefer single malts or blends, I’ve got you covered with this list of the world’s 11 best scotches.

THAT BOUTIQUE-Y WHISKY COMPANY BLENDED WHISKY #1 – BATCH 1

Surprised to see a blend up here? Don’t be. If you know your whisky, you know that some blends can reach some dizzying heights of quality. And none is better than this. Just 148 bottles were made, so if you can get your hands on one, do it, and don’t look back. As is usual with the Boutique-y crew, the label and name might be modern, even postmodern, but the whiskey itself is hardcore traditional. Open it, and you will be treated to an oak, tobacco and fine leather nose that puts you in mind of P.G. Wodehouse’s Drones Club. The taste is of heavy, but not hot, spice, dark fruits and a hint of nuttiness and a delayed but welcome alcohol snap. Is it smooth? Unbelievably so. And it ends with a spicy, smoky finish that brings out the best of the nose and the drink. There is no better whiskey for unsettling a snob. It’s a blend with a goofy name and a cartoonish label — but it’s also just about the best traditional whiskey that can be had for any price.

HANKEY BANNISTER 40 YEAR OLD

While we are on the subject of blends that fight well above their weight, this aged-to-perfection whiskey is hard to come by and won’t come cheap, but must be tasted if you’re lucky enough to find it. While you’d think the nose on something that had been in barrels that long would be all wood and smoke, this one surprises with dark chocolate and red wine as the primary tones, with a raisin or currant hint on top of it. Creamy to the point of buttery, there’s no overwhelming flavor, but instead a ride through tangerine, dark chocolate, nutmeg and red wine without a bit of harshness and still very little oak. And the finish, oh the finish, is more chocolate deeply complemented by hazel nut. And it lasts and lasts. Don’t waste this on anybody who won’t appreciate it. Instead, save it for the most perfect moments with someone whose taste you respect.

LONGROW RED 11 YEAR OLD – FRESH PORT CASK

There’s an old Scottish song called Campbeltown Loch, I Wish You Were Whisky. That’s the kind of hold Campbeltown whiskeys have on their fans. Although the region has seen some hard times of late, it’s still producing its distinct, even idiosyncratic whiskies, and the best are generally from Longrow. My favorite of the Red series, this one was aged in port casks, which give it a distinct red color. And while it does open with red fruits in the nose, it is winningly accompanied by rich peat and a touch of tobacco. The flavors are also peat-strong (if not dominated), with several red and purple fruits chiming in before giving way to port. The finish is like one of those old records that fades rather than ends with a flourish, with the fruit and peat gradually diminishing, just in time for another drink. While many of the whiskies at the top of the food chain can be heavy and traditional, this one is light and fruity by comparison. And, just as there are times and places for many types of wine, this is a whiskey that can enliven something like an afternoon picnic in a way that a big old traditional scotch never could. Share this with the open-minded on a light-hearted occasion.

GLENMORANGIE 18 YEAR OLD

When you’re spending big bucks for whiskey, there are two things that you really need to get — smoothness and a complex taste. And with this whiskey, you get the top of the line with both. It spent the first 15 years of its life in charred oak bourbon casks only to spend another three in Oloroso sherry casks. It might sound like an odd, plan, but it work and it gave this whiskey the advantages of both styles. On opening, you’ll be seduced first by honey and then by a series of exotic spices and blackcurrant. The drink itself is so smooth — I actually wish there was a stronger word for smooth — that it almost defies the concept of whiskey. That’s the bourbon barrels coming through. The honey and spice continue, but are augmented by citrus, lychee and several other fruits along with toffee. And the end is big oak, dry sherry, a touch of black pepper and more citrus. It’s quite an experience. But while this is near the top of the Scottish art of whiskey, it’s not a definitive Scottish whiskey. There’s not a lot of smoke — if your favorite whiskeys are from Islay, you might not truly “get” this one — and the heat of alcohol is deftly smoothed. Try this one at a quiet evening at home with your significant other and/or a good book.

GLENGLASSAUGH 30 YEAR OLD

This is a distillery that went from indie to corporate and back to indie, and was praised by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond for its strong business model. And I’ll be quick to praise it too — but for different reasons, as they make gorgeous whiskeys. To appreciate it, you have to like sherry, as it is present in the nose, drink and finish, but never overwhelmingly so. The opening notes mix that sherry with oak, autumn spices and a touch of toffee. On the tongue, it’s joined by cinnamon, coffee and dark chocolate just enough spice to keep it jumping. And it finishes strong with more chocolate and a touch of citrus zest. This is one whiskey that stands up to just about any situation, and can be enjoyed with just about anything. But don’t serve it anywhere near lesser whiskeys, as it will put them to shame.

ANCNOC CUTTER

If you speak Gaelic, the name of this whiskey will give you a pretty good idea of what’s inside. An anCnoc is a traditional peat harvesting tool, and this whiskey is as peat-rich as any you will ever taste. But don’t worry about it being overwhelming, or one-note. It’s aged in ex-bourbon barrels, which imparts smoothness and maturity. But one whiff of the nose will tell you that peat smoke is large and in charge, though dampened with welcoming tones of toffee and vanilla. As with many complex scotches, the flavors come in waves. This one features barley, apple cider and vanilla all surfing in on a sea of peat smoke. The finish is long, and — guess what? — smoky. Try this one with someone who’ll appreciate the traditional Scottishness of it all. But be careful not to serve it during any showings of Braveheart (you don’t want to go full-Scotsman).

LEDAIG 42 YEAR OLD DÙSGADH

If you’re impressed by aged whiskeys, this one is for you. Dùsgadh, which means awakening in Gaelic, was bottled in 1972, released in 2014, and comes with a certificate made from the copper of the stills it was made in that promises its bearer a bottle from the 2014 batch that will be ready in 2024. That’s all very cool, but what about the whiskey? As someone who is already smitten with the complexity of Ledaig’s 10 year olds, I’m struggling to describe its elder statesman. The nose introduces itself with honey and a variety of nuts, before bringing toffee, apple and, somehow after all those years in a cask, smoke. And that’s nothing compared to when it gets in your mouth. Then honey gives way to dark chocolate, black cherry and even pear, all while being rich but subtle. It says good-bye with blackcurrants, mandarin and oak, and begs, no insists, to be sampled again. Of course, every subsequent drink will bring even more flavors. This is a whiskey to be treasured, but not hoarded because it’s as much a crowd pleaser as it is a sipper.

BUNNAHABHAIN 25 YEAR OLD

Bunnahabhain is an Islay favorite, but many whiskey connoisseurs have criticized the distillery for getting a bit too fancy, even cute, with its process. For them, the 25 Year Old will be a revelation. A pure whiskey made in traditional ways, the result is still a richly textured and thoroughly delightful drink. The Oloroso sherry casks are immediately evident in the nose, as is vanilla and a hearty does of old leather. That’s just a prelude to a surprisingly deep set of flavors, including (but not limited to) cinnamon, whipped cream, brown sugar, nutmeg and even grilled chestnuts. It’s followed by a lingering and satisfying finish of spice and toffee with enough smoke to remind you where it came from. This is an expert’s whiskey, one that reminds me less of traditional Islay smoke and more of the best Japan has to offer. Definitely a mature whiskey, and although by no means harsh, it’s not one for the uncultured palate.

ARDBEG SUPERNOVA

Do you like peat, I mean, really love peat? You’re not alone. When Ardberg, which is already known as just about the peatiest distiller there is, brought out the Supernova with four times the peat of any of their other whiskeys, buyers snapped it up and begged for more. So it’s back. So at the risk of belaboring the point, I’m only going to mention the other qualities of the whiskey and you can just assume that it’s all performed under a cloud of peat smoke. The nose is super complex; I get a fine curry, heavy with cumin and fenugreek, tobacco, followed by apple, a little vanilla and just a hint of barley. That’s followed by chili peppers, dark chocolate, coffee and a surprisingly satisfying tone of tequila with lime. All of that is chased by a long-lasting finish with a spicy tingle and the flavor of buttered popcorn. And did I mention peat? Because there might be some peat.

BENRIACH 16 YEAR OLD

You can spend a truckload of money for BenRiach’s 35 Year Old, or you can buy the 16 Year Old, save the cash and, in my opinion, enjoy a far superior whiskey. Living up to Speyside’s reputation for making lighter, sweeter whiskeys, this one is an excellent example of the tradition. The nose is all honeyed fruit, but without the insipid sugary overtones some cheaper Speysiders bring. Once on the tongue, the parade begins with barley and honey, a distinct grassiness, followed by a whiff of peat smoke and butter. The peat comes back again in the finish, along with toffee and brown sugar. This is an excellent counterpoint to many of the heavier whiskeys on this list. It can be enjoyed anytime, and can even take a few drops of water without any decrease in quality.

GLEN MORAY 25 YEAR OLD PORTWOOD FINISH

Glen Moray has the distinction of being the only major scotch that malts its own barely in house. While that might or might not make for superior whiskey, Glen Moray certainly does make some great ones. My favorite is the Portwood because while it retains the wonderful qualities of other Speysiders, it also has a deep red, instead of hay, color and the addition of port-based richness its lighter stable mates lack. It starts with a surprisingly strong, but far from intrusive, nose that imparts caramel, mixed nuts and strong honey. And, true to its color and in contrast to many other Speysiders, it’s thick and creamy with dark chocolate and spice to go with the sweeter flavors underneath. The finish is similarly strong, with coffee giving way to hard candy and almonds. Try this when you would normally think of bourbon. Not only is it that easy to drink, it’s also refreshingly distinct.

Is there something on this list that's not covered, feel free to comment below.

[MIKA27]

GRADO GH1 BROOKLYN TREE HEADPHONES

Grado's been making headphones in Brooklyn since the early '50s, and the family has run one business or another out of the same building since 1918. These Grado GH1 Brooklyn Tree Headphones honor that tradition by sourcing some of their materials from the same neighborhood. Built using a maple from Sunset Park that was otherwise destined to become furniture, the GH1 features a wooden body that imparts a dynamic sound with strong bass and crisp highs.

The headphones otherwise feature Grado's classic styling, and arrive with a signed letter from third-generation headphone maker Jonathan.

[MIKA27]

JOHNNIE WALKER MOUSTACHE WAX

No, it's not made with the popular brand of Scotch whisky. Instead, Johnnie Walker Moustache Wax is made to complement it. As anyone with serious facial hair can attest, sometimes the flavors of other foods and drinks can get left behind in your growth, altering the flavor of whatever you're enjoying later. This wax uses this to its advantage, allowing you to groom your upper lip rug while adding the essence of pepper, citrus, or ginger to your next drink.

[MIKA27]

Central European Forests Are Regrowing After The Breakup Of The USSR

The collapse of the Soviet Union didn’t just affect humans — forests across Europe and Asia were impacted too. Some 533 million acres of forest in Eastern Europe have regrown since 1985, largely due to the disintegration of timber industries and abandonment of agricultural lands in countries such as Hungary, Croatia, and Bulgaria.

Drawing on 52,539 images collected by Landsat satellites between 1985 and 2012, a team of scientists has just published a series of maps showing how Eastern Europe’s forests have been changing over the past 27 years. Bottom line: They have been coming back, with the exception of a small number of countries where the logging industry has actually picked up.

Across the entire study area, forest cover grew by nearly 5 per cent, although we can see from the chart above that several smaller countries experienced much, much more regrowth. Zooming in on specific regions, it becomes clear just how much these changes fall along country lines. Take, for instance, the Latvia-Russia border, pictured on the zoomed-in map below:

In Russia, a lot of the regrowth has been taking place in massive collective farms that went bust after the Soviet Union fell. And as this regrowth goes on, scientists expect that Russia will continue to be a major carbon sink into the future, according to NASA:

Overall, about 34 per cent of all cropland in Russia was abandoned after 1991. So far, only about 14 per cent of that abandoned farmland has been converted back to forest, suggesting that forest re-growth could represent a significant “carbon sink” for Russia in the future.

How significant are we talking? Well, a study published in 2013 in Global Change Biology found that abandoned farmlands in the parts of the former USSR that are now Russia have been soaking up 42.6 million tonnes of carbon every year since 1990 — or roughly 10 per cent of Russia’s CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, according to New Scientist.

That may be an environmental win, but it’s come with a major price tag: Enormous social and economic hardship. Reminding us, yet again, just how tricky it is to balance the needs of our changing planet alongside those of its human beings.