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

[Fuzz]

The WWII-Era Plane Giving the F-35 a Run for Its Money

To quote Captain Church from the movie "Soldier":

"When you want to insert a nail into a piece of wood, don't do anything fancy or glamorous. Just take the damn hammer and hit the sonuvabitch until it's in."

Fancy tech is nice, but sometimes the good old ways work far better.

[MIKA27]

How Low-Tech Farming Innovation Can Make African Farmers Climate-Resilient

Scientists, politicians and the Pope are not the only ones calling for action on climate change these days. Farmers are observing changes in rainfall, temperature and other patterns in weather that have spurred them into shifting their farming methods. In fact, while climate change is not a source of scientific contention, how to farm in the future is a hot topic in the scientific realm.

As a social scientist with a background in soil science, usually working in collaboration with other scientists as part of a transdisciplinary approach, I’ve studied different agricultural methods with small-scale farmers in Africa. Perhaps surprisingly, I’ve found that certain low-cost and low-technology techniques, combined with community-led education, offer the most promise.

Agroecology

Farming, it turns out, produces high levels of greenhouse gas emissions – fertilisers, tilling soil, pesticides and livestock production are responsible for about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, increased global temperatures are expected to have dramatic impacts on our current abilities to produce food. In Africa, some scientists predict crop yields could be reduced by 20% or more unless changes are made.

Some call for “climate smart” agriculture, which sounds a little bit like more and improved. There could be a number of improvements: fertilisers and pesticides, but applied with greater efficiency; cell phones for farmers in poor countries to get up to date weather advice; genetically-modified seeds that are more drought-resistant.

To be sure, the conventional cocktail of fertiliser and herbicides will help some farmers increase food production in the short term — if farmers can afford these inputs.

For many poor farmers, though, such methods would only increase their costs and debt, making it harder for them to compete and leaving them in a more vulnerable situation.

Such was the story of the last Green Revolution from the 1930s to 1960s. The environmental costs of these technical improvements are well known — increased water pollution, reduced biodiversity, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. So not really a “smart” solution at all.

Others call for “agroecological” methods — farming practices that mimic nature by adding organic material to soil, planting trees on cropped fields and using natural enemies to attack insect pests. Largely underfunded, this is nonetheless a growing scientific field.

Studies have also shown that agroecological methods can build resilience in the face of climate change. Hurricane Mitch, one of the five most powerful hurricanes of the century in the Caribbean, caused over 10,000 deaths and over $US6.7 billion in damage in 1998. But it came attached with a small blessing: a chance to see whether farm techniques mattered for recovery. Scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz found that farmers using agroecological methods before the hurricane had more vegetation, lower soil erosion and less economic loss.

Other studies examined the impacts of different farming practices on the response to hurricanes and droughts in Mexico, Tanzania, Sweden and Cuba, all of which found that agroecological methods helped farms withstand damage and recover faster).

Anita in Malawi

The Soils, Food and Healthy Communities project — in which I’ve been a collaborating partner — has been teaching agroecological methods in hundreds of Malawian villages over the last fifteen years and the results have been impressive.

Farmers started planting crops that enhance soil fertility such as peanuts, beans and pigeonpea, which provide a food source as well as other benefits such as a source of cash, livestock feed and even fuelwood. Families had improved child nutrition and food security was enhanced as well as land quality. These methods are now expanding to thousands of farmers through the Malawi Farmer to Farmer Agroecology project.

Anita Chitaya is one such farmer. Two years ago, Anita Chitaya faced a tough decision: help her neighbours survive that summer or ensure her family survived for the next two years. Severe drought had decimated her northern Malawi village’s food supply and many of her neighbours’ crops had failed. Unlike everyone else though, she and her husband had enough harvest to last several years, with a bounty of corn, millet, groundnuts, beans, soya, sweet potatoes and cassava. Why? Because Anita had supplied her soils with a rich source of organic material from crop residue.

She used innovative farming techniques such as growing different soil-enriching legumes and rotating her crops. Her hard work led to improved soil quality, which allowed her to grow a wider diversity of crops, and as a result, minimise risks. It turns out that diversifying crops can play a crucial role in helping rural communities adapt to climate change.

At the same time, there have been many challenges. A wider range of crops means a farmer needs greater access to seeds and knowledge about how to grow and cook these foods. The farming practices can also be more labour-intensive. Burying the leaves and branches after harvest, for example, often requires a shift in post-harvest activities.

In order to ensure that new activities are not just increasing women’s workload, and in turn reducing their time for other important activities such as breastfeeding or child care, we’ve established community-organised educational activities, such as village “crop residue promotion” days. These events have been important for sharing knowledge and encouraging all household members to get involved.

Anita joined at a time when her family had poor soils, low food supply and her children were malnourished. She took up the call for experimentation, trying all sorts of different combinations in her fields, and also became a farmer research leader, teaching other villagers about what she was learning. Thanks to her and other farmer researchers, we now have a far better understanding of what methods for farming can be successful in climate change-ravaged areas.

Indeed, farmer-led experimentation — having them learn on the ground what works in their fields — has been an important part of our success. Farmer-to-farmer teaching is another key ingredient, along with community strategies to address social inequalities such as gender discrimination, that prevent these farming benefits from reaching the most vulnerable groups.

Dependence on local food

However, Anita and her colleagues face an uphill battle. This year the Malawi government has indicated that overall crop yields will be even lower, by almost one-third, due to drought in the north and floods in the south. Recent reports anticipate severe impacts, particularly on the poor in the next few months. In a country in which the majority of people grow at least half of their own food supply, this news suggests that the coming year will be grim for Anita’s village and many more families across the country.

The most recent climate change studies leave no room for doubt that human activities primarily in the Global North release carbon and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to unprecedented shifts in climate: rising temperatures and consequently increased droughts, floods, unpredictability of precipitation and rising sea levels. A recent study found that Africa contributes about two per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions, and that is only based on current emissions, not even taking historical emissions into account.

It is not too late — and certainly not too soon — to take heed of Anita’s example, and to support this innovative, farmer-led approach to adapting to climate change, while working to reduce our own climate impacts on our shared planet.

[MIKA27]

Awesome View Of A Sunset Through The Nose Of An Old B-25 Bomber

What. A. View. The nose of the B-25 bomber offers up such a fantastic view that it’s probably the perfect place to be for a sunset because not only do you get to see the entire world in a clear bubble, you get to see the old rickety steering wheel of a plane used since 1941 and all the gear that comes with it. So cool.

[MIKA27]

A Millennium Falcon Speaker Is The Best Way To Blast John Williams

It’s quite possibly the most recognisable film score of all time, and without a doubt, the best way to enjoy John Williams’ Star Wars soundtrack is on iHome’s new Millennium Falcon-shaped Bluetooth Speaker.

At ten-inches long it’s not only a well-detailed model of the Falcon that would look great perched on the corner of your desk, it also connects to any Bluetooth-equipped audio source letting you wirelessly stream any of the Star Wars soundtracks (or other music, if you must) from up to 30-feet away — or use it as a speakerphone.

Its rechargeable battery is good for about eight hours of playback, even while powering a set of blue LED thrusters on the back of the ship. And for those times when you’re worried about your phone’s wireless transmissions being picked up by a passing Star Destroyer, the speaker also has a 3.5-millimetre jack for connecting it to an audio source with a cable.

[MIKA27]

What Happens To Your Body One Hour After Eating A Big Mac?

When you first bite into a Big Mac, it is absolutely glorious. The two patties sandwiching the chewy bread in the middle with the lovely thousand island sauce mixing in with the pickles and lettuce, the taste is iconic. Add in fries and a sip of Coke in between bites and you have reached Fast Food nirvana. But after you eat a Big Mac? Your body doesn’t always feel so hot.

Here’s an infographic from Fast Food Menu Price detailing what happens just one hour after eating a big mac. In the first 10 minutes, your blood sugar level rises to abnormal levels and you feel good because of the dopamine being released (like when you do drugs!). In the 20 to 30 min range, you start getting bombarded with sugar and sodium which causes you to feel dehydrated. 40 minutes in, and you want more food. 60 minutes in and your body realises oh crap, it’s going to take a while to digest this big boy.

[MIKA27]

Vibration Of Small Particles Could Trigger Aftershocks Of Earthquakes

Earthquakes can create copycat events up to 1,000 kiometers away — and it could be the result of the vibration of small particles, according to new computer simulations of seismic activity in the Earth.

New Scientist reports that a team of researchers from the Second University of Naples in Italy has developed a computer model that analyses the way grains between tectonic plates influence friction forces felt at their boundaries. The team has shown that at certain frequencies, small particles between the plates can becomes ‘lathered’, moving around and decreasing friction, making slip — and an earthquake — more likely, even up to 1,000 kilometers away.

Interestingly, they found that the magnitude of the seismic waves emanating from one earthquake don’t have much effect on the likelihood of inducing another earthquake — it’s just the frequency. “Each fault will have its own acoustic resonance frequency,” Lucilla de Arcangelis, one of the researchers, tells New Scientist. “If a signal arrives at this frequency, the fault that without perturbation would be quiet will trigger an earthquake.” The research is published in Physical Review Letters.

In fact, the researchers claim that the effect could been what triggered aftershocks which occurred after last week’s earthquake in Chile.

[MIKA27]

Twelve South's HiRise Apple Watch Stand Is Out Now In Australia

Got yourself an Apple Watch? How often do you need to charge it? If you’re a heavy user, that might be daily — and that’s when a magnetic charging stand like Twelve South’s HiRise might come in handy. It’s a beautiful little piece of design, too.

The $69 HiRise stand — now out in Australia in silver or black through stores like Myer and MacAddict — is, like a lot of Twelve South’s other gear, a smartly designed piece of metal and plastic — it uses the magnetic capabilities of Apple’s own charging adapter, with some intelligent cable routing and a circular rubber-padded cutout for the adapter to press into from the rear. There’s a hidden cable tray accessible by removing a plastic piece at the base of the HiRise, so the Apple Watch cable remains hidden.

Behind the slightly tilted aluminium display stand, there’s a soft leatherette landing pad, so you’re not going to accidentally scratch either your watch or the stand. You can easily clip a Watch into the HiRise stand — that magnetic charging adapter is the real magic here — whether its wristband is clasped or unclasped. It makes for a particularly attractive display stand, and if it’s on your bedside, a convenient (albeit pricy) alarm clock.

[MIKA27]

Have Some Physics With Your Tea Next Time You're In Malaysia

Travellers to southeast Asia frequently marvel at the showman-like skill with which street vendors prepare a drink known as teh tarik (“pulled tea”). They might not realise those same vendors are intuitive physicists at heart.

Teh tarik is the national beverage of Malaysia, a mixture of black tea and condensed or evaporated milk, whipped into a froth by rapidly pouring (“pulling”) the liquid back and forth between two cups. Sure, you could technically achieve the same effect with a handheld mixer, but where’s the fun in that? As travel writer/photographer Carey Jones wrote for Serious Eats:

It’s all about theatre, of course. Though the pouring may mix and aerate, a one-foot pour is probably as effective as a two-foot. But vendors pride themselves on their tea-pulling skill, the higher the better. It’s awfully fun to watch as they whip the tea back and forth in just seconds, long trails of liquid streaming through the air, flying between vessels.

It’s also all about the physics — and not just the physics of that foamy top. These street vendors have mastered a delicate balance between dueling forces: gravity, which is pulling the tea out of the mug, and a centrifugal effect produced as the vendor spins, pushing the tea to the bottom of the mug. (The tea itself has inertia.)

The folks at The Science Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science are eager tell you more about the underlying physics behind preparing this quintessential Malaysian beverage:

[MIKA27]

US Marines Are Sending This Robotic Dog Into Simulated Combat

The battlefield can be one of the most useful places for robots. And now, the US Marines are testing outSpot, a robo dog built by Boston Dynamics to see how helpful the ‘bot could be in combat.

Remember Big Dog, also from Google-owned robotics company Boston Dynamics? Well, Spot is a tinier, more agile iteration: At 160 pounds, it’s hydraulically actuated with a sensor on its noggin that aids in navigation. It’s controlled by a laptop-connected game controller, which a hidden operator can use up to 1,600 feet away. The four-legged all-terrain robo pup was revealed in February. Robots in combat aren’t new, but Spot signals a quieter, leaner alternative that hints at the strides made in this arena.

Last week, the mechanised canine was put through the wringer in a battery of simulated combat scenes, from forests to urban fighting situations. Ars Technica reports that in one scenario, Spot was sent into a building ahead of the humans to scope out any danger, a task that the military might’ve used actual dogs for previously. The tests were conducted by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) alongside Marines from the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab.

Spot highlights the United States’ forte in militaristic robots, but the reveal comes at a time where Asian and European companies are more actively pursuing friendly personal robots designed to live side-by-side humans, like Pepper in Japan. In addition to industrial exoskeletons and combat drones, Spot illustrates how different American robotics might be from other countries on the robotic forefront, like France and Japan. But for infantry, ‘bots like Spot can make a life-saving difference. Not only can they clear rooms and scout for threats, but they can help keep troops safe.

Spot himself isn’t destined for the real-life battlefield, but he’s helping the Warfighting Lab come up with new ways of using robots in combat. According to a press statement on its website, the Marines “have been very receptive to the new technology,” so we’ll see what kind of combat-ready machines they try out next.

MIKA: Cool yet very creepy IMO

[MIKA27]

TRADITIONAL SWEDISH OIL LAMP

The oil lamp was the preferred method of providing light after dark for many millennia and it was only usurped relatively recently by electric light bulbs. The soft, flickering glow of the oil lamp still has a certain character to it that no LED or incandescent bulb has ever been able to match, especially if you’re working in a garage on a harebrained mechanical device late at night.

This lamp is handmade in Sweden by a company that has been building them the same way since 1883, using the same tooling and machinery. The lamp can be fuelled with kerosene or lighter oil and left until needed, at which time you remove the glass cylinder, light the wick, adjust it and re-fit the cylinder. Although it’ll never be as convenient as an electric light, it does offer an excellent back up for power cuts, camping trips and the inevitable zombie apocalypse. [Purchase]

[MIKA27]

Earth Swallows Houses and Cars and Spews Flaming Water

What did people in Peru and China do to make the planet so mad at them? Peru has suffered from ground cracking before and now the earth is opening in more cities to eat homes and churches. The latest sinkholes in China prefer cars while a hole in Shanghai is spouting flaming water. What’s going on?

Cracks getting close to consuming more homes and land in Tarabamba

The mysterious Peruvian cracks started last spring in Socosbamba on the Pacific coast in the central part of the country. As they widened, the cracks consumed hundreds of houses and scores of roads, forcing residents to live in tents and farmers to abandoned their fields. While those continue to spread, a new crevice opened in Tarabamba on September 13th in a different part of the Department of Ancash. This one immediately consumed 24 houses, a church, a school, a bridge, two irrigation canals and 150 acres of crops and is reportedly spreading. The regional government has already delivered close to 2 tons of supplies to the victims.

What’s causing the casa- and crop-consuming cracks? As before, experts are blaming soil creep, a process that occurs when wet clay dries. However, creep doesn’t cause cracks of the quantity and size being created in Peru. Residents fear possible earthquakes or worse.

Meanwhile, China is dealing with rounder holes that prefer cars to houses. A sinkhole in Haikou, the capital of south China’s Hainan Province, opened on September 16th and swallowed a parking lot and its cars. No one was hurt but a number of vehicles had to be lifted out by crane.

Car owners watching their vehicles go down the hole

The cause of this sinkhole isn’t as mysterious as the Peruvian cracks. Heavy rains from Typhoon Vamco weakened a construction site that was under … don’t get ahead of me here … the parking lot. Doesn’t anyone read “No Parking” signs anymore?

Possibly the scariest recent earth phenomenon is in Shanghai where drillers digging a well found water with a little extra kick in it. A cigarette ash (Doesn’t anyone read “No Smoking” signs anymore?) touched the water and it burst into flame. When the fire wouldn’t go out, an expert (apparently not in fracking) said the drillers hit a pocket of natural gas and the flames would go out when the gas ran out. Meanwhile, don’t smoke in the shower.

Whether the causes are mysterious or man-made, cracks, holes and flaming water in the earth are not good signs.

[MIKA27]

WOODEN MACBOOK COVERS BY GLITTY

Personalizing your MacBook has become common practice as everyone of your peers (and fellow Starbucks patrons) is working on an Apple-powered machine. Rather than slapping a sticker on the logo, why not class things up with these wooden MacBook covers?

Designed by the talented team at Glitty, each of these covers is handmade right here in the United States, and was built to stand the test of time (or until you upgrade to Apple’s latest model). Each cover measures in at just 0.3 mm thin, ensuring you aren’t lugging around a bulky laptop to your meetings and mobile work sessions. It’s available in your choice of Walnut and Cherry, with the option to pre-order the Dark Ebony wood grain. The covers sell through the brand’s store for $79. [Purchase]

[MIKA27]

Jameson’s Newest Whiskey Is Aged In Stout Barrels

Finally making its way to the shores of the U.S. is an interesting offering from Jameson that should excite Irish whiskey fans and beer fans alike. For Caskmates, Jameson finished the Irish Pot Still Whiskey in casks that once held a stout from Franciscan Well. The result is a familiar Jameson experience with an interesting cocoa and roast coffee finish. And while the whole project could have gone horribly awry, the bittersweet dessert notes are really a nice touch. You should be able to find a bottle of Caskmates in stores now.

[MIKA27]

VILLA ON DUNBAR ROCK

Villa on Dunbar Rock is a diver´s paradise built on a rock, and surrounded by crystal clear water and the beautiful Mesoamerican barrier reef. About 44 miles off the north coast of Honduras, in the Caribbean, lays this unique all-inclusive villa for a perfect dive vacation with no crowds, it features eight suites with breathtaking views, a private white sand beach for lounging, swimming and snorkeling, and an infinity pool; the perfect place to unwind after a day of diving with PADI certified instructors.

[MIKA27]

APPLE WATCH LEATHER STRAP BY NOMAD

Nomad, specialists in minimalist smartphone and smartwatch accessories, have just presented this beautiful leather strap that gives your Apple watch a classic vintage feel. The rugged strap is made from ultra durable quality leather, with heavy duty, two tone stitching, and ages beautifully with the years. The hardware (buckle, lugs) is manufactured with premium quality stainless steel, and is available in either space grey or silver to match your beloved Apple Watch.

[MIKA27]

EXO SHELTER

Born from the aftermath of Katrina, the Exo Shelter is meant for use in an emergency but versatile enough to handle everything from festivals to long-term camping.

The sleek design separates into two pieces — a floor and an upper shell, both of which weigh less than 400 lbs each and can be moved by hand — and is stackable, making it easy to transport to the setup location. Inside, there's space enough for four people with beds that fold out of the walls, four wall outlets for charging gadgets, LED lighting, and climate control. Entry is handled via NFC, and the LED display above the door makes sure you don't try wandering into someone else's pod.

[MIKA27]

ALESSI PULCINA ESPRESSO MAKER

It's not app-connected. It's not even electric. Instead, the Alessi Pulcina Espresso Maker relies on the shape of the object itself to do its work. Designer Michele de Lucchi did research, and discovered a way to design the internal heater such that it would automatically stop filtering the coffee at the optimal time, preventing any burnt, bitter flavors from seeing into your drink, and ensuring that the full, rich quality of your grind comes through. Available in three sizes, and in your choice of cast aluminum with black or red accents.

[MIKA27]

GUINNESS NITRO IPA

You might be surprised to hear an IPA is the latest release from St. James's Gate and Guinness, but you shouldn't be. Guinness Nitro IPA shouldn't shock you if you recall that Guinness is already one of the best known beer brands on the planet, and just happened to revolutionize the industry with their plastic nitrogen widgets in the 1980s. Nitro IPA is brewed with Irish Malt in Dublin, using the same yeast strains common through the rest of the family and five hop varieties, none of which are overly bitter but instead provide a smooth and balanced mouthfeel and refreshing taste.

[MIKA27]

The economic collapse gets a Hollywood makeover in The Big Short trailer

The first trailer for Paramount's star-studded drama The Big Short has arrived, with Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell leading the real-life tale of the 2008 global economic collapse. Adapted from the book by Michael Lewis, the film casts the heavyweight quartet as four investment bankers who bet against the banks in the midst of the housing crisis.

In addition to its prestigious headlining ensemble, the film also boasts Melissa Leo, Mariso Tomei and Karen Gillan in its supporting roster. It hails from Anchorman helmer Adam McKay who steps out of his comedy wheelhouse for the first time on the movie, guiding his veritable cast to what could be some Oscar-winning performances.

Shooting on the film wrapped earlier this year and it was expected to land a 2016 release date. Clearly the studio has confidence in the finished product as it's now entered the awards race at the last minute, with a November 12 premiere at the AFI Fest secured along with a limited US release on December 11. The Big Short opens wide on December 23 with a UK release to follow.

[MIKA27]

FELIX LOUNGER

While most beanbags are rightfully intended for children, the Felix Lounger is something that’s a bit more formidable, both in size and in the design department.

It’s a stylish and simple lounger that uses coated canvas as its armor, allowing it to withstand daily abuse. Its design is versatile, allowing it to fit in varying environments. Put the beanbag in your living room, terrace, or bedroom to give any of them an instantly casual aura. Whether you plan to catch up on that book you’ve been trying to finish, work through some emails, or simply grab a quick power nap, this lounger will be there to provide you with comfort. It’s available now for $377. [Purchase]

[MIKA27]

SAMSUNG SERIF TV

Samsung has taken the modern TV design and flipped it on its axis by debuting the Samsung Serif, a reinvention of the conventional TV that blends art and electronics.

The television is often the focal point of someone’s living room, so the company’s intention was to make a new television that didn’t look like an ugly necessity. Mission successful. With the help of French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, the company has successfully designed a television that not only contains impressive visuals on the screen, but also sports a design that owners can be proud to display. While most new TVs aim to go as thin as possible, the Serif has a much thicker base than any other new TV. But, it’s artfully thick; thick with the purpose of having a cool, mid-century inspired design. It will be released in European markets soon, and it could make its way to the States if it’s successful. [Purchase]

[MIKA27]

A Rare Glimpse Inside the Yakuza

Someone bold enough to snap shots of the mafia could easily find himself swimming with the fishes. But for one Belgian photographer, a Yakuza family in Japan actually allowed him access for two years. From the images and stories that emerged, a very different picture gets painted from the one depicted on the big screen. Oh, there’s still the wild tattoos and missing fingers, but there’s also a level of sophistication and respect you might not expect. Here’s a look at Anton Kusters’s work.

[MIKA27]

PEBBLE TIME ROUND SMARTWATCH

Should the current crop of wrist-mounted screens fall short of your sartorial standards, perhaps the Pebble Time Round Smartwatch is what you've been looking for. Helping it to look less like a sci-fi gadget is a 7.5mm, marine-grade stainless steel body that's fashionably thin and available in black, silver, or rose gold, and an always-on color e-paper display that keeps you from wearing a black circle most of the time. It works with Android or iPhone, can suck down 24 hours worth of juice in just 15 minutes, and can also track your activity and sleep — and since its battery lasts for up to two days, you might actually consider wearing it to bed.

[MIKA27]

GLOBE-TROTTER X CHIVAS STEAMER TRUNK

Sometimes it's not enough to travel with just your clothes. Sometimes you need to bring some refreshments along too. The Globe-Trotter x Chivas Steamer Trunk lets you do both in grand style. The interior of the trunk has dedicated compartments for watches and shoes, leather-covered suit hangers, and a mirror-backed mini bar that folds out of the side. The custom lining honors the legacy of both brands, while the American white oak drawer linings and hand-engraved copper plaque reclaimed from a Scotch whisky still make the link to Chivas readily apparent to anyone who cares to look.

[MIKA27]

TRINITY PORTABLE WIND TURBINE POWER STATION

Windmills are a great way to harness green energy. Unfortunately, they typically require a permanent place to sit. The Trinity Portable Wind Turbine Power Stationis different. Designed to fold up and move with you, this family of windmills is usable in breezes of as little as 4 mph, water and weather resistant, have an automatic stop feature, and built-in batteries that let you store the energy you generate. Available in sizes ranging from the highly packable, smartphone-charging 50 to the home-powering 2500.