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

[MIKA27]

Newly Decoded Great White Shark Genome Hints At Why They're So Indestructible

The great white shark is impressively terrifying. But a new study shows that the animal is also an impressive feat of evolution. For the first time, scientists say they’ve fully unspooled the genome of the great white, a discovery that will help us better understand why sharks are so good at warding off cancer and other age-related diseases—information that could someday help people do the same.

The study, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was a collaboration between researchers at many institutions, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center. After decoding the genome of the great white, they compared it to the genomes of a variety of other animals, including humans.

They found that the great white isn’t just gigantic physically (the larger female shark is around 4.57m long and weighs up to 5,000 pounds), but genetically, too: Its genome is about 50 per cent larger than ours. And nestled within it are genes that could explain why they’re so durable and resilient, according to the researchers.

For one, the great white has many genes that help it heal quickly. These genes help shark cells repair damage and speed up the growth of clots and new cells after a wound or injury.

The great white’s genes also seem to protect it from the sort of self-injury that causes cancer. Typically, animals that have longer lifespans (great whites can live over 70 years) or that are particularly big are more likely to develop harmful mutations in their cells over time, thanks to accumulating DNA damage. These mutations raise the risk of cancer and other age-related diseases. But the great white possesses highly active genes known to prevent cells from growing out of control—an attribute known as genetic stability.

That protection seems especially needed for the great white, since its genome is filled with a certain type of DNA known as a transposon, or jumping gene. Transposons are bits of DNA that can jump around the genome. While this DNA shuffle can promote healthy genetic diversity in a species over a long period of time, it can also lead to harmful, cancer-causing mutations in an individual animal. And because the great white shark has an unusually high number of transposons, particularly those called long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs), the researchers believe they may have evolved ways to buffer themselves from this side-effect.

“These LINEs are known to cause genome instability by creating double stranded breaks in DNA,” study author Michael Stanhope, an evolutionary biologist at Cornell, said in a statement “It’s plausible that this proliferation of LINEs in the white shark genome could represent a strong selective agent for the evolution of efficient DNA repair mechanisms, and is reflected in the positive selection and enrichment of so many genome stability genes.”

Sharks, contrary to popular belief, aren’t entirely immune to cancer. But the findings do affirm that they’re exceptionally well-suited at preventing it and other age-related ailments. And by having the great white’s full genetic roadmap available, scientists should be better able to unravel just how exactly its genes protect the great white and other sharks from cancer. That knowledge, it’s hoped, could one day apply to humans as well.

“Genome instability is a very important issue in many serious human diseases; now we find that nature has developed clever strategies to maintain the stability of genomes in these large-bodied, long-lived sharks,” Mahmood Shivji, director of the NSU Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center, said in a statement. “There’s still tons to be learned from these evolutionary marvels, including information that will potentially be useful to fight cancer and age-related diseases, and improve wound healing treatments in humans, as we uncover how these animals do it.”

This research, the authors said, should also help with conservation efforts for the great white, a slowly rebounding but still endangered species.

[MIKA27]

THE INCREDIBLE ART OF JEAN-YVES DELITTE

Jean-Yves Delitte is an artist who started out working for the famous and much beloved Tintin series of comics, he paired with writer Philippe Richelle on the Donnington series of comics in the Tintin universe that started in 1984. Over the next few years Jean-Yves worked with a series of writers to create the graphic novels The Behind the Scenes of Power, The Neptune, The New Tsars, Belem, Black Crow, and The Blood of the Cowards.

A native of Brussels, Delitte originally trained as an architect and a designer, this would remain his day job for many years even as he created countless thousands of individual artworks to illustrate over 50 comics and graphic novels that have been translated into countless languages and sold around the world.

Delittle is now an official painter of the Navy, a full member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of the Sea, the President of the Belgian Naval Painters, and he’s been awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Crown.

This series of works by Delittle depict famous naval scenes, ships, aircraft, and U-boats from history, all illustrated using his trademark style. If you’d like to see more of his work you can view some of his graphic novels here.

↑ OFF THE COAST OF TEXEL, ON JUNE 28, 1694

The long boat La Biche side by side with the 54-gun ship Le Maure under command. Other vessels form the wing to the orders of the captain of the ship, Jean Bart. The ships are: Le Fortuné, Le Comte, the Migon, the Adroit and the Jersey, noted in the States of the Navy “Gerzé”. Following two armed fluyts: the Portefaix and the Bienvenu.

↑ THE FRIGATE HMS ROSE IN THE CARIBBEAN IN THE FACE OF A SLAVE SHIP

The HMS Rose was a frigate of IX (IXpdrs) ranked in the 6th place (sixth-rate) of the Royal Navy. She is the image of the Royal Navy in the 18th century, elegant, powerful, agile, and present on all the seas of the world. Launched in 1756, after having served for more than twenty years, ended his career proudly in sinking itself in front of Savannah in 1779 during the war of Independence of the United States (American Revolutionary War).

↑ THE FRIGATE HERMIONE GOING UP THE CHARENTE IN NOVEMBER 1779

The beautiful frigate XII is entered into history because it led, in the first months in 1780, the Marquis de la Fayette to the Americas. The French nobleman brought to the insurgents the announcement that the Kingdom of France was going to officially support them in the war against the English.

↑ THE ARMOURED FRIGATE GLOIRE IN THE ROADSTEAD OF TOULON IN 1860

Launched in 1859, The Gloire was the first armoured ship in the world. Unfortunately, the ship, still build of wood with a shielding in sheet partially covering its hull (carène), it was quickly outdated. A few months after its launch, the Royal Navy launched the frigate HMS Warrior with a hull of iron.

↑ THE ALCYON FRIGATE IN THE PORT OF DUNKRIK IN 1690

The Alcyon was a frigate ship of 1st French order classified in the 4th rank in the Navy. She was the legendary french privateer Jean Bart’s ship, who later became captain.

↑ THE BATTLE OF TEXEL, ON 29 JUNE 1694

Although less in number and firepower. The French squadron of only 6 ships carrying 288 cannons will attack and defeat the Dutch squadron of 8 ships with 382 cannons. This achievement will enter Jean Bart into history.

↑ THE U-BOATS

With the First World War the ‘unterseeboot’, the U-Boot, had demonstrated their dangerousness. During the Second World War, thanks to several technical developments, the submarines became a relentless war machine, the VII model became a long iron lance. The ASDIC – Anti Submarine Detection Investigation Committee, renamed in 1943 to SONAR – Sound Navigation And Ranging – will quickly demonstrate its effectiveness in the hunt for submersibles.

↑ L’U9 (GBN.U-9)

In the first months of World War 1, the Royal Navy, the first sea world power, is still convinced of his great power and its invulnerability. A frail submarine of the Imperial German navy will then remind the English of the hard reality of war. The U9 SM, with a length of more than 160 ft, and a displacement of 600 tonnes, a speed that does not exceed 15 knots, and armed with only 6 torpedoes will sink in a little more than an hour on 22 September 1914, three armored cruisers: HMS Aboukir, Hogue, and Cressy. Each of the British ships moved more than 12,000 tones.

↑ THE BISMARCK AND THE BATTLE OF THE DENMARK STRAIT, MAY 24,1941

In May 1941, the world had been at war for nearly two years, France had surrendered and the English were then the bulwark against Nazi tyranny. Convinced of his power, the Kriegsmarine is going to challenge the Royal Navy with one of its flagships, the Bismarck. A first confrontation in the cold waters that surround Iceland will also turn to the advantage of the Germans. In May 24, 1941, the majestic battle cruiser HMS Hood was sunk and the battleship HMS Prince of Wales, damaged, was forced to retreat.

↑ THE BISMARCK ATTACKED BY A SQUADRON OF AIRCRAFT TORPEDO FAIREY SWORDFISH, MAY 25, 1941

After the disaster of the battle of the Denmark Strait on May 24th, 1941, the Royal Navy has only one order: “Sink the Bismarck”. In the night of May 25, an obsolete aircraft torpedo Fairey Swordfish took off from the HMS Victorious, in an attempt to intercept the Bismarck. A single torpedo will reach target without causing real damage to the German Battleship.

↑ IN THE TWILIGHT OF MAY 26, 1941, THE SECOND ATTACK ON THE BISMARCK BY AIRCRAFT TORPEDO FAIREY SWORDFISH

The chase between the forces of the Royal Navy and the German battleship continues. At dusk on May 26, 1941, the Bismarck suffered a second attack of Fairey Swordfish torpedo planes. This time, one of the English torpedoes will damage the rudder of the Bismarck. Damage which will be fatal, because deprived of his leadership, the German battleship is doomed to make circles in the water until the Royal Navy finishes it off.

↑ MAY 27, 1941, THE HMS RODNEY PULLS ON THE BISMARCK

Killing the Bismarck will last several hours. A fleet surrounded the German Battleship with as a conductor, the battleships HMS King George V and HMS Rodney. The Bismarck will attempt to resist, but his cannons will be silent, crushed by the shells of the HMS Rodney with its titanic cannons of 16-inch BL MK I. On 27 May 1941 at 10/35 the Bismarck sank.

[MIKA27]

SHORT FILM: ADVENTURE SIDECAR TIPS FROM HELGE PEDERSEN

This 10 minute film is part instructional video and part adventure documentary, it’s hosted by Helge Pedersen who is one of the most experienced adventure motorcycle riders in the world, and he just happens to own a BMW 1200 GS sidecar rig.

Riding a motorcycle with a sidecar is a whole different kettle of fish to riding a regular two-wheeled motorcycle, cornering is completely different, there’s no counter steering as there is with a traditional motorcycle, and there’s a lot more upper body work required, but on the plus side it doesn’t matter if you forget to put the kickstand down.

Helge has been adventure motorcycle touring non-stop since 1982, almost 40 years, and he’s seen more of the planet’s surface from a motorcycle seat than almost anyone else alive. This makes him uniquely qualified to give a wide ranging introduction to adventure sidecar riding, Helge has ridden expensively on both two wheels and three.

In this short film he explains the major differences between two and three wheeled motorcycling, he also gives a great overview of his own custom-built sidecar combination, featuring the man who built it. If you’ve ever been curious about going places on three wheels this film is a must-watch, it’s an informative and fast-paced introduction to the art of sidecar riding, and there aren’t many people on earth more qualified to show you the ropes.

[MIKA27]

New ‘Rocketman’ Featurette Confirms That Yes, That’s Really Taron Egerton Singing

There’s a certain music biopic that came out last year, was a massive hit, and is in the middle of the awards race at the moment, and yet its star is simply lip syncing the songs made famous by the film’s subject. That won’t be the case with the upcoming Elton John biopic Rocketman, in which we’ll get to see the film’s star tackling the songs all by himself.

A new behind-the-scenes featuette for Rocketman zeroes in on this fact, as it allows us to watch and hear Taron Egerton’s rendition of “Tiny Dancer.” And it’s good! Elton John has a pretty singular voice, but what we’ve heard thus far from Rocketman is pretty promising, as Egerton appears to really nail what made John so special. And those who saw Sing already know that Egerton has a terrific voice.

The film has been in the works for a long while, and at one point Tom Hardy was attached to play Elton John. But I think things probably worked out as they should have so that Egerton could come in and really nail the singing ability. He’s also a terrific actor to boot, and I’m excited to see how this film differs from Bohemian Rhapsody. Curiously enough, the director of Rocketman—Dexter Fletcher—was previously attached to Bohemian Rhapsody and fell off the project, only to be asked to come in and finish the movie when the film’s director Bryan Singer was fired during production. So with Rocketman, we get to see Fletcher’s full artistic vision for a music biopic.

Rocketman opens in theaters on May 31st.

[MIKA27]

White Russian Wheat Ale

We love craft beers. We love craft cocktails. It should come as no surprise then that the combination of the two is easily something we could get behind. Enter Saint Louis Crafted Cocktails White Russian Wheat Ale. With an obvious signal to The Dude and his abiding, this malt beverage is unlike the hard lemonades and garbage cocktails you might already find in bottles. It’s a 7.5% ABV beverage made of all natural ingredients that comes in a four-pack of 330ml bottles and tastes exactly like what you’d expect from a bottled White Russian Wheat Ale. The brainchild of Saint Louis Brewery–aka the makers of one of the 10 beers you should drink this summer, Schlafly–this is a craft malt beverage that’s sure to impress. The only real issue with the product is that it’s only currently available in the St. Louis area, so you’re going to have to make a pilgrimage if you want to try it.

[MIKA27]

‘Catch-22’ Official Teaser Trailer

In a world where everything is getting rebooted, we can’t say we’re surprised to see that Catch-22 is getting turned into a Hulu miniseries. It’s about damn time, actually, because the source material is one of the 50 books every man should read once in his life and also one of Reddit’s perfect 10/10 books. This time around, Heller’s satirical army comedy novel is being re-imagined for the screen by an all star team that includes director / executive producer / actor George Clooney (what is it with him and army movies with goats?), Hugh Laurie, Christopher Abbott and Kyle Chandler, among others. Based on this teaser trailer alone, the production value looks incredible.

Will this six-episode miniseries be better than the original Catch-22 film starring Alan Arkin, Bob Newhart, Art Garfunkel (seriously), Martin Sheen, Jon Voight and Orson Welles that was released in 1970? Find out when it premieres on May 17.

[MIKA27]

LAMBORGHINI URUS RACING LEAGUE

Lamborghini isn't a stranger to SUVs, and to make sure no one forgets what the Urus is supposed to be, Lamborghini has announced a one-make racing series for the Urus, set to start in 2020. Called the Urus ST-X, the SUV will feature a roll cage, a 25% weight reduction from the production model, and all necessary FIA safety equipment. Larger front air intakes provide increased cooling to the 640 horsepower, twin-turbo V8, and 21" center-lock wheels make tire changes faster between racing sessions. The Urus ST-X is still in the concept phase, but Lamborghini plans to debut the SUV at the 2019 Lamborghini World Finals.

[MIKA27]

THE AVIARY COCKTAIL BOOK

Founded by Chef Grant Achatz & Nick Kokonas — the team behind Michelin-starred Alinea — The Aviary applies avant-garde cooking methods to create amazing cocktails.

The Aviary Cocktail Book provides both a glimpse behind the scenes and the knowledge necessary to make some yourself. It was created in collaboration with the husband and wife team of Allen & Sarah Hemberger, alums of Pixar, WETA, and ILM, who worked to handle all the writing, photography, design, printing, and distribution in-house. The result is an impeccably-designed, insanely gorgeous book that goes far beyond a traditional compendium of recipes, making it the rare kitchen & bar-focused tome that's as pleasant to read as it is to use. $85.00

[MIKA27]

ARCTIC TREEHOUSE HOTEL IN FINLAND

Northern escapes have been something of a hot topic lately, and with the warm summer months fast approaching, more and more individuals will be denouncing their well-known surroundings for snow-covered locales. Finland’s Arctic Treehouse Hotel checks more than one winter-wonderland prerequisite off the list and seeks to become one of the most enamored locations to visit this upcoming season.

Situated within Rovaniemi, this luxurious treehouse hotel brings would-be travelers a taste of Lappish design principles, proving nest-like coziness and panoramic views of the surrounding Scandinavian countryside. Mesmerizing views of the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun come courtesy of large, front-facing windows that adorn the living area of three different suite styles, while an indelible culinary experience provides denizens with traditional Arctic plates suitable for the most refined palettes. A steep, wooded hillside offers guests an impeccable view of the expansive, snow-covered landscape, while inside, a collection of comfortable furniture and a warm, wood-burning fireplace provide the perfect space for rest and relaxation.

[Squarehead]

11 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

ARCTIC TREEHOUSE HOTEL IN FINLAND

Northern escapes have been something of a hot topic lately, and with the warm summer months fast approaching, more and more individuals will be denouncing their well-known surroundings for snow-covered locales. Finland’s Arctic Treehouse Hotel checks more than one winter-wonderland prerequisite off the list and seeks to become one of the most enamored locations to visit this upcoming season.

Situated within Rovaniemi, this luxurious treehouse hotel brings would-be travelers a taste of Lappish design principles, proving nest-like coziness and panoramic views of the surrounding Scandinavian countryside. Mesmerizing views of the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun come courtesy of large, front-facing windows that adorn the living area of three different suite styles, while an indelible culinary experience provides denizens with traditional Arctic plates suitable for the most refined palettes. A steep, wooded hillside offers guests an impeccable view of the expansive, snow-covered landscape, while inside, a collection of comfortable furniture and a warm, wood-burning fireplace provide the perfect space for rest and relaxation.

I could live there

[MIKA27]

9 hours ago, Squarehead said:

I could live there

You and me both mate... what a great place!!

[MIKA27]

Japanese Spacecraft Hayabusa2 Touches Down On Asteroid Ryugu

The Japanese Hayabusa2 spacecraft has completed one of its most exciting challenges yet: On Thursday evening, it touched down on the asteroid Ryugu, fired a tantalum bullet into the rocky surface, and ascended back into orbit around the tiny world, according to updates from the mission’s English-language Twitter account.

During its brief contact with the asteroid, the spacecraft should have attempted to collect rock samples kicked up by the bullet, the Planetary Society explained. The return of these samples to Earth is a major goal of the mission.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been preparing for Hayabusa2 to make contact with the asteroid for months. The touchdown was previously delayed after scientists found the asteroid’s surface to be rougher than they had initially anticipated. While scientists had originally thought Ryugu’s surface would be a “powdery fine regolith,” the MASCOT and MINERVA-II1 rovers dropped by the spacecraft were greeted instead by larger-than-expected gravel.

Though its original touchdown date of October was delayed, mission scientists were able to conduct tests back here on Earth to further prepare for Hayabusa2’s eventual contact with the asteroid. In addition to making sure that the spacecraft would still be able to collect its surface samples, mission scientists were also able to reassess its landing site.

Hayabusa2 launched in 2014 and spent four years travelling to its target. The spacecraft successfully reached Ryugu in June of last year, at which time mission scientists determined the landing sites for its rovers.

NASA has its own asteroid mission underway: The spacecraft OSIRIS-Rex arrived at the asteroid Bennu in December 2018, and has already taken some breathtaking images of the object’s south pole.

[MIKA27]

BOEING 737 JET ENGINE COWLING CHAIR – TO OUTFIT YOUR JAMES BOND VILLAIN LAIR

If you’re an aspiring James Bond villain and you’d like to buy some suitably styled furniture, your first stop should almost certainly be Plane Industries in Britain. The company is perhaps most famous for the design you see here – an original Boeing 737 jet engine cowling that’s been converted into a chair.

The Boeing 737 is a plane we’ve all flown in, probably dozens of times if you fly frequently. It’s one of the workhorses of the Boeing stable, first released in 1967 and still in production now as a family of 13 aircraft with passenger capacities ranging from 85 to 215.

This cowling is from the CFM56-3 jet engine used to power the Boeing 737-300, it features an unusual almost flat-bottomed design due to the fact that the 737 wings were closer to the ground than many other aircraft. This has the unintended benefit of making it perfectly suited to duties as an chair once it’s been retired.

The Plane Industries Boeing 737 cowling chair measures in at 200 cm or almost 6′ 7″ high, by approximately the same width and depth. The inside of the chair is richly upholstered in black leather and it sits on a stable spun aluminium base that allows it to rotate on bearings through 360º.

[MIKA27]

‘The Kid’ Trailer: Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke Star in Vincent D’Onofrio’s Western

Vincent D’Onofrio is reuniting with his Magnificent Seven castmates Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke for a new Western, but this time he’s also stepping behind the camera. Lionsgate has debuted the trailer for D’Onofrio’s The Kid, which finds the Daredevil star in the director’s chair for a new spin on the legend of Billy the Kid.

Dane DeHaan stars as Billy with Hawke stepping into the role of Pat Garrett, the renowned lawman who became a legend by killing Billy the Kid. The Kid follows a young boy named Rio (Jake Schur), who finds himself on a mission to save his sister (Leila George) from his villainous uncle (Pratt) and winds up mixed up in Pat Garrett’s hunt for infamous outlaw. Along the way, he gets to know the legendary figures and ultimately has to decide what kind of man he wants to become as Garrett’s hunt closes in on his target.

The Kid arrives in theaters on March 8, 2019.

[MIKA27]

Exclusive ‘Dragged Across Concrete’ Trailer Sees Vince Vaughn and Mel Gibson as Crooked Cops

Director S. Craig Zahler, who has been making genre audiences squirm since his ultra-violent Western Bone Tomahawk in 2015, is back with Dragged Across Concrete and he’s bringing Vince Vaughn and Mel Gibson along for an undoubtedly bloody ride. Collider is happy to premiere the first trailer for the film, which sees Vaughn and Gibson as two suspended cops who find themselves over their head in the shadowy criminal underworld.

The film is a reunion for Zahler and Vaughn, who starred in the filmmaker’s 2017 prison drama Brawl in Cell Block 99. That was a tough film to watch—at least without looking away from several face stompings—but based on the trailer Dragged Across Concrete seems a bit more lighthearted. Well, as lighthearted as Zahler can go, with a film that looks to be relying on the chemistry between Gibson and Vaughn as much as the machine gun shootouts. As Gibson himself says late in the trailer: “Start the party.”

The film also stars Jennifer Carpenter (The Exorcism of Emily Rose), Don Johnson (Django Unchained), Tory Kittles (True Detective), and Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight).

Dragged Across Concrete hits theaters on March 22.

[MIKA27]

The Hit Chinese Sci-Fi Film The Wandering Earth Is Coming to Netflix

We’ll now get a chance to see China’s science fiction smash, The Wandering Earth, based on a short story by Hugo-winning author Liu Cixin. Netflix has announced it’s acquired the film, bringing the country’s first sci-fi blockbuster to audiences around the world.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has acquired the U.S. and international distributing rights to The Wandering Earth. Based on a short story by Cixin, who won a Hugo Award in 2015 for The Three-Body Problem, The Wandering Earth has made over $600 million at Chinese theaters since it came out earlier this month, making it a smash success in the country.

The film features Chinese action star Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2) and was directed by Frant Gwo. It takes place in the distant future, as the sun is about to explode, meaning humanity has to find a new solar system to colonize and survive. Netflix has not yet given a release date.

[MIKA27]

WHISKEY VAULT 

A well-curated spirits collection can last forever and should be adequately protected. The Whiskey Vault provides a high level of security for your most prized bottles, complete with solid steel plate construction, a bullet-proof front window, an electronic lock system powered by a PIN code and secured by three 25mm vault door locking bolts, and a tri-spoke handle machined from aircraft aluminum so you can sleep easy knowing each drop is safe and sound. Sitting on top of a dark, sinister burnt teak cabinet, or original teak cabinet, the vault itself holds up to 21 bottles of your most coveted spirits, while the cabinet below also holds up to 21 bottles of daily sippers with space for glassware. Each Whisky Vault is hand-built to order and arrives individually numbered. Sadly, all liquor shown is not included with purchase. From $5,500

 

[smokum]

Stillone of my favorite threads on the Forum

[Hutch]

10 hours ago, smokum said:

Stillone of my favorite threads on the Forum

The only one I ALWAYS read !

[MIKA27]

On 2/22/2019 at 5:56 PM, smokum said:

Stillone of my favorite threads on the Forum

 

On 2/23/2019 at 4:01 AM, Hutch said:

The only one I ALWAYS read !

Thank's heaps guys! 

[MIKA27]

New Studies Of Ancient Lava Add Mystery To The Dinosaur Extinction Story

Solidified lava from ancient volcanoes, over a mile thick, covers a portion of west-central India nearly the size of Texas. Contained in the dramatic and craggy striped rock are secrets scientists are only beginning to uncover — secrets that could partially rewrite the story of the dinosaur mass extinction 66 million years ago.

Two teams have published papers analysing material in this region, called the Deccan Traps, and have provided the most accurate timing data yet on how quickly the volcanoes deposited the lava. Their results aren’t precise enough to overturn existing theories that attribute the dinosaurs’ demise to a large asteroid impact, but offer added complexity to the story.

“To understand volcanoes’ role in mass extinction, we need to understand when the eruptions were occurring, how long they occurred for, and how much volume was erupted during what time,” Courtney Sprain, geoscientist and postdoctoral research associate at the University of Liverpool, told Gizmodo.

You’re probably familiar with the most-accepted story of the dinosaur extinction: an enormous asteroid slammed into the Earth, creating the Chicxulub crater now located in the Gulf of Mexico. Such an impact would have released an enormous volume of material into the atmosphere, causing a long winter that killed off many plants and animals, including all of the dinosaurs except for those that evolved into present-day birds. Aside from a crater, there is evidence for the impact in the form of deposits of iridium all over the world in 66-million-year-old rock laters.

But around the same time, there was a period of intense volcanism, resulting in Deccan Traps, the enormous solidified lava formation. Alternative theories state that perhaps the intense volcanism that resulted in the rock deposit also released atmosphere-altering gases, leading to a slower extinction—though some have suggested that the asteroid impact set off the volcanoes. The complete answer lies in the timing of the impact, the volcanic eruptions, and the extinction itself.

Both studies set out to establish when and how quickly the volcanoes erupted. One of the teams, led by researcher Blair Schoene and including well-known paleontologist Gerta Keller, who contests the impact-extinction hypothesis, went hunting for uranium-containing rocks called zircons formed by cooling magma. The uranium slowly decays into lead, so measuring the ratio of uranium to lead lets the researchers know how much time has passed.

They couldn’t find zircons in the basalt itself, but found it in the ash layers between the solidified lava. The data revealed several pulses of volcanic activity, including one especially large pulse “initiating tens of thousands of years prior to” both the impact event and the mass extinction, according to the paper published in Science.

“We can ask questions about carbon dioxide and sulphur release and other gases leading up to the extinction event,” study first author Schoene from Princeton University told Gizmodo. “This may explain some of the climate signals people think they see leading up to the extinction event.”

The second team, led by Sprain, instead analysed the ratio of two isotopes of the element argon in a mineral contained in the basalt itself (isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons). This method revealed slightly different timing data; some of the volcanism occurred before the impact event, but most occurred after, according to the paper also published in Science.

Sprain explained to Gizmodo that they see the extinction as a “one-two punch, where the Deccan Trap [volcanism] make species more susceptible to collapse when the impact occurs.” Past research has found that the seismic waves from impact itself could have had an influence on the lava released from the Deccan Traps.

Deccan Trap lava flows.

Each result has important caveats. The first team’s uranium-lead zircon analysis yields more precise results, meaning a smaller statistical spread during which the volcanic pulse is likely to have happened. But zircons can form in the magma chamber before the eruption, rather than during the eruption itself. It takes extra modelling to extract the accurate age from the analysis. Meanwhile, the less-precise argon isotope analysis begins telling time after the eruption.

The wiggle room for differences in interpretations means there’s no clear answer yet, University of Edinburgh paleontologist Steven Brusatte told Gizmodo.

“Both studies are hugely impressive, but they leave me more confused than ever,” Brusatte said, noting that “the burden of evidence still favours the simple story of no asteroid, no dinosaur extinction.”

Seth Burgess, research geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, told Gizmodo that the differing results point to the fact that there’s more work to do. “That they still get such similar answers — but there’s still a little wiggle room for interpretation differences—shows us how far we’ve come and that there’s still room for improvement in trying to figure out what drove mass extinction.”

Whether or not the Deccan Trap volcanism caused the extinction, it’s clear that rapid changes to the climate on Earth can have potentially catastrophic global effects. The researchers hope this might better prepare us for the mass extinction we’re currently experiencing. “This might help us understand our own future and where we’re heading,” said Sprain.

One thing’s for sure, though: a massive asteroid certainly didn’t help.

[MIKA27]

THIS AUSTRALIAN WHISKY HAS BEEN AGED AT SEA ON THE WORLD’S MOST RENOWNED CRUISE SHIP

We’ve all heard of travelling around the world but in the whiskey realm this is a voyage that is seldom taken – let alone necessary.

Melbourne whiskey maker STARWARD didn’t think this needed to be the case, so they created an exclusive batch of whiskey that spent the past year sailing 95,000 nautical miles around the globe in a 225-litre oak barrel fixed to the open decks of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.

Excessive? Perhaps, but the expression is likely to taste like nothing you’ve ever tried. On its voyage the single malt whiskey was exposed to temperatures ranging from zero to 32 degrees centigrade as it travelled around the world, moving with the motion of the ocean and soaking up the salt of the sea air on its epic journey.

After its journey around the world the barrel was taken to the STARWARD distillery in Melbourne to be assessed against the same drop that was processed conventionally in the distillery.

“The maturation environment is crucial to the final flavour of any whiskey so this was an amazing opportunity to create something different,” said the company’s founder, David Vitale.

“There’s no doubt The Seafarer’s odyssey on Queen Elizabeth has resulted in a unique whiskey, which clearly has a great story to tell through its flavours.”

“Even if we put a barrel of the same whiskey on another ship for a year, we could never emulate the same weather conditions, so this really is a one-of-a-kind drop.”

Those who are lucky enough to get their hands on a bottle of Seafarer will experience the maker’s signature notes of fruit characters and oak influences.

“This is a whiskey that’s been on an amazing journey so the result is appropriately epic,” added Vitale.

“It’s a special drop so we’re recommending that it should be drunk neat or with a dash of water, so the subtleties of its flavour can be savoured.”

Those keen on a bottle will have to go on a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth or roll up to STARWARD’S Port Melbourne distillery for a sample.

[MIKA27]

This Table Has Legs Made from Pieces of the Golden Gate Bridge

We’ve created quite a few (what we thought, anyway) impressive pieces of furniture over the years that combined live edge wood with industrial materials like gas pipe and concrete. As proud as we were of our work, we’d happily trade any of those pieces in for something from Strands of History because their pieces are made with actual parts from the Golden Gate Bridge. This is some legitimate process porn, so we’re going to get into the details. In 2006, 11-foot pieces of the original Golden Gate Bridge suspender ropes–cables generally refers to wires laid in parallel fashion like the main cables of the bridge–were acquired by an individual who would eventually become a business partner in Strands of History, a company that has been turning these pieces of the bridge into pieces of art and furniture with a continuously evolving process for the past few years. This table was built in collaboration with Bushey Ironworks and Roundwood Furniture. It features a wooden top made with 80+ year old Claro walnut fused with legs made with almost century old suspender ropes from the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s stunning in every way.

 

[MIKA27]

A MAN AND HIS WATCH  

When you find the right watch, it becomes an extension of you. That's been the case for generations of iconic figures like Paul Newman, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Elvis Presley. A Man and His Watch profiles those figures and the timepieces they wore from the perspective of author Matthew Hranek, who traveled the world conducting interviews and gathering the histories of 76 watches. Each piece is attached to an original photograph and a detailed story of some of the most coveted watches in the world.

216 pages. $24

 

[MIKA27]

We’ve got our first glimpse of BBC’s His Dark Materials and it looks glorious

The BBC has dropped the first teaser for its forthcoming eight-part adaptation of Sir Philip Pullman's beloved fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials. It's mostly just a quick glimpse of several major characters, but it does give us a sense of the glorious look and tone of the new series.

First published in 1995, the three books in the series are The Golden Compass (published as Northern Lights in the U.K.), The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. They follow the adventures of a 12-year-old girl named Lyra, who lives in a fictional version of Oxford, England, circa the Victorian era. Everyone has a companion daemon in the form of an animal—part of their spirit that resides outside the body; Lyra's is named Pantalaimon. Lyra uncovers a sinister plot that sends her on a journey to find her father in hopes of foiling said plot. That journey takes her to different dimensions (the fictional world is a multiverse) and ultimately to her own coming-of-age.

The trilogy is often compared to C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, a comparison that makes Pullman bristle, since he famously denounced the Narnia books as thinly disguised Christian propaganda, “blatantly racist,” “monumentally disparaging of women,” and “one of the most ugly and poisonous things I’ve ever read.” (Tell us how you really feel, Sir Philip.) He's more of an anti-Lewis, even though he shares the latter's appreciation for John Milton's Paradise Lost, from whence his trilogy gets its title. Thematically, His Dark Materials can be said to explore the dark, toxic underbelly of dogmatic organized religion.

A stage adaptation of the trilogy debuted in London in 2003, followed by a feature film of the first book, The Golden Compass, in 2007. It starred Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig as Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel, respectively, with Dakota Blue Richards in the lead role of Lyra. The visual effects won an Oscar, but critical reviews were mixed, and the film did poorly at the US box office, earning just $70 million against its $160 million budget. The film did much better overseas with $300 million, but New Line Cinema was still forced to restructure in 2008 as a result. The planned two sequels were permanently shelved.

his latest adaptation was first announced in 2015 as a joint production between the BBC and New Line Cinema, intended for a 2017 release, but production was delayed due to the challenges of adapting the trilogy to the small screen. Writer Jack Thorne told Radio Times that, among other concerns, he wanted to make sure the final series was true to the books—something the trilogy's fans will no doubt appreciate.

We have almost no details about the new series, other than there should be eight episodes. And last year, we learned that Dafne Keen, who played the mutant Laura Kinney/X-23 in Logan, would play Lyra. Rounding out the leading roles are James McAvoy as Lord Asriel, Ruth Wilson as Marisa Coulter, Lin Manuel-Miranda as Texan balloonist Lee Scoresby, and Clarke Peters as the Master of Jordan College (US audiences likely remember him best as the wizened detective who made doll furniture as a hobby in The Wire).

This first teaser doesn't add much to what we already know, but it looks spectacular and does seem to capture the tone and feel of Pullman's beloved novels. What's missing is any sense of the magical elements in the series—the daemons, the portals to other worlds, and the mysterious Dust. It's definitely got us excited and hopeful about this latest adaptation, however.

We don't yet have a release date, but it will air on HBO in the US and on BBC in the UK.