Rock Identification
'Is it worth anything?' 'I dunno, is the answer to that question worth another $5?'
Cosmic Distance Calibration
This is the biggest breakthrough since astronomers noticed that the little crosshairs around red giant stars...
Square Units
The biggest I've seen in a published source in the wild is an 80-fold error in...
Planet Definitions
Under the 'has cleared its orbital neighborhood' and 'fuses hydrogen into helium' definitions, thanks to human...
Water Balloons
Update: The physics department has recruited an astronomer who studies meteor fireballs.
Water Damage
Your homeowner's insurance might cover it, but be sure to check the subductible.
Tall Structures
Briefly set a new record for tallest human-made structure by getting my knit sweater snagged on...
Excusing Yourself
The most awkward part is when you have to pause to put on your shoes before...
Archive Request
They just want researchers in the enclosure to feel enriched and stimulated. ('The Enclosure' is what...
Incoming Asteroid
The bottom ones are also potentially bad news for any other planets in our solar system...
Suspension Bridge
As a first step, they can put in a secondary deck, to help drivers try it...
Rotary Tool
It was great until my thumb slipped and I accidentally launched my telescope into the air...
Stromatolites
If only my ancestors had been fortunate enough to marry into the branch of the bacteria...
Humidifier Review
They should add a little sticker that certifies that the humidifier supports water conservation, but in...
Unit Circle
They're continuing to search for a square with the same area as the circle, as efforts...
Human Altitude
I wonder what surviving human held the record before balloons (excluding edge cases like jumping gaps...
Features of Adulthood
I don't dig pit traps and cover them with sticks and a thin layer of leaves...
Origami Black Hole
You may notice the first half of these instructions are similar to the instructions for a...
Skew-T Log-P
The most important quantity for meteorologists is of course the product of latent pressure and temperostrophic...
Time Capsule Instructions
Inside is a third box, labeled DO NOT OPEN UNLESS YOU ARE IN THE TIME ZONE...
Lasering Incidents
I still don't know how the police found my compound where I ran an illegal searchlight...
Sun Avoidance
C'mon, ESA Solar Orbiter team, just give the Parker probe a LITTLE nudge at aphelion. Crash...
Exclusion Principle
Fermions are weird about each other in a standoffish way. Integer-spin particles are weird about each...
Phase Change
Even when you try to make nice, smooth ice cubes in a freezer, sometimes one of...
The Maritime Approximation
It works because a nautical mile is based on a degree of latitude, and the Earth...
Making Tea
No, of course we don't microwave the mug WITH the teabag in it. We microwave the...
Seismologists
And even when they're not distracted, they usually get kicked out for illegal under-the-net 'subduction spikes'.
Infinite Armada Chess
Stockfish 16 suggests the unconventional opening 1. RuntimeError: Out of bounds memory access
Advent Calendar Advent Calendar
The growth rate of items per day may may seem absurd, but it's actually much less...