The Beer bot
A milestone in modern technology has been reached with the development of the beer fetching house robot PR2 from Willow Garage. A must have for every one that has$400 000 to spare. In addition to the essential beer fetching ability…
The Norberg paradox
“What’s important is not where we currently are, but where we are heading, or where we believe we are heading” (Authors translation) – Johan Norberg This single sentence from on of Johan Norbergs books on historical happiness sums up one…
Another creative Japanese
Conceptual artist Goro Fujita have definitively mastered the art of digital speed painting when his many characters take form on the canvas. A quick peek at his portfolio is enough to understand why this Japanese artists work range from own…
Walksleeping in the classroom
Scientists have recently concluded that rats, and thereby possibly also humans, have parts of their brains napping when they get tired enough, even thou they keep on performing tasks. This should already be widely known to anybody who has ever…
Unique is the new pink
The casting of individuals in same mold that have been such a popular political strategy in some countries during the last century seems to finally have given way to the sprawling uniqueness of humans and their style. Unfortunately everything can…
German engineering in the sky
By studying the flight of seagulls the German automation company Festo has managed to create a birdlike robot, SmartBird, that is powered by wing strokes rather than propellers. A cleaver piece of engineering that uses lightweight materials to make this…
Divine in metallic
Why should angels be creatures of flesh and feathers? The UK artist Antony Gormley has been building modernized angels since 1989 in his own very special style. With varying style and color the most impressive is the Angel of the…
Steampunk insects
UK artist Tom Hardwidge have his own collection of home made pets: steampunk insects. Outside Manchester in England he creates his little life forms out of gears, ammunition, and whatever else that might come in handy. His collection is on…
Quantifying a smile
What most likely is the worlds most famous smile, Leonardo da Vincis masterpiece Mona Lisa, have been analyzed with some computational model. The study concludes that she is 83% happy and 17% angry or scared…
Historical competition between Sweden and Norway
Between the two neighboring countries Sweden and Norway there has always been some kind of sibling like competition over which nation is the greatest. The smaller Norway with all its wealth, oil and alliances compared to the slightly larger Sweden…