Friday 26 January 2024

2,000 years ago, the first vending machine was created

If into certain sacrificial vessels a coin of five drachms be thrown, and water shall flow out and surround them. Let be a sacrificial vessel or treasure chest, having an opening in its mouth, A; and in the chest let there be a vessel, F G H K, containing water, and a small box, L, from which a pipe, LM, conducts out of the chest. Near the vessel place a vertical rod, N x, about which turns a lever, o P, widening at o into the plate R parallel to the bottom of the vessel, while at the extremity r is suspended a lid, s, which fits into the box L, so that no water can flow through the tube LM: this lid, however, must be heavier than the plate R, but lighter than the plate and coin combined. When the coin is thrown through the mouth A, it will fall upon plate R and, preponderating, it will turn the beam on P, and raise the lid of the box so that the water will flow: but if the coin falls off, the lid will descend and close the box so that the discharge ceases.

The First Vending Machine Was Made 2,000 Years Ago

Monday 22 January 2024

Remarkable discovery in Spain

This ancient megalithic monument, estimated to be over 7,000 years old, was recently discovered in Spain. The discovery was made possible by a drought that revealed the previously buried structure. The fact that the site is about 2,000 years older than famous landmarks like Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Egypt adds to the intrigue of this discovery, which sheds light on the region's early civilizations and their sophisticated architectural accomplishments during a relatively unknown period of human history.



 

Monday 15 January 2024

Cribraria argillacea

Cribraria argillacea is a slime mold that resembles tiny brains on a stalk. It is one of 30 different species of Cribraria found worldwide. These slime molds are nature's clean-up crew, breaking down old wood and leaves in the forest to keep the environment healthy. Despite not having a brain, they exhibit some interesting behaviors such as moving slowly and finding their way through mazes. Cribraria, which produce spores, have a short stalk and a protective layer resembling vertical, thickened threads connected by fine, see-through threads. They are not only visually appealing but also play an important role in nutrient recycling in the forest. Some species of Cribraria can be difficult to distinguish.

Cribraria argillacea is a slime mold that resembles tiny brains on a stalk.


Friday 5 January 2024

Existence of red sprites

 The existence of red sprites, above certain thunderstorms is a little-known phenomenon that is primarily known to meteorologists, nature photographers, and other sky researchers. Although they are not particularly rare, they are ephemeral and difficult to photograph. Lightning sprites, also known as red sprites, are electrical discharges high in Earth's atmosphere that are associated with thunderstorms but are not born in the same clouds that send us rain. Thunderstorms, as well as all earthly weather, occur in the troposphere, a layer of atmosphere that stretches from Earth's surface to between 4 and 12 miles (about 6 and 19 km) up.