the point at which a load must be applied so as to cause no twisting

if a wing isn’t rigid enough, an aileron can cause the wing to twist to such an extent that the opposite effect is achieved

the outside wood is tensioned to 4,000 psi while the inner wood is compressed

two rigid outer layers with a porous lightweight interior sandwiched between them

shell structure in which the load is carried in more or less continuous panels (think exoskeleton)

4’ 8.5” standard railway gauge derived from roman chariots. proved to be a major handicap (trains would be more stable and better able to go fast with a wider base)

the mitochondrial DNA makeup of Iceland is roughly 50 percent Norse and 50 percent Irish

both components of the digraph are always capitalized together: ijsland -> IJsland

A “butt” is a traditional unit of volume used for wines and other alcoholic beverages. A butt is generally defined to be two hogsheads, but the size of hogsheads varies according to the contents. In the United States a hogshead is typically 63 gallons and a butt is 126 gallons.

a non-protein chemical compound that is bound to a protein and is required for the protein’s biological activity. These proteins are commonly enzymes, and cofactors can be considered “helper molecules” that assist in biochemical transformations.

the process that prevents blood clots (fibrins) from growing and becoming problematic

The endothelium is the thin layer of cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels

arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause

500 per year

19.5 minutes per person in 2004

In 2004, the average extra waiting time due to TSA procedures was 19.5 minutes per person. That’s a total economic loss – in America – of $10 billion per year, more than the TSA’s entire budget.

there appears to be a part of the brain responsible for puns.

When the surgeon began to manipulate the tumor, affecting those sensitive structures, the (conscious) patient burst into a manic flight of puns. He exhibited typical sound associations, and with every word of the operator broke into a flight of ideas. The sound of one word swiftly echoed in the sound of the next, and all of the words had something to do with knives and butchery.

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

a condition that causes some areas of your body – such as your fingers, toes, the tip of your nose and your ears – to feel numb and cool in response to cold temperatures or stress. In Raynaud’s disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas.

Original idea from the founder of Sealand

The idea was to buy a ship, fill the top of the hold with computer severs and the bottom with the nastiest toxic waste imaginable, then plant yourself in international waters near a major port and start offering co-location services. As Hastings explained, the toxic waste “forces the large military power to protect you from outside threats, while being very hesitant to attempt to board your vessel.”

People who had been exposed to inaccurate descriptions came up with associations that were far more original. Instead of saying that “blue” reminded them of “sky” they came up with “jazz” and “cherry pie”