For Disney's 'The Lion King', a new computer program had to be written for the CG wildebeest stampede that allowed hundreds of computer generated animals to run but without colliding into each other.

Posted by david.winch, on Thu 12th Jul 2012

So why do we sleep? This is a question that has baffled scientists for centuries and the answer is, no one is really sure. Some believe that sleep gives the body a chance to recuperate from the day's activities but in reality, the amount of energy saved by sleeping for even eight hours is miniscule - about 50 kCal, the same amount of energy in a piece of toast. A good way to understand the role of sleep is to look at what would happen if we didn't sleep. Sleep deprivation not only has a major impact on cognitive functioning but also on emotional and physical health.

Posted by ramario.depass, on Fri 6th Jul 2012

Fish don't have ears, they have otoliths. These calcium carbonate 'stones' found in the heads of fish and are also utilised for sensing gravity and linear acceleration. You can age a fish by counting the 'growth rings' on an otolith, much like those of a tree.

Posted by charlotteevedavies, on Thu 5th Jul 2012

A computer error caused all of San Diego's 4th July fireworks to go off within 30 seconds. Whoops! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuJHfkXEI-o&feature=youtu.be

Posted by david.winch, on Thu 5th Jul 2012

In 1885 Nikola Tesla claimed he could redesign Thomas Edison's inefficient motor and generators, making an improvement in both service and economy. Edison offered $50,000 ($1.1 million dollars in today's money) if Tesla managed to. After months of work when Tesla finished the task and inquired about payment Edison claimed he was only joking. Edison offered a $10 a week raise over Tesla's $18 per week salary, but Tesla refused it and immediately resigned. Shortly before he died, Edison said that his biggest mistake had been in trying to develop direct current, rather than the superior alternating current system that Tesla had put within his grasp.

Posted by roganic, on Thu 5th Jul 2012

Lobsters breathe via gills, much like their fishy cousins. However, unlike fish, lobsters do not have opercular flaps, their gills are found at the base of their walking legs. Imagine breathing through your hips?!

Posted by charlotteevedavies, on Thu 5th Jul 2012

The end of a shoelace is called an aglet. A common misconception is that it is a "Flooglebinder". The origin of the term "Flooglebinder" is the film Cocktail in which Tom Cruise is attempting to find a definitive word for the plastic coating at the end of a shoelace.

Posted by david.winch, on Tue 3rd Jul 2012

The UK's chief scout is survival expert Bear Grylls!

Posted by lewisjcrompton, on Tue 3rd Jul 2012

10 percent of electricity in the US comes from "dismantled nuclear bombs, including Russian ones." Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/business/energy-environment/10nukes.html

Posted by Unknown U, on Tue 3rd Jul 2012

The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who hated cats, once tied one to a kite in a thunderstorm to try and electrocute it.

Posted by amy.drawbridge, on Tue 3rd Jul 2012

Intel's first processor was var times slower than their latest one and cost var times as much.

Posted by anthonylawrence66, on Mon 2nd Jul 2012

Believe it or not, the active ingredient in some of our favorite beverages is deadly to snails and slugs. It acts as a neurotoxin for mollusks. Applying caffeine to soil will get rid of your slug problem. A 4 oz solution with 2% caffeine applied to 4 square inches of soil takes out 92% of the slug population in 2 days.

Posted by mujtaba.boori, on Mon 2nd Jul 2012

Motte-and-bailey is the most basic type of castle, a wooden fort on an earthy mound used to provide a minor height advantage. A bailey, also called a ward, was a fortified enclosure. It was a common feature of castles, and most had at least one. The keep on top of the motte was domicile of the lord in charge of the castle and a bastion of last defence, while the bailey was the home of the rest of the lord's household and gave them protection. A donjon, or a keep, is a much larger, fortified tower usually built of stone providing much better defence Other features include fortified gatehouses and moats, adding extra layers of defence.

Posted by EdwardAlexanderPrentice, on Sun 1st Jul 2012

Isaac Newton stuck a long, flat needle (a bodkin) behind his eye until it touched his skull because he was curious what would happen.

Posted by anthonylawrence66, on Sun 1st Jul 2012

If you were to chop a tree down you would see a series of rings making up the cross section. The process of using these to find out a trees age is Dendrochronology. This has three main areas of application: paleoecology, where it is used to determine certain aspects of past ecologies; archaeology, where it is used to date old buildings; and radiocarbon dating, where it is used to calibrate radiocarbon ages. Currently, the maximum age measurably using this techniqueis a little over 11,000 years from present.

Posted by EdwardAlexanderPrentice, on Sun 1st Jul 2012

Cheese sauce is commonly made with butter milk cheese and flour. However, to really make an outstanding cheese sauce one should use a quality mature English cheddar. This will mean you can use less cheese for more flavour and if you put in a splash of double cream as well I can assure you, it will not disappoint! And for the best smokey cheddar in all the land, keep your eyes out for Applewood cheddar.

Posted by EdwardAlexanderPrentice, on Sun 1st Jul 2012

Grate some cheese on a plate. Put under medium grill until crispy. Eat.

Posted by Unknown U, on Sun 1st Jul 2012

Tyre Pressure levels are crucial not only to the longevity of your tyres, but to your personal safety when using your car. Cars with incorrect Tyre Pressure can be subject to decreased grip and increased braking distances. By using your car with incorrect tyre pressures, you are also increasing the likelihood of damaging your tyres and wheels. Most cars will have a different recommended tyre pressure level for the front tyres and the back tyres. You can use a 'Tyre Pressure Lookup service' to establish your recommended Tyre Pressure levels.

Posted by Unknown U, on Sun 1st Jul 2012

Scarfs are so in right now. Not a day goes by a girl doesn't smile and wave at me and congratulate me on wearing a scarf. I wasn't always a scarf man, but following a bitterly cold day in Wales in August I have now found I cannot live without them! Everyone loves a good scarf! Take it from me, you will be turning heads in no time

Posted by EdwardAlexanderPrentice, on Sun 1st Jul 2012

Hackathons typically start with one or more presentations about the event, as well as about the specific subject matter, if any. Then participants suggest ideas and form teams, based on individual interests and skills. Then the main work of the hackathon begins, which can last anywhere from several hours to several days. For hackathons that last 24 hours or longer, especially competitive ones, eating is often informal, with participants often subsisting on food like pizza and energy drinks. Sometimes sleeping is informal as well, with participants sleeping on-site with sleeping bags and the like.

Posted by cedmunds90, on Sun 1st Jul 2012

This is by far the most awesome RC helicopter I have ever bought. For ~£20 it is an absolute bargain, and its pretty quiet too. Not great at carrying any loads, although it seems to have a good power to weight ratio because it is so light. http://www.paramountzone.com/hoverfly.htm

Posted by EdwardAlexanderPrentice, on Sat 30th Jun 2012

When cats become aggressive after a long petting session, it can mean that they've been overly-sexually-stimulated, and they get aggressive as part of normal sexual behaviour.

Posted by danchorman, on Fri 29th Jun 2012

Lord Wellington called his Army "the scum of the earth"

Posted by Unknown U, on Fri 29th Jun 2012

Although most people attribute Thomas Edison with the invention of the lightbulb it was actually based on the works done by seventeen other academics and the papers they published. Therefore in scientific circles it is commonly understood that Edison did not invent the lightbulb, but that he was the first person to really manage to sell the lightbulb to the wider, non scientific, community.

Posted by EdwardAlexanderPrentice, on Fri 29th Jun 2012

The most expensive city in the world to park in is London. Parking in central London can cost up to £578.87 per month. Plus you’ll have to pay the congestion charge just to get there.

Posted by anthonylawrence66, on Fri 29th Jun 2012

The most expensive city in the world to park in is London. Parking in central London can cost up to £578.87 per month. Plus you’ll have to pay the congestion charge just to get there.

Posted by anthonylawrence66, on Wed 27th Jun 2012

Never buy a car first hand, and never spend more than £2000 on a car. They are black holes of money and reduce in value by about 50% in their first year. Buy second hand and budget in for spending around half the price to pay for the car in the first year on repairs. Also, go for a trusted and reliable brand, Vauxhall, Ford, Skoda, Renault, Citroen, Peugeot are all safe bets and repairs and parts for these cars will save you money.

Posted by EdwardAlexanderPrentice, on Wed 27th Jun 2012