“Chinese archaeologists have unearthed what they believe is a 2,400-year-old pot of soup, state media report. The liquid and bones were in a sealed bronze cooking vessel dug up near the ancient capital of Xian – home to the country’s famed terracotta warriors. Tests are being carried out to identify the ingredients. An odourless liquid, believed to be wine, was also found. The pots were discovered in a tomb being excavated to make way for an extension to the local airport. “It’s the first discovery of bone soup in Chinese archaeological history,” the newspaper quoted Liu Daiyun of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology as saying. “The discovery will play an important role in studying the eating habits and culture of the Warring States Period (475-221BC).” The scientists said the tomb could have held the body of either a member of the land-owning class or a low-ranking military officer, the report said.” w/ photo

“The Navy just broke its own record for an awesomely powerful railgun, which can hurl a projectile hundreds of miles at superfast speeds without using explosives. Today’s 33-megajoule shot — powerful enough to launch 33 Smart cars at 100 mph — means the Navy can fire projectiles at least 125 miles, keeping military personnel at a safe distance from their targets, according to the Office of Naval Research.  Rather than using an explosion to fire a bullet, the futuristic weapon uses an electromagnetic current to accelerate a projectile to March 7.5.” w/ photo + video

“WOW! That’s was AMAZING! Would be cooler if there were people on board.”

“Families all over the country follow the same annual tradition of getting the artificial Christmas tree out of its box when the time comes to put up the decorations. But the Parker family has been doing it longer than any other because they are still using a tree they first bought in 1886. Complete with the original baubles and tinsel, their 14 inch tree is in its 124th year and has been authenticated as the world’s oldest imitation Christmas tree… Owner Paul Parker received the delicate ornament after his mother, Janet, passed away at the age of 69 in 2008, and is the third generation of his family to enjoy it. Displaying the tree for the first time since his mother’s death, Mr Parker is delighted to be carrying on the family tradition.” w/ photos

“Researchers from the University of Parma come up with a car that can drive itself to Shanghai.”

“A Japanese university researcher developed a small-size vibration-driven generator that measures approximately 2 x 3 x 12mm and can output a power of 1.56mW with a vibration of 357Hz. The energy density of the generator, which was developed by Toshiyuki Ueno, associate professor at Kanazawa University, is about 22mW/cm³. It is about 20 times higher than the energy density of normal small-size vibration-driven generators, which is about 1mW/cm³. “The energy density is high enough to replace a button battery,” Ueno said. He is planning to apply the generator to tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMSes) for automobiles and mobile devices.” w/ photos

“These are the Storm Proof matches from REI that easily surpass every other match stick claiming to be an excellent ‘wilderness’ match. Unlike other matches that only have a wax coat over the sulfur to keep it “waterproof”, these matches have more than half the stick covered in sulfur making it virtually impossible to snuff. These matches will burn in the most extreme conditions. Albeit highly unlikely that you would be able to start a fire in such conditions you can rest assured that the match itself will not fail. We put the match through a couple torture tests pushing the most extreme climates of gale force winds, monsoon rain storms and the complete abscence of oxygen. Even burying the match in muddy water was not enough to stop the sulfur from burning. These matches are an excellent addition to any survival situation or backpacking trip when the need for fire is priority one. Although somewhat expensive compared to regular matches, the peace of mind they bring is an invaluable asset. Furthermore, the money saved when you don’t have to buy a water proof storage container more than compensates the price. They are about 6 bucks at any REI store.” — dalemclmm

“After a difficult week for the company, it’s a surprise that Amazon is happy to open its doors to the eyes of the world. But having come in for heavy criticism for its ‘lightning sale’ promotion, the online retailer is bouncing back as it prepares for the Christmas rush. The internet site – initially a bookseller but now a shopping portal for everything from kitchenware to children’s toys – pulled open the back of its warehouse – or ‘Fulfilment Centre’ – in Swansea to reveal the heavy packing operation already under way... a monster warehouse the size of ten football fields laid side by side. Towers of boxes confirm that for millions of people, online shopping is the easiest way to buy Christmas presents without a mad rush to the high street on Christmas Eve.” w/ photos

“Gunther Hansel, a Veteran angler, has landed the catch of his life – a record-breaking halibut weighing 476 pounds – worth $33,000. Hansel took more than two hours to reel in the 8ft 2in monster of the deep off Bolungarvik, in Iceland’s Western Fjords, where it took five men to eventually haul the 970-portion fish on board. ‘This is the fish I have been fishing for all my life,’ said the 70-year-old German. He used a 30lb line and a plastic lure to snare the halibut. Once he got it alongside their boat, a rope was tied around its tail so it could be hoisted on to the deck. Herbert Loechel, managing director of the fishing tour operator, said: ‘After the bite, we had to worry that Gunther would land the fish. It took him 135 minutes.” w/ photos

“Jem Stansfield travels to the Solar Furnace Research Facility in Southern France. He witnesses the incredible power generated by highly concentrated sunlight.”