“No one knows for absolute sure why some trees secrete resin. However, with the aid of some marvelous macrophotography, although the mystery surrounding this subject cannot be solved for certain, its beauty – at times deadly – becomes evident… Resin is something of a puzzle and why plants secrete it has been the subject of heated debate for many years. Resins consist of compounds that do not seem to play any part in the main physiology of the plants from which it comes. So some scientists do see it as a waste product – an excretion rather than a secretion. Others argue, however, that it is a secretion as it has many benefits to the plant. The compounds inside resins seem to have an effect on a wide range of insects and herbivores – a deadly one at that. Plus resin can also attract birds and insects that can stand its toxicity while at the same time snacking on the predators of the plant.” w/ photos

“Did you know that the first vibrator in history may have been invented by Egyptian Queen Cleopatra? Apparently, she had the idea of filling a hollow gourd with angry bees. The violent buzzing caused the gourd to vibrate and then… well, then, the rest is history. And that history gets weirder and weirder from there, from bees to Victorian-era steam-powered dildos and handcracked vibration devices to the famous Hitachi Magic Wand from the 70s and the most modern devices, almost abstract designs with Bluetooth control and throbbing memory. Boys and girls, ladies and gentleman, here is the amazing, bizarre history of the vibrator.” w/ photos

“Next month we will be the last people living today to witness one of the rarest astronomical events: the transit of Venus. If it’s not cloudy, we need do no more than draw back our curtains on June 6 to see the brightest star of the night transformed into a tiny black dot crossing the face of the sun. But astronomers in the 18th Century traveled thousands of miles and risked their lives to witness this precious sight. They did so because they believed Venus held the key to the most pressing astronomical quest of the age: the size of the solar system.” w/ photos

“Ignored by dieters because they are ‘fattening’, few would class the potato as a ‘wonder food’ packed full of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. But the spud is actually better for the body than traditional superfoods – such as bananas, broccoli, beetroot, nuts and avocado, a study has found. The researchers said people are wrong to shun it in favor of modern and more expensive alternatives. A jacket potato has five-and-a-half times as much fibre as the average banana – and is packed with more vitamin C than is found in three avocados, the Daily Express reported.” w/ photos

“Must… Resist… Resist… *YAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWNNNN*… Crap!” — latviandude

“Why are oil prices rising and costs going through the roof? Seems like every time the economy starts to get stronger, oil prices go way up, and then the economy crashes again. In his book The Third Industrial Revolution, Jeremy Rifkin reveals the truth about the tie between our economy’s health and gas prices. Epipheo thought we’d help spread the word about why energy, power, and gasoline can cost so much money and be so expensive.”

“If you’ve never heard of Epiphilympics Ponzi Scheme, now you know how it works, why it’s a terrible investment, and how to avoid it.”

“You’ve heard the warnings: If you swallow gum, it will stay in your digestive system for nearly a decade. Which would mean there’s a decent chance you’ve got some hanging out in your gut right now. If you look at its ingredients—a delicious mix of indigestible compounds—it certainly seems possible. And if you look at the medical books, swallowed gum has caused some serious problems. Is it possible that your mom’s crazy warnings were right?” w/ photos

“This Is one of the most profound 1.5 minutes on what it takes to break through indecision and follow one’s dreams. Please don’t be offended by the language — this is where the spoken word triumphs.” — ArtLoversStudio18

“Cochlear implants have restored basic hearing to hundreds of thousands of people. However, the conventional device requires a microphone, speech processor and radio transmitter coil to be worn externally. Many wearers feel self-conscious having their condition so publicly on display. It also prevents patients from activity like swimming. Now a team led by the University of Utah have developed a tiny prototype that is implanted in the middle ear, which means it can’t be seen. The device is currently the size of an eraser on a pencil and weighs just 25mg. However, research leader Professor Darrin Young said they must now reduce its size by a third and improve its ability to detect quieter, low-pitched sounds before testing it on patients.” w/ photos