Month: January 2017

Far across the world, an elusive—and adorable—wildcat called Pallas’s cat (also known as the manul) roams the grasslands and steppes of Central Asia and Eurasia. Get to know the flat-faced, furry kitty, which has been featured in memes and viral videos and recently received its own wildlife preserve in Asia’s Altai Mountains.

1. IT’S NAMED AFTER THE NATURALIST PETER PALLAS.

The German naturalist Peter Pallas first described the furry wildcat in 1776. He named the kitty Felis manul, and theorized that it was an ancestor of the Persian cat, thanks to its round face, luxurious coat, and stocky body. (He was wrong.)

2. ITS SCIENTIFIC NAME MEANS “UGLY-EARED” …

Later on, the cat’s scientific name was changed from Felis manul to Otocolobus manul—not exactly the most flattering moniker, since Otocolobus is Greek for “ugly-eared.”

3. … BUT ITS UNUSUAL EARS COME IN HANDY.

Some may consider the Pallas’s cat’s ears to be ugly, while others might think they’re adorable. Arguments aside, the cat’s round ears—which sit flat on the sides of its head—are one of its most distinguishing features. As Crystal DiMiceli, a wild animal keeper at the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn, New York, explains in the above video, having low-positioned ears helps the cat conceal itself—they don’t poke up to reveal the animal’s position while it’s hiding or hunting.

4. IT HAS A DENSE, PLUSH COAT.

The coat of the Pallas’s cat is its true crowning glory. It’s longer and denser than any other coat belonging to a member of the Felid species (growing in even heavier in the winter), and the undercoat on its belly is twice as long as the fur covering the rest of its body. The shade ranges from silvery grey during the winter to a darker, red-toned hue during warmer months. (Some cats are also red, particularly in Central Asia.) Its broad head is streaked and speckled with dark markings, and its bushy tail is banded with stripes and a dark tip. These markings tend to appear darker during the summer.

5. ITS FUR BLENDS IN WITH ITS HABITAT, WHICH CONCEALS IT FROM PREDATORS.

Pallas’s cats live in areas ranging from Pakistan and northern India to central China, Mongolia, and southern Russia. According to Wild Cats of the World, by Luke Hunter, its body isn’t adapted for snow, so it sticks to cold, arid habitats—particularly grassy or rocky areas, which help conceal it from predators—at elevations of around 1500 to nearly 17,000 feet. The stocky cat isn’t a fast runner, so when it senses danger, it freezes and crouches flat and motionless on the ground, and its fur helps it blend in with its dry surroundings.

6. PALLAS’S CATS AREN’T FAT—THEY’RE JUST FURRY.

 
These felines typically weigh less than 12 pounds, and they’re usually only 2 feet or less in body length—meaning they’re not that much larger than an ordinary house cat.

7. THEIR PUPILS ARE ROUND INSTEAD OF VERTICAL.

Pallas’s cats do share one feature in common with larger wildcats, like lions and tigers: their eyes. Their pupils are round, whereas a house cat’s pupils are vertical and slit-shaped. Wondering why some cats have round pupils while others have vertical ones? A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that animals’ pupil shapes might indicate their role in the predator/prey food chain. They analyzed 214 species of land animals (including cats), and noted that species with vertical pupils tended to be ambush predators that were active during both day and night. In contrast, species with vertical pupils were often “active foragers,” meaning they chase their prey. Also, predators that are closer to the ground, like house cats, were prone to vertical pupils, whereas larger wildcats had round ones. Pallas’s cats are small, and they are primarily ambush hunters, so the jury’s still out on whether the study’s findings hold true for all creatures.

8. THEY SUBSIST MOSTLY ON PIKA.

Pallas’s cats are ambush hunters and spend much of their time hunting pika, a small mammal, and other critters like gerbils, voles, hares, ground squirrels, birds, and young marmots. Pika typically make up more than 50 percent of the cat’s diet. 

9. THEY MAY BE DISTANTLY RELATED TO THE LEOPARD CAT.

Peter Pallas thought the animal was related to the Persian cat. (We think it looks like a Maine Coon and a Scottish Fold had a baby and weaned it on steroid milk.) However, experts have uncovered evidence that the wildcat’s nearest—yet still pretty distant—relative might be the leopard cat.

10. THEY’RE NOT SOCIAL ANIMALS …

The Pallas’s cat is notoriously elusive and spends much of its time hiding in caves, crevices, or abandoned burrows.

11. … AND THEY DON’T SEEM TO LIKE EACH OTHER MUCH.

Pallas’s cats may be adorably fluffy, but they aren’t the world’s sweetest, most cuddly creatures. In fact, they’re very aggressive. Case in point: In The Wild Cat Book, authors Fiona and Mel Sunquist recount an anecdote provided by Bill Swanson, the Cincinnati Zoo’s director of animal research. Zookeepers thought that a litter of newborn Pallas’s cats were having difficulty breathing, but “when they listened closely, they realized that the noise they were hearing was the kittens growling and hissing at each other—before they had even opened their eyes!”

12. THEIR MATING PERIOD IS BRIEF.

Pallas’s cats mate between December and March; the females typically give birth between the end of March and May, after a gestation period of 66 to 75 days. Pallas’s cats usually give birth to three or four kittens, but litters can sometimes have as many as eight kittens. Kittens become independent by four to five months, and when they reach nine to ten months, they’re mature enough to reproduce. 

13. THEY’RE CLASSIFIED AS “NEAR-THREATENED.”

It’s estimated that Pallas’s cats can live up to six years in the wild, but thanks to predators and other dangers, their lifespan is likely to be half this length. In captivity, they’ve been known to survive for nearly 12 years.

In 2002, the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified the Pallas’s cat as “near threatened.” Many factors contribute to their low numbers, including farming, agricultural activities, mining, and poisoning campaigns aimed at reducing pika and marmot populations. They’re also killed in traps meant for wolves and foxes, or by domestic dogs. And despite international trading bans and legal protections in some countries, they’re often hunted for their fur. (The cat’s fat and organs are also used to make traditional medicines.) 

Scientists don’t have enough data to estimate the Pallas’s cat’s population size, but due to their scarcity and the myriad threats they face, experts believe that their numbers have dropped by 10 to 15 percent over the past decade or so. To better understand—and protect—the animal, an international team of conservationists recently secured a 12-mile swath of land in Sailyugemsky Nature Park, which lies in the Altai Mountains between Kazakhstan and Mongolia, as a sanctuary for the rare cat. There, they hope to monitor its population, study its habitat, and build a database of information detailing encounters with it. 

Additional Source: Wild Cats of the World

Opening a bottle of wine with a run-of-the-mill opener isn’t always the most graceful pursuit, and even some of the fancier devices are clunky and difficult to use. Now you can avoid the fuss and bring a little Wild West magic to your next bottle share with the wine opener gun by WineOvation.

The cordless device works just like a normal electric wine opener, but it’s cleverly disguised like a pistol. Simply point the tool directly over the cork and pull the trigger; the opener will automatically stop once it’s out. Next, push the trigger forward and the gun will push out the cork. With help from an internal battery, the opener can pop as many as 30 bottles before needing to be charged. Keeping in theme, the charging port looks just like a holster. The fancy piece of equipment has a soft rubber handle, and comes with a foil cutter so you can get to your vino as fast as humanly possible. The device comes in pink or silver, so, theoretically, you could color coordinate your corker with your all-time favorite blend.

[h/t Oddity Mall]

Metropolis at 90: The Enduring Legacy of a Pop Modernist Dystopia. Fritz Lang’s 1927 science fiction epic is more popular now than it’s ever been.
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‘Comfort Women’: The Past and Present of Japan’s Forced WWII Prostitutes. It’s still a sore subject officials would rather not confront.  
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La La Land Tops An Unusual Batch of BAFTA Nominees. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts award winners will be announced February 12.
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Have you ever seen an owl without its feathers? You’d never recognize it, unlike these hairless animals.
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Astronaut Shares Breathtaking Photo Of The Rocky Mountains From Space. The peaks are peeking through the clouds.
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Jesuits, the World’s First Diplomats. They negotiated with the power of the Catholic Church, and Latin.
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Pampered pets: The cushy lives of Sunny and Bo Obama. The only job better than being a beloved family pet is to be a beloved family pet in the White House.
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16 Fun Facts About The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Douglas Adams’ magnum opus is a treasure trove of trivia.
 

When it comes to speed and efficiency, planes can’t be beat—but a long train ride lets travelers slow down and enjoy the journey, resulting in an extra-memorable voyage. From the Trans-Siberian Railway to the Eastern and Oriental Express, travel company Pettitts has an infographic of 12 of the world’s most storied (and scenic) railways.

Candles can be expensive, so it’s a bummer when you can’t use them anymore. Every so often, a wick will get buried in the wax, making it impossible to light. Sure, you can dig it out with some scissors or the end of a fork, but that’s not the most elegant fix for your favorite candle. There’s a better method, one endorsed by eHowhome. You just need to melt some wax off the top.

If you’ve got a long reach lighter, just hold it over the surface of the candle until enough wax melts to expose the wick. This may take a few tries, but persevere. Your wick will eventually be available and ready to use.

Robotic inventions have fascinated, amazed, and helped humans for thousands of years. Here are seven of history’s greatest self-operating machines.

1. ARCHYTAS’S STEAM-POWERED PIGEON

Nobody knows who created history’s first robot, but some historians claim it was Archytas, an ancient Greek mathematician who constructed a steam-powered wooden pigeon between 400 and 350 BCE. The robotic bird could reportedly “fly” for more than 650 feet along a wire suspension line before running out of steam.

2. LEONARDO DA VINCI’S PROGRAMMABLE CART

One of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous inventions was a human-like robot resembling a Germanic knight, which Leonardo drew (and possibly built) around 1495. But years earlier, around 1478, the polymath envisioned a self-propelled cart that many experts now consider to be history’s first programmable automaton.

Instead of steam power or an internal combustion engine, the car-like vehicle was powered by a wound-up spring, and ran on clockwork. The cart’s operator could also make the wheels turn at specific points in time during a journey by placing pegs into small holes.

In 2004, Italian experts teamed up with computer designers, engineers, and carpenters to make a real-life model of Leonardo’s moving machine. Lo and behold, it operated as he originally intended. (Experts demonstrated a one-third scale replica of the cart, fearing a full-size replica of the powerful vehicle would crash and harm someone.)

3. THE MECHANICAL TURK

In 1770, inventor Wolfgang von Kempelen built the Mechanical Turk—a life-size, chess-playing automaton, clad in traditional Turkish garments—to entertain Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. There was just one catch: The machine was a fraud.

The Mechanical Turk sat at a wooden cabinet filled with cogs, gears, and other mechanisms, with a chessboard on top. More often than not, the automaton won a match, and it even traveled across Europe and America, playing against (and beating) luminaries like Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin.

Naysayers suspected the machine didn’t operate independently, and they were right. Von Kempelen (and later, an engineer named Johann Maelzel, who purchased the Turk from Von Kempelen) recruited talented chess players who hid inside the Mechanical Turk’s cabinet and operated the Turk’s arm with levers. These gamers likely hid in the back of the wooden cabinet’s bottom drawer, so people examining the Turk’s inner workings couldn’t see them, and the gamers climbed into the Turk’s main chamber right before the chess match began.

When Maelzel died, a man named John Kearsley Mitchell acquired the Turk and donated it to the Chinese Museum in Philadelphia. The automaton was destroyed in a fire in 1854, and three years later, Mitchell’s son, Silas, demystified the Turk’s inner workings in a series of articles for a chess magazine.

Even though the Mechanical Turk was an elaborate hoax, its existence still spurred important conversations about the nature of machines, and whether they could be designed to think—questions which inventors still grapple with today.

4. A ROBOT WITH REASONING CAPABILITIES

From 1966 through 1972, researchers at a top West Coast research institution developed the world’s first mobile robot with reasoning capabilities. By today’s standards, the robot looked primitive: Its movements were jerky, and it resembled a clunky stack of metal cabinets. Still, its capabilities were impressive: The bot could break down general commands into step-by-step actions to accomplish a goal, and it also came equipped with programs for seeing, reasoning, and acting. You could even “talk” to the robot by typing into a keyboard, and it would reply back.

In 1970, one popular magazine called the robot the world’s “first electronic person.” Today, it’s remembered as the device that helped pioneer modern robotics and AI technology.

5. A ROBOTIC FACTORY ARM

History’s first industrial robot was a 4000-pound mechanized factory arm, designed to reduce injuries among employees. In 1961, a major U.S. auto manufacturer added the technology to a New Jersey plant’s assembly line, where it took die castings from machines and performed welding on auto bodies. It ended up paving the way for other industrial robots that help make factory work easier, safer, and more efficient.

6. A ROBOT THAT EXPLORES THE OCEAN INDEPENDENTLY

The ocean is one of the last unexplored places on Earth —but thanks to advances in robotic technology, that’s sure to change. In 1995, America’s largest oceanographic research institution completed the first independently operating underwater robot, created to monitor large expanses of ocean for extended periods of time. The robot can collect samples, take photos and video, and survey bottom environments at depths of more than 1600 feet with sensors and tools.

7. THE FIRST ROBOT TO EXPLORE MARS

On July 4, 1997, the Mars Pathfinder’s Sojourner rover landed on Mars. The lightweight robot-on-wheels was programmed to explore the Red Planet for NASA—and more importantly, it was able to make its own decisions and respond accordingly to unpredictable encounters.

Sojourner took pictures of Mars, took chemical and atmospheric measurements, collected samples, and explored nearly 2700 square feet of the planet’s soil.

In all, Sojourner operated for 83 days before NASA flight teams lost contact with it— around 12 times longer than scientists expected. Today, the tiny machine is remembered as the first rover to explore outside the Earth-Moon system.

Robots have been making history for thousands of years. Their latest milestone? Neato Robotic vacuums, which you can operate using just your smartphone—even when you’re miles away. Visit Neato Robotics to learn more.

Think there’s nothing to do in the dead of winter? You might be surprised by how many towns go out of their way to celebrate icy weather and snow. Plus, there are few better ways to warm up than to play outdoor sports, sample regional winter cuisines, and hang out with friends old and new. Here are 12 places where you can do just that.

1. FIRE + ICE FEST // READING, PENNSYLVANIA

Reading, Pennsylvania, invites you to the 2017 Fire + Ice Fest, happening January 13 and 14, 2017. Fire will be represented with performances by Madeleine Belle and Allentown’s Burning Hearts Fire & Light Theater. Professional ice sculptures will be on display throughout the event, which could serve as inspiration for the festival’s ice carving competition. There’s also a pancake breakfast, a chili cook-off, a Snowfall Ball, and live music. The full schedule of events can be found here.

2. BAVARIAN ICEFEST // LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON

The Bavarian Icefest takes place in Leavenworth, Washington, January 14 – 15, 2017. Events include dogsled rides, the “ice cube scramble” for kids, snow sculptures, ice carving, ice fishing, a snowball toss, a snowmobile sled pull, and “smooshing” (a sport in which teams of four people ski together on one set of skis).

3. ICEBOX DAYS // INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MINNESOTA

International Falls, Minnesota, celebrates its reputation as the coldest town in the 48 contiguous states with Icebox Days, a winter festival running January 18 – 22, 2017. The marquee event is the annual Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run, which features both 5K and 10K runs—no matter what the temperature is. Don’t miss the other events: the moonlight snowshoe hike, the toilet seat toss, frozen turkey bowling, redneck trivia, donkey basketball, and plenty of food.

4. OURAY ICE FESTIVAL // OURAY, COLORADO

This year’s annual Ouray Ice Festival happens January 19 – 22, 2017 at Ouray Ice Park in Ouray, Colorado. The public park has 200 climbing routes made of ice and mixed ice and rock, making it a popular destination for ice climbers. The festival is a celebration of ice climbing, and a fundraiser for the nonprofit park. Events will include climbing clinics and competitions, demonstrations, an outdoor gear expo, and plenty of beer.

5. HUNTER ICE FESTIVAL // NILES, MICHIGAN

The Hunter Ice Festival in Niles, Michigan is named after The Hunter Brothers Ice and Ice Cream Company, which established ice harvesting as the town’s big industry around the turn of the 20th century. The festival, which takes place January 20 – 22, 2017, centers around ice sculptures, and the best artists in the craft are invited to Niles to show off their stuff. There will also be races, an Ice Ball, and a chili cook-off. Check out this year’s full schedule of events at Facebook.

6. FIRE & ICE FESTIVAL // ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN

This year’s Fire & Ice Festival in Rochester, Michigan, will take place January 20 – 22, 2017. The fire is provided by fireworks at night; the ice events include tube sledding, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, dogsled rides, ice skating, a broom ball exhibition, and ice sculptures. Bring your ice skates for free skating all weekend! Keep up with this year’s festival at the Facebook event page.

7. ICEFEST // CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, presents the 15th annual IceFest January 26 – 29, 2017. The festival features a 40-foot ice slide, a snowball fight, and a “Polar Dunk Plunge.” There’s also nighttime dancing and dining events for those who like to stay warm, a movie night, a chili cook-off, and a cake icing competition. The premier draw will be the professional ice sculptures and ice carving demonstrations. Find out more at the festival’s Facebook page.

8. SAINT PAUL WINTER CARNIVAL // SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA

This year’s Saint Paul Winter Carnival will run from January 26 to February 5 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and will kick off the Carnival season in style. The huge festival boasts three parades, plus the Beer Dabbler (featuring craft beer from more than 120 breweries), the junior royalty coronation, a cat show, ice sculptures, and the usual races, parties, live entertainment, and food. Stay current with the festival’s plans on Facebook.

9. ELY WINTER FESTIVAL // ELY, MINNESOTA

The Ely Winter Festival in Ely, Minnesota—which will run February 2 – 12, 2017—will kick off with an amateur snow carving contest, and later lead to the Ely Art Walk, an ice fishing tournament, snowshoe hikes, dogsledding, and a beard competition. Plus: Don’t miss the ice bar! The schedule of events is here.

10. CRIPPLE CREEK ICE FESTIVAL // CRIPPLE CREEK, COLORADO

The Cripple Creek Ice Festival will run February 11 – 19, 2017 in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Safari in Ice.” The town will be filled with ice sculptures, including a slide, a maze, and an ice bar. Plus, the beloved “liquor luge” will make a triumphant return. Check out the website for a full lineup of events.

11. MICHIGAN ICE FEST // MUNISING, MICHIGAN

The Michigan Ice Fest in Munising, Michigan, is a festival centered around ice climbing. This year’s event will be held from February 15 – 19, 2017. There will be clinics and classes in the various levels of climbing, including rescue techniques, plus demonstrations and social climbs.

12. NEWPORT WINTER FESTIVAL // NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

The 29th annual Newport Winter Festival will take place February 17 – 26, 2017 in Newport, Rhode Island. This festival celebrates the cold and puts a tropical spin on winter at the same time. Outdoor events will include the polar bear plunge and beach polo, plus “Polar Pineapples,” where you can sip seasonal cocktails in an ice sculpture garden. There will be both a tropical drink contest and a best hot drink contest, a chili cook-off, and live entertainment. The schedule of events is growing by the day, so click here to find out more. 

January 2017 has been a very good month for the American space program. First there was the premiere of the movie Hidden Figures, which celebrates the incredible minds and achievements of NASA legends Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. Now, on the heels of the film’s release, NASA has announced that Jeanette J. Epps will soon become the first African-American crewmember of the International Space Station (ISS).

Epps has been working toward this moment for a very long time, from her doctorate in physics and aerospace engineering to a seven-year stint as a technical intelligence officer with the CIA [PDF]. She joined NASA in 2009 as part of the agency’s 20th class of astronauts, and has been working on the ground to support existing ISS missions ever since.

Epps is scheduled to depart in May 2018, two months after her colleague Andrew Feustel, as part of a six-month expedition. “Each space station crew brings something different to the table, and Drew and Jeanette both have a lot to offer,” NASA Astronaut Office chief Chris Cassidy said in a statement.

To date, 14 African American astronauts have made the trip into space. Several of those have visited the ISS as part of technical and resupply missions, but none have stayed aboard.

Black women have been a vital part of NASA missions since the very beginning. The brilliant mathematicians and engineers known as the West Area Computers [PDF] were instrumental in early space voyages, while astronauts like Mae Jemison, Joan Higginbotham, and Stephanie Wilson [PDF] have helped expand our knowledge of this spectacular universe.

In a video celebrating the release of Hidden Figures, Epps offers brief but solid advice to young women considering careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

For more updates, follow Jeanette on Twitter @Astro_Jeanette.

[h/t Smithsonian]

During training, members of the military fire hundreds of thousands of bullets and artillery at firing ranges. Unfortunately, many of those shells are never retrieved, posing an environmental issue: they don’t degrade for hundreds of years. So the military wants to find a way to make biodegradable bullets, complete with plant seeds, according to Engadget.

The Department of Defense is soliciting proposals for biodegradable ammunition loaded with seeds that will grow into plants beneficial to the environment—ones that eliminate contaminants from corroding ammunition. The seeds would only start growing after a few months in the ground.

It’s not necessarily carelessness that leaves ammunition lying around where it can corrode and cause environmental damage. Sometimes the cartridge casings become lodged several feet underground, making it impossible to find them. Other times, civilians might find the casings, but not know whether to pick them up or not.

With so many training rounds manufactured and used by the Army each year, a new type of bullet could have an enormous impact. If these rounds could be used on the battlefield, the significance would be even bigger.

Proposals are due on February 8.

[h/t Engadget]