fact
As Lemony Snicket fans know, the fictional author is fond of hiding secret messages throughout his books. Is there a code lurking within the new Netflix series, too?
February 12, 2017 – 1:00pm
Mathematician Søren Eilers was intrigued by a LEGO-related math problem. Let’s say you have six “standard LEGO bricks” (the rectangular 4×2 bricks seen in the original LEGO patent). If you fit them together, how many possible structures can you make?
This question was first officially “answered” in 1974, and LEGO mathematicians arrived at the number 102,981,500. Eilers was curious about the mathematical methodology behind that number, and soon discovered that it only covered one kind of stacking—thus, it was dramatically low. So he wrote a computer program that modeled all the possible brick combinations. After running the program for a week, he ended up with a massive number: 915,103,765 combinations.
(Incidentally, Eilers encouraged high school student Mikkel Abrahamsen to write another program in a different programming language, on a different computing platform, without consulting on the solution or methodology. When Abrahamsen’s program concluded, the math matched up—and Abrahamsen’s method for computing it was actually superior!)
Then, of course, Eilers had to ask what happened if you added a seventh brick, or an eighth, and so on. The math gets exponentially more time-consuming with each addition. Even with a revised version of his program running on a modern computer (which can now handle the original six-block calculation in just five minutes), calculating the eight-brick solution takes about three weeks, and a nine- or ten-brick solution would “probably take years. Maybe hundreds of years.”
Here’s a brief clip from the documentary A LEGO Brickumentary in which Eilers explains how it all came together:
Of course, because Eilers is a math professor, he put all the math online for fellow nerds to peruse. There’s a lot on that page to digest. I enjoyed this snippet from the page in which he considers the possibility of a 25-brick solution (emphasis added):
With the current efficiency of our computer programs we further estimate that it would take us something like
130,881,177,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
years to compute the correct number. After some 5,000,000,000 years we will have to move our computer out of the Solar system, as the Sun is expected to become a red giant at about that time.
If you like this stuff (and have the math skills to decipher it), dig into the academic paper “On the entropy of LEGO” by Bergfinnur Durhuus and Søren Eilers.
February 12, 2017 – 12:00pm
J.smith via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.5
It’s easy for some pedestrians to go their whole lives without paying much attention to the raised bumps that cover parts of the sidewalk they step on. But for others, those little dots are essential to getting around.
In this video spotted by Tom McParland of Jalopnik, video producer Tom Scott explains the ingenious purpose behind this piece of infrastructure. Blistered sections of pavement can communicate important messages to visually impaired pedestrians. A uniform grid of circles signals a sloping curb leading to a crosswalk. If the squares are red, that indicates to a partially sighted person that the path has a light for stopping traffic.
Varying patterns symbolize specific hazards. Strips of offset bumps, for example, are usually placed at the edge of a subway platform. And as Scott lays out in the video above, pill-shaped bumps and striped patterns are used to alert pedestrians to completely different situations.
Tactile paving was first introduced in Japan in 1967 [PDF], and the infrastructure trick has since spread to countries around the world. In the United States, the warnings are required by the Americans With Disabilities Act for public transportation facilities and other areas covered by the ADA.
There’s a Wire Above Manhattan That You’ve Probably Never Noticed
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The Hidden Room Behind Mount Rushmore
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Opening Your Car Door Like the Dutch Do Can Save Cyclists’ Lives
[h/t Jalopnik]
February 12, 2017 – 9:00am
Mormons do secret handshakes through curtains to practice getting into heaven. 00
A man was given an old blanket by his grandmother. He kept it on the back of a chair for years only to find out it is a First Phase Navajo Chief blanket worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. 00
The world’s oldest known complaint letter was written to a Sumerian copper merchant named Ea-Nasir almost 4000 years ago on a clay tablet: “You put ingots which were not good before my messenger and said: ‘If you want to take them, take them; if you do not want to take them, go away!’” 00
Prior to WWI wristwatches were considered feminine and not commonly worn by men. Wristwatches were more practical than pocket watches in warfare, and as a result they became socially acceptable for men to wear. 00
As a recurring feature, we share some amazing Amazon deals we’ve turned up. These items were the ones that were the most popular with our readers this week, and they’re still available.
Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers (including Amazon) and may receive a small percentage of any sale. But we only get commission on items you buy and don’t return, so we’re only happy if you’re happy. Good luck deal hunting!
Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube for $17.59 (list price $24.99)
Norse Mythology for $15.57 (list price $25.95)
Baking Bad: A Parody in a Cookbook for $16.17 (list price $20.00)
Bibliophilia: 100 Literary Postcards for $13.84 (list price $19.99)
AmazonBasics Lightweight Mini Tripod for $6.99
Fuji 96090 Instax Mini Instant Film, 10 Sheet, 5 Piece for $32.30 (list price $59.95)
BlackBerry 3.5mm Stereo Headset – Original OEM HDW-14322-001 HDW-14322-003 ACC-14322-303 for $6.54
eSecure All-in-1 USB Card Reader for all Digital Memory Cards for $8.99 (list price $29.99)
Outset 76168 Shark Corn Holders for $12.03 (list price $13.99)
Instant Pot Silicone Mitts (Set of 2), Mini, Red for $3.63 (list price $14.99)
Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle, Cordless 1.8-Liter, Black (K6080A) for $23.30
Anatomic Heart Specimen 6-Piece Coaster Set for $23.10
Contigo AUTOSPOUT Addison Reusable Water Bottle, 24oz, Ocean for $8.89 (list price $19.99)
LINKYO French Coffee Press – Stainless Steel Coffee Maker 34oz, 1L for $22.79 (list price $49.99)
ChefLand 8-Piece Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoon Set for $7.85 (list price $9.95)
Disney Mickey Mug Warmer for $9.19 (list price $32.99)
Farberware Nonstick Bakeware 3-Piece Cookie Pan Set, Gray for $12.26 (list price $39.00)
Kerr 0518 wide mouth mason jar pint, 16oz(case of 12) for $8.99 (list price $18.58)
Luminarc Barcraft Coupe Cocktail (Set of 4), 5.5 oz, Clear for $10.99 (list price $24.99)
Wilton 415-2179 300 Count Rainbow Bright Standard Baking Cups for $5.52 (list price $7.99)
North States Supergate Easy Close Metal Gate, White for $49.99
Cascade Complete Actionpacs Dishwasher Detergent, Fresh, 77 Count for $15.97 (list price $17.98)
AcuRite 00613 Indoor Humidity Monitor for $10.46
Accmart 4 Sizes Pom-pom Maker for Fluff Ball DIY Wool Knitting Craft Tool Set for $10.99
Large Capacity Premium Quality Plastic Makeup Palette Organizer for $24.99 (list price $29.99)
simplehuman Toilet Plunger and Caddy, Stainless Steel, White for $29.99
Utopia Kitchen 12 Pack Flour-Sack-Towels,28 x 28-Inches for $16.99 (list price $44.99)
VELCRO Brand – Sticky Back – 3 1/2″ x 3/4″ Strips, 4 Sets – Black for $2.98 (list price $2.29)
1 Dram (4 Ml) Amber Glass Vial – With Glass Dropper – Pack of 12 for $8.59 (list price $8.59)
Rosebud Three Lavish Layers Lip Balm, 0.8 Ounce for $15.45 (list price $16.00)
Right Guard Sport Deodorant Original Invisible Solid for $10.00
Colgate Wisp Portable Mini-Brush Max Fresh, Peppermint, 24 Count for $3.59 (list price $7.99)
Dove Men+Care Body Wash, Aqua Impact 18 oz for $5.32 (list price $6.49)
TONYMOLY Egg Pore Nose 7 Piece Package 2 for $5.27 (list price $7.00)
Dove Purely Pampering Beauty Bar, Sweet Cream & Peony 3.17 oz, 3 Bar for $4.09 (list price $5.29)
Dove go fresh Body Wash, Cucumber and Green Tea 22 Ounce, Twin Pack for $9.93 (list price $15.09)
Almay Truly Lasting Color Liquid Makeup, Buff, 1 Fl Oz for $10.15 (list price $12.49)
Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash, 12 Oz for $4.49 (list price $13.22)
Dial Body Wash, Spring Water, 32 Ounce for $6.46
Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder 5g for $6.21 (list price $8.60)
Koh Gen Do Organic Cotton 80 sheets for Skin Care for $11.90
Philips Sonicare Essence Sonic Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush, Pink for $19.95 (list price $49.99)
e.l.f. Makeup Mist and Set, Clear, 2.02 Ounce for $2.99 (list price $6.00)
100 Personna Twin Pivot Plus Blades for Trac2 and Atra Razors for $14.76
Nerdwax Stop Slipping Glasses as Seen on Shark Tank for $10.99 (list price $12.99)
Advil Liqui-gel, 200 mg, 160 count Box for $13.94 (list price $23.70)
TONYMOLY Pandas Dream So Cool Eye Stick, 1.4 Ounce for $7.29 (list price $8.99)
Colored Pencils Pre-Sharpened Color Pencil Set, 60 Vibrant Colors for $24.99 (list price $59.99)
Xyron 3/4-inch Wide Magnet Tape, 25-feet for $5.14 (list price $6.99)
Custom Self Inking Rubber Stamp – 3 Lines (42A1539) for $8.70 (list price $19.99)
Filofax Ruled Cotton Cream (B133053) for $5.55
Paper Mate Write Bros Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point, Red, 12-Count for $1.51
Helix Stainless Steel 6-Inch Ruler (13006) for $4.92 (list price $5.22)
24 Piece Premium Titanium Lock Tool Set with Transparent Pad Lock for $38.99 (list price $59.99)
Paper Mate Mirado Black Warrior Wood Case Pencils, HB #2, 12-Count for $2.13
1InTheHome Multi-purpose Hanger Clips 2-Pack (24 Count) for $12.47
Expo Low-Odor Dry Erase Markers, Chisel Tip, 16-Pack, Assorted for $7.49 (list price $9.04)
Brother Labeling System PT1880C P-Touch Label Maker for $46.94
Catit Senses 2.0 Wellness Center for $24.99
Petmate Fresh Flow Filters, 3 Filters for $2.66 (list price $2.87)
Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Evaporative, Cooling, Snap Towel for $7.67
Gaiam Balance Ball Chair, Black for $73.27 (list price $79.98)
Innova ITX9600 Heavy Duty Inversion Therapy Table for $85.61 (list price $117.81)
Rain-X RX30218 Weatherbeater Wiper Blade, 18″ (Pack of 1) for $8.99 (list price $9.59)
Vietnam Veteran Black License Plate Frame for $15.99
3/16 Brake Line Kit – Steel Roll WITH Fittings for $22.95
Bell Automotive 22-1-39263-8 Ash Tray with Solar Powered Lighting for $11.02 (list price $12.99)
Amprobe BAT-200 Battery Tester for $6.26 (list price $7.95)
Kreg KHC-PREMIUM Face Clamp for $17.92 (list price $21.99)
SE MH1047L Illuminated Multi-Power LED Head Magnifier for $8.34 (list price $15.44)
Stanley Tr110 Heavy Duty Steel Stapler for $11.57 (list price $22.90)
Hoover CH30000 PortaPower Lightweight Commercial Canister Vacuum for $114.96 (list price $149.51)
February 12, 2017 – 11:00am
1969 Allen Funt creator/host of Candid Camera boarded a plane to Miami. While in flight the plane was hijacked by armed men. A passenger recognized Funt and all were convinced it was a gag. Funt tried to dissuade them but no one believed him they only realized it wasn’t when they landed in Cuba. 00
‘Mangia’ is an Atari 2600 video game in which a mother force feeds her son with pasta until he explodes. The boy can feed animals with the food, but if the mother sees him do so, she brings out three times as much pasta as punishment. ‘Mangia’ is among the rarest video games for collectors. […]
