Newsletter Item for (94473): Photographer Captures the Fluorescence of Flowers Under Ultraviolet Light

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Photographer Captures the Fluorescence of Flowers Under Ultraviolet Light

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Photographer Craig Burrows has managed to capture the invisible fluorescence of flowers by using ultraviolet light and long-exposure. The result comes as close as you can get to a natural black-light poster. Take a peek at the psychedelic images here.

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Photographer Captures the Fluorescence of Flowers Under Ultraviolet Light

April 17, 2017

Mental Floss #86

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Mental Floss #86

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April 17, 2017

Tiny Prehistoric Beetle Was First to Mooch off Termites

Kate Horowitz

filed under: Animals, beetle, insects, invertebrates

Image credit:

Cai et al., 2017

Why buy the cow when you can get the termite hole for free? The insects known as termitophiles make themselves right at home in termites’ cozy nests. Now scientists say they may have found the first enterprising moocher to move in—99 million years ago. They published their findings in the journal Current Biology.

The amber mines of Myanmar have yielded some incredible discoveries. Last year, paleontologists reported finding both dinosaur wings and tail feathers in amber markets. The latest discovery, of minuscule, horseshoe-crab-like beetles, may be less flashy, but is no less important in the history of life on this planet.

Cai et al., 2017

With a body length of just 0.03 inches, the new specimens may look itsy-bitsy to us, but they’re actually pretty big compared to the rest of their family. Modern rove beetles in the Trichopseniini tribe are all tiny, and they all perform the insect equivalent of couch-surfing, setting up shop in termites’ nests and snacking on the fungi inside without bothering anybody.

Scientists previously believed that Trichopseniini and other moochers made their first foray into termite nests around 19 million years ago. Yet the newly discovered specimens (named Cretotrichopsenius burmiticus after the Burmese mine where they’d been hanging out) are at least 80 million years older than that.

“The fossil reveals a richer ecology within early insect societies during the Cretaceous,” the authors note, “and a lengthy period of co-evolution between termites, the first of all social insects, and their numerous arthropod associates.”

April 17, 2017 – 10:30am

April 17, 2017

8 TV Shows That Were Creatively Altered by a Writers Strike

Matthew Jackson

filed under: Lists, Pop Culture, tv, writing

Image credit:

Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

Writers strikes have a major impact on TV and film production. Depending on the strike’s length, dozens of film and TV projects can be suspended, delayed, or even cancelled, and rebounding when a strike is over isn’t exactly easy, either.

Numerous TV series have had to return from strike to a kind of creative reboot, from rewriting single episodes to devising entirely new finales. With another strike potentially on the horizon, we’re looking back at eight shows that changed course due to a strike.

1. BREAKING BAD

An enduring legend about Breaking Bad sprung up around the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike. According to that version of events, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) was originally set to be killed off by the show’s writers, but when the strike occurred and forced the show to cut its first season from nine to seven episodes, some hard thinking about the show’s structure led to the decision to keep Pinkman around. It turns out that’s only partially true, as creator Vince Gilligan has since noted that he’d decided not to let Paul go by the second episode of the show. The strike did fundamentally alter the show’s overall plot progression, though.

Those final two episodes in season one would have originally given us two fast-paced hours in which Walter White (Bryan Cranston) would have very quickly become the drug kingpin known as Heisenberg. With the strike standing in the way of that, Gilligan and company threw those episodes out and took a more careful approach to bringing out Heisenberg. That meant a slower pace, but an awesome three-episode arc to kick off the second season.

2. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

The 1988 Writers Guild of America strike was the longest in the organization’s history, and its long run cut into the production of a number of series, among them the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. As a result of the strike’s duration, the season order was shortened from 26 episodes to 22, and with a shorter production window, the show went looking for script sources beyond the standard writers room. As a result, the season premiere episode “The Child” was adapted from a script originally written for the aborted Star Trek: Phase II TV series in the late 1970s. Producers also began mining the “slush pile” of submitted spec scripts from outside writers and found “The Measure of a Man,” by attorney-turned-writer Melinda M. Snodgrass. The script became the ninth episode of the season, and Snodgrass was hired as the show’s story editor.

3. HEROES

After starting off red hot with huge ratings and critical acclaim, the second season of the comic book-inspired NBC series Heroes suffered a ratings decline and attacks from fans due to new characters that took time away from the old ones, a time travel storyline that seemed to drag on too long, and romances that pulled attention way from the show’s super-powered action. It got so bad that creator Tim Kring admitted mistakes in an Entertainment Weekly interview. But the writers strike offered Kring and company a chance to rethink and restructure.

The strike limited the show’s second season to just 11 episodes, and sensing that a change needed to come, Kring reshot the ending of that season’s eventual finale, ”Powerless,” in order to scrap a planned plague storyline that would have made up season two’s second half. The planned fourth “volume” of the series, “Villains,” became the third, and the show carried on for two more seasons.

4. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

The hit sci-fi series only had one episode of its final “Season 4.5” run completed when the 2007-08 strike hit, and the situation felt so dire at the time that the cast was convinced during filming that said episode—“Sometimes A Great Notion”—would be the show’s last. The series did return to produce 10 more hours to end its run, and, like Heroes, the strike actually gave creator Ronald D. Moore a chance to rethink the planned ending of the show.

“There was a different ending that we had, it was all about Ellen aboard the Colony,” Moore told io9. “She was sort of turned by Cavil, because she found out that Tigh had impregnated Caprica Six, and that deeply embittered her. And she sort of became dedicated to the idea of destroying Galactica and the fleet out of revenge. And [she and Cavil] got Hera, and then the final confrontation became very personalized between Tigh versus Ellen, and should they forgive.”

“That was the story, generally speaking. We didn’t have a lot more than just what I spun out to you, when the writer’s strike hit. Over the course of the writer’s strike, I rethought about it and thought, ‘That’s not going to do it. It’s not epic enough. It’s not interesting enough.’ That’s when we decided to start over, and reinvent the last arc of the show.”

Moore and his writers ultimately devised a different series finale, featuring the daring rescue of Hera Agathon and the discovery of our prehistoric Earth.

5. PUSHING DAISIES

Pushing Daisies/Facebook

When it premiered in the fall of 2007, Bryan Fuller’s inventive fantasy series was hailed as one of the most original new shows on TV, and developed a rabid fan base eager to learn more about the love story between the Pie Maker (Lee Pace) and the Dead Girl (Anna Friel). Initial enthusiasm for the series led to a full season order in October 2007, just weeks before a writers strike was declared. This meant that the series had to halt production with only nine of its 22 ordered episodes completed. Fuller rewrote episode nine to serve as a season finale, leaving lots of loose ends to entice viewers back. It worked. Pushing Daisies got a second season, but unfortunately didn’t get a third.

6. SCRUBS

The 2007-08 strike interrupted production of the NBC medical sitcom, leaving it hanging in the midst of what was, at the time, expected to be its final season. Creator Bill Lawrence was offered the chance to film an alternate final episode to serve as a series finale should the strike limit the seventh season, but Lawrence declined, hoping he would eventually get to do things his way. When the strike ended, the future of Scrubs was still uncertain. Season seven ended at just 11 episodes, but the show continued to shoot episodes for season eight even as it no longer officially had a network. Ultimately, ABC picked up the series for an eighth season in the spring of 2008, and Scrubs finished its run on that network after a ninth season featuring new lead characters was also produced.

7. 30 ROCK

Tina Fey’s Emmy-winning comedy shut down production during the 2007-08 strike, but the biggest creative consequence of that break wasn’t felt until 2010. While the show was shut down in early 2008, the cast performed a live episode as a benefit at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City. When the strike ended and production resumed, creator Tina Fey and co-showrunner Robert Carlock began having serious discussions with NBC about a live episode broadcast. Though it was originally planned for season four, the episode was rescheduled for season five. Titled “Live Show,” it was finally performed (twice, once for the east coast and once for the west) on October 14, 2010.

8. DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, the musical webseries from Joss Whedon, wasn’t so much altered by the 2007-08 strike as it was born out of it. Whedon conceived the series, which he calls his “midlife crisis,” during the strike, and actually first mentioned it to co-star Felicia Day on the WGA picket line.

“I asked if you’d seen The Guild. You didn’t have to say anything! But you said, ‘Oh yeah, I saw it and loved it,’” Day recalled in 2015. “You said ‘I’m actually working on a supervillain musical’ and I pooped myself. Later I got an email that was just, ‘Can you sing?’ Signed, ‘J.’ Then I pooped again.”

Whedon financed the series himself, and it was produced in just five months. Today, it remains an early example of the reach and profitability of web-distributed programming.

April 17, 2017 – 10:00am

April 17, 2017

Society6 is Offering 20% Everything, Plus Free Shipping

Smart Shopping Team

filed under: shopping

Image credit:

Society6

Get ready to grab your wallet because Society6 is having one of their rare 20% off sales and throwing in free shipping. The online store is known for taking amazing art from designers all over the world and plastering it on everything from t-shirts to throw pillows. Now that the company has unveiled new clear phone cases, bathroom items, and even floor pillows, it’s going to be hard to pass on this excellent sale.

We know that navigating Society6 is a huge undertaking, so we took the time to pull a selection of our favorite items. You can thank us later.

World Domination For Cats Tote | $16

Koromiko Leggings | $31.20

Renaissance Mutant Ninja Artists Shirt | $19.20

Mckenzie River Tapestry | $31.20

TROPICAL CREATION Clear Phone Case | $28

Iridescent Floor Pillow | $71.20

Phases of the Moon | $33.60

Let’s All Go And Have Breakfast Rug | $22.40

The Owl’s 3 Print | $13.60

Frida Kahlo Wall Clock | $24

Watercolour cacti and succulent Pouch | $12

Unik Pillow | $17.60

Home Sweet Home Throw Blanket | $39.20

Star Team – Legends of Lylat Print | $17.60

Piranha Plant Art Travel Mug | $19.20

Traditional Rick and Morty Mug | $12

Books Laptop Sleeve | $28.80

Mind hand towel | $9.60

April 17, 2017 – 9:59am

April 17, 2017

Amazon’s Best Monday Deals

Smart Shopping Team

filed under: shopping

Image credit:

amazon / istock

As a recurring feature, our team combs the Web and shares some amazing Amazon deals we’ve turned up. Here’s what caught our eye today, April 17.

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!

April 17, 2017 – 12:16pm

April 17, 2017

20 ft long crocodiles used to have long legs…

20 ft long crocodiles used to have long legs, allowing them to emerge from water gallop at other animals at full speed. 00

April 17, 2017

When Romania made their ice hockey World Championship debut…

When Romania made their ice hockey World Championship debut in 1931, they lost 0-15 to the US. Their captain approached the referee after the game and asked him to write a message on the official game sheet: ”Thank you for playing against us, we have learned a great deal from this game”. 00

April 17, 2017

NASA has a long standing tradition to wake up astronauts…

NASA has a long standing tradition to wake up astronauts with a specially selected track of music each day, usually picked by friends or family members, called “Wake Up Calls”. 00

April 17, 2017

11 Fast Facts About the Boston Marathon

Stacy Conradt

filed under: History, Sports

Image credit:

Getty

Very few road races around the world carry as much significance as the Boston Marathon. Not everyone can meet the strict qualifying times, and those that do face a grueling 26.2-mile course through the Boston suburbs and (eventually) into the city itself. Whether you’re running, spectating, or following from afar, read on for more about the prestigious competition, now in its 121st year.

1. THE MARATHON IS HOSTED BY THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association’s stated mission was to “encourage all manly sports and promote physical culture.” Ten years later, it hosted a 24.5-mile road race for 15 participants (only 10 of them made it to the finish line). The Athletic Association’s symbol, the unicorn, still appears on today’s Marathon medals.

2. THERE IS A LOGIC TO THOSE NON-TRADITIONAL MILE MARKERS.

Whereas most races post pretty straightforward mile markers—”Mile 1,” say, or “Mile 15″—Boston, in its early years, included seemingly-random numbers. (Running legend Amby Burfoot recalled thinking that the 19 7/8 mile marker he spotted during his first Boston Marathon was especially ridiculous.) The signs weren’t just for quirk’s sake though—the checkpoints were chosen because they helped race officials easily locate the transportation they needed to get from checkpoint to checkpoint.

3. AROUND 500,000 SPECTATORS CHEER ON THE RUNNERS EACH YEAR.

Approximately half a million people show up to watch 30,000 runners every year, giving the local economy a massive boost. This year, the athletes, their families, and fans are expected to spend $192 million around town—or about $311 for every Boston resident.

4. ATHLETES DREAD THE COURSE’S INFAMOUS HEARTBREAK HILL.

Even non-runners feel their pulses start to quicken at the mention of Heartbreak Hill, located between miles 20 and 21. Boston Globe reporter Jerry Nason gets credit for coining the term after the 1936 event. During that race, as runner Johnny Kelley passed his rival Tarzan Brown, he gave him a pat on the back—a move that infuriated Brown and fueled him to a first-place finish. Nason wrote that Brown “broke Kelley’s heart” at the hill.

The hill itself isn’t as high as its fearsome name suggests: it climbs just 91 feet, according to Runner’s World. (By contrast, the hill runners face near the start of the Marine Corps Marathon rises 211 feet.) But a number of other factors contribute to its reputation. For one, it’s late in the race, and the rate of the change in elevation catches even elite runners by surprise.

5. CELEBS HAVE TO QUALIFY TOO (OR RUN FOR CHARITY).

Turlington Burns at the London Marathon in 2015

Unlike other races that admit celebrity runners, celebs who run Boston also have to meet the stringent qualifying standards. Or they have to be running for a charity, in which case they need to be able to finish in six hours or less. Some past celebrity participants include Will Ferrell (who ran in 2003 with a time of 3:56:12), Lisa Ling (she ran in 2001, finishing in 4:34:18), NKOTB alum Joey McIntyre (he ran it in 2013 and 2014, finishing in 3:57:06 and 3:48:11, respectively), and Christy Turlington Burns, who posted a time of 4:09:27 in 2016.

6. CHEATING HAPPENS MORE THAN YOU’D THINK.

At the 25-mile mark of any marathon, most runners are sweaty and a little dazed (at best). So when a fresh-faced Rosie Ruiz appeared out of nowhere a little over a mile from the finish line and went on to win the 1980 women’s title, observers were immediately suspicious. After fellow runners complained that they hadn’t seen her at all along the course, Ruiz was stripped of her medal. It was also revealed that she took the subway for a portion of the only other race she’d run, the New York City Marathon, and lied in order to gain admittance to that Boston qualifier, claiming she had a fatal brain tumor.

Ruiz wouldn’t have stood a chance against Derek Murphy, a blogger and amateur investigator who has made it his mission to catch marathon cheaters. Since he started his blog in mid-2015, Murphy has caught around 250 cheaters, many of whom faked race times in order to qualify for Boston.

7. THE MARATHON WASN’T ALWAYS ON A MONDAY.

Up until 1969, the marathon took place every April 19, the same day Patriots’ Day—a civic holiday commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord—was observed. That year, however, officials designated the third Monday of April as Patriots’ Day, and the Boston Marathon organizers followed suit. Today, many refer to Patriots’ Day as “Marathon Monday.”

8. THE RED SOX DO THEIR PART TO SUPPORT THE RUNNERS.

For decades, the Red Sox have held a home game that kicks off at 11:05 a.m. on Patriots’ Day. When the game ends, fans and players alike find themselves in Kenmore Square, cheering runners on in the last mile.

9. THE BOSTON MARATHON IS LARGELY RUN OUTSIDE OF BOSTON.

Before hitting Boston proper, runners take the scenic route through Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Wellesley Hills, Newton, and Brookline. Participants don’t cross into Boston until after 24 miles in.

10. BIB NUMBER 261 IS THE STUFF OF LEGEND.

Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon. (Bobbi Gibb had been the first woman to complete the race a year prior, but as an unregistered, or “bandit” runner.) At the time, Boston Athletic Association rules prohibited women from participating, so Switzer registered using her initials, “K.V. Switzer.” The morning of April 19, 1967, runner no. 261 took her place among the other registered runners, initially blending in thanks to her gray sweatsuit. But a couple miles in, race organizer Jock Semple spotted her. Enraged, he tried to pull her off the course; her boyfriend at the time body-checked him, and Switzer kept running. The incident—and the shocking photos that resulted—launched Switzer, and women’s running, to the forefront of a national conversation about women’s place in the world of sports.

Switzer would go on to run several more marathons and would become a tireless advocate for female runners. This year—50 years after she was nearly shoved off the course of her first marathon—the now-70-year-old is returning to Boston to run it all over again. Once she crosses the finish line, the Boston Athletic Association plans to retire number 261, marking just the second time in its history it has retired a bib.

11. SINCE 2013, THE MARATHON HAS COME TO EMBODY HOPE AND RESILIENCE.

The two bombs that detonated near the finish line in 2013 killed three people and injured more than 260 athletes and spectators. But instead of backing down, the city of Boston rallied around the more than 36,000 runners who showed up to take on the legendary course the following year. Approximately 1 million spectators cheered on the participants, including Meb Keflezighi, who became the first American to win the race in 30 years and, at 38, the oldest winner since 1930. To honor the victims of the bombing, Keflezighi wrote their names in Sharpie on his bib before pinning it on his singlet. “I just said this is Boston Strong,” Keflezighi recalled earlier this month. “I want to write their names big so I can get their strength. To have that inner motivation was huge.”

All images via Getty unless otherwise noted.

A version of this story originally ran in 2011.

April 17, 2017 – 8:00am

Mental Floss #86

Mental Floss #86

1. BREAKING BAD

2. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

3. HEROES

4. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

5. PUSHING DAISIES

6. SCRUBS

7. 30 ROCK

8. DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG

GADGETS, TOYS, AND MEDIA

KITCHEN

HOME

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

OFFICE, SCHOOL, AND CRAFTS

OUTDOORS, GARDEN, AND SPORTS

ELECTRONICS

TOOLS

1. THE MARATHON IS HOSTED BY THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

2. THERE IS A LOGIC TO THOSE NON-TRADITIONAL MILE MARKERS.

3. AROUND 500,000 SPECTATORS CHEER ON THE RUNNERS EACH YEAR.

4. ATHLETES DREAD THE COURSE’S INFAMOUS HEARTBREAK HILL.

5. CELEBS HAVE TO QUALIFY TOO (OR RUN FOR CHARITY).

6. CHEATING HAPPENS MORE THAN YOU’D THINK.

7. THE MARATHON WASN’T ALWAYS ON A MONDAY.

8. THE RED SOX DO THEIR PART TO SUPPORT THE RUNNERS.

9. THE BOSTON MARATHON IS LARGELY RUN OUTSIDE OF BOSTON.

10. BIB NUMBER 261 IS THE STUFF OF LEGEND.

11. SINCE 2013, THE MARATHON HAS COME TO EMBODY HOPE AND RESILIENCE.