BBQ Battle, Air Traffic Control Technology & Instant Pho
Lifehacker Brain Buffet, Factoids That Could Save Your Life, Free Travel Posters Into Outer Space, What Barbecues Are (and Are Not), How Air Traffic Controllers Keep Airplanes Aloft, and more – all await you at Lifehacker Brain Buffet this week. …
Small facts that could one day save your life
Never underestimate the power of trifles – or just tidbits of knowledge that can change the world for the better at the right time. In this Quora conversation, one user asked a simple question, “What little facts could one day save your life?” The responses were incredible and ranged from simple advice like not talking and walking at the same time:
The human brain cannot perform multiple tasks at the same time. Walking and talking on a cell phone are two thought tasks that involve many areas of the brain. Instead of processing both at the same time, the brain quickly switches between two cognitive actions.
Take the classic example of walking and chewing gum . We can safely walk around chewing gum in a city filled with cars and other dangers. This is because one of those tasks – chewing gum – is not a cognitive task.
While talking and walking down the street are mental tasks . Research shows that pedestrians cannot effectively monitor their surroundings for safety by talking on their mobile phones. The challenge is to cope with two tasks that require our cognitive attention.
For the more elegant one, especially me as a physicist recovering:
Here are some small facts about survival in cold weather that stem from the laws of thermodynamics:
Some basics of thermodynamics: 1.1) Heat is transferred faster through liquids than through gases (i.e. air). 1.2) Heat is transferred faster through liquids or gases if they are in motion
Some practical tips for survival follow from this: (a) if you are in a cold room and are at risk of hypothermia, it is very important to stay dry. Humidity will accelerate heat loss.
(b) if you are in the cold and risk hypothermia, you should hide from the wind. It makes sense to even mostly bury yourself in the snow, because your body can immediately warm up the air trapped in the snow around your body. This still air will move heat away from your body more slowly than air blowing in the wind around you.
(c) if you are in a cold climate and are at risk of hypothermia, try stuffing your clothing with excessively dry, bulky material so that it expands and increases the still air around your body. It will transfer heat more slowly than air moving outside your layer of clothing.
In general, it is worth scrolling through the entire chain, so do not hesitate. You will find a ton of useful information – some of which you probably knew and some you may not have covered before – that may come in handy in the future. [ via Quora ]
BBQ battle and what barbecue really is
Barbecue, as a dish and as a cultural institution, is exclusively American – that is clear. But what is barbecue really? In Kottka , and also in Eater , the quest for an explanation of how something so simple can have so many qualifiers and rules starts in earnest, especially in a culture where we play so quickly and fluently with food terminology in the first place. Eater’s Chris Furmeister sets the law:
When it comes to American barbecue – I certainly won’t try to lay down ground rules for other barbecue cultures around the world – there are absolute rights and disadvantages. There is room for interpretation, of course, but well-meaning barbecuers across the country are blaspheming day in and day out. Before declaring what barbecue is not, it’s best to define what it is: pork simmered with smoke.
Of course, Tim Carmody explains that while it’s great and all, it’s funnily oversimplified given:
This is controversial because barbecue also means:
- etc. other slow cooked meats such as beef
- v. the process of cooking or eating such meat,
- v. fry something outdoors,
- n. outdoor grill
- a. the type or taste of sauce, potato chips, and other foods
- etc.
It’s also odd because, as Fourmeister notes, this is an American controversy, and Americans tend to play faster and slower with food words than people in other countries. Cognac should be from cognac, champagne from champagne and so on. Americans have many different regional words and customs when it comes to food (soda versus pop, sub versus hoogie, etc.), and we’re definitely competitive when it comes to where and how food is best made, but in general we are quite pluralistic in definitions. This is probably why “barbecue” came to mean so many different but related things.
Our opinion? All of this is adorable, but when Carmody finishes his post, one thing is certain: the barbecue debate is a debate that has it all. It’s a regional rivalry, it has a lot of regional differences in styles, sauces and cooking methods, and it’s even full of arguments that its main premise is pork – some people will slaughter you for cutting out their delicious beef while while the backyard chefs will say “grilling chicken,” despite what the experts say. Surprisingly, but still delicious. [ via Kottke and the Devourer ]
How we track all planes in the sky in real time
Air traffic controllers have an extremely difficult job. They work long hours, make stressful decisions, and in many cases use outdated technology to get their jobs done. But how do they do it?This video from DNews explains how air traffic control systems work, technologies happening behind the scenes that allow people in these control rooms to know the position of every aircraft in the area in all dimensions, and how to make sure they all get to the right place. they need to walk without bumping into each other. [via DNews ]
Best instant photo
If you’ve never tasted pho, this delicious Vietnamese noodle soup that changes everything, you’re missing out on something awesome. Correct it immediately. If you want to take this scent with you to the office or enjoy it in the middle of the night when your favorite pho-joint is closed, well then you probably need an instant product.
I know, I know, madness. However, the folks at Lucky Peach have gone to great lengths to test ten different instant photo cups, and the resulting report is impressive. Not only will you find out which instant photo is the best (spoiler, oh, Risey Pho Ga is their best), but you will also get an insight into the various instant photos along with stellar comments along the way. [ via Lucky Peach ]
How movie sound effects are created
In every movie you’ve ever watched, a team of people have worked tirelessly behind cameras and in post-production to make the sounds and effects you hear believable, interesting, and perfect for the scenes you’re watching. And I’m not just talking about music or huge, pompous explosions.
Everything from the splashing of cars driving through the rain to the sound of plates and glasses clattering against the backdrop of a restaurant-themed coffee shop requires real things to be played – and this short video is the story of the people who make them. From BoingBoing :
Director Daniel Jewel takes us into the magical world of folium artists Pete Burgis and Sue Harding, who create sound effects using tricks that look odd when you see them, but sound effect combined with the right image.
I have a soft spot for this sort of thing, even back when there were old radio dramas, when people used hollowed-out coconuts and the like to make the sound of galloping horses. It is always amazing to see how these sounds are created. [ via BoingBoing ]
NASA Travel Posters for a Space Age We’ve Never Been (yet)
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has put together a ton of beautifully styled posters that mimic the old style of early 20th century travel posters, all completely free to download. Blow them up, print them, frame them and hang them on the walls.
They cover the whole spectrum, from a futuristic travel poster about this small oasis planet called Earth, to a more exciting trip to Kepler 16b, with two stars visible in the sky. Go to JPL and have a look at them, you are sure to find one that you like. [ via NASA ]
Everyone this week! If you have thought-provoking stories, interesting podcasts, eye-opening videos, or anything else that you think is perfect for Brain Buffet, share it with us! Send it to me by email, leave it as a comment below, or send it in any way convenient for you.