Sarah Winchester, widow of the Winchester Repeating Arms company founder, spent 38 years adding onto her home until it was an eccentric and unique American landmark. If you've always wanted to see the Winchester Mystery House, but haven't been able to get to San Jose, California, or else can't afford the $20-$54 tickets, here's a way to do it. Since tours are closed down for the time being, you are invited to tour by video. The video tour is 41 minutes long, and not only shows the house interior, but also has documentary touches that accompany the Sarah Winchester story. -via Boing Boing

The Labirinto Della Masone is the world’s largest labyrinth. It is an eight hectare complex, with a path that is three kilometers long. Located in Fontanello, Italy, the labyrinth was created by Franco Maria Ricci. Riccis is publisher, designer, art collection and bibliophile. The labyrinth was created due to a promise Ricci made to Jorge Luis Borges, an Argentinian writer. Borges has always been fascinated by the symbol of the labyrinth, as Designboom detailed: 

it is entirely made of bamboo plants (numbering around 200 thousand in total) between 30 centimeters and 15 meters in height, and belonging to many species. all throughout, it is a maze for losing oneself in, and for fantasizing and reflecting.

I first dreamed of building a labyrinth around thirty years ago,’ comments franco maria ricci. ‘on several occasions back then, in my country house outside parma, I played host to a friend and valued contributor in the publishing house had I founded: argentinean writer jorge luis borges. it is a well-known fact that the labyrinth was one of his favorite themes. and the paths traced by the hesitant footfalls of the blind writer as he walked around me, made me think of the uncertainty of those who move in the midst of forks in the path and enigmas. I think that it was watching him, and talking to him of the strange journeys made by men, that the very first embryo of the project finally opened to the public in june 2015 first took form.’

image via Designboom

Don't let the pigeon drive the bus, but do invite him over for a virtual lunch. The Kennedy Center is posting daily videos of Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems!

Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together.

I don't know who is more excited about this, me or my kids. Okay, it's me. I have been in love with Mo Willems since my kids were little NeatoBambinos. His writing is not only touching and funny, but he purposely makes his art accessible to kids. He actually encourages kids to copy and expand on his characters. Hands down, he is probably one of my favorite children's book authors of all time.

Who's ready for lunch!

via - Kennedy Center

The further you go in this stop-motion video, the more amazing it gets. Eventually, the laws of physics are broken in all sorts of ways! Omozoc made this with no CGI at all, just stop-motion animation -and at least a dozen new decks of cards. -via Digg

Scientists discovered that the world’s highest dwelling mammal is a yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse. The mouse lives on Llullaillaco, the world’s highest historically active volcano, straddling Argentina and Chile. It survives at an elevation above 20,000 feet, where no plants grow. What does it eat? It’s a surprise that a mouse can live in such a hostile environment, as National Geographic detailed:

“It’s hard to overstate how hostile an environment it is,” says Jay Storz, a biologist at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and a National Geographic Explorer.

Intrigued by the discovery, Storz organized an expedition to the volcano in February specifically to search for rodents. And rodents he found. In fact, he encountered another yellow-rumped mouse even higher than previously sighted, atop the very summit of Llullaillaco, at 22,110 feet—breaking the record announced just last year.

The yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis xanthopygus), is a known species that lives in the foothills and mountains of the Andes, and also can be found as low as sea level. (Related: Meet the animals that thrive in extreme mountain conditions.)

That means the mouse has an unprecedented elevation range of more than 22,000 feet. “That wide of a range is extraordinary,” says Scott Steppan, a mouse expert and biology professor at Florida State University. “No other species does that.”

Researchers from the University of Plymouth discovered that LEGO bricks can last for 1300 years in a marine environment. The researchers measured the mass of colorful bricks found along the coastlines of England against unused pieces, along with the age of bricks in storage. The research proves that LEGO bricks can last for centuries! Geek.com has more details: 

This research, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, reinforces the message that people need to think twice about how they dispose of household items.

“LEGO is one of the most popular children’s toys in history and part of its appeal has always been its durability,” according to lead study author Andrew Turner, an associate professor at the University of Plymouth.

“It is specifically designed to be played with and handled, so it may not be especially surprising that despite potentially being in the sea for decades it isn’t significantly worn down,” he said in a statement. “However, the full extent of its durability was even a surprise to us.”

Fifty pieces of weathered LEGO—made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and collected from beaches in Cornwall—were washed and weighed in labs at the university.

The chemical characteristics of each block were determined using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, the results of which confirmed age based on the presence of certain elements no longer in use.

“The pieces we tested had smoothed and discolored, with some of the structures having fractured and fragmented, suggesting that as well as pieces remaining intact they might also break down into microplastics,” Turner explained.

image via wikimedia commons

Solving jigsaw puzzles helps to pass the time and ease boredom. In addition, solving puzzles also helps people calm down from anxiety. Robyn Breen turns to puzzles instead of prescription medication when anxiety strikes. Jigsaw puzzles do have stress-relieving benefits, as clinical neuropsychologist Susan Vandermorris tells Reader’s Digest: 

Any type of puzzle is good for the brain and points to the stress-relieving benefits of jigsaws, in particular, she says. “If you’re doing a puzzle, you are, by definition, disconnected and engaged in a task that’s immersive, away from the interruptions and stresses of day-to-day life,” she explains. “And that, of course, is good for your brain.”

Vandermorris believes that doing puzzles with others boasts even more health benefits than doing them on your own, adding that it provides a rare opportunity for intergenerational engagement. “Get the teenagers off their smartphones and working on a puzzle with Grandma, and suddenly you’ve got a really nice family interaction that seems to be harder and harder to come by these days,” she adds.

image via wikimedia commons

Yesterday, Rick couldn't find his cat. He looked out the window to find Biter re-enacting the classic motivational poster with the caption "Hang in there!" She fell to the ground soon after the picture was snapped. He later posted a picture at reddit to show everyone that she is, indeed, fine.

He explained that she was named Biter because she bit a friend soon after they got her, but she's a sweet cat now. Meanwhile, the original image got over 100,000 upvotes and is bound to become a classic.

Besides anime and cherry blossoms, Japan is also known for having a lot of mascots. From a human jacuzzi faucet, to a boxing rabbit, to a fruit-bear hybrid, Japan knows no bounds when it comes to creating mascots from promoting companies or products. Every brand, prefecture, and local government has a mascot to represent them. Japanese mascots are made to blend in as a part of everyday life, as sbnation details: 

There’s Melon Kuma, a terrifying, tourism-promoting fruit-bear hybrid, and Colon-chan, a character with hot pink, intestine-shaped hair, who encourages colonoscopies.

This is the heart of “yuru-chara,” the championing of mascots as part of everyday life. Japanese artist Jun Miura is widely credited with coining the term in 2009, outlining three fundamental components of a yuru-chara mascot:

It must convey a strong message of love for one’s hometown.

Its movements should be unique and unstable or awkward.

It should be unsophisticated or laid-back and lovable.

It’s a recipe that works for a Japanese audience, a mixture of regional loyalty and self-deprecation in a place where celebration of the absurd flourishes. Though reverence for non-human characters can be traced back to the cultural impact of Kami, the spirits which form the foundation of the polytheistic Shinto religion, the recent proliferation of yuru-chara began in 2007 with Hikonyan, a samurai cat created by the Hikone city government to mark the 400th anniversary of Hikone Castle. The mascot wasn’t just popular — it was a phenomenon. People flocked to see Hikonyan, generating more than $200 million in tourism spending. Other cities took note, hoping to replicate Hikone’s success with mascots of their own. Brands and businesses followed suit.

image via sbnation

When life gives you lemons, make it into lemonade! This is what Twitter user Andrea Long Chu (@theorygurl) did as she made a brilliant tune from the annoying noise outside her apartment. Thanks to the car alarm outside, she was inspired to improvise a musical piece out of it. Check out her work at Twitter. 

(via Digg)

Do you want to gaze at animals even if you’re forced to stay at home? Though many zoos, aquariums, and parks are temporarily closed, there are other ways to check in on animals! There are livestreams online that show different groups of animals in their habitats. Atlas Obscura listed some livestreams that you can check out: 

Baby Osprey Cam

Maybe much like you, this osprey family is hunkering down—but they’re focused on nesting and breeding. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science trained a camera on the birds’ platform in the York River in Gloucester Point, Virginia. Click for rippling waves, ruffling feathers, and many, many twigs.

Penguin Cams

The Aquarium of the Pacific, in Long Beach, California, streams two views of its Magellanic penguins. One shows them wandering their rocky habitat—waddling, nuzzling, hanging around. Another showcases the underwater action—exciting dives, but also casually dangling flippers (or wings), adorable half-submerged bellies, and the calming gurgling of the tank. Each penguin sports an ID tag. Take note of the color pattern, and then get to know Shim, Skipper, Admiral Fancy Pants, and the rest of the gang online.

image via Atlas Obscura

Rolo, a seven-year-old dachshund, wagged his tail so hard that it stopped moving! The dog was very pleased to have his owners home, where he can ask them to constantly play and bond with him. After a few days at home, his owners noticed that his tail was under his legs. After a visit to the vet, Rolo is on pain relief, and his sprained tail will be healed after a week! 

(via 9gag)

image via Twitter

Health and safety come first before everything else. With the world’s current status, the Olympics may be inevitably postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has acknowledged that the 2020 games might not continue as scheduled due to the spread of the pandemic. Some athletes and committees will not send their representatives if the event will be held this summer, as The Korea Herald detailed:

Canada's Olympic and Paralympic committees meanwhile announced they will not send teams to the Games if they are held this summer, citing the health of their athletes and the general public.

And Australia's Olympic committee told athletes to prepare for a Tokyo Olympics in the northern-hemisphere summer of 2021.

"It's clear the Games can't be held in July," Australian chef de mission Ian Chesterman said.

For weeks, Japan and Olympic officials have held the line that preparations are moving ahead to hold the Games as scheduled, but there has been increasing pressure from sports federations and athletes whose training has been thrown into turmoil.

On Monday, Abe told parliament that Japan was still committed to hosting a "complete" Games, but added: "If that becomes difficult, in light of considering athletes first, it may become inevitable that we make a decision to postpone."

image via wikimedia commons

The bee hummingbird is barely larger than a bee. Found mainly in Cuba, they lay eggs in a nest the size of golf ball. Meet this itty bitty bird in a video from Nature on PBS. -via Nag on the Lake

In a neighborhood parking lot stands a car equipped with a camera on the front passenger side. All of a sudden, a fox jumps in front of the car and lands on the windshield. The photographer then captures the shot, which resulted in this extraordinary image that won the animal photography competition organized by the Mammal Society, a London-based charity. The photo was taken by amateur photographer Roger Cox.

The other entries are also fun to look at. See them over at New Atlas.

(Image Credit: Mammal Society/Roger Cox)