Mother Nature knows her math. The seeds of plants with spiral patterns form interlocking spirals in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The number of clockwise spirals differs from the number of counterclockwise spirals.

These numbers have a remarkable consistency. They are almost always two consecutive Fibonacci numbers, which are another one of nature's mathematical favorites. The Fibonacci numbers form the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 . . . , in which each number is the sum of the previous two.

Flowers, cones, and cacti have other mathematical wonders that scientists are trying to understand and explain. Link -via Metafilter

South African runner Oscar Pistorius is less than a second off the qualifying time for a slot on the 2008 Olympic track team, despite the fact that he is a double amputee. However, the International Association of Athletics Federations has already moved to block him from the Olympics, with a new ruling banning "technical aids", referring to his prosthetic running feet. Pistorius only began his track career three years ago at the 2004 Paralympics, and has already racked up three world records. Push play or go to YouTube. Link to story. -via Arbroath

Scientists at Cornell University have created a dress that repels bacteria, and a jacket that protects the wearer from pollution. Professor Juan Hinestroza and his team coated fabrics with electrostatically charged silver nanoparticles.

"We think this is one of the first times that nanotechnology has entered the fashion world," Hinestroza said. He noted one drawback may be the garments' price: one square yard of nano-treated cotton would cost about $10,000.

Link -via the Presurfer

Being a bicycle officer means you never have to worry about having a bike lock.

http://pagentsprogress.com/?p=565

Frodo meets Johnny Cash in this music video. Push play or go to Youtube. -via Exploding Aardvark

This poster explores the anatomy of Canis pneumatis, or the common balloon dog. http://web.mac.com/moistproduction/iWeb/Moist%20Production/DigiArt2.html -via Militant Platypus

Still Life from JoshFlowers
Josh Flowers called people and asked them to share their memories of loved ones who were buried in the same cemetery. The result is the video Still Life. I now feel I would have liked these folks. Push play or go to Vimeo. -via Fuzzytopia

Great Britain is the birthplace of the school uniform and over the years schoolboys have worn a wide variety of official school dress. These pages illustrate a selection of these uniforms and provide some details of their history.

Shown is the traditional bluecoat uniform of Christ's Hospital School in Sussex. http://www.archivist.f2s.com/bsu/Bsu.html -via the Presurfer

When Barbara Hillary heard that there had never been a black woman at the North Pole, she took that as a challenge. So on April 23rd, she set off on skis with two guides and became the first -despite the fact that she is a 75-year-old cancer survivor who’s never learned to ski til preparing for this trip! http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/National/North_Pole_Woman.html -via Fark

Dude Studios presents the dude version of Star Wars, of course called Star Dudes. http://www.dudestudios.com/sdudes_v4.htm -via Transbuddha

Another from the why-didn’t-I-think-of-that files, the Squeeze-Me lemon squeezer keeps juice from flying in all directions. Link -via Swiss Miss

The Great Orbax started Fiendish Curiosities to combine his three passions: sideshow, science, and monsters.

Using a combination of current special effects techniques, latex casting and molding, sculpture and modern taxidermy, we create one of a kind works of custom art for the discerning collector. We strive to maintain a scientific approach to our pieces. We attempt to incorporate the sciences of zoology, anatomy, and teratology while devising our curiosities so that in many case, while not cute and cuddly, they do appear as they would had they been the result of natural mutation and adaptation.

Warning: Some images may be disturbing. http://www.fiendishcuriosities.com/ -via the Presurfer

Guess what movie this picture is “drawn” from. Go to The Burgg and guess hundreds of drawings! The quality and difficulty vary greatly, but its a lot of fun for movie buffs. You can guess, find the answer, or just skip to the next one. Or you can sign up and contribute drawings. http://www.theburgg.com/ -via Grow-A-Brain

Life isn’t easy when you’re a graffiti character on a college camps, even when it's the California Institute of the Arts. Push play or go to YouTube. -via Ursi’s Blog

Francesca Myman, who you know from the wonderful Poulpe Pulps (pulp fiction and comic covers involving octopi) and The Bejeweled Octopus, has started a blog called Octopia that reports on art involving the octopus. The example pictured is Creeps from the Deep by Elizabeth McGrath. Link