To add to our growing collection of “animals on treadmills†videos, here is a penguin on a treadmill. It may seem cruel, but it’s part of a legitimate experiment. Scientists at Birmingham University in England are studying penguins in the wild to see if they are undergoing increased stress do to global warming. Fifty penguins on the Crozet Islands, in the southern Indian Ocean were fitted with monitors to measure heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature. Ten penguins in captivity are being used as control subjects, to study normal penguin metabolism. The scientists hope to determine whether the Crozet Island penguins are having to expend extra energy by traveling further than normal to find food. Push play or go to YouTube. Link to article. -via Arbroath
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To add to our growing collection of “animals on treadmills†videos, here is a penguin on a treadmill. It may seem cruel, but it’s part of a legitimate experiment. Scientists at Birmingham University in England are studying penguins in the wild to see if they are undergoing increased stress do to global warming. Fifty penguins on the Crozet Islands, in the southern Indian Ocean were fitted with monitors to measure heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature. Ten penguins in captivity are being used as control subjects, to study normal penguin metabolism. The scientists hope to determine whether the Crozet Island penguins are having to expend extra energy by traveling further than normal to find food. Push play or go to YouTube. Link to article. -via Arbroath
This Viper Fish lives about a mile deep in the ocean, which is fine with me. It’s one of Ten Horrible Deep Sea Ceatures listed at Odd Week. Link -via the Presurfer
For those of you who would like a somewhat larger Cadbury Creme Egg, here’s an oldie but goodie: Pimp My Snack’s recipe for making your own giant creme egg at home! Insulin not included. Link
Internationally-known violinist Joshua Bell played busker at a Metro station in Washington, DC during morning rush hour recently. It was an experiment to see if anyone would recognize him, recognize the talent behind the music, or would drop money in his case. What do you think happened? The results may surprise you. The cover story in today’s Washington Post Magazine includes videos of the experiment. Link -via Grow-A-Brain
You may have noticed that Cadbury Creme Eggs are a bit smaller this year. The Cadbury website denies it, saying the size of the egg hasn’t changed. But BJ Novak of the TV show The Office appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and presented proof! Push play or go to YouTube. -via YesButNoButYes
Carolyn Scott & Golden Retriever Rookie are masters of Canine Musical Freestyle, which is competitive dancing... for dogs and their owners. The pair were the top-ranking American team in the sport at one time. Carolyn, who suffers from the aftereffects of polio and a heart disorder, no longer competes, but gives demonstrations and conducts seminars. Rookie still dances at age 14! Link to Carolyn and Rookie’s story. -via Metafilter
These peeps don’t come in a box, or an Easter basket. They aren’t even made of marshmallow! Evil Mad Scientist shows how to make your own meringue “pseudo-peeps†in your own kitchen. Link
We all break things, and a lot of us like to make things, too. Which of all the available glues is best for your job? The site This to That will tell you. Enter what you are gluing to what, and the database will recommend the top glues for the job and give you tips on doing it. You might also get a dose of snark about what you broke. Link -via Mental Floss
This video of a roller coaster ride was constructed using data from American housing prices over the last 117 years. Push play or go to Google Video. The graph used to plot the video can be found at Speculative Bubble. Link -via Simply Left Behind
The 2007 Easter Egg Collection continues the tradition that began in 1994 where each state sends a decorated egg to the White House for display. Artists from across the United States created the decorated eggs, which represent each state and the District of Columbia. Each year the artists vote amongst themselves to select the artist to create the following year's commemorative egg which is presented to the President and First Lady.
You can see the egg from each state at the White House website. The egg shown is, of course, from the state of New York. Link -via Metafilter
Update: Commenter Smurf Kicker pointed out Wyoming’s egg as a “true masterpieceâ€. There is some controversy over that one, since the artist was not from Wyoming.
The notorious feud between the Hatfield clan in West Virginia and the McCoy family in Kentucky lasted for over 100 years. Over the past few decades, doctors have tracked a disease in the McCoys that may explain at least some of the violence. Von Hippel-Lindau disease has been diagnosed in many members of the McCoy family over several generations. It causes tumors, especially in the adrenal gland, which can lead to high blood pressure, pounding headaches, and too much adrenaline. Researchers have known about the disease in the McCoys for decades, but did not reveal the patient’s names due to confidentiality and insurance concerns. Link -via Metafilter
Dark Roasted Blend has a gallery of vehicles from all over that they call “ghost carsâ€. Some are just ugly and past their prime, but some will make you scratch you head and wonder how they still run. It may make you feel better about driving your old junker around! Link -via the Presurfer
Artist Mark Bennett drew floor plans for the homes of TV and movie characters. See where the Cleavers, the Clampetts, the Brady Bunch, Luke Skywalker, and others lived! This print shows the Wayne Manor, including the underground Batcave. Bennett also published a book of fictional floor plans. Link to a gallery. Link to another gallery. -via J-Walk Blog
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