ROBOTICA Invasion: A Self-Made Robot
A joint team of engineers from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created the world’s first ever robot that can assemble itself.
Author: Uncle John
The Atomic Amusement Park
Like most theme parks, Wunderland Kalkar features lots of fun attractions and rides. Unlike the average Six Flags, however, it’s located on the grounds of what was once a nuclear power plant.
The Weirdest Japanese Fast Food
The U.S. invented fast food, but Japan has taken things to another level—a very strange level.
Here Are Some Forrest, Forrest Gump Facts
Forrest Gump was released 20 years ago this summer. While it was expected to be a hit—it starred Tom Hanks on the heels of an Oscar win for Philadelphia—nobody expected it to be a cultural phenomenon. Here are a few interesting Forrest Gump facts you may not know.
7 Weird NFL Fun Facts
Football season is here, so here’s some bizarre trivia on the subject.
Fake-or-Fact Friday: Get In the (Nicolas) Cage
Every Friday we give you a handful of weird stories and you have to determine which of them are true and which ones are made up. Why would we make them up? Because it’s fun! See if you can tell which are real ways the eccentric actor Nicolas Cage prepared for a role…and which ones are too strange even for him. (Answers at the end of the post.)
3 Fictional Cafes That Became Real
Have you ever wanted to visit the places where some of your favorite characters have grabbed a bite to eat or once sliced off an alien’s arm with a lightsaber? Now you can!
Batman is Real, and He Lives in Japan
Since 2011, an unidentified gentleman has been buzzing around Japanese motorways on a custom made Batpod while dressed as a certain caped crusader. He’s known locally as “Chibatman” because he lives somewhere in Chiba Prefecture, the region where Tokyo and Hokkaido are located.
Flushing History Down the Toilet
A recent exhibit in the central pavilion of Vienna’s Giardini della Biennale museum is using toilets to teach its visitors about the development of society through the ages. It’s all part of Venice’s 14th annual International Architecture Exhibition.
Impossible Questions: Minnie Pig Edition (Answer)
What musical achievement links Minnie Mouse and Miss Piggy?
They are fictional anthropomorphic characters, of course…and both have performed a duet of “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with Elton John.
Impossible Questions: Minnie Pig Edition
Think you know the answer to this question? Think you can get it? Good luck…and come back tomorrow to see if you’re right.
What musical achievement links Minnie Mouse and Miss Piggy?
ROBOTICA Invasion: The Very Latest In Robot News
Today we release ROBOTICA: Mechanical Marvels and Mind-Melting Machines of the Past, Present, and Future. The crazy world of robots moves pretty fast, so here are some breaking robot news stories that hadn’t broken when we sent the book to the printers.
Ask Uncle John Anything: The Dog Days Are Over!
Why will a dog stick its head out of a moving car, but hates it when you blow in its face? Animal behavior experts think it’s because at the end of the day dogs are simple creatures who appreciate simple things. And, simply put, getting to go for a ride in the car is the most exciting thing to happen to your dog all day.
3 Novelty Songs From the ’80s…That Don’t Make Sense Outside of the ’80s
Novelty songs are the product of their times, responding humorously to the concerns of the day…and then they’re quickly forgotten, like these.
Jellies and Jams and Marmalades and Preserves and Butters and…
It’s almost time for the fall harvest here at BRI headquarters, and there is so much fruit around these parts that there’s only one way to keep it all: make it into jam! Or jelly. Or preserves. Or fruit butters. Now we’re confused. What’s the difference between all of those anyway?
Fake-or-Fact Friday: Are These ‘60 Minutes’ Spinoffs Real or Not?
Every Friday we give you three news stories and ask you to pick which two or true and which one was made up. This time, we’re doing it a little differently. Below are a bunch of spinoffs of CBS’s venerable news magazine “60 Minutes.” Can you guess which ones aired and which ones are pure fiction?
ROBOTICA Invasion: Cruising With the Booze Bots
This November, the maiden voyage of the Quantum of the Seas will revolutionize the way that vacationers journey across the oceans. The ship features a sleek lounge with robotic bartenders.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Hello Kitty (But Were Afraid to Ask)
You’ve probably heard by now the bizarre news that Hello Kitty isn’t, you know, a kitty. Here’s a look at the “scandal,” and some more interesting stuff about the cartoon character.
