“The Butt”
Benoît Mandelbrot, the French-American mathematician known for his work with fractal geometry, died on Thursday, October 14th, at the age of 85. Mandelbrot lent his name to the Mandelbrot Set — the very beautiful, stoner-friendly mathematical object seen in the above picture. When I was younger, I enjoyed referring to the Mandelbrot Set as “The Butt“ because, well, because it looks like a butt.
Continue reading RIP Dr. Benoît Mandelbrot
Thanks to Neatorama for the tip!
Ada Lovelace
Tuesday, March 24th is a day for bloggers to honor and acknowledge the achievements of women in technology under the banner of celebrating Ada Lovelace Day. Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) was a brilliant metaphysicist and inventor. The daughter of the great romantic poet Lord Byron, she is considered to have been the first software programmer. The Science Museum in England has more information on Ada Lovelace Day at this link.
Continue reading Celebrating Ada Lovelace Day!
Marine experts have given 25 octopuses (octopi?) a Rubik’s Cube each in a study aimed at easing their stress levels in captivity. Scientists believe the intelligent sea creatures have a preferred arm out of eight that they use to feed and investigate with. They are now testing this theory with a month-long observation project in which the octopuses will be given food and toys to play with. Read the full story here.
Thanks to Dark Roasted Blend for the tip!
The Blackest of the Black
Move over Dethklok, there’s a new Black Metal in town that is blacker than the blackest of black. Boston College Physicist Willie J. Padilla and a team from Boston College and Duke Univ. have nanoengineered a material that absorbs all the light that strikes it. How much more black could it be? None more black. Check it out right here.