Necropanspermia: was life created by zombie cells from outer space? [Mad Science]: “
Sure, that’s maybe the most ridiculous question we’ve posed. But a new theory suggests life’s building blocks did originate in outer space, although they couldn’t have survived traveling to Earth. And with an awesome name like necropanspermia, it’s worth considering. More »
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My fave headline for the week
(Via io9.)
First delicate tendrils of the nascent IT industry: “
The original poster in the Vintage Ads LiveJournal group asks, ‘Just what would you practice on….a typewriter?’
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(Via Boing Boing.)
Certain types of manure used to be transported (as everything was back then) by ship. In dry form it weighs a lot less, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a byproduct is methane gas. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was discovered what was happening.
After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term “S.H.I.T.,” which meant to the sailors, “Ship High In Transit.”More:
• Origin of the F-Word
• History of “The Finger”
• The True Meaning of “Dork”
Adventures in Epithetymology originally appeared on About.com Urban Legends on Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 at 08:24:11.
