A Real Tongue Snatcher
February 5th, 2009
The Cymothoa exigua, a parasitic crustacean, is a true-to-life tongue snatcher. The parasite prays on the Spotted Rose Snapper Fish found off the coast of California. Cymothoa exigua swim into the fish's gills and latch onto its tongue. Once attached, it begins to suck the fish's blood. Eventually the tongue dies from lack of blood flow and falls off. With the tongue out of the way, the parasite attaches itself to the remaining muscles at the base of the tongue.
The Clapperboard Explained
February 23rd, 2009
We see them all the time on movie out-takes, but what's the actual purpose of the clapperboard (sometimes called a slate), and why is it clapped together? The main function of a clapper board is to allow the video and audio, which are recorded separately, to be synced during editing. The "clap" noise registers on the audio recording and which can then be timed to match the physical closure of the clapperboard on film, insuring the rest of the take is synced.
Why the QWERTY Keyboard Beat Dvorak's
February 4th, 2009
Referred to as the QWERTY layout due to the order of the first row of keys, the arrangement of a keyboard's keys is known to most. Why are the keys in this order though? Explanations usually state the commonly used keys were spaced apart to prevent them from jamming together during the typewriter era. Although true, there's more to QWERTY's success than that. Critics argue that the layout is inefficient, and suggest the little-known Dvorak layout is far superior.
Origins of the Ouija Board
February 13th, 2009
A childhood wouldn't be complete without at least one encounter with a Ouija Board. Our skepticism for it makes any messages from supposed spirits seem laughable, after all, how can a commercial board game be a portal to another dimension? Originally referred to as a talking board, the first example is dated to 540 B.C. and it was far removed from the entertaining game it is today.
The Infinite Monkey Theorem
January 7th, 2009
The infinite monkey theorem revolves around the idea that a monkey hitting random keys on a typewriter (or in today's context, a keyboard) for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type a given text, usually defined as the complete works of William Shakespeare. Typing monkeys have made numerous appearances in media, from The Simpsons to A Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, to a Bob Newhart stand up routine, giving them a notable position in pop culture.
